Happy Birthday, Papertrey Ink!

This morning, PTI posted a challenge to make a birthday card in honor of the PTI birthday month celebration. I combined the sketch and color inspiration challenges for this card.

I used these colors:

And combined them with this sketch:

To make this card!

{Today's Brew: Wishing You stamp set (PTI), card stock (PTI), inks (SU), scallop edge die}

I am seriously thankful for PTI. A few years back, I was ready to give up paper crafting completely. And then I had a new idea. Why not sell off what I have (too much!) and invest in some new companies that appeal to me and spark my creativity. That is exactly what I did!

One of you dear readers ( I think it was you, Linda!) asked me a while back if I ever regretted selling off my old stamps. I can honestly say not one bit. I do not miss anything I ever sold off. There are way too many fresh companies out there that can better capture my new sense of style. I sold off BOATLOADS of wood mounted stamp sets that took up so much room. It was just so visually cluttering and creatively stifling for me. I can do much so more with so much less. I still pare down my stash every year, but I also refresh it very selectively with new products.

This year, I plan on purchasing PTI inks and a LOT more PTI card stock...it's simply the best! I may have to have a garage sale first, but it's on my to do list!

PTI Anniversary Card: Girl Talk

Hello, cafe friends! I'm serving up a hot latte inspiration in a travel mug today, so grab your favorite coffee cozy and get ready!

PTI offered some great downloads featuring color combos and sketches. I was inspired by this color palette:

And combined it with this sketch:

A little whip, a few sprinkles of cinnamon, and here is today's brew!

{Today's Brew: Heart to Heart Stamp set (PTI), Background Basics Gingham stamp (PTI), card stock (PTI), inks (SU), dies (PTI)}

I have a few PTI sets that haven't been getting enough use lately, so I'm trying to break them in. Seriously, how could this set not be in heavy rotation for me? Travel coffee cups...with cozies! I love it!

I confess, I stamped the sentiment with Distress Stain in walnut, and it got a little smudgy (still looking for the perfect inks!). Cue Charlie Brown's "AAAARGH!" The five year old temper tantrum "me" wanted to throw the whole thing out and start from scratch. Luckily, the more mature "me" made a rare appearance and said "Hey, that's no big deal. Just stamp those smudgy words over onto a different piece of card stock and make it look like you meant to do that all along!"

So I did. And it worked.

Maturity! Pass it on!  :)

This message was brought to you by a woman fueled by espresso.

Thanks for visiting the cafe today!

PTI's Monthly Moments

Papertrey Ink is jumping in to the pocket scrapbooking market with a new line called Monthly Moments! Yea! They will even be carrying Simple Stories albums (my personal fave!). Today's challenge: Make a pocket card to fit in a 3 X 4 pocket. Done!

{Today's Brew: All Booked Up (PTI), Library Ledger (PTI), Beautiful Butterflies and die (PTI), PTI kraft and ivory card stock, SU ink and card stock, washi tape, brads}

I think this would be a fun card to include in a page about what books I'm reading that month.

I can't wait to see what products PTI will be releasing each month for this scrapbook series!

Thanks for looking, cafe friends!

PTI Anniversary Challenge!

It's February, and you know what that means...anniversary time at Papertrey Ink! PTI is celebrating their 7th anniversary with all sorts of great challenges and giveaways. I made a card for the challenge yesterday, and here it is!

{Today's Brew: Heart to Heart stamp set (PTI), Think Big Favorites (PTI), card stock (PTI), ink (SU), embossing folder (SU) }

We had some miraculous sun shine for two days in a row! Oh, how I needed that! Sure, we still have temps in the teens, but I can soak up the sun and dream of warmer days!

I used these colors as my inspiration:

And I used this sketch :

Put the two together, and voila!

Happy Sunshiny days, my friends!

WPlus9 Inspired: Comfort Zone Challenge

Dawn is celebrating the WPlus9 Anniversary this month! She posed the question on her blog:

Where is your comfort zone? Your fall back style? Your signature look?

For me, that one's pretty easy. I'm A Little Bit Country! (sing it, Marie Osmond!)

Here's my take on this challenge:

{Today's Brew: Fresh Baked stamp set and dies (wplus9), PTI Kraft card stock, Simple Stories papers, SU ink and ribbon, wplus9 pinking square dies}

And speaking of vintage country, I've been surfing ebay this week, looking at a few of my new obsessions...vintage tole trays, Pennsylvania Dutch art, fraktur, and Pyrex/Corningware. Look at what I found!

Oh my goodness, this is so stinkin' cute! It made me think of the Fresh Baked stamp set right away! I feel a new collection obsession coming on!

Thanks for visiting the cafe today! (Tell me, what's your comfort zone?)

A Case of the Februaries

I have a bad case of early onset Februaries today.

No sun in sight...for days on end.

Snow in the weather forecast...again.

Stuck indoors and getting a little stir crazy.

What to do?

I know. Check Google for odd facts like this:

Yep, as I suspected. I am Vitamin D deficient, and with good reason. Sun, where for art thou, sun?  And where is a Happy Lamp when I need one?

When nothing else will cure this condition, there's always the tele.

Brilliant! Feeling a little British now, so I think I'll make myself a cuppa.

A new tea recipe from my sister called London Fog. Mmm, so good! Thank you, sister Sue! This one hit the spot.

Still feeling a little British...perhaps it's the gloomy weather. I know, I will pick up my stitching.

Flowers from my favorite British Cross Stitcher magazine.

Can't concentrate now that I'm hopped up on caffeine.

Put down the stitching and go to the craft room.

Make a Valentine.

Washi and die cuts, hearts and glitter, enamel dots and banners. A frenetic example of how I'm feeling today.

Wash, rinse, repeat. Stuck in Bill Murray's Groundhog Day.

Will someone tell me when this Februaritis will go away?

No, not you, Groundhog. Put down your paw. I am not speaking to you. You are not my friend anymore.

Time to burrow under a blanket with a book and a mug of something warm.

{Today's Brew: White card stock (PTI), colored card stock (SU), heart die cuts (wplus9), love die cut (paper smooches), arrow die cut (SU), enamel dots (My Mind's Eye), washi tape}

WPlus9 Monday Mood Board: A Card Cannibalized and a Card Simplified

Does this one look vaguely familiar?

So, I mentioned in the last post that I liked the elements of the card, but not the layout. I stared at that thing for a few days and then came up with a solution.

I cannibalized the card.

Yep, took it apart and put it back together again. Used a little of this, got rid of some of that, found something I liked much better. Because I know myself...if I don't like a card, I'll never send it. Ne-ver.

I ripped off the focal point from that last card, used a portion of that watercolored paper, and cut it into a banner. Stamped the I Love You on it in gold. I knew this would be the perfect spot for it on the card because, uhm, well, that's the spot where I tore a bit of the paper and needed to cover the boo boo. I learned a long time ago...there are no mistakes in stamping, only opportunities to layer. ha ha ha! The diecut letters in gold shimmer paper are just plain fun. Now I finally like this card!

Then I attempted this challenge with a fresh approach. Simplified!

I used the holiday stamp set Woodland Wreaths and stamped the elements in spring colors.

This one is so simple and sweet...I love it!

{Today's Brew: Woodland Wreaths (wplus9), soft stone card stock (PTI), heart border die (PTI), gold encore ink, SU inks, cord ribbon}

Sorry for the terrible lighting and photo quality today. I do not know HOW that groundhog could have possibly seen its shadow today. I do not live far from Punxsutawney, and there is no way they could have had any sunshine for a shadow to appear. Curse you, groundhog!

As a matter of fact, I have learned that Pittsburgh is probably the second cloudiest city in the US, with the least amount of days of sunlight...right after Seattle. It makes for terrible photo conditions! But I will add this...Pittsburghers take it in stride. They seem to provide their own sunshine.

Sunny wishes to you, cafe friends!