Stamp A Faire Threads Challenge

Another technique new to me from this year's Stamp A Faire from PaperTrey Ink is the use of "thread nests".  They are very cute and do look like little bird's nests.  The best thread to use for this technique is thread right off the spool, because it curls so nicely.  Here is a link to the videos that showcase the use of the thread nests:

http://nicholeheady.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c64e753ef01b8d14fdd47970c-450wi

There are two videos--the first shows how to make the thread nests.  Thank you, Laura!  and the second video showcases using twine on cards.  Thank you, Danielle!

I used a combination of the techniques on the card above.  What goes best with thread?  Buttons!  I used a different window card this time.  There are three small window circles along the edge of the card.  I filled the circle areas with thread nests and antique buttons.
   The other side of the card features Anna Griffin paper, a Tim Holtz sewing room die, and a Paper Trey Ink button card die and stamp  (I love this set of stamps and dies!)

I used rather heavy twine, and it was hard to lay down.  I used glue dots beneath the buttons and a bit of Glossy Accents to hold down the twine, but this twine is hard to grab with the Glossy Accents.  It took a lot of patience, and if I do give this card to someone (can't really be mailed because of the bulk) I will have to secure the twine better.

I am really enjoying the Stamp a Faire videos today!

Stamp a Faire Mix and Match

This afternoon Betsy Veldman gave a wonderful talk on how to mix patterned papers.  She gave some very good tips which I had never thought about before.   I really appreciate the tips and thank you, Betsy Veldman!  Here is the link to the video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_zem3Ka3uJQ

I had laying on my desk some patterned papers from a Basic Grey / Hero Arts paper pack and I looked at them and thought, "These are just like what Betsy was talking about--a large, medium, and small print.  I actually had used them in a previous project--that's why they were just laying loose.  So I grabbed them and started thinking about my card.
   Remember, I am trying to use my window dies, and for lack of a better thought, I decided to cover the front of the window card with these papers.  I did just what Betsy said--I used a larger amount of the largest print, a middling amount of the middle size print, and a smaller amount of the smallest print.  My card reflects the sizes of the prints from top down (or bottom up, if you prefer).  And because the largest print was of funky looking birds, I  also grabbed one of my favorite stamps--funky birds!  This is a Magenta print, and I thought it would be perfect for my card.  I stamped the image in Memories black ink, coloring with Copic markers and the new Kiryana (sp????) metallic markers.  My image is so bright and colorful!  After trimming and attaching the stamped image to the inside of the card (mounting on a background of bright yellow), I felt the card was a little plain.  So for some drama, I added narrow strips of black cardstock.  These strips really set off the sunshiny yellow and orange.  I also stamped a Paper Smooches sentiment in black ink.   Lastly I added a Tim Holtz tiny tag, stamped and set with a green eyelet.  Oh, did I mention I really put some window plastic on the window.  Covering the entire front of the card allowed me to do this easily.  Who wouldn't want to receive such a bright and colorful card?!  Here is a peek at the inside:

Stamp a Faire Pattern Challenge

I didn't use my window dies for this challenge because they didn't really fit the offered patterns, so this card is a little smaller-A2 size to match the Paper Trey Ink patterned paper from the County Fair Make It Market kit I got last year.  I love this stamp set!  And this card would be perfect for a birthday card.  Here is the pattern I used:

Of course, Melissa's card is all girly and feminine, and very beautiful (I love the pumpkins!) so you have to look closely to see that mine fits the pattern.  You can see her card here:

http://lilybeanpaperie.typepad.com/lilybeans_paperie/2015/08/saf-2015-patterns-challenge.html

All items on my card are from my kit, with the following exceptions:  white cardstock, red cardstock, Colorbox chalk inks, colored pencil (to enhance the ink), and few dots of dimensional pearl paint.  And doesn't this card look pretty next to my chalk painted Mason jars!  (Not yet distressed, so I will post about them later.)

Hooray for summer, sunshine, and fun!

Paper Trey Ink StampaFaire 2015!

I guess it took an event to get me back to my blog!  Today is Stamp a Faire (sp) sponsored by Paper Trey Ink.  Lots of challenges and exciting ideas to try!  And I have become so slow!  It seems like I have been working all morning and I have only finished my first challenge--the White Wedding card.  The idea in this challenge is to make a wedding card using only white, plus one neutral stamping color.  It's not as easy as it looks!  First of all, I have no use right now for a wedding card, but I guess I'll have one when I do.  Second, I have about no wedding stamps.  So the above is what I came up with.  I cut a 5" x 7" window card from white pearly cardstock using my AccuCut machine.  I so want to use my window dies in more cards, and it seems like today, being a dedicated stamping day, would be a good day to use them.  After a lot of trial and error, I faced the window with a sheet of vellum and sewed it along the top of the card using my sewing machine.  I then stamped on the vellum window using a dated Hero Arts stamp.   The stamp actually has a square background drawn around the glasses, so I had to be creative.  I used my Versamark pen (remember those?) to ink up just the glasses from the stamp and then heat embossed using silver powder.  I then used a strip of pearl paper and two strips of white ribbons to embellish the front.  For the inside of the card, I stamped the sentiment (a dated Stampin' Up, which I often use for anniversary cards) onto the cut out shape from the die, with Colorbox silver pigment ink and a glittery silver embossing powder, matching it up properly with the outside window.  Here is a pic of the inside, where you can also see my machine stitching along the top:

Now, of course, I have lots of cut out bits and pieces to make several wedding cards!  Anybody planning one in the near future?  I have your card ready!