Black and White and Gray All Over

Today's card was made for the Embellish Magazine Color Trends Text Challenge.  In addition to using the color cues, the challenge is to incorporate text in some form into your project.  

The neutral colors of the challenge really say formal to me, so I went with an engagement/wedding card.  For text, I chose traditional wedding vows which I printed out on white cardstock using the old computer.  I'm a big font fan, but I went simple with this one to give it a cleaner, more modern look.   For colors, I layered light grey over a base of deep grey cardstock (Smokey Shadow from PTI).  

[I haven't totally committed to the sentiment yet, so it's just hanging in there with removable adhesive.  May inside the card is better?]  

So you can see, not too much technique going on with this one!  Just straight forward cutting and piecing.  But clean is the look I was going for.  My favorite part is the tie (do you know how hard it is to tie a teeny satin ribbon like a real tie?).  This one would be great to customize to match wedding colors (if you like that sort of thing;-).  Thanks for  looking! 

{aloha, jj}

Stamps: Faux Ribbon (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: Starlite Silver (Brilliance)  
Paper: White and Smokey Shadow (Papertrey Ink), light grey from stash
Other: Black satin ribbon, pearl accents

Thank Shrank

Still working on my thank you cards!  And I'm playing along with the new Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge (#49)!

This card was a challenge for 2 reasons.  First off, I did an A2-sized card instead of my usual A7.  It seems like many stamps, embossing folders, edgers, etc. are made to specifically work with the smaller A2 size than the A7's.      

Secondly, this is my first time stamping shrink plastic!  Yes, shrinky dinks!  It turns out they're making all kinds of craft shrink plastic these days.  For this project, I used a "matte" version, but I saw some clear and colored versions as well.  

If you look closely at the pics, you can see that I did the medallion in the middle of the doily and the "thanks" cutout in shrink plastic.  It took a couple tries (hints: use Stazon ink, cut out the plastic with dies, use ink sparingly to prevent smearing) but it's so much fun shrinking it up!  You can use the oven, but I did the heat gun method.  

For comparison, here's a picture of the original and the shrunken version.  The original cutout measures almost 4" across (2nd to the largest Labels 14 die).  Looking forward to trying other techniques like copics or colored pencils.  Thanks for looking! 

{aloha, jj} 

Stamps: Dainty Doilies and Say it Loud (Waltzingmouse Stamps), Background Basics - Text Style (Papertrey Ink)
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark
Paper: White (Recollections), Raspberry Fizz (Papertrey Ink)
Other: Big Scalloped Circles Lg and Labels 14 (Nestabilities), black satin ribbon, clear rhinestone accents, shrink plastic

CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #4 & The Play Date Cafe Challenge #83

I've been thinking of this idea for awhile, but it's taken some time to gather my supplies and work out how to assemble all the parts.  I finally got it all together this week and I was happy to find two challenges that worked great with what I already had in mind! 

The theme is graduation (courtesy of CAS-ual Fridays CFC4) in colors of black and white with a splash of green (ala the Play Date Cafe Challenge #83).   

Since I wanted to use a custom quote, I used the computer to print out the words and the outline box.  I stamped the agapanthus images over the printed words.  The whole idea of the card stemmed from the tiny glass tube which I got from the lab where I work (it's used in microbiology work).  I fashioned a custom cork for my teeny test tube from small pieces cut from a roll of bulletin board cork.  The seeds are pansy seeds which were chosen because of their size and look.  I originally wanted to use zinnia seeds, but they looked like small leaves instead of seeds. 

Inside the card, I stamped another coordinating image.  The back of the card is not shown, but I've listed the type of seeds and growing information from the seed packet for the card recipient.  The hardest part was using my circle die to do the circle window.  It was fun making this one and look forward to trying it again.  I've found all sorts of quotes to use for so many other occasions.  Thanks for looking! 

{aloha, jj} 

P.S.  I have a few of the test tubes/corks to share.  If you're interested, please leave a comment about it and I'll email you back for your address.   

{aloha, jj}

Stamps: Agapanthus Long (Stampendous), Silhouette Spray (Hero Arts)
Ink: Colorbox Moss Green
Paper: Recollections white
Other: Standard Circles Lg (Nestabilities), baker's twine (The Twinery)

Jolly Green Mojo

With May birthdays come June thank you cards!  With so many cards to do, I thought why not take a bit of motivation (and inspiration) from the Mojo Monday Sketch Blog?   Here's the sketch for Mojo #192...

Technically this card is from my sons, so I went with muted colors (I'm pushing it with the button and the twine:).  I have to admit that the multiple layers on this sketch are REALLY intimidating.  The hardest part was settling on the background paper.  I used a cropped version of Labels 8 for my large stamped sentiment.  The bottom edging was chosen to mimic the lines of the Label 8 die cut.  And of course, I couldn't resist printing out a tiny tag.  (I think I love fonts as much as I love paper!)

I definitely need to get more comfortable layering elements, but the boys approve and for me that's all that matters!  Thanks for looking! 

{aloha, jj} 

Stamps: Say It With Style (Waltzingmouse Stamps)
Ink: Colorbox Moss Green, Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: White, ripe avocado (Papertrey Ink), Marjolaine Creme Anglaise patterned paper (Basic Grey)
Embellishments: Buttons (mixed pack from Joann's), baker's twine (The Twinery)

Other: Labels 14, Labels 8 (Nestabilities), Edge punch (Fiskars)

Card Candy

This candy-colored number is for my son's beyond awesome art teacher!  She's been his art teacher for the last 6 years and she was one of the first folks (aside from proud family members) to recognize my son's natural talent.  Each year she goes out of her way to mentor him and give him opportunities to foster his craft.  To thank her for all her efforts and care, I put together this card.  It's sweet, modern, and happy, just like her!

This idea for this card was inspired by the Moxie Fab Chevron Chic Challenge.  I knew I wanted to do something colorful (after all it's for an art teacher).  So I'm thinking colorful chevrons...hmmm...fruit stripe gum!  (Remember the zebra?)  And my new canning jar stamp was the perfect "container" for button gumballs.  Love it!

Thanks for looking! 

{aloha, jj} 

Stamps: Chevron Stripes (Papertrey Ink), Canning jar (Inkadinkado),  Say it With Style (Papertrey Ink) 
Ink: Colorbox Razzberry, Colorbox Moss Green, Colorbox Classic cat eyes, Alamode aqua, Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: White cardstock (Papertrey Ink)
Embellishments: Buttons (mixed pack from Joann's), baker's twine (The Twinery)

PTI MIM #16 & CR84FN 29

Did you get all that?  (I need to work on my papercrafting acronyms!)  Today I combined the Papertrey Ink Make It Monday #16 project with the CR84FN 29 color challenge.  

This week the CR84FN colors were light plum, plum, and kraft.  I prefer to work sparse and clean for sympathy cards, so it's a pretty simple card.  I did try something new by cutting a 3D vellum flower with my Silhouette.  I colored the vellum a bit with the Sweet Plum ink.  I'd like to get some paper flower tools (like these) to shape the petals, but I'm happy with this first attempt. 

Thanks for looking! 

{aloha, jj} 

Stamps: Think Big Favorites #3 (Papertrey Ink), In Bloom (Papertrey Ink) 
Ink: Memento Dye Sweet Plum, Distress Ink Tea Dye
Paper: Kraft and Royal Velvet cardstock (Papertrey Ink), vellum
Embellishments: Pearl accent, Recollections brad (purple)
Other: Foam dots, Labels 14 (Nestabilities), Silhouette (to cut vellum flower), Crop-O-Dile Corner Chomper

Platinum Thank You's

End of the school year means lots of great teachers to thank!  I don't normally reach for the floral stamps, but I couldn't resist PTI's In Bloom stamps!  

These stamps are so versatile ~ color them in with copics for a playful look or, as I did, stamp them as a background in a subtle color.  For this card, I used a platinum ink (wish I could capture how beautiful it is) on smooth cream.  

Topped it off with a lush PTI satin bow.  As a finishing touch, I couldn't resist the teeny tiny custom tag printed from the computer. Thanks for looking!
{aloha, jj}

Stamps: Think Big Favorites #2 (Papertrey Ink), In Bloom (Papertrey Ink) 
Ink: Stazon Black, Brilliance Platinum Planet 
Paper: Vintage Cream cardstock (Papertrey Ink), True Black (Papertrey Ink)
Embellishments: Raspberry Fizz satin ribbon (Papertrey Ink)
Other: foam dots, Labels 8 (Nestabilities), Labels 14 (Nestabilities)

Momma T{ea} & Baby T{ea}

  

On May 21st, Waltzingmouse Stamps is turning two and they're celebrating with a Birthday Tea Party!  May 21st happens to be one of my favorite days because it's my twin sons and husband's birthday too!  {I know, it's crazy}  Inspired by all the birthdays, I decided to decorate my Birthday Tea Party entry baby-style.   

I used the WMS template to cut out a tea bag and sized it down to make my teeny baby-sized tea bag.  I went with traditional pink and blue, but chose more modern tones.  The doily stamps are great for layering.  I even used them to give my die cut buttons some color and texture.  This Momma and Baby set will be the perfect gift card holder for a relative who is expecting later this year (how appropriate that their last name starts with a "T")!    

Birthday cheers to WMS, we're celebrating with you!  

{aloha, jj}  

Stamps: Say It Loud (Waltzingmouse Stamps), Dainty Doilies (Waltzingmouse Stamps), Background Basics:Text Style (Papertrey Ink) 

Ink: ColorBox Razzberry, Ala Mode Aqua

Paper: White cardstock (Papertrey Ink), Raspberry Fizz cardstock (Papertrey Ink), Coasters (Papertrey Ink)

Other: Buttoned Up #1 & #2 (Papertrey Ink), Labels 14 (Nestabilities), Big Scalloped Circles Large (Nestabilities), Polka Dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Pink Sorbet bakers twine (The Twinery), white embossing powder, foam dots, jewels

Birthday week continues...

This card is for my sister who turned the big 40 on Sunday!  Got to use one of my favorite sentiment stamps from PTI.

My favorite part is the tiny tag done in the matching font.  To make the custom tag, I downloaded the matching font from myfonts.com and printed it out on the computer.  
{aloha, jj}  

Stamps: Think Big Favorites #2 (Papertrey Ink) 
Ink: Stazon Dark Brown 
Paper: White cardstock, Melody Ross Ava Collection (butterfly and yellow medallion) 
Other: foam dots, Matstack #4 die (Papertrey Ink), Labels 8 (Nestabilities)

Ankle deep in birthday cake

May is a huge month for our family.  My sister, father, husband, twin sons, and brother-in-law have birthdays all in the SAME week.  I made this card for my BIL with a great set from WPlus9 and a handmade Converse chuck stamp from Etsy seller sugarskull7.  Gotta love the 80's vibe.
{aloha, jj}
  
Stamps: So 80's (WPlus9), original sugarskull7
Ink: Versamark, Stazon Black
Paper: Kraft cardstock
Other: TH Tiny Attacher stapler

Looking for the Ribbon Girls?

Are you looking for the Ribbon Girls?  For those who have inquired, the Ribbon Girls site is still on hiatus.  What does that mean exactly?  Not sure!   We’re still holding on to our tiny little part of the internet, but we’ve decided not to continue with retail sales for now.  We’re still designing, just not focusing on retail.  We realized we were spending way too much time being business people (boo!) and less and less time being creative people (yay!).  So now we’re back, doing the fun stuff and not worrying about stuff like gross sales and site statistics.  Before we move on, we just want to say a heartfelt thanks to all of the folks we’ve met over the years.  It was a fun ride, and we met so many wonderful people!
{aloha, jj}