{ Papertrey Ink Tag Download Challenge }

Papertrey Ink is celebrating their 4 year anniversary and today there is a free PTI Anniversary Tag Download  and a challenge to create a project.  Here is my card using Melissa Bickford's tag.

I opened my images in Adobe Photoshop and copied this image five times on a new page. I removed the writing from four of the images for printing. I cut the images out and created a little scalloped border and used the main image for the center. I colored the cloud polka dots with yellow marker and the rainbow with watercolor. I used Chai ink and PTI buttons. The papers are from October Afternoon and My Mind's Eye. I added a little border at the top from Sassafras Lass.

In other news...we had some record braking freezing temperatures all week. Ice on the road since Tuesday and then we got snowed in on Friday. We couldn't leave the house. It was a mess out there but we did get to play in the snow and Alex had so much fun!

{ Papertrey May Blog Hop Challenge }

The challenge:  "This month's blog hop is all about fabulous felt! We know you love this addition to our product line-up and we would love to see what you are doing with it! From borders to focal points, paper crafts to sewing projects. Hair accessories to home decor accents. Cards to scrapbook layouts. We want to see it all!"

I made the little house out of felt that I stitched to the card with my sewing machine. I added a flower that I embellished with felt and a button.

I die cut clouds from Elle's Studio Sweet Summer mini papers and I added a Photograph Note Tiny Tag under the felt house. I stamped the sentiment on embossed cardstock that was sprayed with Shimmerz. I made a little flag out of it and attached it to a pin.

Supplies: Papertrey Ink button, cloud die and Mega Mixed Messages stamp set. October Afternoon patterned paper, Elle's Studio Sweet Summer Mini Papers and Photograph Note Tiny Tag, Martha Stewart punch and bakers twine, Making Memories flower and pin, Wilton Enterprises doily, felt.

{ Papertrey Ink Blog Hop - April }

The challenge: This month let's focus on tissue paper! It has become one of the hottest trends in the paper crafting world and we want to see you take it on! Whether it is die-cutting it to make beautiful layered blooms, the faux silk technique, creating layered backgrounds or even delicate stitched pleated borders, we want to see you get creative! And don't forget, your new stamps arrive lovingly wrapped in tissue paper each month, so these can prove to be "free & green" projects as well! Have fun and we look forward to seeing all of your projects!

I created a flower from tissue paper. I have a wonderful tutorial here. I made layers of tissue paper and patterned paper sprayed with Shimmerz and Glimmer Mist.

I used Guide Lines Two for my stamped background strip and Mega Mixed Messages for the sentiment. The blue ribbon is seam binding sprayed with Shimmerz Vibez.

Supplies: Mega Mixed Messages and Guide Lines Two stamp set, PTI button, Making Memories and MME patterned paper, The Paper Studio brad, October Afternoon journaling note, tissue paper, machine stitching, Scarlet Glimmer Mist, Ruby and Cotton Candy Shimmerz Spritz, Blue Jeans and Jeni B Blue Vibez, Making Memories pin.

{ Papertrey Ink Blog Hop - July }

The challenge: your twist on anything text integrated into a fun project! Cut it, punch it, tear it, distress it, paint it, ink it, brayer it, stamp it, stitch it, layer it. Use it as a background, border or a focal point. Use several text styles on one project or just focus on a single look. Try a technique layered on top of text like emboss resist or watercoloring. You could even run it through an embossing folder. Most of all, have fun and experiment! Branch out and try something new! We look forward to seeing all of your fabulous creations! I used this newspaper print patterned paper by October Afternoon, Norm's News from Hometown collection, to make the umbrella, flower and the border. I stamped the umbrella on polka dot paper and then the newsprint. I cut each section out and distressed it. The flower is layered with patterned paper and tissue paper, distressed and sprayed with Glimmer Mist. Here is a close up of the flower. Supplies: Papertrey Ink cardstock, patterned paper, buttons and stamps (Scattered Showers). October Afternoon patterned paper, Glimmer Mist, tissue paper, Fiskars border punch.

{ Papertrey Ink Blog Hop - June }

The challenge: Summer is FULL of so many wonderful colors, sights & sounds! This month your challenge is to get inspired by the lazy days of summer and reflect your inspiration in a project of your choice! Whether it be the colors in your favorite summer treats, the pattern on your bathing suit & beach towel or even the texture of the sand between your toes, use any or all of these things as a springboard for your design. Please be sure to share an image found online, in a magazine or a photo you have taken yourself that communicates your point of inspiration within the body of your blog post! 

 My inspiration came from Better Homes and Gardens magazine (see photos below). I fell in love with the red, blue, and yellow color combination. In addition, I used the star frame as a shape for my card. I loved the star in the middle so I cut my paper in the shape of a flower. The idea came from a chipboard frame that was sitting on my desk. I traced the flowers and cut them out with exacto knife. The center of the flower is stamped. Supplies: Papertrey Ink cardstock, paper and stamps (Guide Lines Two, Mega Mixed Messages). Making Memories (yellow) and Creative Cafe (red) flowers, Karen Foster Design white floss, Fiskars border punch, machine stitching. Better Homes and Gardens Creative Collections 2009.

{ Papertrey Ink Blog Hop - March }

I had so much fun last month with my first blog hop that I decided to do it again! The challenge: "we want to see all of your very best backgrounds. They can be multi-colored or monochromatic. Simple or elegantly detailed. They can be created with a set originated for that purpose or a reinvention of images that were not. Be sure to include a separate photo of your completed background BEFORE you add it to your project so we can see it in all its glory! "

I fell in love with the Simply Stationary set and I wanted to use it for this challenge. This is the set I picked after winning the blog hop last month!!! I played around to see what I like best. The brown center flower is from Wise Owl set. I just love the way this came out. My Guide Lines Two is on the way to me!

Supplies: Papertrey Ink paper, cardstock and stamps (Simply Stationary, Mega Mixed Messages, Wise Owl), Stampin' Up ink (Summer Sun and Close to Cocoa) Michaels ribbon, crochet flower (handmade by my mom), Karen Foster button, Sizzix die cut tag, Basic Grey brads, scalloped punch, Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Here is my stamped background in progress and finished.

{ Papertrey Ink Blog Hop - February }

This is my first blog hop! I received my awesome goodies last week. The challenge: put a little "spring" into your step, by incorporating the flowers, familiar sights and colors of spring into a project. I used my new stamp set: Beyond Basic Borders and the flowers are from Wise Owl set. Bitty Dot Basics paper and Spring Moss ink by Papertrey Ink, Imaginisce patterned paper, Basic Grey button, crochet flower handmade by my mom, Sizzix die cut tag, Bazzill butterfly strip. Here is a link to Papertrey Ink forum so you can check out other creations.