Some more cards from this week

Here are the cards I have made this week.  Trying to even out my stash and I was low on friendship and get well cards.    It feels good to get out some very neglected stamp sets, paper colors, and accessories to make some fresh new cards.  I used a lot of card inspiration from my Pinterest boards, but had to fit in my own selection of supplies.  Fun.  I am loving the challenge I put on myself to not bring in any new stamps or other supplies and just use what I have.  Not that I haven't been tempted.  I really like some of the $5 sets and $8 dies from PTI as well as a ton of cover plate dies that are in my wish list, but I will resist.  I must resist.   Hope you have a blessed day.  Enjoy the cheery cards.

Some more cards I have been working on.

So I have been trying to use my neglected stamps and accessories lately in an attempt to justify all the stamps and stuff I have accumulated over the past 8-12 years.  I got some new goodies in January and have been trying to use them before they get shoved aside and neglected.  I made these cards using a new SU! Sale a ration set, new SAB designer series paper, and my new PTI cake stand dies, which I love.  I also used a neglected Foodie Fun set for my cupcakes.  I think they turned out pretty cute.  

MIM#202 Anchoring a focal point with banners and border dies

I made this card just last week, and look, it fits perfectly with this week's MIM challenge.  Awesome! I used a card that had used only Stampin' UP! stamps and embellishments and used my PTI sets and border dies to create a similar look since I didn't have the SU! stamps or embellishments.  I think it turned out rather cool.  Trying to get more masculine cards in my stash.

Supplies used:
Stamps: PTI Celebrations, Bitty Dot backgrounds, Wet Paint I set, and MFT washi tape backgrounds

Inks:  SU! bermuda bay, chocolate chip, crumb cake, and pool party

Accessories: SU! large dot embossing folder, PTI stars border die, fabulous frames die, bakers twine

MIM#201 Embossing paste and cover plate stencils

I almost didn't join in this week, as I don't own any embossing paste.  Then  I saw K and R Designs post about using stickles and glossy accents with a stencil.  I have those things, plus pearl accents paint, so I gave it a try using my pearl accents paint.  I only used it on a tag using the circles cover plate.  It turned out ok.  I used my heat gun to speed up the drying process and made the pearl paint crack a little, but since I covered up most of the tag with baby accents, it looks fine.  It all turned out better than I hoped, but it used a lot of pearl paint.  I can't invest in new items right now, so I may have to use glossy accents or stickles glitter glue next time.  Definitely not a technique I would normally try.

All supplies PTI except the embossing folder for the background on the card base layer and the baker's twine.  

Masculine Birthday Cards

So, it is always a challenge to make masculine birthday cards-- well, cards for guys in general.  Yet, we always need them don't we.  So here is how I have been trying to make some cards using sets that might at first seem a little less than masculine.  It is all about the colors, layout, accessories or lack thereof.  I kind of like what I came up with this time.  I also challenged myself to use some card sketches I printed off from MFT stamps, and switched up a great card I found today by Brian King.  So here they are:

I am trying to use up this yummy Birthday Bash DSP by Stampin' UP!  I love the colors, the patterns, and that little fleck of gold.  So pretty and great for masculine cards.  I used the new SAB birthday chalkboard set for the circle cake card and Building Blocks by PTI for the phrases on the strips.  Love the gold embossing.  The green card used the Happy word die from PTI Tipped Top dies, Birthday was stamped from PTI Wet Paint 1 set.  The button with gold string sets the vellum banner off great.  Just wish I had better vellum adhesive.  Both of these cards were based on MFT stamps sketches.  

This is the card I CASED from Brian King but with my own twist because I don't have any of the stamps he used.  I found the perfect substitutes though and am totally pleased with how this turned out.  They are 5x5 cards, which means I need to use my envelope punch board to make some custom envelopes.  Love the girl and boy version.  

So what do you think?  Did I achieve a good masculine birthday card?  I am really trying to use what I already have, rummage through all my various stamp sets to put them to good use, and am trying to use card sketches and my DSP hoarded stash to make cards these days.  I still do a fair share of CASEing for a quicker card, but am finding my way around sketches.  I tend to be pretty literal in my interpretation and am learning that I don't have to be.  It is hard though. Totally stretching my creativity.  

PTI Anniversary Celebration: Day 8

Whew!!!  Two more days to go for all the Papertrey festivities.  I am kind of ready and know it will be sort of a withdrawal period after this is all done.  I like the new products Betsy designed that are revealed today.  I especially like the sentiments with the set.  Wish I could just get those to play with. I made an ombre blue card and pulled out some oldies but goodies with Scattered Showers, Clouds dies, Ombre Builders, and Scattered Showers Additions.

PTI Anniversary Celebration: Day 7

So today's challenge was to use metallics with a neutral color to celebrate Papertrey's addition of metallic papers and printed papers.  I love the printed papers.  Very pretty.  I like the matte shimmer of the metallic card stock.  And the adhesive metallic papers are very nice too.  If I win some money from all these challenges, I might have to wait till these new papers come back in stock (cause you know they are going to fly off the shelves) and get some.

I have two projects to share.  One that sticks with challenge rules of metal and one neutral, and one that does not.  I like the one that doesn't adhere to the rules the best.  I have a friend who is a consultant for Jordan Essentials and she wanted me to make some treat bags to use as booking incentives.  I came up with these bags.  I like the whimsy of all the ribbons and pieces all attached together with the clothespin.