Children's Birthdays and My First Copics

I took the Copic plunge last week and found a very simple stamp set on sale at Michaels.  I figured it would be a good 1st try of using the Copics and not challenge me into never trying them again.  I have used Prisma Pencils in the past and am comfortable with the blending process used with those type of Pencils. I was very much hoping that the worst of my learning curve was behind me. 

It was.  I felt very comfortable using and blending with the Copics.  I have watched several tutorials on youtube (search for Copic tutorial) and found it a pretty easy transition.  Now, I need to take the next step and go for something that requires a bit more skill and more than 4 colors and a blender!

The nice thing about simple stamps and Copics is that they make wonderful focals for Children's cards.  Since I seem to have an abundance of Grandchildren, I am always in need of Birthday cards.  Ta Daaaaa!

Card Number 1

And here is number 2.  Both simple and sweet. just like my perfectly behaved Grandchildren (insert sarcasm icon here)

So, what do you think?  Pretty basic but I was more concerned with using the Copics than the intracacies of the card.

All cardstock, ink and ribbon by Papertreyink
Stamps by Recollections
Scallop punch by Fiskars

Ted's Challenge

I'm a boxaholic.  I know it and can't help it.  Show me a new box template and I'm there... I'm all over it like white on rice.  So, a fellow PTI'er has a little box challenge going on his blog.  See here: Ted's blog challenge
Now how fortuitous is it that Lauren Meader's new web  site is offering a FREE box template here: Lauren's Web Site

So, new template, holiday's over, I'm itching to use pink again... a match made in heaven!  Time for some Valentine treat boxes!  It is a simple box, kind of reminds me of a card deck box but so fun to do your own colors and embellies!

I tucked the lid into the heart embellishment but it will also tuck into the box itself.

The neatest part of all.... I got it as an SVG file so I cut it on my Cricut!  From someone that can not cut a straight one inch line, I am definitely in heaven now!

Supplies:

PP and card stock: PTI

Stamps: PTI

Ribbon: Offray from Joanns

Heart Punch: Marvy Uchida

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop time.

Our challenge this month was to gain inspiration from something related to the recent holidays.  I decided to be inspired by my own work!  I just love the Home Made templates and wound up making 5 of them.  I still have 3 on my living room table, complete with a few trees and assorted Holiday type statues.  Everyone commented on these cute little houses and my grandchildren loved playing with them, continually re-arranging their placement.  Future housing developers, perhaps?

Here they are.

We have a very active Welcome Committee in my neighborhood and I thought I would create a "Welcome" card for whomever our next newest neighbors will be.  I know I would have been thrilled to receive a homemade card along with all the goodies and information I did receive when I moved in 5 years ago.   Using my Houses for inspiration, I came up with this:

 

I am madly in love with Terracotta Tile with Lemon Tart and Vintage Cream papers from PTI.  Just a tiny splash of Spring Moss in the "leaves".  Stamping ink is Terracotta Tile for the window and sentiment and Summer Sunrise for the curtains.  Stamps are Home Made, Polka Dot Basics 2 and Text Style II.  Buttons and ribbon are Terracotta Tile.  It is very rare that I make a card that is purely from one company but this was an easy match.  The Martha Stewart punch is the lone outlier!  This was so fun.

I hope you enjoy it, too!

Homemade for co-worker

One of my co-workers just loved the little houses made with Lauren Meader and Nichole Heady's Home Made products from PTI.  That is all it took for me to decide what her Christmas gift would be!  This is a hard year for her as her mother, withwhom she was very close, died at this time last year.  This has been a rough year for all of us in the lab and hers was compounded by her mother's death.

I sure hope this will bring a needed smile.  Just in case, I also filled it up with Reese Mini Peanut Butter cups wrapped in holiday colors.  Hey, chocolate works.

Here is the front:

And here is the back:

All card stock is from PTI and the pattern paper is from my stash (I never keep track of PP, I have too much).  Velvet ribbon is from Joanns and glitter domes from Paperwishes.com.  The leaves for the wreath and under the windows is from the Martha Stewart punch that is getting quite a work out lately.

Well, off to finish up another house... yes, I am addicted to making these.  I can complete one in less than 2 hours once I have made up my mind what colors I'm using!  The color decisions take the longest.

Everyone, have a Happiest of Holidays and a safe and healthy New Year.

I am having so much fun with the PTI Home Made template.  Here is my growing village!  Don't they just look cute and like I am some expert crafter!  Ha!  They really are easy, especially after the first one.  Very short learning curve.