PAPERLICIOUS

A Special Post -- Swimming for Katie Renz

Sometimes life is bitter hard.  And the least we can do is try and support one another.  This is an effort to support Katie Renz and her family.  This post promotes either buying the stamp I used for this card or donating directly to Katie.

Starting today through Wednesday, over 150 stampers are joining together to support and encourage Katie, who is battling inoperable gastric cancer, and to raise money for her and her family. Kate at I Heart Papers (my favorite place to buy Copics...) organized this.

If you're not familiar with her, Katie’s cancer story started just before Christmas last year.  Katie was suddenly diagnosed with an inoperable stage 4 gastric cancer, virtually overnight.  Her first post about it is here.  The idea of “Swimming for Katie” came from her recent post here.  There is something about Katie, her husband Kevin and their 3 young boys that have touched my heart -- her bright smile, adorable kids, loving husband, and her spirit just shine.

Becky Oehlers designed the exclusive stamp used in my card above.  It is available as a clear stamp, as well as a digis or a dig and SVG cut file.  100% of the profits of the sale go to Katie's fund to help her and her young family.  If you are able to do so and interested, you can donate, either through a puchase of the stamp or through a direct donation.

In addition to the Keep Swimming Octopus, Marianne Walker and True =D Doodle Designs both also donated digis that are for sale.  All the information you need is HERE.  This is a permanent page that will stay active at i {heart} papers with current information and the full 3 day blog hop listing, as well as the donation button. 

Here are all the items available for sale.

Since I cannot figure out how to link to the other stampers participating, I'm going to send you to Debbie Olson, because she does have that list!  You can see Debbie's post HERE.

Can you join me in helping Katie through a purchase or donation?  Thank you.

Oh, and if you would like to send a card to Katie, here is her address --

Katie Renz
PO Box 5913
Bellingham, WA 98227-5913

Umbrella Top and Handle and a Comment on Buying Copic Markers

Regarding my last post...

Many of you guessed correctly. The umbrella top was made with the part of a Spellbinders Heirloom Ornament die.

Now the handle?

Drew a handle on a piece of cardstock, and cut it out.  Then covered it with Ranger's Inkssentials Black Glossy Enamel. 

I've linked this product to I Heart Papers because that is where I purchased it.  Also, I wanted to mention something about buying Copics from this store.

Copics are pricey. So I am always looking for a deal.  I sometimes buy one or two from a local art supply shop. However, I've discovered that markers -- at least at this store -- that are out in the open on a display rack are not juicy at all.  So I quit that and have been purchasing them from a variety of on line shops. 

I tend to buy just a few at at time, filling out an order I'm placing for other things.  This way I build up a collection without sinking too much money at once.  So on the last order I placed with I Heart Papers I went a bit wild and ordered 6 (still staying in my budget!).

Kate has excellent prices on Copics.  But the thing I noticed immediately when they came is that they are very juicy.  The two times I ordered from I Heart Papers, my Copics came noticeably wetter.  What a difference! 

I'm not dissing other online vendors.  Feel free to mention them in the comments if you get great service and juicy Copics, but I thought I would mention this. 

I pay full price for my items when I order from I Heart Papers, and except for participating in the company's 2nd birthday bash (free stamp set and free pad of paper) I have no connection to Kate or her store.  Just a happy customer. 

i {heart} papers Scavenger Hunt -- the Perfect Pair

Ok guys. This is a long post, brought to you mainly by Kate, the owner of i {heart} papers (with occasional commentary from me) -- Kate asked me to help celebrate the 2nd anniversary of her shop.  As I actually shop there, I was more than pleased to agree.  (This is where I get my Copics and my Hero Arts stamps and a lot of my bling.)

So, welcome to the i {heart} papers 2nd annivesary blog hop and scavenger hunt!

You should have arrived here from Jennifer McGuire's blog  -- JenniferMcGuireInk.  [Can I just say how intimindating it is to follow the JENNIFER MCGUIRE?  AACK].  If you're jumping into the middle (or if you're lost!) be sure to start at Kate's. 

The challenge?

Design the "Perfect Pair"--a birthday card and coordinating gift, tag or other presentation item.   1/2 of My Perfect Pair is the card above.  The rest is below.

Love it if you would join us in making a Perfect Pair of your own (upload to your blog or an online gallery with the keyword IHPBB10).  Be sure to post your link on Kate’s blog so we can see your project and enter your name in our challenge prize drawings.  

In addition to today's design team challenge, Kate's got some fun celebrating in store for tomorrow and Thursday!  You won't have to hop every day!  Kate will be hosting a sketch challenge tomorrow on her blog, and Deb has another challenge for you on Thursday. Winners for each day will be randomly drawn from each day's entries, and everyone who plays along, either with the challenges and/or the scavenger hunt (more on that below) will be eligible for the grand prize drawing that will close the festivities on Friday.

Submitting your challenge projects is not the only way to win!  

Tucked into the text of today's blog posts we've provided clues to an easy scavenger hunt (most have to do with our favorite products and tools or hobbies and interests we have) that we invite you to play as you hop.   When you find the answer, click the link to visit the store and collect "evidence" that is listed on that particular product’s page and email your complete list, in blog hop order, to Kate when you're finished.  You can take your time and stretch the hop over the three days of our Birthday Bash celebration...it's not a race, but like any other sale, the earlier you shop, the better the selection!  Deadline to submit your scavenger hunt entry is Friday morning, 3AM EST.

By participating in the scavenger hunt you'll receive an exclusive, one time use 20% off coupon code to use when you shop at i {heart} papers.  (This will be emailed to you after the Bash when entries are checked.)  You will also be entered for your chance to win the grand prize $50 gift certificate drawing on Friday. 

ALL orders placed during the Bash (Oct 19-21) will receive a free goodie bag of surprise merchandise.  The more you spend, the bigger your goodie bag!

Also, there will be random drawings for additional prizes from our Paper Planet Craft Group members, our mailing list (sign up on the right side of the homepage) and our fans on Facebook.  If you are on all three, then you’ve got triple the chances to win!

Here's my Perfect Pair project -- a birthday card with a coordinating triangle gift box:

For my project Kate generously sent me the Hero Arts stamps set and the patterned paper.   I used a template for the triangle box that I found on Splitcoaststampers.  I also use the following products:   

Stamps: Hero Arts Wonderful Birthday and  Sassafras Lass Count Me In (HINT) Patterned Paper (and assorted other goodies, including Copics, but you get the drift).

Your next stop on the hop is Judy at Joy in a JAR.   There's a list of all of the participating designers on Kate's blog just in case you get lost along the way!

Enjoy!

 

 

 

Bold Birthday

Card Construction Details:

1.  Trimmed kraft cardstock. 

2.  Cut strips of Sassafras Count Me In paper, glued on a square of scrap cardstock.  Set aside.

3.  Punched circle on card.

4.  Stamped cupcake from Hero Arts Wonderful Birthday three times on different patterned papers from the same set in Versamark.  Embossed in white, cut out as shown.

5. Adhered cupcake with dimensional.  Stamped strip of paper with Versamark, and embossed in white.  LOVE this huge birthday sentiment.

6.  Die cut a scallop of the yellow floral paper and ended up using the leftover piece -- put underneath the strip as shown in attempt to look like either a candle tip or a circus tent (????).  Not sure about this move but done is done.

7.  Adhered everything.

8.  Added lines with white gel pen.

9.  Went back and added stickles glitter to frosting on cupcake.  Yum. Added some unecessary marks with Copics on cupcake.

10.  Rounded corners and adhered to A2 white card. 

Mood When Done = Wishing it was my birthday so I could get free stamping stuff from relatives...

Holiday Thanks -- Before & After & After

The card above is "before". The card below is "after."

Card Construction Details:

1. A2 PTI Kraft card.

2. Repeatedly stamped thanks sentiment from Technique Tuesday Thanks for Everything set with Memento Tuxedo ink. Set aside and made dinner.

3. Colored in sentiments with Copic markers in Mom's room, listening to her trying to remember what she had just read in People Magazine. "He's a tennis player with a spanish name. He played with Andre Agassi. Come on, you know who I mean!" (Still no clue.)

4. Stamped small snowflake from Papertreyink Rustic Snowflakes with SU White Craft ink.

5. Wrapped card with red and white flossy twine from I Heart Papers. Thought card would be ok, but snoozefest.

6. Stamped larger snowflake from same set. Cut circle. Layered on red circle. Added red Liquid pearls. Set aside to dry.

7. Ate dinner.

8. Made first version of card. Ugh. Cord is twisted and it still doesn't sing.

9. Added green circle mat, fixed cord. (Make sure cord is knotted off at end or it will unravel).

10. Adhered circle with dimensionals.

Mood when done = glad stamping is such an awesome distraction. Card? Meh.  Snowflake and cord look a little bit like a bolero tie. (Thanks to Nancy for correcting my grammar!)

11.  Cut off twine tails. Version 3 below.

Mood when done = satisfied

 

Does This Bow Make My Card Look Fat?

Card Construction Details:

1.  Cut 5 and 1/4" x 4" PTI Kraft cardstock.

2.  Stamped the snowflake (love this!) from Waltzingmouse Very Vintage Christsmas with  Tsukineko Blue Frost Kaleidacolor spectrum ink pad (try saying that twice) over the kraft cardstock.

3.  Stamped small flower from same set with Stampin Up White Craft ink.  Set aside to dry.

4.  Stamped twice tag image from Very Vintage Christmas with same Blue Frost ink on kraft.

5.  Hand cut oval center.  Stamped center with snowflake and white ink.  Sponged edges. Set aside.

6.  Sponged Blue Frost over edges of kraft background, with more in corners.

7.  Stamped sentiment from same set with the darker portion of Blue Frost ink.

8.  Sponged white cardstock with Blue Frost ink and adhered tag to white cardstock. Trimmed to form layer under tag.

9.  Mounted oval with dimensionals onto tag. 

10.  Needed something.  Added Ranger White Opal Liquid Pearls to centers of snowflakes and to sides of sentiment.  LOVE this product. 

11.  Used Stampin Up punch to make corners on kraft background (the tag already has corners).

12.  Cut SU Night of Navy to mat; added more Liquid Pearls to corners.  Tap card to get liquid pearls to form smooth circle.

13.  Adhered all, tag is on thick dimensionals.

14.  Tied bow and adhered. 

Mood when done = Pleased

****

Life:  work is busy in a weird it's still a new administration kind of way.  My Mom is ok.  My husband is fine.  I have NO idea how my son at college is because, apparently, communication is a ONE way street.  I wonder if he'll call if his bank account reaches zero?

Argh. 

Christmas, Vintage Style

Here's one more card for the stash!

Card Construction Details:

(Honestly, I wrote this whole post and accidentally deleted it so this is going to be short!).  

1.  A2 white card.  Trimmed front bottom with long rectangle nestability die.

2.  Patterned paper from Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses 6x6 paper pack.  (Love every piece of paper in this pack).  Trimmed bottom with long rectangle nestability die.

3.  Stamped image from Waltzingmouse Stamps Very Vintage Christmas twice -- once in Versafine Crimson Red and once in SU Old Olive.  I don't recommend Versafine unless the stamp is very detailed -- the ink on this image isn't as crisp as the SU Classic, but the color was perfect. 

4.  Cut out sentiment in red and set aside.

5.  Adhered patterned paper to card.  Sponged with Ranger Linen Distress ink.

6.  Added piece of silk fabric, cut to ribbon size from stash (someone sent me this, can't remember who -- cut on bias and therefore, easy to ruffle edges.)

7.  Sponged more with distress ink.

8.  Added red pearls.

9.  Popped up sentiment on dimensionals.  

10.  Cut image and scallop with nestability dies.

11.  Put all together.

Mood when done = Merry

Bee Mine, Quick!

Here's a 5 minute 3" square card.  Cut, score, stamp, add liquid pearls.  Done!

Oh, and give the card to your "honey"!!

Card Construction Details:

Paper:  Gina K Luxury White

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink Honey Bees

Extra:  SU Gingham Ribbon and Ranger Gold and Ruby Red Liquid Pearls. 

I've ordered quite a collection of Liquid Pearls from I {Heart} Papers.  I intend to have the full collection eventually. They are easy to find on my desk, cheap -- one bottle is less than $2 and lasts forever, and are easy to use. Just be sure to practice before putting on your finished card.  You don't want a big blop to ruin your card!  You can also put a bit on scrap paper and use a toothpick to add, which I did for these "eyes". 

Challenges

I made another card based on the challenge layout found here at Clean & Simple.  Very similar to the card I posted yesterday. 

I've almost kept to my $50 a month budget -- purchased a few extras this month -- no stamps, just some essentials.  Had to replace the cutting plate for my Wizard and get some adhesive and threw in one new Copic marker.  Just enough to do my share to keep my favorite companies in business, but not enough to go hog wild....

My NEW Challenge?

Getting ready to send Andy to college this fall.  He had to complete an online survey on roommate and dorm preferences.  Of course he didn't tell me about it, but I happened to walk in on him while he was completing it.  I didn't let him see me, but tears came to my eyes.  He's really going! 

It is that whole circle of life thing...it is all good, but bittersweet. 

Card Construction Details: 

Just a few basics.  The top card uses patterned paper from SEI.  The Mimosa collection, which I received from I {Heart} Papers.  Most of the other products are the same as the ones on yesterday's post.

Sparkly Blooms

Here's a quick card that combines paper from SEI's Mimosa collection and a watercolored Artsy Blooms from Shady Tree Studios at Cornish Heritage Farms. I added some glitter to the flowers since the background paper came chock full of it. 

I debated posting it, but if nothing else, you can see how pretty this paper is.  Plus, I LOVE this flower image....

Enjoy your day.