Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Communique Curves (3)

Can you believe we have already had sneak peaks for 3 days?  Thanks for joining me again.  I am thrilled to show you even more versatility using both Communique Curves and Communique Curves Sentiments.  If you haven't had a chance to blog hop today I highly recommend you check out the AMAZING creations the design team has come up with using this set.  One of the best parts about being a stamp designer is watching what others do with the set and today was no exception.  I  also looking forward to seeing what you do with the set too.  As always I encourage you to send me links of your work using any of the stamp sets I have created for Papertrey Ink.
Today's cards focus on the Communique Curves sentiments set with elements/images from Communique Curves.  As you will see the two sets go hand in hand.  There is nothing better than complimentary sets that can be extended over and over again.

The first card is a simple card.  In fact, it takes no more than 5 minutes to put it together.  I created this card with wedding and baby shower thank you's in mind.  Having gone through both of those myself, I know how many cards you need to thank people so the easier they are to make the faster you can get to writing a message inside!

I began by stamping a row of boxes (as seen in Nichole's sneak peak today).  You'll note that it seems like a sliver of the box.  That's because I used a post it note to cut off the bottom of the box.  I then touched up the boxes with a black pen--so it looks like it is a mini box using True Black.  Next I stamped the dots using Ripe Avocado and finally the sentiment in Pure Poppy.





Stamp Set(s): Communique Curves (Urban Design by Alli Miles) by Papertrey Ink 
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White by PTI

Ink: Pure Poppy by PTI , Ripe Avocado by PTI, True Black by PTI

The second card is similar to the first one however I created this card with holiday thank you's in mind.  I like the idea that my kids can send a little note to relatives after the holidays are over so this sweet number will be one of my mass produced cards this season.

I started by stamping my images (read above) and then I decided to colour the boxes using my Copic Markers.  I layered the front of the card using Stamper's Select White cardstock and Pure Poppy cardstock. As a final touch I added this gorgeous gingham ribbon.





Stamp Set(s): Communique Curves (Urban Design by Alli Miles) by Papertrey Ink 
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White by PTI, Pure Poppy by PTI

Ink: Pure Poppy by PTI , Ripe Avocado by PTI, True Black by PTI
Accents:Gingham Ribbon by PTI
Tools: Copic Markers


The last card screams masculine.  I constantly struggle to put together a card for the guys in my life.  While my family is not that big, my husband's is and we have a lot of "male" birthday cards to send out every year so you can imagine my struggle.  Well now I have the ol' standby--swap colours and keep the layout and each card is a new card.
One of the things I like about this card is the clean lines and the circular feel.  It's full circle!  I began by stamping the second layer using white pigment ink and Polka Dot Basics II in addition to a strip of Kraft paper.  You'll note that I double stamped two rows of circles using Spring Rain. Next I stamped the circles using Spring Rain, then stamped the sentiment using Enchanted Evening ink.  I masked the area (using a cut out of the sentiment on a post it note) and proceded to stamp the dots over top using Pure Poppy.  Why did I do this you ask?  Because the dots go full circle and I didn't want them to interfere with the sentiment.  I decided to create another circle by using the Spellbinders Standard Circle die cut around the sentiment and circles.  As a final touch I cut a strip of Bitty Dot Basics and put the entire layout together.






















Stamp Set(s): Communique Curves (Urban Design by Alli Miles) by Papertrey Ink, Polka Dot Basics by PTI
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White by PTI, Kraft by PTI
, Spring Rain by PTI, Enchanted Evening by PTI

Patterned Paper:Bitty Dots Basics by PTI
Ink: Pure Poppy by PTI , Enchanted Evening by PTI, Spring Rain by PTI, SnowCap pigment ink by Ranger
Tools: Spellbinders Standard Circles

Thanks so much for stopping by.  I look forward to seeing you again tomorrow.

Hugs;
Alli

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Communique Curves (4)

It's another FUN Papertrey Ink day and I am very excited to share a few more projects with you too.  Don't you just love this time of month?  Every month I wait with baited breath to see more PTI designs-- they only get better and better.

Whenever I create cards I consider a few key things 1) who is the card for 2) what occasion am I creating for.  Don't get me wrong I do create cards on a whim but I find if I have a purpose I can be more productive.  With that in mind I created the following cards...

First up is this super fun holiday card.  My absolute FAV combo of items: buttons and patterned paper.  I decided to use Heather Nichols delicious Rustic Snowflakes. I absolutely love the old world feel to this paper and the fact that I could use my square punch to get a square of different paper. I paired up matching coloured buttons too.  You'll note that I stamped "Season's" in Ripe Avocado and "Greetings" in Pure Poppy.  Yes that is right they are independent stamps which means you can mix and match your favourite holiday colour combos!  As a final touch I decided to create a soft base and stamped the Kraft paper with Polka Dot basics II and rubbed the edges with white pigment ink.

This is definitely a mass produce-able card and I would vary it slightly (pieces of paper, colours etc) depending on who I was giving it to.



Keep in mind, if you are sending all your cards out this year you may want to omit the buttons and just keep the paper squares.  With or without buttons, the card looks amazing!

Stamp Set(s): Communique Curves (Urban Design by Alli Miles) by Papertrey Ink, Polka Dot Basics by PTI
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White by PTI, Kraft by PTI

Patterned Paper:Rustic Snowflakes by PTI
Ink: Pure Poppy by PTI , Ripe Avocado by PTI, SnowCap pigment ink by Ranger
Accents:Buttons by PTI

  I created the second card with I "girl's night out" or "event" in mind.  I find that December is a busy month from staff parties, family gatherings, meetings with friends, wrapping up a club (stamp club, book club) etc and as such a cheery holiday invite might be the perfect match!

I began this card by stamping the base with Plum Pudding and Polka Dot Basics II.  Then I stamped my sentiment "Jingle All the Way" using Hibiscus Burst,  the bell using Plum Pudding and the dots in True Black.  The dots are spaced perfectly to make a chain.  Using a post it note you can alter the size of your chain.  As you can see I only used 4 dots for today's card while the preview the other day showed 5! Once I finished my stamping I cut the circle using Spellbinders Standard Circle Nestabilities.  I also cut a strip of Bitty Dot Basics and a strip of Hibiscus Burst cardstock.  I decided to add texture to the strip and used my Scor-Pal to give it appeal. As a final touch I added some swiss dot ribbon and punched the lower right hand corner with a rounded corner punch by EK Success.




Whatever your holiday goals are this season I hope I have provided you with some inspiration!

Stamp Set(s): Communique Curves (Urban Design by Alli Miles) by Papertrey Ink, Polka Dot Basics by PTI
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White by PTI, Perfect Plum by PTI, Hibiscus Burst by PTI
Patterned Paper:
Bitty Dot Basics by PTI,
Ink: True Black by PTI, Perfect Plum by PTI, Hibiscus Burst by PTI
Accents:Swiss Dot Ribbon by PTI
Tools: 
Spellbinders Standard Circles, corner rounder by EK Success

Don't forget to check back again tomorrow for day 3 of the countdown.  I have been crafting up some special projects to share with you.

And last but not least..thank you SO much for stopping by and leaving me comments.  It is so nice to hear from you.

Hugs,
Alli

Monday, November 9, 2009

Communique Curves (5)

I am thrilled to introduce my first stamp set for 2009 called Communique Curves by Papertrey Ink available for purchase on November 15th. As many of you know I took most of this year to settle into new routines: homeschooling, having grandma (my grandma) move in with us in addition to a move to a new city and house that required a TON of yard work. Now that I have settled I am slowly finding my way back to illustrating, publication work and stamping too. Wait till you see what's in store for 2010!

Communique Curves was not only designed with the holidays in mind but also every day celebrations. I am really fond of clean design and along with that I see shapes and perfect font matches. This set gives you that and more! You will be able to put together boutique cards for less. I am sure you will be amazed by what combinations you can make with this set.

Today's project features one of my favourite combos: circles, buttons, ribbon and sentiments!
This card is easily reproducible and ideal for mass production. Keep in mind any colour goes. I stuck with traditional holiday colours for this card. I used several sheets from the Bitty Dot Basics patterned paper collection. I also stamped Polka Dot Basics II with new leaf ink on new leaf cardstock. You'll note that I used Spellbinders Labels 4 die cut to create the framework for the stamp and sentiment from Communique Curves. In addition, I used several copic markers to colour between the circles. Lastly, I added lucious Pure Poppy buttons.







Stamp Set(s): Circle and sentiment from Communique Curves (Urban Design by Alli Miles) by Papertrey Ink, Polka Dot Basics by PTI
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White by PTI, New Leaf by PTI
Patterned Paper:
Bitty Dot Basics by PTI,
Ink: True Black by PTI, New Leaf by PTI
Accents: Pure Poppy Buttons by PTI, Ribbon by PTI
Tools: Copic Markers
, Spellbinders Labels 4, corner rounder by EK Success

Stay tuned for the next 5 days to see exclusive sneak peaks! See you tomorrow and thanks for stopping by :)

Have a super day.

Alli

Saturday, November 7, 2009

For My Teacher...

When I first spotted this adorable paper I knew I needed to match it with the school house from the Unity kit and the sentiment from PTI! As a teacher I always make sure I spend a little extra time on cards and gifts for my kid's teachers. Well as most of you know I am homeschooling my son this year so now the focus goes on my daughter's teacher. I wanted to keep this card minimal so that it was easily reproducible. As the years have passed I have found that although paper crafters create GORGEOUS multi-layered cards using a variety of tools not everyone has access to those. I remember the early days when basic is all that there was and while I do enjoy spending hours creating ONE card I also think it is important to create a bunch of cards in one hour. KWIM?



Stamp Set(s): sentiment from Everyday Button Bits by PTI and image from September Kit of the Month by Unity
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White by PTI
Patterned Paper:
October Afternoon
Ink: Dark Chocolate by PTI
Tools: Copic Markers
, Scallop Punch by Fiskars

Hope you have something fun planned for the weekend. I know I plan to enjoy some crafting time in preparation for next week *wink*.

Alli

Friday, November 6, 2009

Did you see...

this on Nichole's blog???




Yes, after months of "time off" and getting resettled in life I finally have a stamp set to share with you. Make sure you read about it HERE.

Looking forward to sharing some details and projects during the countdown :)

Hugs,
Alli

Soaring by to say HI!

I sill cannot get enough of Nichole's adorable Button Bits from Papertrey Ink. Every time I walk by that set it calls my name. As I had not used this balloon stamp set as of yet I knew I had to ink it up and give it a try.



Stamp Set(s): sentiment and image from Everyday Button Bits by PTI
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White by PTI
Patterned Paper:
October Afternoon
Ink: Dark Chocolate by PTI
Accent: Ribbon by PTI, Buttons by PTI
Tools: Nestabilities

Hope you have a terrific day!!

Alli

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Autumn blessings

I had a rough night on Tuesday night--sicker than I can even remember! So glad I feel up to a post today. I am working on getting into the habit of posting more frequently again. With the move and the outdoor work I have found that I am just not getting to my blog posts at the end of the day. As the weather gets wetter and colder I am in my stamp room a lot more and not outside as much.

On another note my mum is celebrating a VERY special birthday today and she is off on a trip to celebrate it with friends. Happy Birthday Mum! Love you.

In celebration of autumn I thought I'd share this card with you!





Stamp Set(s): image from October Kit of the Month by Unity, sentiment by PTI
Cardstock: Stamper's Select White by PTI
Patterned Paper:
fThree Bugs in a Rug, October Afternoon, PTI
Ink: Dark Chocolate by PTI
Tools: Copic Markers

Have a super day!

Alli