Oh, boy!

I love embossing! 

Whether it's using impression plates, heat embossing or using embossing paste 

-- they're all fun & effective techniques!

However, I have to admit, that while I emboss on my cards often, 

I don't seem to do it very much on my layouts.

So, naturally, I thought that this would be a great challenge for this month's 

Pages With Papertrey: 

 add texture to your layout with embossing.

For my layout, I decided to add embossing by using my PTI Centre Stage cover plate as a mask

and some white embossing powder (which I love how it looks on cream!)

I used some Crate Paper (The Pier) patterned papers & chipboard accents.

Here's a close up of the embossing:

For my title, I used my PTI Bookprint alphabet dies with a sheet of Crate patterned paper -- 

I love how this turned out!

The "This is the life" sentiment is a PTI stamp from Fabulous Frames.

If you create a layout for the challenge, please link it either here in the comments 

or here on the Papertrey Ink forum.

I'm also submitting this layout for the Crate Paper blog challenge: Boys Rule.

Thanks for looking!

Happy 2nd Anniversary, PWP!

I cannot believe that it's been two years since I started posting the Pages With Papertrey Challenges! I've really enjoyed posting these & am super appreciative to everyone who's participated in them!

This month's challenge is no cardstock. That's right, you can't use any cardstock on your layout.

For my layout, I combined this month's challenge with the Crate Paper August Creative Weekly...

I used an assortment of Crate Paper patterned paper for my layout, as well as quite a few Papertrey Ink dies.

I used my PTI Headline Alphabet dies to create my title.

For my button card, I'd found a Crate journaling card in my stash from the Random collection (the one on the top left hand corner of this sheet):

However, the navy blue on that card didn't match the navy blue polka dotted paper I was using, so I cut out the "button snaps" part and adhered it to another piece of Crate Paper patterned paper and rounded the corners. Then I die cut the pattern from the back with my PTI LL:squares pinked die. I diecut the plain square from the journaling card. I was pretty pleased with how this worked out. I used two PTI Notched Circle dies to create my flower-- using the fabric from the aprons. A PTI button and twine finishes it off.

For my journaling, I made a pocket tag using my PTI Tag Sale #7 die and some patterned paper. The Lovely Bias Trim card was from the Pretty Party Collection.

And here's my journaling, which I typed on my typewriter:

If you want to play along with this month's PWP challenge, please link up your layout either here in the comments or here on the PTI forum.

Thanks for looking!

Create: Sketches -- Sketch #5

 I created a layout and a card using the 5th sketch in the Create:Sketches book. Here's the sketch:

For my layout, I converted the sketch to 12x12. I pulled out some polka dot Crate Paper patterned paper for the Crate Paper June Creative Weekly Challenge: Hello, Polka Dots.

I added some Crate Paper slide frames. I used the two smaller ones to frame some sentiments from PTI's Live Love Life stamp set.

My title was cut from PTI's new leaf card stock, using PTI's Wonderful Words: Hello die and Headline Alphabets dies.

And for my card, I also used some Crate Paper patterned paper, minus the polka dots.

I diecut the banner using PTI's Get a Handle on It die. The sentiments are from Wplus9's Fresh Cut Florals stamp set. Some MME enamel dots finish it off.

Thanks for looking!

My thoughts on 40

Today I have a layout to share that I made for the Crate Paper June Creative Weekly Challenge: Hello, Polka Dots.

I dug through my Crate Paper stash and found two patterned papers with polka dots: one from the Maggie Holmes Collection and one from The Pier. I paired these with a photo that Sage took of me this spring and decided to scrapbook a layout about my thoughts on being forty.

Here's my layout:

I layered some Crate embellishments for my title. The doily diecut is from DIY. I diecut some PTI Headline Number dies from a scrap of the background patterned paper to make the "40". I stamped part of a Fresh Squeezed Stamp (You Said It, Sister) onto a PTI double-ended banner diecut and heat embossed it in white.

The tag was on a sheet of Maggie Holmes tags. I cut this out with my PTI Tag Sale #3 dies and added some PTI twine. The Special Event die cut is Maggie Holmes.

A couple more Maggie Holmes layered die cuts over here...

For my journaling, I adhered my photo over a large glassine bag, in which I tucked my journaling.

I die cut the end of my card stock using a PTI Edger's #5 die cut. I stamped the "inside" from PTI's Movers & Shakers Sentiments and the polka dots from Fresh Squeezed Stamp's You Said It, Sister.

The journaling was typed on my typewriter.

Thanks for looking!

May Creative Weekly, part 3

I have one more project to share for the May Creative Weekly Challenge on the Crate Paper Blog: Summer Splash. Once again, I used some of Crate's newest line: The Pier.

I decided to switch my Photo Tray for summer... I filled each opening with either a black and white photo from last summer or some Crate Paper patterned paper.

I cut my title on my Silhouette from Crate Paper patterned paper and mounted it right on the frame.

For the first opening, I layered a Crate Paper slide frame over a tag and added a PTI button and twine. The little popsicles were cut from some Crate patterned paper. For the second opening, I layered a Freckled Fawn wooden embellishment over a Crate journaling card. The photo is one of Jonah & Sage playing on the new play structure at Sage's school.

In the top opening, I stamped on a Crate Paper tag with a sentiment from PTI's Fabulous Frames. To the tag, I added a PTI button, twine and a Flair badge. Below that, I added a slide frame to my photo (one of my favourites from last summer, taken at our beach).

In the bottom corner, I stamped on a Crate tag with a CTMH stamp and added another PTI button, twine and Flair button.

Again, I added a slide frame (I love these!) to my photo of Austin & Sage at the Corn & Apple Festival  and in my last opening, I stamped "sunshine" from one of the Framed Out #3 stamp sets by PTI. I again added some PTI twine and a button. I also added a few MME enamel dots.

Thanks for looking!

May Creative Weekly, part 2

In my kitchen, I have a shelf. On this shelf, I like to display a project in a frame. For the last couple of years, it's been a Bible verse printed on some MME patterned paper.

However, I'm longing for summer. On Tuesday, I decided to change up some of the decor in our house. I took away most of the candles and other knick knacks and put out some summer themed items. And, I was inspired to change what was in the frame.

I printed up some favourite photos from a trip to the beach last summer (you might have noticed them on this layout here). But I love them so much, I decided that I'd love to have them on display for the season.

I decided to use some of Crate's newest line: The Pier and create something for the May Creative Weekly Challenge on the Crate Paper Blog: Summer Splash.

Here's what I came up with, using Crate Paper patterned paper and slide frames.

I layered the frames over all three of my photos. That blue matches the blue I have in my kitchen-- I love it!

For my journaling, I took some lyrics from my new favourite song: Every Good Thing by The Afters. I created my title and cut it out with my Silhouette Portrait, using that yummy Crate Paper woodgrain patterned paper. I'm so glad I bought two sheets of that right away!

I added a few banners I made diecutting some words on the Crate Paper patterned paper with my PTI double-ended banner die, which I embellished a little with MME enamel dots. (Wouldn't it be great if Crate started making these to coordinate with their lines? I'd love to have some in this green, that blue and off white, that soft yellow....)

I should mention that the "this" banner is from Elle's Studio, which I cut down to fit on my layout.

And here's how it looks on my shelf....

I wasn't even thinking about the wall colour when I chose the background paper, but look how well it coordinates! Love that!

Thanks for looking!

May Creative Weekly, part 1

I wanted to share the layout and card that I made for the May Creative Weekly Challenge on the Crate Paper Blog: Summer Splash.

At first sight, I fell in love with Crate's newest line: The Pier. It is just the most perfect summer line ever! I was so glad that I had waited to scrap these photos that I took last summer at our local beach, because this line was perfect for them!

I used The Pier patterned paper as well as the slide frames--- oh my goodness, I am crazy about these slide frames! They are so fun and different!

I cut some word strips from the Crate patterned paper and diecut them with my PTI double ended banner die. I also stamped a Mama Elephant stamp in aqua mist onto some spring moss cardstock and cut it out by hand.

For my title, I used PTI's Headline Alphabet stamps and dies, along with berry sorbet cardstock and ink. Then, underneath that, I stamped a Mama Elephant stamp from their new Wanderlust set.

More diecut words and a close up on those fabulous frames....

And, while I had everything still out on my table, I decided to make a card, as well. I used PTI's harvest gold cardstock as my base and layered on the Crate Paper patterned paper and slides. I diecut some more words, just like I had on my layout. I also added some stitching and some MME enamel dots.

I love these little frozen treats! They were on a journaling card, but I cut them out when I discovered that they fit perfectly into one of the frames. Did I mention how much I love these frames? LOL!

So, usually I give away my cards or sell them at church, but this one is for me. I've already put it on my computer armoire, along with a lantern and my wrought-iron bicycle and it will stay there until summer is over. ;)

By the way, I'm also submitting this card for this week's Simon Says Stamp Challenge: Anything Goes.

Thanks for looking!