Thank you, teacher

The other day, I shared with you the tags that I made for my kids' non-classroom teachers, which they all seemed to like (if not the Butter Crunch they were attached to!) Today, I'm posting the thank you cards I made for their classroom teachers, using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Step It Up: Embellishments.

For all three cards, I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (stamper's select white, aqua mist), stamps (happy trails), buttons, twine and dies (happy day, chevron stripes). The patterned paper is Crate Paper, Basic Grey and My Mind's Eye. The little bicycle stamp is Hero Arts.







For this last card, I heat embossed the bicycle with white embossing powder.

Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

1. Today is the last day of school for my kids! Let summer begin! LOL!

2. We're thinking of putting a deck in our backyard and getting a patio set to go with it. We looked at this set at Walmart on Tuesday evening, but will be waiting for it to go on sale.

I did pick these up, though, in anticipation of eating outside:

Aren't they pretty? I also picked up a new water glass:

Look! It's got bicycles on it! I ♥ bikes!

3. I got an email earlier this week, informing me that I'm going to be a cover girl! That's right! One of my cards that was requested for publication in Papercrafts' Holiday Cards & More: Volume 7 is going to be on the cover!

4. I also got an email from Diana Opiela recently, asking if she could repost this blog post on her online magazine: Weekly Scrapper. Here's the link.

5. Yesterday was my mom's birthday. We're going to take her out for lunch today and bring her her gift. Here's the card I made for her, using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Step It Up: Embellishments.

I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (stamper's select white, aqua mist), stamps (on the links) and dies (clouds). I also used My Mind's Eye and Echo Park patterned paper and SU! pearls.

I stamped the little golf cart in Versamark and then heat embossed it with white. I then stamped the wheels again and heat embossed them with black. I cut out the wheels and adhered them over the white ones. Then I cut out the whole cart and added some pearls for hubcaps.

For the clouds, I diecut the cloud die from a post it note and used the negative as a mask. I dipped my finger in PTI Fresh Snow ink and rubbed it in circles several times to ink the clouds on the aqua mist cardstock.

Well, I think that's it for me...
Thanks for looking!

Thank you, teacher treats

Tomnorrow is the last day of school! Yay!

Between the three of them, my kids have 10 teachers. I like to do something for each of them, to say thank you for teaching my kids, but with that many teachers, it can add up. So, this year, the classroom teachers will get something different (a set of thank you baby cards for Austin's teacher and some hand soaps from Bath & Body Works for Jonah and Sage's teachers), while the support teachers (science, music, phys. ed. and health) will get these.

I made four batches of Butter Crunch and gave each teacher half, in a bag, decorated with a tag and some ribbon. For all of the tags, I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white, aqua mist), stamps (happy trails), buttons, twine and dies (tag sale #3, chevron stripes, Framed Out #3). The patterned paper is Crate Paper, Basic Grey and My Mind's Eye and the ribbon is Offray.

For these first two, I used some strips of patterned paper that were on my table, leftover from a scrapbook I helped my friend, Darlene, make.

For these next two tags, I cut out my tags and adhered the chevron stripes dies. Then I ran it through my Big Shot again with the Tag Sale #3 die, so I'd get the embossed effect around the whole tag.

These next three tags use this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Step It Up: Embellishments. I diecut my frame with the Framed Out die and stamped my sentiment on some tracing paper, and adhered it to the back. I like that you can still see the chevron striped diecut patterned paper through it. Then I added some buttons and twine.

This last tag is for Mme. Routhier, who taught Jonah & Sage kindergarten, and who had also taught all three of my kids Leapfrog in the past. She is one of my favourite teachers, so I always try to remember her, even if she's not currently teaching my kids. For her tag, I used a stamp from Tiny Tags for the sentiment. (The bicycle stamp is Hero Arts.) The banner on this tag was made with the leftovers from the Chevron Stripes dies.

So, this afternoon, I'll go to Austin's school near the end of the day to help deliver some of these to his teachers and tomorrow, we'll hand the rest out at Sage's and Jonah's school.

Thanks for looking!

Traditional Zoo Photos -- a layout

Today, I'm posting a layout I made, with uses this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Step It Up: Embellishments. One of the things that really got me into PTI was the idea that I could create my own embellishments for cards and layouts.

I was struggling to find some patterned paper that coordinates with Sage's royal blue top and pink shorts, when I finally noticed that my newest favourite line of Crate Paper (Pretty Party) had some of the blue in its chipboard and a couple of sheets of patterned paper.

I used American Crafts cardstock (12x12), Crate Paper patterned paper, stickers and chipboard and PTI dies (love lives here, uppercase block alphabet, half & half). The decorative brad is a build-a-brad from SU!

Here's a close up of my title, where I layered the Crate sticker over the half and half diecut:

And a close-up of my journaling:



And of my super simple embellishment (a diecut butterfly, layered over the butterfly on the journaling card and topped with a decorative brad.)

Thanks for looking!

More leftovers

When I went downstairs into my craft area yesterday, I had a bunch of my supplies still out from making my blog hop card, so I decided to make another card, using this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: Step It Up: Embellishments.



I used PTI cardstock (rustic white, lemon zest), stamps (lovely layers, think big favourites #12) and dies (lovely layers, limitless layers squares). The patterned paper is Crate and I made the decorative brad using an SU! build-a-brad.

Thanks for looking!

June PTI Blog Hop

                        

Today is the PTI blog hop and once again, our challenge is an inspiration photo:

                                       

As soon as I saw the photo, I knew I wanted to use my Lovely Leaves and Limitless Layers Square dies..... but I had to wait for them to arrive. I got my order on Thursday and put my stamps and dies together, but this weekend was so busy that I completely forgot about the blog hop until last night at 10:10pm. I was so tired, that I decided to go to bed and just think about my idea and work on it this morning. Cameron couldn't sleep, so he was talking to me quite a bit. Then he asked: "What do you think about before going to sleep? Scrapbooking?"

I couldn't help but smile. "Well, tonight, it's card making, actually." ;)

So, I got up at 7am (after Cameron left for work--- no need to subject myself to more teasing!) and went downstairs to work on my card. I got it almost completely done before the kids woke up. :)



I used PTI cardstock (rustic white, lemon zest), stamps (lovely layers, think big favourites #12) and dies (lovely layers, limitless layers squares). The patterned paper and decorative brad are Crate Paper.

Thanks for looking!

Just one more...

The other day, one of the little girls at taekwondo asked if I would make her a birthday card. I asked when her birthday was and she said April. I suggested, if she didn't want to wait that long, then maybe I could make her a happy summer card instead. I decided to use another one of my friend, Susan's, stamp sets, as well as this week's this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: bordered sentiments.

I asked her what her favourite colours were and she said pink & purple. Did I mention that she's eight? ;)



I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (lemon zest, hibiscus burst, rustic white), stamps (think big favourites #16, sweet as can be, distressed stripes) and dies (script alphabet).

Thanks for looking!

Saying good-bye

We've had an exchange student training with us at taekwondo for the past year and he's returning to Mexico. We had a farewell for him at class the other evening, and I thought I'd make him a card to say good-bye, from my kids and me. He's 14, so I thought I'd use Grunge Me, as well as this week's this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: bordered sentiments.



I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white, smokey shadow), stamps (distressed stripes, grunge me, wonderful words additions) and dies (wonderful words).
Thanks for looking!

Five for Friday

1. I had my last day of work on Monday and am now off for the summer! :)
The kids will go to school until next Friday, which is kind of nice for me to have a few days off without them. But don't tell them I said that. ;)

2. Jonah and I are off to Winnipeg today for his grade four field trip. We'll be going to the IMAX to see a polar bears show and then to glow-in-the-dark mini-golf. I'm taking my van along, so after the mini-golf, when his classmates return home, he and I will do a little shopping and then go out for supper with my mom.

3. Plans are being made for a trip to the Congo this fall and it looks like I'll be going along again. I'm quite excited to return and see the friends I made last time. It's great to be able to serve as a translator for our team. I'm also looking at hosting another fundraising crop at the end of September, to help finance the trip.

4. Sage and I were looking through the February issue of Scrapbook Trends together the other day and came across a layout where the two sisters in the photo had formed a heart with their hands. So we decided to try it...







Kind of fun. :)

I'm looking forward to scrapbooking these photos. I know, you're shocked. ;)

5. I mentioned in my post yesterday that my friend, Susan, came over the other day to make cards with me and brought her Happy Hydrangea stamp set along. Well, she also brought her Harvest Berries stamp set, too, which she left at my house for me to use (I love having PTI-loving friends who are good about sharing!) I decided to use this set to make another card for this week's this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: bordered sentiments.

Ren-Yi posted a Papertrey Princess challenge to only use cardstock and stamps to create a card, so I decided to tackle that challenge as well.

Here's what I created:



I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white, aqua mist) & stamps (distressed stripes, harvest berries, think big favourites #12, modern wood mats).

Thanks for looking!

MIM #71: bordered sentiments

My friend, Susan, came over to make cards with me yesterday afternoon and brought her Happy Hydrangea stamp set along. She let me borrow it, so I used it to make this card, using this week's this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink: bordered sentiments.



I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white), inks (plum pudding, simply chartreuse and winter wisteria), stamps (TBF #12, Happy Hydrangea, Distressed Stripes) and Echo Park Patterned paper.

To stamp the lighter shades of Winter Wisteria and Simply Chartreuse, I stamped once on the cardstock (or some scratch paper) and then a second time on the card.

Thanks for looking!

A colour challenges & a few tips and tricks

I decided to play along with the Crate Colour Challenge this month, which was very fun!

                 

                 

I pulled out my (latest) favourite Crate Paper products and got to work, making this layout.



In addition to the Crate Paper patterned paper, I also used some Crate Paper chipboard, stickers & border stickers, as well as some Papertrey Ink stamps (strawberry patch sentiments) and dies (tag sale #3). I also used some baker's twine.

I love this photo that Sage's teacher took of Sage & me at the zoo last week. However, there was a car driving past in the background which bothered me, so I decided to hide it with the tag. The tag was cut from a sheet of 12x12 patterned paper that was full of tags, but  it seemed to be missing something, so I ran it through my big shot with my PTI tag sale #3 die to trim it up slightly, punch the hole and add some embossing. There was a part on the tag that said "to/from", so I covered these with the chipboard strawberry.


It's hard to tell in the photo, but Sage's top is a royal blue. I decided to play this up a little by adding three blue elements in a triangle around the photo: the chipboard flower on the chipboard strawberry on the title tag, the "wonderful" sticker that I layered over another sticker and the fussy cut flowers on the journaling tag.

The reddish pink embellishments are also in a similar triangle: again, the strawberry on the title tag, the strawberries on the journaling tag and the frame around the wonderful sticker.



This journaling tag came from another sheet of 12x12 paper and was orginally 3x4", which was a little too long for what I needed. I ended up cutting the tag in two and then layered them back together again using the scalloped edge as a guide. The bakers twine hides the cut.

Thanks for looking!

For Father's Day

I just wanted to pop in quickly to share the Father's Day card I made for Cameron. I ended up giving it to Austin to give to him, though. ;)




I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic white, classic kraft, spring moss), stamps (on the farm, BB: farm & barn, tag it's #4), button twine and dies (tag sale #5, flipped out, on the farm). I also added a SU! pearl.

Thanks for looking!

Some happy summer cards

I decided to make some cards for a few of my co-workers, to let them know how much I enjoyed working with them this past year and to wish them a happy summer. I borrowed my friend, Marlo's, PTI Flipping Out stamp set, to go with the dies I have.



I used PTI cardstock (hawaiian shores, rustic white, fine linen, lemon tart), stamps (flipping out, BB: Farm & Barn) & dies (flipping out, limitless ovals 3.5"). I also used Fancy Pants patterned paper.



For this card, I used PTI cardstock (hawaiian shores, rustic white, raspberry fizz, summer sunrise), stamps (flipping out, BB: Farm & Barn) & dies (flipping out).



I used PTI cardstock (fine linen, aqua mist), stamps (flipping out, BB: Farm & Barn) & dies (flipping out). The patterned paper is My Mind's Eye.
 


I used PTI cardstock (rustic white, aqua mist, new leaf), & dies (flipping out, block alphabet dies). The patterned paper and alphabet stickers are October Afternoon.

And one last card, which I made using the positive letters from the previous card, and Sue's latest Papertrey Princess challenge to use washi tape on a project. I don't have any washi tape, so I cut a strip of patterned paper and tore the edge to ressemble washi tape, as per Sue's suggestion on her blog post.



I used PTI cardstock (fine linen, aqua mist, lemon tart), stamps (think big favourites #12, BB: Farm & Barn) & dies (flipping out, block alphabet dies). The patterned paper are Studio Calico & October Afternoon.

Thanks for looking!

Pages with Papertrey Sketch #10

I'm popping in today to post the June Sketch for Pages with Papertrey.

Here is the sketch I designed, which has opportunities for more than one photo...


                         

But, I decided to go with a single photo for my layout. ;)

I created my layout on the back of this layout, because I just couldn't let that pretty pink paper go to waste!



I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (sweet blush), ink (canyon clay, hibiscus burst), stamps (wonderful words additions, half & half, pretty peonies) and dies (half & half, pretty peonies). I also used Crate Paper patterned paper and chipboard & American Crafts cardstock (white).

Here's a close-up of my journaling:



And a close-up of my title, where I fussy cut the flowers from the patterned paper and adhered them to the chipboard frame:



If you make a layout using this sketch, I'd love to see it! You can either post a link in my comments below or here on the PTI forum. I'd love to see what you make with it!

Thanks for looking!

A trip to the zoo

Sage's class went to the Assiniboine Zoo in Winnipeg yesterday and I was able to go along. We had the best day!

I love going to zoos and taking pictures of animals. Here are a few of my favourite shots:

                      

I was so excited to see the tigers being so active and playing with a ball. This was my favourite shot of the day:



Sage's teacher took this photo of Sage and me on the bridge:

                      

And here are some more favourite shots from the day. You can click on the photo to make it larger.



I'm getting this printed as an 8x12" to scrapbook along with a 8x10" of the tigers to scrapbook together as a two page layout.

Thanks for looking!

Leftovers

When I was working on making this card the other day, I'd started with a Crate Paper floral patterned paper background matted on some PTI Rustic White cardstock. While I didn't end up using it for my card for that sketch, I decided to make something different with it...




I added some PTI cardstock (ocean tides, spring moss), stamps (pretty peonies), impression plate (Simple Stripes) and dies (limitless layers ovals 2.5", tag sale #5). I fussy cut a flower from the patterned paper and adhered it with some SU! dimensional adhesive.



Thanks for looking!

MIM #69 -- Sketch #1

Well, at the beginning of the week, I challenged myself to create a card and a layout with each of the sketches that Nichole shared on her blog for this week's Make It Monday at Papertrey Ink. So, here's the last one.... for Sketch #1.


                                

Here's the card that I made:



I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (rustic cream, sweet blush, spring moss), stamps (botanical silhouettes, turning a new leaf) and dies (tag sale #5, double-ended banner). The flowers were cut from a sheet of Crate Paper patterned paper, and were raised with some dimensional adhesive.



And for my layout, I decided to create a large banner beneath my photo.



I used Papertrey Ink cardstock (sweet blush), stamps (strawberry patch sentiments) and dies (double-ended banner). The flowers on the right and left hand sides were cut from a sheet of Crate Paper patterned paper, and were raised with some dimensional adhesive. The large bunch of flowers in the middle, as well as the butterflies, are Crate chipboard shapes. The patterned paper is all Crate, as well.

Thanks for looking!