Papertrey January Blog Hop

I couldn't resist the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop this month. It is called Pretty in Pink and, with Valentine's around the corner, it is a perfect theme.

I pulled out my Simply Jane stamp set & dies and some Soft Stone, Sweet Blush, and Hibiscus Burst paper .  This what I came up with:

I drew in some grass at the bottom of the frame and used Meadow Greens for the "tree" in the background because I pictured Mr. Darcy and Elizabeth out for a walk like in that last scene of the movie version of Pride and Prejudice. "You have bewitched me, body and soul..." Swoon!

I embossed the frame with the Woodgrain Impression Plate. Some Perfect Pearls in Pewter was dusted lightly on the frame give a little contrast.  I added some ribbon, a flower, and a doily. I added Clear Rock Candy Dry Stickles to the figures so they would stand out but still show the Hibiscus Burst color of the paper.

Die-cut leaf is from Meadow Greens

All products are from Papertrey Ink except: Perfect Pearls, Stickles, ribbon, flower and doily.

I made a second card (not part of the Blog Hop but thought I'd share) because I just could not stop using the stamp set:

Pretty in Pink Monogram Card

This is a monogram card I made for the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop which is featuring monograms. This is the first time I have participated so I am pretty excited to see how this works out.

For the monogram and frame, I broke out my Slice and the Grandama's Attic desgin card.

The sentiment and accents are from the Simply Jane stamp collection by Papertrey Ink.  The card and the tag are made with Sweet Blush cardstock also from Papertrey Ink.

The monogram, frame and map cardstock are from Promise Me by SEI.  I inked the edges of the map cardstock with Mix'd Media Inx in Chiffon which cooridinated pretty well with the Sweet Blush cardstock

Elegant Thank You

I made this card with Renee's Color Challenge in mind at I Came, I Saw, I Created.  I liked it so much I used the design for a card swap in the Cricut Circle.  I used dark brown gosgrain ribbon I got from the Dollar Tree.  I had no idea they had ribbon.  Good quality stuff, too! 

I used the frame from Simply Jane by Papertrey Ink.  The pink cardstock and sentiment is also from Papertrey Ink  - Mega Mixed Messages.  Can I tell you?  That stamp set has just about any sentiment you need. The yellow cardstock is from Bazille.  The tan pattern paper is from Melissa Frances.  The off white cardstock is from my stash.

I used Pop Dots to raise the frame and edged it with Antique Linen Distress Ink.

Here is a pic of the other card I made fore the swap:

Hem your blessings with thankfulness so they don't unravel.~ Author Unknown



I Love You Ardently Card

The fog finally lifted for me.  I made a Valentine's Day card for my husband that I am happy with.  I had stumbled across a post in Cricut Circle by Sara Andrews.  She had made a giftbag using the Teresa Collins Balck and White cartridge and I remembered: Hey, I have a bunch of color and pattern cartridges I can use!  So I pulled out on of my favorites: Audrey.  I even love the name - it reminds me of Audrey Hepburn. 

I Used:
- Cricut Imagine for the frames (part of the shapes that come with the Imagine) and printing the red damask background on the frame
- Audrey Color and Pattern Cartridge - red damask paper
- Microglaze to protect the ink on the printed paper
- Papertrey Ink - Simply Jane sentiment and Linen Impression plate
- Ranger Ginger Alcohol Ink
- Seam Binding
- Tattered Angels - Marshmallow Mist
-  Heart charm from my stash

The MicroGlaze helps protect the paper printed using a jetink printer.  It doesn't smear and a little goes a long way.

You can't see and I don't know how to photograph it but there are little tiny sparkles from the Marshmallow Mist.  I like it because it is subtle.

I puntured a hole on the bottom of the red damask frame and added the heart charm.  You can also see the debossing impression of the Linen Impression Plate.

I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life! --- and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.

- Elizabeth Barrett Browning, How Do I Love Thee?

Shabby Chic Birthday Card

Well, I wasn't supposed to but I bought the Simply Jane collection from Papertrey Ink.  I couldn't resist.  Just about anything Jane Austen calls my name and it is hard to say no.  The Simply Jane collection includes the stamps (with Austen quotes!), matching die-cuts for the stamps and cardstock with pages from her novels.  Swoon! :)

I used the cameo and frame die-cuts.  The paper in the background in is Melissa Frances.  I can't bring myself to use the Simpy Jane cardstock yet.  I'll get over that soon. ;)

I used Martha Stewart Doily Lace Edge Punch for the beige ribbon of paper that goes across the card.  The sentiment is from Simply Jane.

The most complicated thing - but worthwhile - was dyeing the seam binding.  I used equal parts Close to My Heart Soft Pink Re-Ink and Ranger Red Pepper Alcohol Ink with lots of water.  I am really pleased with the different hues of soft pink that developed so I will definitely use that combination again :)  The kraft colored button is also from Papertrey Ink and I sewed that onto the ribbon.

“There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.” ~ Jane Austen, Northanger Abbey