PTI Anniversary Contest: Customer Favorites

Papertrey Ink is celebrating their 4th Anniversary! Today, we were asked to post our favorite PTI project from the past year. You can find all the details for the contest (and see the AMAZING prize package) here.

I have several PTI cards that I love from the past year - it was really fun to look back through my pictures and see everything I have made. In the end, I had to go with this Kraft, Red, White & Polka Dot card. I just adore these colors together and you all know how much I love Polka Dots!

Hope you are all enjoying your Saturday!

~Anika

Card Making Day with Katie

Katie & I have been friends since Kindergarten and she had a baby boy a couple weeks ago. Today she came over to make some thank you cards. We had fun chatting and crafting.

We managed to make 22 of these before we ran out of Kraft cardstock. (Katie is now in love with Kraft cardstock and is having me pick up 2 packs of it for her at CHA!) I think they are adorable - it certainly helps having a cute baby as the focal point! We are planning another day to craft some more before I head back to school and she heads back to work.

Over the weekend we went to a bridal shower and this is the card I made them. I {heart} Guidelines 2!!

I'm not sure if I will be back here before I leave for Chicago or not - tomorrow might get busy. I can't believe that one week from today I will already be home! Can't wait to meet some of you!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Anika

Supplies: (All Papertrey Ink unless noted)

Thank you card

Cardstock: Kraft, misc. baby blue

Stamps: Star Prints

Ink: Dark Chocolate

Other: Polka Dot Impression Plate, Ribbon from Michael's, baby picture

Celebrate card

Cardstock: Kraft, Stamper's Select White, Berry Sorbet, Hawaiian Shores

Stamps: Guidelines 2, Damask Designs

Ink: Hawaiian Shores, Berry Sorbet, Tea Dye Duo, Antique Linen Distress Ink

Other: Dark Chocolate Satin ribbon, Cream Button Twine, White Button

Play Date Cafe #38 & Moxie Fab: Clean & Graphic

It's been a busy couple of days!  I've made a bunch of cards and I'm on a domestic streak - lasagna and cookies yesterday, casserole and brownies today. YUM!

This card is for the Play Date Cafe Challenge #38 and the Moxie Fab: Clean & Graphic Challenge.  I thought this would be easy, but I guess my style isn't usually Clean & Graphic!!  

It's beautiful here today after a stormy day yesterday so I'm excited to go sit outside and enjoy it for awhile!  Have a great day!

~Anika

Supplies:  (All Papertrey Ink unless noted)

Cardstock: Bazzill Basics in Boysenberry Delight, Sparkleberry Delight & Lime Crush

Stamps: A Little Argyle and Big & Bold Wishes

Ink: Fresh Snow, Dusty Concord Distress Ink

HEC #8 & SSSC76

I have been meaning to play along with Ted's Happily Ever Challenged challenges for several months, but I always seem to run out of time. You can find details for the current challenge to make a Red, White, and Blue card here.  I also used the Sweet Sunday Sketch for this week. Here is what I came up with.

I decided to ink the edges of the red layer with white ink...bad idea!  I had so much ink on it, that I had to let it sit and dry for hours, even then it was 'smudgable'.  Live and learn!

Before I go, I want to alert you to a giveaway!  My friend over on the PTI forum, Jen, makes these great button & bead rings and she is giving one away on her blog, so be sure to stop HERE and check it out!

Can't believe tomorrow is already Friday!  Hope you're having a fantastic week!

~Anika

Supplies: (All Papertrey Ink unless noted)

Cardstock: Stampers Select White, Enchanted Evening, Pure Poppy

Stamps: Star Prints

Ink: Fresh Snow, Versamark

Other: Pure Poppy Swiss Dot Ribbon, Fiskars Star Punch

Paper Dolls Challenge #9

Holy crafting, Batman!!  This is my second post today.  Scroll down to my first post for the day for a couple cards I made with Color Couture.

I'm trying to catch up on some of the Paper Dolls Challenges.  This one was issued by Katie:  What's Old is New!  Meaning use one of the first Papertrey Ink sets you ever purchased.  Well, my first order included 3 sets - Butterfly Kisses and Fancy Flourishes, that I use often and Background Basics: Spots and Dots, that I love, but just don't reach for very often.  It was fun to pull it out again, hopefully it will see a little more ink in the coming weeks too!  Anyway, I managed to use all 3 sets on my card for this challenge.  I also chose to use Berry Sorbet since that was the first ink color I purchased from Papertrey.

Although it's still not perfect, I have gotten much better at lining up the outline and inside of this background image.  It's probably the hardest one for me to line up.

Well, I think I'm caught up with the Paper Dolls Challenges that are still open.  There are a few others that I never had a chance to do that I still want to try though!  Please feel free to play along with the challenges on the Paper Dolls blog - they are issued every Thursday and are open for 3 weeks - we would love to see your work!

Have a great day!

~Anika

Papertrey Paper Dolls: Challenge #3

I'm alive!  I can't believe it's been so long since I've posted.  I've actually had some time to create over the past few weeks, just no time to edit photos and post.  Sorry this picture is so terrible, but I really wanted to be able to participate in this weeks challenge over on the Paper Dolls blog so at 8:30 tonight, this was the best lighting I could get.

Here's the sketch.  (Love square cards. Way to go, Suzanne!)

And here's my card.  

I needed a little thank you card for a student who brought me a basket of fruit for Teacher Appreciation Day last week.  I used Soft Stone cardstock for the base and some Pretty Pastels PP for the first mat layer.  The second mat layer is some Archiver's cs I had in my stash.  I used the A Little Argyle and Round & Round stamp sets, Dusty Concord Distress Ink and PTI Fresh Snow Ink.  Then a little piece of Fresh Snow Twill to finish it off.

Thanks for stopping by!  

~Anika

(All supplies are Papertrey Ink unless noted.)

Thank You Card & Scrap Storage

Lately, I have been seeing so many cards created with black bases so I decided to give it a whirl.  I finally got around to using my Scor-Tape and Glitter that I bought last month.  When I first started this card, I was going to have a bunch of flowers on it, so I cut out 6 Violets and then only used 2.  Oh well, guess I have a little jump start on another card!

I organized all my scraps awhile back and now that I know I like this method, I thought I would share it.  I just used a cardboard box that some of my PTI Supplies were shipped in and folded the flaps down on the inside.  Then I labeled file folders for each color.  I sorted my scraps into the folders and set them in the box.  Easy Peasy! I am able to keep my little supply of PTI patterned paper and my Mat Stacks in the front of the box.  

I also keep the white sheet (or the label) that comes in the packs of PTI Cardstock right in front of the folders.  I am constantly using them as shims for my Cuttlebug, or to catch embossing powder, etc...  So it's nice to have them in reach.

Here is the "Pink" file.  (Not all my scraps are this big.)

And the "Green" file.

I know I have saved a lot of money by doing this, because it is so easy to find exactly what I need.  No more cutting into a brand new piece of cardstock just for a small piece!

Thanks for stopping by!  

~Anika

Supplies: (All Papertrey Ink)

Cardstock: True Black, Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz, and Bitty Box in Lemon Tart

Stamps: Year of Flowers: Violets, Asian Fusian

Ink: True Black

Other: Vintage Buttons in Hawaiian Shores, Raspberry Fizz & Lemon Tart; Glitter; Clear Rhinestones; Polka Dot Impression Plate

Compose a Card #7

You can get the details for Becky's latest challenge here.  

I had a lot of fun making this card, but it was definitely a challenge!  I started it on Tuesday evening, but just couldn't 'get it'.  It wasn't until today when I saw Betsy's post for the PTI DT Challenge that I finally figured out what I wanted to do!  I loved her idea of inking the Impression Plate before sending it through the Cuttlebug - definitely a technique I will use frequently!!  So here is my card...

My other favorite thing these days is blanket stitching!  On Tuesday night (after I gave up on my card for the night), I took a chunk of black felt and free hand cut a bunch of flowers out of it and stitched around the edges while I watched TV.  

Thanks for checking it out!

~Anika

Supplies:  (All Papertrey Ink - except the blue floss)

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Lemon Tart, Bitty Box in Spring Rain

Stamps: Year of Flowers: Violets

Ink:  True Black, Fresh Snow

Other: Black Wool Felt, Spring Rain Button, Rustic Cream Button Twine, Rickrack Border Die, Giga Guidelines Impression Plate, Embroidery Floss

Thank You So Much

Just a quick post today.  I love Damask Designs!  I waited way to long to get this set.  I have been using it on everything lately!

For this card, I used all Papertrey Ink Supplies.  I started with a Kraft cardstock base and added a square of Enchanted Evening and a Square of Bitty Box paper in Spring Rain.  Then I stamped the largest image from Damask Designs onto a square of Kraft using Enchanted Evening Ink.  I wrapped the Rustic Cream Button Twine around the card before putting the top square on using foam dimensionals.  The sentiment is also from Damask Designs and is stamped in Enchanted Evening.

Hope everyone had a fabulous weekend!  I am looking forward to a 4 day work week, a 4 day weekend, and another 4 day work week!  Hopefully I will have lots of crafting time on my days off!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Anika     

Poppy Seed Challenge #2

Lisa Johnson has another challenge for us.  When I saw 'polka dots' I knew I had to participate in this one!  I just received my March Release package from Papertrey Ink and I am in love with the new Hawaiian Shores color. (Who isn't?? It's gorgeous!) So here is what I came up with.

I love the bright orange and blue paired with the light green.  When I stamped the vase I was a little annoyed at the light space in the middle so I restamped it, but I ended up liking the one with the light space - almost looks like the sunlight is shining on it.  

I worked on a bunch of other cards today too, but I'm submitting them to Paper Crafts Stamping Royalty Card Contest. I've never submitted anything before, but decided 'why not?'

Hope everyone is having a fabulous Friday!  Enjoy the weekend!

~Anika

Supplies: (All Papertrey Ink unless noted)

Cardstock: Hawaiian Shores, Spring Moss, Pretty Pastels PP,  Orange striped paper by DCWV in the Animal Crackers stack.

Stamps: Asian Fusion

Ink: Hawaiian Shores, Orange Marmalade Distress Ink by Ranger

Other: Hawaiian Shores Bitty Dot ribbon, Hawaiian Shores buttons, Small Scallop Die

Thank You

I have a little Thank You card to share today.  I made this for one of my students and her family.  I have known her mom since I was little so we are 'facebook friends'.  When she found out my birthday was in March she decided to check out my Interests & Activities on my facebook page to come up with an idea for a gift for me.  There is a link to my blog there so she decided to check it out and it was there that she discovered my PTI obsession!  Last week she sent me an email with a PTI Gift Certificate!  Totally unexpected! I was so excited! I had to make a Thank You card for them so here it is.

I used Kraft cardstock with a layer of Pretty Pastels paper over it.  The ribbon is Plum Pudding and the buttons are from the Spring Mix and are tied on with Cream Button Twine.  I stamped the sentiment from Signature Greetings in Dark Chocolate.

Jamey and Madalyn, if you happen to read this, Thank You!!  I popped this in the mail to you yesterday so hopefully it arrives safe and sound in your mailbox soon!

I can't believe Spring Break is more than half over.  I am really enjoying our beautiful weather, can't wait for the flowers to start blooming!  Thanks for stopping by, have a fantastic day.

~Anika

Compose a Card with Becky #5

I am so excited to play along with Becky's challenge this week.  Find details here.  I have been wanting to play the past few weeks, but haven't found the time.  When I saw the polka dots on this weeks challenge, I knew I had to participate!  For Becky's challenges, she gives you cutting and color instructions.  I am now in love with Aqua Mist and Pure Poppy & White Polka Dots! 

Here is my card.  I actually wrapped Pure Poppy Swiss Dot ribbon around the 2nd mat layer of cardstock because my white ink pad desperately needs a re-inker!  I love the look though and will definitely do this again! 

Here is a close up of the details! 

Who enjoyed that Blog Hop last night?  I know I did, what a great challenge!  I best be off to work; have a great Friday!  I hope everyone is able to squeeze in some crafting time this weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!

~Anika

Supplies:  All Papertrey Ink products

Cardstock: Aqua Mist & Stamper Select White

Stamps: Asian Fusion

Ink: Pure Poppy

Other: Swiss Dot Satin Ribbon in Pure Poppy, Vintage Buttons in Pure Poppy, Button Twine & a flower punch