{capture the moment}

Senior Design Team Challenge: Sweet Love Revisited

February is the month of love...and what better way to celebrate than with a special team challenge that involves revisiting a beautiful previously released set that is all about that four letter word...

Sweet Love was originally released back in 2007, our very first year in business.  It contains some lovely flourished embellishments and frames as well as a couple label stamps that are perfect for coordinating with chocolate nuggets and more.  I've also always adored the font used for the sentiments in the set.

For my first card, I decided to create a little project that could be used for either a wedding or anniversary card.  I've always loved Smokey Shadow paired with a bright pop of color and this project does so with Simply Chartreuse.

One detail I wanted to point out is the way I stamped half of the circular label images from Sweet Love along the top and bottom edges of the card front.  It was so easy to do since there is already a "stripe" built into the middle for lining up the image perfectly before each impression.

I also found that the oval images in this set coordinate well with the Mat Stack 4 die.  I stamped the oval frame in VersaMark and added the sentiment with True Black ink.

I added some loops and layers of True Black grosgrain ribbon under the focal point to add some texture to the project.

I think this project could really be stunning in a variety of different color schemes!

 

My next project shows how Sweet Love can also go vintage.  It is nearly the same exact layout as my first project, but just by swapping out the colors and patterns, it really has a completely different look.

This time I used the lines-only flourished oval frame on the die-cut MAt Stack 1 shape.  I stamped the frame with VersaMark and then heat embossed it with Clear Filigree Embossing Powder.  I then sponged Haystack Palette ink over the embossed are to do an emboss resist technique.  I love the "parchment" look this gave me.  I also added a bit of Tea Dye Duo around the edges for more definition.

 

Under the focal point is a Double Ended Banner cut from Vintage Cream cardstock, stamped with Polka Dot Basics II using Haystack ink.  A border of Pretty Pastels lies underneath that.  Detail is added with an Aqua Mist button tied with twine.

I challenged the team to each create a special "love" themed card as well as something that could be utilized year-round using Sweet Love.  Just wait until you see their results!

CLICK HERE to read more from Betsy Veldman.

CLICK HERE to read more from Dawn McVey.

CLICK HERE to read more from Heather Nichols.

CLICK HERE to read more from Lisa Johnson.

CLICK HERE to read more from Michelle Wooderson.

I hope you have enjoyed all of the amazing projects created with Sweet Love today!  Now, here's your chance to pull out this set for yourself, or possibly something else that may be collecting a little dust, and create!  I would love to see your new creations that might be inspired by what you've seen today, so feel free to add your link in the comment section below!  Happy stamping!

KINDRED SPIRITS CARD

• STAMPS: Sweet Love, Turning a New Leaf, Polka Dot Basics II
• INK: Vintage Cream, Haystack Palette, VersaMark, Dark Chocolate, Tea Dye Duo
• PAPER: Vintage Cream, Melon Berry, Aqua Mist, Pretty Pastels paper pad (Aqua)
• OTHER: Mat Stack 1 Die, Double Ended Banners Die, Clear Filigree Embossing Powder, Aqua Mist Buttons, Rustic Jute Button Twine, Corner Chomper (We R Memory Keepers)
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"

TRUE LOVE FOREVER CARD

• STAMPS: Sweet Love
• INK: VersaMark, True Black
• PAPER: Stamper's Select White, Smokey Shadow, Simply Chartreuse
• OTHER: Mat Stack 4 Die, True Black Grosgrain Ribbon, 
• FINISHED SIZE: 4.25" x 5.5"

It's a Moxie Fab day...

The Moxie Fab blog is highlighting our Love Lives Here stamp set today and is giving a set away in conjunction with the post!  If you've had your eye on this beautiful set since it's release a few month's ago and haven't added it to your collection yet, you may want to stop by for a visit!  

Happy Stamping!

January 2011 Blog Hop

Welcome everyone to the January Papertrey Blog Hop!  We are so thrilled to see you here!  First, the challenge...

With the new year comes a clean slate along with many resolutions.  This month's blog hop challenge involves you challenging yourself to use a Papertrey stamp set that has yet to see ink or even one that might be collecting a little dust!  Go through your stash and see what little used treasure it might hold.  If you are in need of inspiration for your chosen set, feel free to utilize the gallery posted in the side bar of each set's sale page on our website, or go to the Previous Countdown page here on my blog where each set is organized by month of release.  2011 is the year where what's old is new again!

I have included a new inlinkz list below, by customer request, for you to add your link to your blog hop project.  This new type of link list will allow you to select a thumbnail to go along with your link, making it easy to go back and find a project later that might have perked your interest.  

You have until 11:00pm EST tonight (January 25th) to add your link to this list.  THREE random participants will be selected to win a FREE Papertrey Ink stamp set of their choice.  They will be announced and highlighted here, on my blog, tomorrow morning.  We look forward to seeing all of your creations!

EDITED TO ADD THREE RANDOMLY SELECTED WINNERS!

Vicki Dutcher used Butterfly Dreams along with the coordinating die to create this bright and colorful card.  I love the way she added a subtly layered scalloped frame behind the butterflies that uses a hint of of what I believe is Turning a New Leaf inside.  The sentiment from Signature Greetings finished it off perfectly!

Pat and her Common Threads blog used a beautiful color scheme of yellow, gray and cream for this irresistible card.  Larger than Life was her selected stamp set of choice and I love how she layered the different images and colors together.  The small medallion circle added to beside the sentiment for balance is just genius!

Jen Gall paired up the Mat Stack frame from Tiny Treats: Halloween with a hot air balloon from Up, Up & Away for her project.  I love the way she used the Sunshine Impression plate in the background; I think it complements the theme of her card so well!  I also lover her color scheme of purple & linen.  The linen provides such a softness where white might have been too stark.  Perfectly perfect!

Thank you for your overwhelming response to this month's challenge!  It was a joy to see all of your AMAZING creations!  Enjoy the rest of your week! :)

January Blog Hop Tomorrow!

Tomorrow we are excited to present the BIG monthly Blog Hop that Papertrey Ink hosts for all of it's talented customers to show off their skills! 

The Blog Hop is now an ALL DAY EVENT!  A new link list will be posted here on my blog at 10am EST and you can add your link anytime up until 11:30pm EST.  And don't worry if you aren't going to get a chance to make a project and play along, there will be a contest for non-participants as well over in our forum in the designated thread. I hope that I will see many of your familiar faces over here tomorrow! I look forward to seeing all of your creativity!

All of our customers who enjoy sharing inspiration & artwork with their peers through their personal blogs.

The actual Blog Hop will take place tomorrow, January 25th, beginning @ 10am EST. 

You will explore individual blogs through a thread here, on my blog, beginning at 10am EST tomorrow. 

 A day dedicated to seeking inspiration through projects utilizing Papertrey Ink products. 

With the new year comes a clean slate along with many resolutions.  This month's blog hop challenge involves you challenging yourself to use a Papertrey stamp set that has yet to see ink or even one that might be collecting a little dust!  Go through your stash and see what little used treasure it might hold.  If you are in need of inspiration for your chosen set, feel free to utilize the gallery posted in the side bar of each set's sale page on our website, or go to the Previous Countdown page here on my blog where each set is organized by month of release.  2011 is the year where what's old is new again!

 -Participating bloggers can add their link to the appropriate list here anytime between 10am EST and 11pm EST on January 25th within the link list that will be posted.The title of your post should be "Papertrey January Blog Hop Challenge".

-Customers & participants alike can peruse all of the links and absorb all of the amazing inspiration that will be shared!

-After you have made your way through the list, simply return to our forum and participate in all of the fun!

-You can chit chat with everyone in the Blog Hop forum! Take this time to praise your peers efforts, discuss anything new you might have learned and which projects really offered something unique!

-The three random blogger participant winners will be announced Wednesday morning on our forum and highlighted here on my blog!

-You can enter our Blog Hop Forum contest. There will be a special thread posted in our forum specifically for this purpose asking a question. Please only post once, as the winner will be picked via the Random Number Generator. The forum contest will end at midnight EST and the winner announced in the morning within the thread.

-Create a project while you are here, using the new inspiration you have gathered from the Blog Hop. You can post your projects in the gallery, even if you do not have a blog! We are looking forward to all the fun tomorrow and we hope to see you there!

 

The morning after...

Even though it is technically a day late, I am pleased to share with you my very favorite design team projects from the January release!  Sit back and prepare to be inspired!

Betsy Veldman created a beautiful encouragement card with a few unique twists.  She used the damask frame from Mat Stack 3 Collection sideways on each side of her background, which she matted with one of the decorative layers from Limitless Layers 1.75" Circle Die Collection.  The sentiment, from Healing Touch Sentiments, is underlined with a decorative edge cut by our new Edgers #1 Die.

Dawn McVey used the polka dot frame from Mat Stack 3 as the basis for her bright & cheerful project.  Her candy-striped background paper is from her January Color Couture download.  I also love how she layered the butterfly dies (Signature Series: Butterfly die & Love Lives Here Die Collection).  The little "happy birthday" sentiment is from Inside & Out: Birthday.

Debbie Olson took Year of Flowers: Carnations to a whole new level with this stunning project.  The layered background was given a bit of shading for amazing depth.  And then the way she paired it with the Mat Stack 3 Collection damask frame is just really beautiful, capturing the natural beauty of a carnation.

Erin Lincoln made a stunning card as well using Year of Flowers: Carnations.  The layers of stamping she did is nothing short of amazing!  From the Background Basics: Text Style to the addition of Turning a New Leaf, the combination could not be more perfect.  The small frame and sentiment are from the Mat Stack 3 Collection.

Heather Nichols made a beautiful card with the Mat Stack 3 Collection as well, paired up with Healing Touch Sentiments.  I love how she masked the frame to add the sunflowers from Autumn Abundance in the center.  It looks as though they were just meant to coordinate!

Jessica Witty used Simple Sentiments to create a modern, clean card that would be so easy to mass produce.  I am just smitten!  The single carnation stamped in the corner is such a nice touch, with the style of it complementing the font used in Simple Sentiments so well.

Lisa Johnson created this cutie-pattotie card with Way to Go, Kiddo!  I love, LOVE, love the way she stamped these flowers with white ink onto Kraft cardstock, then did her coloring.  It just makes everything pop.

Maile Belles used Way to Go, Kiddo! as well to assemble this adorable little project!  She stamped the journaling line block from the set repeatedly up the side of the card cover to form a "strip".  The way she arranged the images and sentiments after that is just icing on the cake!

Melissa Phillips always creates the most amazing things with hears and this project is certainly no exception.  She paired the Heart Prints & Banner Builder dies to create her cute banner.  All of this was offset with the "love you" sentiment from Simple Sentiments.

Michelle Wooderson combined several fun products fro this festive birthday card!  She discovered that several of the Tiny Treats images will fit in the frames that are part of Just a Ticket.  I don't know about you, but that opened up a world of possibilities for me!  She also creatively used Simple Sentiments as background strips, accented by her Cupcake Collection treat!

Niki Estes used Mat Stack 3 Collection paired up with her previously released set, Butterfly Kisses, to create this masterpiece.  I love her color combination and the border strip she created with twine and patterned paper.  It adds so much balance!

I hope you enjoyed all of these projects as much as I did!  Each and every designer brings so much creativeness to the table!  You can't help but want to go to the studio and get a little inky!  Thanks for visiting today and have a fantastic week!