Gypsy Tray!

I have wanted to create some type of Gypsy Tray for quite awhile.  Finally found one (a true 7Gypsies) on sale.  Then I discovered Kerri Bradford Studio.  She creates these awesome print and cut files specifically designed to fit in the Gypsy trays.  There are some amazing cut files that can be used for cards and scrapbook pages and she also makes templates for use in PSE.  Anyway, had to give it a go.  Here (http://www.kerribradford.com/products-page/this-and-that-kits-complete/thisthat-winter/)is her original package and I just personalized it a bit.  I also discovered that my Cricut is terrible at the detailed cuts.  A new Silhouette Cameo is soooo going on my wish list.

Wait till you see the Spring one!  Have you ever made one or thought about it?  Love to hear your thoughts.

PTI ink: Acrylic vs. Red Rubber

Wonderful weekend!

After working five Sundays in a row, I finally had a full weekend off.  I crafted, I rearranged (switched out 2 printers with each other) and FINALLY purchased Photoshop Elements.  I have used ACDSee for years and grew very comfortable with it.  It is very easy to do basic photo enhancing, resizing, etc.  It has many powerful tools, just like PSE does.  But.  There are templates and add ons that available for PS and PSE that just aren't there for ACDSee.  Particularly, templates and storyboards for scrapbooking.

My learning curve won't be from ground zero.  I have a very old copy of Photoshop that I have dabbled with for years but I still have a learning curve in front of me.  One, that I noticed right off the bat is that I have no idea how to eliminate curvature in my photos.  See my lovely 12 x 12 layout?  See how it doesn't look square?  Anyone know how to either prevent it or fix it?  I sure don't... but I'll figure it out.  See, another really great thing about PSE... there are tutorials everywhere.

Here's some scrapbooking goodies from this weekend:
Supplies are PTI with a little BoBunny PP for good measure.

Hope your weekend was wonderful, too!

Long time, no see...

No, I didn't loose my crafting mojo.  I lost my blogging mojo.  I just seemed to need to walk away from my blog for a bit.

But, here I am and it is time to get ready for all the holiday cards.  I think most crafters love making cards for the holidays.  The choices are endless, so many stamps and you can go traditional or funky and... it's all good!

Mine tend to be on the more traditional side but I will throw down something "out there" every now and again.  I only make about 40 Christmas cards, 8 Hanukkah cards and a whopping 2 Winter Solstice cards.  Are there any traditional colors for Winter Solstice?  I usually go all out bright and cheerful for the solstice.  Maybe that's just me.

All supplies are PTI except for a few Waltzing Mouse Stamps sentiments that I just love.  Would love to know what you think...

PTI Blog Hop

The challenge:  Use an un-inked stamp set or one that you haven't used in a long time.
Response:  Thank you for MAKING me finally make my Birthday Calendar with the Calendar Set.  I bought this as a project for myself to keep all the birthdays and anniversaries organized and loved that it allowed room for a card or two in each pocket.

I kept the inserts clean and simple.  I plan on using the inserts over and over each year and buying and decorating a new binder (since that is the most fun part!) as each year starts again.

Oh, how this set made this project a snap.  I used a different PTI color for each month by cutting a strip the length of the insert.  I used this strip to help place the month stamp above it (and under the center hole of the binder rings).  Gosh, it turned out cute and exactly like I planned.  Ummm, that doesn't happen too often....

So here it is:  Best Part?  Anything I find I don't like about the binder, I will change next year.  I might add some buttons this year, though... I love buttons....

Thanks for hopping,

Patty

Ode to the Joy... of cards being done.

Yep, done. Finished.  Completed.  Ended.... not mailed yet... darn!  I was on a roll there for a minute.

Here they are in all there glory.  I played with techniques, I played with color combos, I kept it traditional, I added bling.  You name it and I think I tried it.  Well, not all of the techniques.

I put a number by each.  If you have a favorite, please let me know which one.  Yes, I'm scrounging for comments and this is a cheap way of doing it.  I have no pride but.... I'm done with my cards!!!

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I am getting slowly caught up in my real life.  I hope to be chatting with everyone on the PTI forum very soon.  If I am absent from time to time, it isn't your fault.  I have a major project I am involved with at work at it sucks time out of my life like you wouldn't believe.

Do have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all my Christian friends.  Hope Hanukkah rocked for all my Jewish friends and peace and good health be yours this coming year for all the atheists and undecideds.  Most of all, I wish everyone happiness and joy in your life.

Love ya all!

Banner time!

As much as I would love to spend all my money at Papertreyink.com, alas my funds are limited.  I just love the look of homemade banners and have seen so many excellent examples of different styles and I wanted very much to make one. I just couldn't justify the expense of the dies when I knew I could manage a similar shape with my Cricut and SCAL software.

Sure enough, SCAL 2 comes with a shape that works very well as a banner.  I made the first cut in Dark Chocolate and the slightly smaller one in Terracotta Tile.  I then made the cute little accents in 2 shades of Distressed Dots with a touch of Fine Linen border at the top of each one and Terracotta Tile for the ribbon with a Harvest Gold bow at each end to mimic the Dots papers.  Using the Cricut again for the letters and the leaf and star die this banner was pretty straight forward to assemble.  After finishing I realized that I didn't use any stamping in its creation.  I'll make a card later to make up for not getting inky.

Once completed, I was stumped for a bit on how to hang it.  I finally decided to use some small nails meant for hanging pictures.  I works fine but I hope to find a better solution.  If I make more (and I plan to), I don't want to be pounding new nail holes in my mantle each time I change the banner.  Anyone with a better solution, please let me know.

I have many of my Holiday cards completed and will start posting pic's.  I always make each one unique to prevent boredom and stretch my imagination.  I don't have so many to make that I get burned out making them and have really enjoyed using new and unexpected colors on a few.  Be sure to check back and see them.

Well, today is my Anniversary... 37 years!  We had planned on the midnight showing of the new Harry Potter but all 3 midnight shows are already sold out.  We purchased tickets for a late afternoon showing tomorrow and I was able to get them for the digital version.  So excited!

Hope you enjoy my banner and come back soon for Christmas and Hanukkah cards!

Blog Hop October 2010

Welcome to the October Blog Hop for Papertrey Ink!  I'm so excited to share my creations with you tonight.

We were challenged to create a card for a holiday other than our own.  I decided to share THREE!  Yes, I have been a craftin' fool.

First up is a first for me.  I have African American friends but have never sent a Kwanzaa card to any of them.  I know for a fact that one of the families does celebrate this holiday so shame, shame, what's my name...


Problem solved:

I just couldn't stick with a traditional red.  I had to use Raspberry Fizz with some Simply Chartreuse.  I couldn't remove the grey tone to the Kraft Cardstock mat and Fine Linen base.  Oh well, I'm still working on my picture skillz as well as my cardmaking skillz.

Next, for your viewing pleasure:

I have several atheist friends and they like a good holiday as much as anyone.  They usually either celebrate a secular Christmas (I'm not sure how that works???) or Winter Solstice.  They love to point out that their holiday is older than all the others.  That's true, can't argue it!

And for my final card, I want to wish all my bestest friends on the PTI forum and in my real life, the best Christmas yet.  May you all have peace, love and happiness for the upcoming year... and of course, I'll work Christmas Eve for you again!

May everyone find the happiness they search for, the love they desire and the peace we all want most of all.