Wedding Gift

Finally Friday!

This weekend Bill and I are headed to central West Virginia, where we will complete our Advanced Scuba Diving certification. Its not Cozumel - but we need a location with minimal current, so that's where we're headed with our group. I am looking forward to a focused, fulfilling trip. I hope everyone at CHA is having a great time. I can't wait to see photos of the Papertrey Ink booth.

Today I wanted to share a little gift I made for a wedding. The couple's last name starts with (I imagine you could figure this out on your own...) 'R', so I thought I'd make some monogrammed coasters. (Ok - have you ever made stamped tile coasters? Seriously, they are so fun and EASY).

Here's one of the coasters (there is a matching set of 4) with the accompanying card.

It would be great if burgundy and black were their wedding colors, but I don't know! I liked it and ran with it (they were my wedding colors..) - hey, I am entitled to make the design decisions! ;)

I started with the fancy circle from Simply Stationary in the center of the coaster and the rest of the design just worked itself out around that. The letter 'R' is from the Trajan Monogram Edition set.

I bundled these four beauties up with some Scarlet Jewel satin ribbon, a black button, and a tag with the bride and groom's initial!

If you have any questions about making coasters, let me know! The tiles are available in any of the big box home stores and usually come in a box of 9 (one square foot) for under $5. I stamp with Palette Inks or StazOn and once it has dried, spray with a clear matte finish spray paint. They look and work great! I've had one on my desk at work for over a year and it still has a crisp, clean image.

Thank you for stopping by here today. I hope your weekend (and mine) is great!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Simply Stationary, Trajan Monogram Edition - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Rustic White, Scarlet Jewel, True Black - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Scarlet Jewel - Papertrey Ink; Noir - Palette Hybrid Ink
Other: Classic Circle, Labels Four Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Scarlet Jewel satin ribbon - Papertrey Ink; Swiss Dot Cuttlebug embossing folder - Provo Craft; adhesive rhinestones; tile coaster

You're too Kind!

Hi friends! It is a rainy day here in the 'Burgh. We have really had quite a cool summer so far and I'm actually sitting here at my desk all bundled up!

Today's card is one that I made for my Stamp Camp last month. It was inspired by another PTI countdown - back when Dawn made a card for the Fancy Flourishes countdown.

Anyway, this came together very quickly - I love the colors!

If you've been here before, you've seen these products used many times. There is a complete list in the recipe below, though.

Tonight we are headed out to do some grocery shopping - I usually don't get so excited about it, but since we have had such a crazy last few days we are out of the important things (milk, bread.. not just chocolate and cookies ;) so I will feel much better when it is done! I am thinking that pizza would be good for dinner too.. my favorite.. no reason to not get excited about the little things!

I hope you have something to get excited about tonight, too! Have a great evening :)

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Fancy Flourishes, Background Basics: Text Style, Mega Mixed Messages - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: SS White, Ocean Tides, Soft Stone - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Going Gray, Dusty Durango - Stampin' Up!; Ocean Tides - Papertrey Ink
Other: Upper Crest border punch - Fiskars; adhesive rhinestones

In Bloom card set

One of my most favorite things from the recent Papertrey Ink release was a trio of cards that Nichole made using In Bloom. I loved this set, but seeing these cards put me over the edge. I needed a quick gift for a friend and so I put together my own set of cards using the set.

Nichole's cards were so perfect, I didn't think I should mess with perfection! I CASE'd the design in its entirety, just switching out the sentiments.

Using the new Enchanted Evening:

And Scarlet Jewel:


Here's a photo of the whole set (you can click to enlarge).

The orange is one of SU!'s new In Colors, Dusty Durango. Hopefully we'll have an orange from PTI soon!

I loved these cards so much.. very fall-y. The sentiment is different on each card.

I also wanted to point out that deadline for the Serendipity Stamps Christmas in July reader challenge has been extended to July 31. Serendipity is offering one of their fantastic stamp sets, Oval Months (unmounted), to the winner. I absolutely love this set.. such fantastic detail! You can find more information on Serendipity's blog here.

And speaking of Serendipity Stamps, check out this card that I posted last week. Isn't that stamp fantastic?

Thank you for stopping by! I hope your evening is wonderful.. see you tomorrow!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: In Bloom, Vintage Picnic - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Kraft, Ripe Avocado, Enchanted Evening, Scarlet Jewel, Dark Chocolate, Rustic Cream - Papertrey Ink; Dusty Durango - Stampin' Up!
Ink: Vintage Cream, Dark Chocolate - Papertrey Ink; Antique Linen Distress - Ranger
Other: Pinking shears

Easy Being Green

Here's another card that I made for the Moxie Fab Its All Green to Me challenge. I thought this one was fun.. I am in love with chipboard letters recently. I know they've been around for a while, but I'm just jumping on the bandwagon now.

The patterned paper is from Fancy Pants. The alphabet chipboard is Carolyn Gavin Greenhouse and the frog is from a stamp set called Actopus to Zelephant from K&Company. Very easy.

It has been a rough couple days around here. Some friends were visiting and other issues going on, and everything is really out of whack. I am trying to maintain the crafting just for a creative outlet, but having a hard time stopping here every day to post like I like to. Don't worry, I'm getting back to my routine!

Thank you for stopping by, I really appreciate it.

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Actopus to Zelephant (frog) - K&Company; Three Small Alphabets - Inque Boutique
Cardstock: Scarlet Jewel, Spring Moss - Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Delight Collection - Fancy Pants
Ink: Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado - Papertrey Ink
Other: Carolyn Gavin Greenhouse chipboard alphabet - K&Company, White gel pen

Make a Wish

A super quick update today, as promised. This is the card I made for my mom's birthday, using Serendipity Stamps' large shell wreath. Oh, this stamp was so fun to color. I just love the look of it.

I'll be back later with the details! Thanks for stopping by!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Large Shell Wreath - Serendipity Stamps; Mixed Messages - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Melon Berry - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento - Tsukineko; Groovy Guava- Stampin' Up! (I like this as a match to Melon Berry rather than the Palette Ink..)
Other: Copic markers, twine, small tag, Perfect Pearls (pearl) - Ranger

Be Green

Happy Wednesday! We're almost there...

Today I would like to share another card that I made for the Moxie Fab It's All Green to Me Challenge - go here to check out the winners' moxie fab creations!

My husband came up with this little ditty of a phrase (I often bounce design ideas off of him - he gives me his unbiased opinion which I find enormously helpful. He came up with this one during one of our conversations and I promised him I would tell everyone what an inspiration he is to me. All seriousness here).

I thought in the theme of 'be green, save green' I would look around the house for my card elements. I looked all over for blue and green packaging... I used boxes from a package of tea bags and Gatorade powder for the earth :) I used my circle nestabilities to cut the globe and then free-handed the continents. A section of the crosswords from the local paper finished off the background.

Loved cutting the individual letters out and adhering them around the globe. This card was fun and turned out just like I had envisioned! Take the challenge and see how much green you can save by using some of your household products in your crafting! The scavenger hunt is fun!

Thank you for visiting - today is my Mom's birthday, so we're headed out to a wonderful restaurant for dinner this evening and then cake and ice cream afterwards! I can't wait to share the card I made for her. I used Serendipity's fabulous shell wreath .. look for it tomorrow

:)

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Three Small Alphabets - Inque Boutique
Cardstock: Kraft, New Leaf - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Versamark - Tsukineko
Misc: Classic Circle Nestabilities - Spellbinders; white embossing powder; various household product packaging

Reuse It!

The challenges on the Moxie Fab World blog are lots of fun - if you've never participated, you should! The most recent challenge was called It's All Green to Me and as I'm sure you can tell from the name it was about being green!

I pulled one of Serendipty's stamps that I thought was perfect for the challenge!

I colored the main image (from Serendipity Stamps, entitled Reuse It or Lose It) with Copic markers. I highlighted the oceans with Ranger Glossy Accents. The background images are from Papertrey sets (Beyond Basic Borders and Background Basics: Retro). I added some hemp twine to finish it off and that was it!

So glad that you stopped by today, hope to see you again soon!

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Reuse It or Lose It - Serendipity Stamps; Beyond Basic Borders, Background Basics: Retro - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Soft Stone, New Leaf - Papertrey Ink; Sahara Sand, Tempting Turquoise - Stampin' Up!
Ink: Sahara Sand, Tempting Turquoise, Mellow Moss - Stampin' Up!; Tuxedo Black Memento - Tsukineko
Misc: Classic Circle Nestabilities - Spellbinders; Hemp twine - Stampin' Up!; Glossy Accents - Ranger; Copic markers

RSCC 12!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. My husband and I took a day trip to Ohiopyle, a local state park, on Saturday and enjoyed a cool July afternoon. I will share some photos below - but first, my card for Dawn's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #12. Here are the colors:

Love them together!

You can click the photo for a larger version! I first inked up the rose buds (that's what I'm calling them) with Raspberry Fizz ink and then rock 'n rolled the edges in Scarlet Jewel. They were stamped separately on a piece of Vintage Cream, cut out and popped up. I added some Antique Linen Distress Ink and misted some Perfect Pearls onto the image (that sparkle never shows up in the photos). The sentiment is from Star Prints, inked up in both of the reds. I added a hint of color to the leaves using one of my new pale Copic markers, YG0000 - Lily White (I ordered mine from Eclectic Paperie). If you need any more info, it is below in the recipe. Here's a close up and some pictures from Saturday!

Have a wonderful evening! Thank you so much for stopping by.

#Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: With Sympathy, Star Prints - Papertrey Ink
Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Scarlet Jewel, Spring Moss - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Spring Moss, Raspberry Fizz, Scarlet Jewel - Papertrey Ink; Antique Linen Distress Ink - Ranger
Misc: Upper Crest border punch - Fiskars; Perfect Pearls (pearl) - Ranger; Copic markers

Sending Holiday Wishes

Good morning! Welcome to Serendipity Stamps' second Design Team Challenge. Our theme this month is Christmas in July. Serendipity has so many beautiful Christmas stamps, I encourage you to check them out!

I chose to use the Holiday Mailbox stamp. I stamped it using Rich Cocoa Memento Ink and watercolored it using various Distress Inks. I stamped the image a second time and cut out the cardinal and bow, adding it to the original image using some dimensional foam tape. I finished it off with some glitter, some gold Perfect Pearls and then a spritz of pearl Perfect Pearls. It really has some shimmer - I'm sorry that it doesn't show up well in the photo! The sentiment is hand-written with a white gel pen. I liked the 'homey' feel of that :)

I encourage you to stop by Serendipity Stamps and browse their fantastic selection of Christmas and holiday stamps. Now is an even better time as they are having a Christmas in July sale! Check their website for the details, the sale runs through July 19th.

While you are there, also take a look at the new Serendipity Stamps Blog & Gallery! You can review past Design Team challenges and also participate in the current challenge alongside the DT for a prize! All the details are here!

Thanks again for stopping by - please make sure you visit the other Design Team members' blogs for their challenge cards!

Amy
Jennifer
Kathie
Kelli
Lynda
Shannan
Sue
Yvonne

Have a great day!

Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: Holiday Mailbox - Serendipity Stamps
Cardstock: Handsome Hunter, Riding Hood Red - Stampin' Up!; Stamper's Select White -
Papertrey Ink
Patterned Paper: Holiday Magic Stripes - Bo Bunny
Ink: Rich Cocoa Memento - Tsukineko; Various Distress Inks - Ranger
Misc: Signo White Gel Pen - Uni-ball; Pinking Blade for Rotary Paper Trimmer - Fiskars; Perfect Pearls (gold, pearl) - Ranger; glitter

Tidings of Comfort

Hi all!

Tomorrow is Serendipity Stamps' second Design Team challenge (you can see the first here). I thought I would share a little pre-challenge project with you today. Following the same theme, here's a little Christmas in July!

The beautiful English horn image is from Serendipity Stamps. I have always been fascinated and inspired by Tim Holtz's tags and thought I would play a little with that idea. This is a renewed inspiration after the stamp show this weekend (lots of great Tim Holtz creations at the Stampers Anonymous booth!) Anyway, I digress!

The background was created by blending various Distress Inks. The English horn image was also stamped and then colored using Distress Inks and an aquapen. My fellow DT member, Yvonne, has hooked me on this technique. The other images are a combination of Stampin' Up!, Papertrey Ink and Tim Holtz images. The sentiment is an old PSX stamp left over from my early days of stamping. A spritz of Perfect Pearls finishes off the tag, but it is difficult to see the shimmer in the photo.

That's it! Please stop back tomorrow when I share my project for the DT Challenge as well as some fun announcements! Thank you for your visit!

Anya

Recipe:
Stamps: English horn - Serendipity Stamps; Peaceful Wishes - Stampin' Up!; Fancy Flourishes - Papertrey Ink; Mini Muse, Mini Ornates - Tim Holtz (Stampers Anonymous); Tidings of Comfort - PSX
Cardstock: Manila Tag - Tim Holtz (Stampers Anonymous)
Ink: Dark Chocolate - Papertrey Ink; Various Distress Inks - Ranger
Misc: Perfect Pearls (Pearl) - Ranger