What Do I Do With This?

**So sorry that I accidentally published this on my blog at end of January!**

Dana Kirby and I are up on the Papertrey Ink blog today with a new challenge for the What Do I Do With This? series. We are working with embossing powders and Dana shows how it can be used with stencils while I show how to use it with embossing folders. 

I don't know about you, but I have quite a stash of embossing folders and rarely use them anymore. Here is how you can use embossing folders along with embossing powders to create some unique backgrounds for your cards.

Step 1: Start by wiping a card stock panel with anti-static powder and lay it to the side.
Step 2: Lightly swipe your Versamark ink pad over one side of the embossing folder. You tend to get better results if you use the side with the raised portions of the design.
Step 3: Lay the card stock panel  over the inked side of the embossing folder, close it up and run it through your die cutting machine.
Step 4: Remove the panel from the folder and immediately cover it with embossing powder. Shake off excess and if needed, use a dry brush to get rid of powder that is sticking to areas where you don't want it to be.
Step 5: Use heat tool to melt powder.

This is a fun technique with endless ways to combine different powders with different colors of card stock!

Above is a photo of Rose Gold EP used with Luxe Gold card stock and a Sizzix plaid EF. 

Next, I tried Neutral Ultra Shimmer EP with Sweet Blush card stock. I needed to use a dry brush to remove powder where I didn't want it to stick.

Lastly, I used White Pearl Regular EP with white card stock and it was my favorite with the tone on tone look. 

It's the last day of the love month (as I generally refer to February), so I wanted to create yet another card using a fun set released in January called "With Love". 

STAMPS: With Love
INK: Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz, Enchanted Evening, Green Parakeet, Lovely Lady, True Black
PAPER: Bitty Big: Raspberry Fizz, White, Enchanted Evening
DIES: With Love
OTHER: Moonshine sequins, Gold embossing powder, Pierced circle die, WOW! White Pearl Regular embossing powder
 

The gold "wax seal" element on the envelope was created by layering multiple layers of gold embossing powder (4 or 5). Be sure to let the layers cool between applications.

So, that's it for today. You have a week to create a card and post it on the PTI blog for a chance to win a $25 gift card to the store!

Happy stamping!      ~Wanda

PTI Release Day

It's finally here! Tonight at 10pm EST you can order the new release products from Papertrey Ink. I have one more card using the awesome Weave A Basket dies along with florals from the Easter Egg-stravagance stamp/die set and a sentiment from Inside Greetings: Spring Blessings stamp set. I was totally inspired by this Hallmark card on the left that popped up in my feed while cruising the internet. I loved the soft colors and the scattering of flowers among the eggs in the basket!

The background patterned paper is from PTI's Share Your Heart packet of 8 1/2" x 11" two-sided papers. I cut a Border Bling: Diamonds frame and added a bow made from narrow light green satin ribbon and 1/2" dotted swiss tulle ribbon. I accented the card with Moonshine sequins - also available at PTI - which come in 3 different sizes. 

INK: Sweet Blush, Berry Sorbet, Lemon Tart, Summer Sunrise, Vintage Jadeite, True Black, New Leaf (PTI). 

Enjoy your Sunday and get your shopping list ready! ~Wanda

PTI Reveal Day #4

 

This is the 4th and last day of reveals for the February release at Papertrey Ink. Today, we are introducing you to Feathered Friends 20 dies. 

Check out this adorable rooster! I went with vivid colors for this king of the mornings! I color blended the base with Fossilized Amber, Ripe Persimmon and Candied Apple distress inks.

All of the bird parts were cut from Bristol Smooth Surface paper then ink blended with distress inks (see supply list below). I highlighted areas with Prismacolor pencils.

STAMPS: Thank You Florals, Feathered Friends Mini 8, Effortless Beauties
INK: Fossilized Amber, Ripe Persimmon, Candied Apple, Hickory Smoke, Wild Honey, Crackling Campfire, Ground Espresso, Mowed Lawn, Cracked Pistachio, Evergreen Bough, Pine Needles, Barn Door, Broken China distress inks by Ranger
PAPER: Bristol Smooth Surface; White, Harvest Gold
DIES: Feathered Friends 20, On the Border: Sunburst Borders, Love to Layer: Scalloped Circles, Feathered Friends Mini 8, Effortless Beauties

SUPPLIES 

I will have a release day card for you tomorrow but wanted to remind you that these items will be available to buy on the 27th at 10:00pm EST, sooo...get your shopping lists ready! ~Wanda

PTI Reveal Day #3

It's day three of reveals for the February release at Papertrey Ink with products becoming available for sale on the 27th at 10pm EST. Today, we are introducing you to Elegant Eggs dies + Feathered Friends Mini 20 stamp set and dies + Inside Greetings: Spring Blessings. I have three cards that showcase these new products!

I wanted to place these sweet new chicks in the middle of lots of blooms to portray spring bursting forth, so I used Into the Blooms II dies along with the nest image from an older stamp set (Hello Pumpkin).

I used the Border Bling: Tin Stitch die for the background and sponged Harvest Gold ink along the edges.  Nuvo embellishment mousse works well when you add water to a small portion of it on an acrylic block. You can pick it up with a small brush and splatter it onto the background. It gives a hint of sheen without being too glittery.

I stamped the chicks in Harvest Gold then added more dimension by flicking Copic markers (Y11 and YR12) along the edges and at shadowed areas and also on the legs. Prismacolor pencils were used to add details to the flowers.

I clear embossed the nest and gold embossed the sentiment.

STAMPS: Feathered Friends Mini 20, Hello Pumpkin
INK: Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Sweet Blush, Pale Peony, New Leaf, Simply Chartreuse, Ripe Avocado, Honey Nut, Orange Zest, True Black, Classic Kraft, Dark Chocolate
PAPER: Bristol Smooth Surface, White
DIES: Into the Blooms II, Feathered Friends Mini 20, Hello Pumpkin, Mix & Mat: Postal, Border Bling: Tin Stitch, Pattern Party
OTHER: Nuvo Embellishment Mousse gold, Prismacolor pencils, Clear embossing powder

These elegant egg dies are another favorite from this release!

I had a panel of pink and orange alcohol inks in my leftover stash and decided to go with that color combo for this mini slimline card.I color blended matching dye inks - Raspberry Fizz from PTI and Apricot from Pinkfresh Studios - onto Bristol Smooth Surface paper. It's my go to choice for color blending!

Here's a photo of all the elements I used...including an inside sentiment. I am trying to do better with adding some details to the inside of my cards and love that PTI has great sentiments for inside greetings! I try to coordinate it with the card front in some way and here I used Bitty Big: Raspberry Fizz patterned paper. I love that there is a tiny butterfly die you can layer over the one egg to add dimension!

I couldn't resist using moonshine sequins for embellishments and they are available from PTI! I love that they come in three different sizes.

STAMPS: Inside Greetings: Spring Blessings
INK: Raspberry Fizz, Apricot, Alcohol inks
PAPER: White, Bristol Smooth Surface, Yupo, Bitty Big: Raspberry Fizz
DIES: Elegant Eggs, Layerz Mat Stack 1
OTHER: Mini Slimline Essential Bundle

My last card features an elegant version of the largest egg in the Elegant Eggs set. I wanted to keep it clean and simple. 

Gold Mirror card stock was used as the egg background and also for the butterfly. The filigree die part was cut from an alcohol ink panel that also has gold alloy ink along with the blue ink. 

I smooshed the leafy die into Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn and Cracked Pistachio distress inks. After it dried, I splattered Mowed Lawn and watered down Nuvo Embellishment Mousse in gold. Inside of card is on the left <---.

STAMPS: Spring Greetings, Floral Delicacies
INK: Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Cracked Pistachio distress inks; Alcohol inks + Gold alloy.
PAPER: Yupo, Mirror Gold, White.
DIES: Elegant Eggs, Border Bling: Tin Stitch, Noted: Scalloped A2 Vertical, Floral Delicacies

 

SUPPLIES

 

That's all for today! One more day of reveals before the release goes live on the 27th. I hope you are enjoying these new items as much as I enjoyed creating with them!   ~Wanda

 

PTI Reveal Day #2

 

Welcome back to day two of reveals for the February release at Papertrey Ink! Today, we are introducing you to Easter Egg-stravagance stamps and dies + Picket Fence dies + Spring Carrots dies + Just Sentiments: Spring Blessings stamp set. I've created three cards to showcase these items!

I fell in love right away with these gorgeous floral eggs and love this stand alone sentiment with the beautiful font!
 

My favorite PTI floral colors were used here: Sweet Blush, Pale Peony and Berry Sorbet. 

STAMPS: Easter Egg-stravagance
INK: Sweet Blush, Pale Peony, Berry Sorbet, New Leaf, Ocean Tides, Simply Chartreuse, True Black
PAPER: Sweet Blush, White, Bitty Big: Sweet Blush
DIES: Easter Egg-stravagance, Shape Shifters: Oval 2
OTHER: Sheer ribbon, Moonshine sequins

My second card uses the Picket Fence die and I mistakenly added the wrong eggs (you will see more of them tomorrow) which is why I had to make the first card for today's reveal. I stenciled some clouds plus added die cut clouds in the sky.

I started with die cutting the fence from kraft card stock then covered it with distress texture crackle paste. After dry, I stamped the weathered wood background stamp over it with Cocoa Bean ink. I also sponged some kraft ink lightly over the fence. The eggs all have colored strips adhered together for the backgrounds.

STAMPS: Just Sentiments: Spring Blessings, Weathered Wood Background
INK: True Black, Classic Kraft, Dark Chocolate, New Leaf, Ocean Tides; Tumbled Glass distress
PAPER: White, Lovely Lady, Raspberry Fizz, Green Parakeet, Aqua Mist, Hawaiian Shores
DIES: Picket Fence, Grassy Edge, Elegant Eggs
OTHER: Cloud stencil, Cloud die, Distress Texture Paste Crackle

Lastly, check out these really fun carrot dies! I had this washi tape background completed and decided to create some matching carrots for a fun spin with the spring sentiment. 

My daughter loves to garden and planted some red and purple carrots last summer. So...why not "plant" some pink and orange carrots on my card?! 😂

STAMPS: Just Sentiments: Spring Blessings
INK: True Black, New Leaf
PAPER: White, Green Parakeet, light orange and light pink in leftover pile - ? source
DIES: Spring Carrots, Love to Layer: Scalloped Circles
OTHER: Washi tape, twine

SUPPLIES 

 

Thanks for stopping by! Be sure to tune in again tomorrow for more awesome eggs and some great new feathered friends!  ~Wanda

PTI Reveal Day #1

Can you believe another month has rolled around and we are beginning the reveals of the February release at Papertrey Ink? I think I may have squealed when my package arrived and I saw the awesome new stamps and dies! So...let's get this party started! Today, we are introducing you to Weave a Basket dies + Grassy Edge dies + Spring Greetings stamps set + Vase Collection 7 stamps and dies + Thank You Florals stamps and dies + Delicate Circles dies.

Check out this gorgeous basket die where you literally weave the strips yourself! I also love the new grassy border die that can be added to ground the basket.

I color blended over a stencil for the card base using Prize Ribbon, Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers distress inks and a hexagon stencil.
The grassy filler was die cut from vellum.

STAMPS: Spring Greetings
INK: Prize Ribbon, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, Mowed Lawn, Evergreen Bough distress inks; Versamark
PAPER: Vellum, Bristol Smooth Surface, White, Family Ties patterned paper (Pebbles)
DIES: Jar Accessories, Pattern Party, Weave A Basket, Grassy Edges
OTHER: Gold embossing powder, Hexagon stencil, Glitter enamel dots

The new vase is my new favorite in the collection plus I love the fun new florals that pair with it so well! How about that elegant new doily die layered over a Pattern Party circle from last month's release?!

I'm trying to use some of my older embossing folders since I love to add texture to my cards. Adding a button is also a "blast from the past" which seemed like a great accent for an added pop of color.
 

STAMPS: Thank You Florals, Vase Collection 7, Pattern Party.
INK: Misty Coast, Rocky Slope, Warm Buff, Gathered Twigs; True Black; Versamark.
PAPER: X-Press It Blending Card, White, Stone.
DIES: Delicate Circles, Vase Collection 7, Thank You Florals, Pattern Party.
OTHER: Square Lattice embossing folder, Copics, White gel pen, Clear embossing powder, Button/thread.

SUPPLIES 

 

That's all for day one. Stop by tomorrow for some really unique spring and Easter stamps and dies!  ~Wanda