PTI 6th Anniversary: DT Inspiration {Jessica}

Papertrey Ink is going to be having a bunch of challenges over the next few days to celebrate their 6th anniversary.  I've been a fan of PTI for years, so I decided to make some cards for their first challenge, which was to us one of the DT member's cards as inspiration.  My card uses Jessica Witty's card as inspiration.  I wanted to copy it exactly...down to the very last detail...because I love it so much, but I resisted the urge.  I still used the same color scheme, the same layout, and clear embossing like Jessica did on her card.  I like my card okay, but I still kind of wish I would have just copied her card exactly. :)

One thing I do like about the card is that I made a popped up star out of PTI's Seeing Stars dies.  You can't tell so much in the picture (I should have taken it at a different angle), but the star is 3D.  I know there are dies that do this for you, but the other night when I was looking at one (debating whether or not I should add it to my wish list) I realized I could make my regular star die have the same effect by just scoring it down the center of each point.  Love to save myself some money. :)

Supplies
Stamps: PTI (Happy Hexagons, Lighten Up Sentiments, Pretty Peonies, Star Prints, Tag-Its #10)
Ink: PTI (True Black), VersaMark
Cardstock: PTI (New Leaf, Pure Poppy, Summer Sunrise, White)
Dies: PTI (Button Up #1, Pretty Peonies, Seeing Stars), DMC (White Embroidery Floss)

CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge #13 - 2nd Attempt

Okay, I intended to go to bed after I posted my first card for CASE this Sketch Challenge #13, but I just couldn't sleep because of the sick feeling in my stomach that my card looked so much like someone else's entry on a previous challenge.  (If you're curious, you can read more about that here.)  I'm just so thankful that I am the one who noticed it.  I would certainly never ever want to appear to be taking someone else's ideas.  I needed to make a thank you for my husband's colleague who gave my son a very thoughtful gift today anyway, so I went back to the craft room and whipped this card up.  I actually don't like this card nearly as well as my first one, but at least I'll be able to sleep now. 

It's a pretty simple card.  The most detailed thing was probably the flag.  I made the little banner, wrapped it around a toothpick, then cut the elephant's trunk with an exacto knife, so he could hold it.  And I masked the animals as I stamped them, so they could stack a bit better.  And that's about it. :)
Again, this is the sketch I used. (I just flipped it.)

Supplies
Stamps: PTI (Tremendous Treats: Birthday), SU (Trendy Trees)
Ink: PTI (New Leaf), SU (Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, More Mustard)
Cardstock: Making Memories (Wheat), PTI (New Leaf, Rustic Cream), SU (Baja Breeze)
Other: toothpick, SU (1/2" square punch)

CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge #13

A couple nights ago when I was putting my baby to sleep (some of my best ideas come then), I was thinking about the sketch for CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge #13 and the idea for this card came.  I scribbled the idea down after my son fell asleep, but I didn't have a chance to work on the card until today.  I realize I went a little liberal with the tree being a rectangle, but it mostly is. :)  I've been seriously cleaning out my craft supplies and stumbled upon some cork.  I stamped PTI's BB: Woodgrain on it, and I LOVE the look it created.  It's about time I used this cork anyway.  The store I bought it from went out of business at least 3 years ago, so needless to stay it's been sitting unused in my stash for a while.  The sentiment is from The Alley Stamps' newly released All About You set.  It's my first set from TAWS, and I'm a fan.  

P.S. This is my first time doing a CAS(E) this Sketch Challenge, and I just scrolled down to see some of their other challenges, and I saw this card featured from their last sketch that is EXTREMELY similar to mine.  Oh, dear!  Promise I did not use this card as inspiration.  I guess my idea wasn't as creative as I thought.  Or maybe it's better to say that Kate (the creator of the other card) and I both had a great idea.

Anyway, here's the sketch I used.  

Supplies
Stamps: PTI (Background Basics: Woodgrain), TAWS (All About You), CTMH (Sans Alphabet)
Ink: SU (Real Red), PTI (True Black), Ranger (Walnut Stain)
Cardstock: PTI (Pure Poppy, Rustic Cream)
Other: PTI (Tiny Tags Die), Cork

Muse Challenge #2

I stumbled upon the new Muse Card Club a couple nights ago and used their second challenge tonight as I created this card.  (This new club/challenge looks fun...structured, but open at the same time.)

Muse Challenge #2 Inspiration Card

The inspiration card by Suzanne Dahlberg had tons of elements that I loved. Okay, when you see my card, you'll probably wonder how in the world it relates to the inspiration card, but I promise...it does.

I decided to go with the color scheme, the patterns that stood out to me on the letters (stripes, polka dots), and the hearts.  I originally started going with the flowers and layers and more patterns, but lately "less is more" seems to suit me better.  The card I started creating just seemed messy to me, so I scrapped the whole thing and started over.  And I'm glad I did. :)  My favorite part of my final card....the curved sentiment.  Makes me wonder why I don't bend and curve my stamps more often.  Okay, here's one more photo...it's dark, but this shows the colors a bit more true to how they look in real life (especially the grey monkey).

Supplies (all PTI unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Background Basics: Retro, Borders & Corners: Monogram Edition, Tiny Treats: Birthday, Tremendous Treats: Birthday
Ink: Raspberry Fizz, True Black
Paper: White, New Leaf, Breeze (MME)
Dies: Tiny Tags, Turning a New Leaf

MIM #102: Stamped Favor Box

Just a quick post today for PTI's Make it Monday, which was to stamp on an assembled shape (i.e., box, bag, etc.).  This is a valentine my son will be giving to one of our neighbors.  I plan to make them for about 9 of his little buddies, and I have three different ones done, but I don't have time to take pictures right now.  Hopefully later.  Either way, I'm just glad a few of them are finished this much in advance.

Supplies (all PTI unless otherwise noted)
Stamps: Background Basics: Retro, Tremendous Treats: Valentine
Ink: Real Red, Basic Gray (SU)
Paper: Rustic Cream, Pure Poppy
Other: Favor It Box 1 Die, Limitless Layers 2 1/4" Oval Dies, Tiny Tags Die, Maraschino Twine (the Twinery), colored pencils, markers