baby train

Choo choo!  Baby train.  

A little friend turned one so I cranked out this card.  I've known about the party for weeks but couldn't get in gear to make something until, oh, last night.

The train track border is pink shimmer cardstock and twill ribbon colored with a Copic.  My sweet blush ink is the old spongy pad formula and it doesn't photograph well - I had to jack the photo up pretty good.  Love the flower/smoke idea from the PTI tip sheet (saved it into Evernote before the website switched).  And I just had to have a flower tag tied with a silk ribbon even though it made the card heavy in that corner.  So I balanced it out with some silver-lined clouds.  Only they take your eye away from the flowers, so.. :(  Still, I can live with it.

Here's another idea for when I get a good pink ink with better coverage... kiss the pink inked alpha-block stamp with a tiny floral pattern stamp to get floral detail on the letter blocks.  Ooooo. That would be cool.

Hope you're enjoying summer!  We went to a party at the bay in San Diego and I expected hot weather but it was quite cool.  I think we're in for the heat soon but so far it's been mellow here.

xoxo, 

Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Train Tracks, Alpha-Blocks, Honey Bees; Basic Grey gamma series stamps (flowers)

ink - PTI sweet blush, true black

paper - PTI pink shimmer, stamper's select white, Bitty Star Basics

dies - PTI Train Tracks, Alpha-Blocks

accents - PTI white twill ribbon; border punch, pearl accents, heart confetti, Copic

may blog hop + mim 67: key to my heart

It's been awhile since I played along at PTI, but I love the inspiration photo for the May blog hop (black & white patterns with chartreuse) & the Make-it-Monday (combining patterns from several different packs).  I needed to make something EXTRA special for my hubs who surprised me Mother's Day with black diamond earrings (one birthstone each for the twins who turned one in April). 

I couldn't resist folkart lovebirds.  Or trip-hop funky & washi tape.  Yes, I added in a little more color.  It was fun - the design & execution flowed quickly this time!

Tricky bits:

 1. The colored green dots on the left panel really tone things down;

2. I masked a horizontal sentiment to go vertical;

3. The heat embossed key has brown baker's twine colored black;

4. I added white dots to the bird pattern to tie things together (hard to see).

My one regret... I'm out of foam tape or I would have 'popped' the panels :(

I can't wait to see your creation for the hop!

xoxo,

Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Lock & Key, Friendship Jar Spring Fillers (heart)

ink - PTI true black, hibiscus; Versamark

paper - PTI true black, stamper's select white, Black & White Basics, Bitty Star Basics; Basic Grey Urban Prairie corn stack, meadow,

dies - PTI Lock & Key

accents - PTI chocolate button twine;  washi tape, Copic #YG93 (Grayish Yellow)

paper dolls #48 - wild things

I'm hosting Paper Dolls Challenge #48: Find-a-File and my hunt for forgotten files led me to the adorable Finger Puppets template for Tiny Treats: Birthday.  I needed something special for my six year old who's put up with a year of my attention diverted to nursing twins.  So, for my darling daughter:

These wool felt wild things were fun to hand-stitch while the boys romped about.

For the card, 1" rainbow strips align so the same animal doesn't have to touch.  I know.  The monkey's foot had to get masked off to fit.  Sorry, buddy. :)
 
The die-cuts are paired like on the puppets: lion (HG & MB), hippo (H & HS) & monkey (SC & PP/RV).  I debated about the little strip of white on the bottom - cut it or leave it?  In the end it stayed because it looks like hippo's teeth (but I hit it with Bitty Dots II in melon berry).

 
That tiny loopsy stamp on TT: Birthday makes the perfect stitches!

And, the puppets:

I'd have used pink baker's twine if I had it, but instead it's DIY with PTI button twine & a hot pink Sharpie.  The whiskers are actually much stiffer which I like better.

Beady eyes, chunky teeth!
FYI, hibicus felt is REALLY bright pink (much brighter than the cardstock).  

 

 Royal velvet was too dark for the card, but perfect for making the pink stitches Pop!


Do you have an download, template or digi paper you've been meaning to try?  If so, take the challenge at the Paper Dolls blog - you have until June 9th!


Thanks for stopping by!
xoxo,
Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Tiny Treats: Birthday, Borders & Corners: Circle, Polka Dots Basics II

ink - PTI smokey shadow, melon berry; Versamagic eggplant

paper - PTI hibiscus, melon berry, harvest gold, simply chartreuse, hawaiian shores, plum pudding, stamper's select white 

dies - PTI Mat Stack 5, By the Numbers, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" circle, Large Ric-rac

accents - PTI vintage buttons in hawaiian shores, hibiscus, royal velvet; PTI button twine;  PTI felt in hibiscus, melon berry, harvest gold, simply chartreuse, hawaiian shores, royal velvet, white; pink DMC floss; black beads

blog hop - may blossom

Welcome!  This birthday blog hop is dedicated to my fellow Paper Doll & hometown girl, Joyce. 

Happy Birthday, May Blossom!

The papers are Graphic 45, Once Upon a Springtime (again!).  A little paper piecing, a little coloring & a little glitter...

Thanks for visiting!  If you're along for the hop, stop by Sharron's blog next:

 

Kim
Renee

Cathy

  Michelle 

 Kara
  Gayatri
Tracey
Marybeth
Kristin
  Jessica
  christy (that's me)
  Sharron
Jeanne
Susan 

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Fancy Flourishes

ink - PTI new leaf; Distress Ink antique Linen

paper - PTI rustic cream; Graphic 45 'Once Upon a Springtime': enchanted forest, tiny treasures, primrose cottage

accents - Copic R01 (pinkish vanilla),Crystal ultrafine glitter

paper dolls #47 - cheery cherries

Today I'm playing along with a fresh & fruity challenge over at the Paper Dolls blog (link here).  Looks like we're waiting for summer ripe cherries!  I used Karen Hughes' 3rd sketch in Papercraft's Go-To Sketches #1, p. 64 - a circle element with sentiment strip & scalloped far edge.  

 
I used Basic Grey Lemonade papers to make a quilt with zigzag stitch stamping from PTI Button Boutique. There's a sentiment from Quilter's Sampler inside (can't quite remember which...). :)

This homespun feel called for a special banner so I gave it some love.  It's hard to see, but I kissed the edges of the polkadot leaves with new leaf ink to give a little definition.

Hope your day is sweet & special!


xoxo,
Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Everyday Button Bits, Button Boutique, Borders & Corners: Circle, Quilter's Sampler (inside card)

ink - PTI scarlet jewel, ocean tides, chartreuse, new leaf; Distress Ink in antique linen

paper - PTI rustic cream; Basic Grey Lemonade: saltwater taffy, strawberry patch, flower garden, picnic table, cherry cobbler, splash, sunkissed

accents - PTI scarlet jewel vintage buttons, new leaf baker's twine

dies - PTI eyelet lace border die

tools - Marvy giga punch

paper dolls #46 - faerie collection

A new Paper Dolls challenge - the perfect opportunity to awaken from my blogger coma!

For the 'Spring Bling' challenge I really wanted faeries in a jar.  Some cyber hunting finally landed Once Upon a Springtime from graphic 45 in my craft room.  *love, love, love*

The pearl embellishments were a gift (thanks Renee!) - and just what I needed.  I trimmed them to fit the space and added an extra flourish for balance.

Yay! This shot caught the glass look of the jar.  I used shorter dimensionals on the faeries and hid taller ones behind the jar lid.  I slit the faeries' wings and folded them out slightly.

Recipe Box Label is a go-to favorite of mine... SO many sentiments fit the box!  I colored the pearls with a Copic (and snuck in another peek of those precious papers).

Hope you're enjoying your bloomin' spring!

xoxo,
Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Friendship Jar, Friendship Jar Fall Fillers, Recipe Box Label, Button Boutique

ink - PTI dark chocolate, melon berry; Distress Ink in antique linen

paper - PTI rustic cream, clear cardstock; graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime Frames, Tiny Treasures, Spellbound

accents - PTI melon berry bitty dots ribbon; Recollections adhesive faux pearls

dies - PTI Jar, Lid, Jar Label

tools - Copic E55 (light caramel)

merry thanksgivoween

Did you know time was speeding up?  Well, it is.  Here's a re-cap of the Halls' important bits:

 Slight obsession with Nightmare Before Christmas here.

 Dessicated jack-o-lanterns, one day after carving (darn Santa Ana winds).

Batterina and the Pumpkin Patch.

Pioneer Woman's turkey brine - it doesn't smell like the holidays until it's going.

Tom looked gorgeous, until we noticed the pink juices - wtf?

Christmas on the Prado, Balboa Park - the annual start to our festivities.

The Christmas train (another obsession) - choo choo!

Our caroling Peanuts gang broke this year - whaaaa!

Yes, the presents are wrapped and ready.  What can I say?

Christmas in San Diego - fake snow back-drop and short sleeves.

With love, from us to you!

Tha Halls