PTI Blog Hop

Howdy bloggers! I am super excited to participate in the blog hop today! I have been unable to craft as of late because I just gave birth to boy #2 and it feels so good to get inky again! Boy #1 (Josiah) is 22 months old and boy #2 (Asher) turned 1 month today. My two precious distractions (see pictures at the bottom of the post) keep me pretty busy as you can imagine so stamping time is scarce these days. Here is the gorgeous inspiration photo for the hop today:

Here is my card:

I choose to look at the colors and a few of the pillows on bench for my inspiration. This card will be given to my grandmother this week for her 80th birthday so I hope she likes it!

The biggest flower is popped up with dimensionals:

Small paper strips join together to form a small scalloped border:

Here is the new baby boy:

My precious baby Asher who is 1 month old today!

And here is my big boy:

Proud big brother Josiah. Boy does he love his little brother! Can you see why I don't have time to craft these days? I am too wrapped up in the cuteness. I love stamping, but it doesn't giggle, have dimples, or smell like an angel. :)

Thanks for reading and I hope we get to stamp/blog together again soon!

SUPPLIES:

Cardstock: Vintage cream, Fine linen, Kraft, Spring moss, Aqua mist, White (PTI)

Stamps: Signature greetings, YOF mums (PTI)

Dies: Small scallop border, Simple circles border (PTI)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko) Tea dye duo (PTI)

Ribbon: Melon berry bitty dot satin (PTI)

Copic markers: E000, E00, E02, R02, R32, R35, Y11,YG03, G21

PTI: Make It Monday #8 Ink Blending Techniques

It has been a little rough around here lately, and I had some happy cards and sad cards to make. In the past two weeks we have had new baby births, a dear friend suffer the loss of a newborn, my husband's grandmother pass away, and my parents got in a car accident. Thankfully everyone is doing well (except my parents car) but I knew I would be a roller coaster of emotions while crafting, especially since I am 6 months pregnant with number 2. When I saw the new Make It Monday challenge over on Nichole's blog, I felt inspired by the soothing blending of colors (not only for me, but hopefully the recipients as well). The card above is for a friend's birthday this weekend and the card below is for my MIL. The funeral for her mom was yesterday, and she did amazingly well, but I know that the next few months will be hard since she lost her dad earlier this year, and will be dealing with lawyers, wills, and such. Just wanted to send her a little extra love this week.

As far as the technique goes, you must check out the FABULOUS Betsy Veldman's video. I used sponges to blend my inks, since that is what I had. On both cards, I stamped the image in Versamark on white cardstock and embossed it using clear embossing powder. All I had to do after that was add my ink. Easy peasy. Thanks for stopping by! The supplies are as follows:

Birthday Card:

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White, Sweet Blush (PTI)

Ink: Grape Jelly, Lilac Posies, Paris Dusk, Tuxedo Black (Tsudineko), Perfect Plum, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery *retired*, Cool Caribbean *retired* (Stampin' Up)

Stamps: Year of Flowers: Violets, Signature Greetings (PTI)

Dies: Labels 4 (Nestabilites)

Ribbon: Navy Satin (Unknown)

Glitter: Diamond Stickles

Embossing Powder: Clear Filligree

Sympathy Card:

Cardstock: Stamper's Select White (PTI), Cool Carribean *retired* (Stampin' Up)

Ink: Grape Jelly, Lilace Posies, Tuxedo Black (Tsudineko), Perfect Plum, Bashful Blue, Cool Caribbean *retired* (Stampin' Up)

Stamps: Year of Flowers: Gladiolas (PTI)

Dies: Mat Stack 4 (PTI)

Ribbon: Sheer White (Unkown)

Glitter: Diamond Stickles

Embossing Powder: Clear Filligree

All Aboard The Reject Train

I am a HUGE fan of Paper Crafts Magazine and was encouraged by a friend to start submitting. Even though I knew it would probably take me a WHILE before I got in, if ever, I decided to go ahead and try. This is my second time, and I haven't gotten in yet but I am not going to give up. My goal is to get in...eventually. I am really enjoying the process (other than the submission form...YIKES) and like the experience and practice it brings. Really I am just trying to get better at my hobby, and hopefully I will get happy mail...someday.

(Apologies. I am SUPER TIRED and am listing an abbreviated supplies list. If I get a chance I will come back and fix it soon. :))

Stamps: Mindy's Zoo (Autumn Leaves) Signature Greetings (PTI)

Paper: Stamper's Select White, Kraft, Lemon Tart, Hawaiian Shores, Dark Chocolate, True Black (PTI)

Ink: Tuxedo Black (Tsukineko)

Markers: Copic

Buttons: PTI

Twine: PTI

Impression Plate: PTI

Ribbon: Red & White Stripe from Michaels

PTI Anniversary Tag Challenge

PTI is just full of fabulous challenges and prizes this week in celebration of their anniversary. Today's challenge was to pick from a group of downloadable tag images created by the designers and create a project. They were all amazing, but this little flower by Alli Miles was perfect for my card. Thanks for visiting!

Cardstock: PTI Kraft

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics: R35, YR18, YR16, Y17, Y11, B02

Flower Tag: PTI download by Alli Miles

Image stamp: PTI Turning A New Leaf

Sentiment: PTI Communique Sentiments (Also Alli Miles)
Ribbon: PTI Lemon Tart

PTI Contest: Customer Favorites

The FABULOUS gals at Papertrey Ink are giving away the MOMMA of all prizes on their blog: nicholeheady.typepad.com . "And how do I win?" you ask? You can either leave a comment on their blog or post your favorite PTI project you have created in the past year and link it on Nichole's blog using Mr. Linky. Well...since I am new to bloggerland, I only have ONE card post...and that is out of 2 posts. Like I said: "NEWBY". :0 However, it just so happens to be a PTI card! In order to see all the deets for my card, please refer to the previous post. So, without further ado, here is my only (I mean favorite) PTI project post!

Tuesday Trigger @ Moxie Fab World

Okay. Let me just say that I love Moxie Fab World. If you have not been to check it out, you MUST: http://www.moxiefabworld.com/ . There are such amazing daily inspirations and constant challenges to keep you crafting. This is my first official Tuesday Trigger and I am really excited. When I first saw the inspiration picture, I was immediately drawn to the textures. The ribbed fabric under the box, the scalloped box edge, the ruffled baking cups... And aren't the colors gorgeous? They just SCREAM "I love you snuggle kins". Anyways, here is my take on the picture:

Since I have so many weddings and engagements happening right now, I decided to do a wedding card rather than a Valentine's Day card. I started out with a Vintage Cream card base (PTI) and added some patterned paper (DCWV) to the top 2/3. I die cut a Vintage Cream mat stack 4 (PTI), and stamped it with the "congrats" sentiment from Comunique Sentiments (PTI) in Chocolate Chip ink (SU), and then added Stickles around the edge. Next, I added a strip of Melon Berry card stock (PTI) die cut with my rickrack die (PTI) and adhered it to the card base. On top of that is a strip of Sweet Blush (PTI) that is cut with my small scallop border die (PTI) which I scored using my Martha Stewart score board. I place some loopy ivory ribbon (unknown) around the card stock band and tied a bow then got to work on my "snuggle heart cup". It is a circle die cut of Dark Chocolate card stock (PTI) that I scored to make the ridges and I then added a smaller circle die cut to the center. The hearts are a Martha Stewart punch raised with dimensionals and are tied with a small satin ribbon. I finished off the card with a few pink rhinestones for some *bling*. And in case you are interested, I used Scoretape as my adhesive for the card. It is the greatest stuff EVER.

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great day!

Blog Launch...FINALLY.

Before I officially enter into the blogging world, I want to give a shout out to my friend Paula. She is the gorgeous gal on the left. I am the shiny one on the right. Lol. (I often loathe flash photography). We were both 8 months pregnant at the time, me with #1 and her with #2. If anyone (other than her) actually reads this post, you may know her as the fabulous "Mrs. Laird" from SCS, or have seen her recently published Hanukkah card in the September 2010 issue of Papercrafts Magazine. She has been an amazing friend of mine for a LONG time and is the one who is to blame for introducing me the expensive, addicting, fun, and crazy world of paper crafts/cardmaking. I have been making cards for a few years now, but never had the time to blog any of my creations. Honestly, I have too many craft irons in the fire and didn't want to even think about managing multiple blogs...that few (if any) people would read. Thus "MADE WITH LOVE" was born. That way, anything I make: jewelry, cookies, invitations, parties, gifts, & cards all have a home in one place. It is not that I am this amazing crafter or anything, I just have many hobbies and get bored if I stick to only doing ONE thing. Paula is my official craft buddy and has twisted my arm into taking the blog plunge. I will probably rarely post (PLEASE FORGIVE ME) but I will do my best. I happen to have an amazing husband, 16 month old precious son, and currently 4 1/2 moths pregnant with #2. :) My plate is full with housework, cooking, and snuggling. Living life is more important to me than blogging about it. Just saying. I hope you enjoy what I share, and I also hope to hear from you as we take this bumpy blogging ride together. Have a great day!