SAF haul

It's time to throw in the towel :)  I'll return to earn some final badges, but for now it's time to move on with the week.  What fun!  I learned so much and shared such good times with good friends.

See you all next year!!

xoxo,

Christy

SAF 5: MiniBook

Lots of cranking for this next project - a Summer 2012 Mini-Book.  It's my 1st full day of summer break so I have weeks to take photos, print them on white border wallet size, and embellish the pages.

I used a paper pack that I love so I'd always be able to see it again :)  The center of each page is a stamper's select cardstock base, and each side is lined with paper - patterned on the front and solid on the back.  This made each page nice & study, and all I'll have to do is insert the photos and embellish (if I want, or not!).

The colors on the back are in a rainbowish pattern (because, I'm like that).

Can't wait to fill those pages with family love!


xoxo,
Christy

SUPPLIES:

paper - PTI stamper's select white, stamper's select white; Basic Grey Urban Prairie (entire back)

dies - PTI Card Base-ics 2
accents - 1" binder clips in black & white

SAF 4: Tie-dye

I finally got to try two things I've been wanting to do - rainbow tie-dye with my Copic airbrush and a circle card.

This is a little tribute to an old Deee-lite song, 'Mind Melt', from the album Dewdrops in the Garden.  A 90's classic.  I thought it might be fun to try cards inspired by music, so we'll see what else I come up with.

Funk-a-delic.

xoxo,

Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - graphic 45 Once Upon a Springtime

ink - PTI true black

paper - PTI raspberry fizz, stamper's select white

tools - Copics

SAF 2: Ribbons

I love all things rainbow so I picked the satin dots ribbon strips technique:

 So shiny - but hard to see in the early light.  Lovely!

Well... it took all day what with the twins, yet finally we managed to pull off:

I'm so impressed with Jyothi!  Her notepad on the left is a true original - all her own design - and only her second creation after the morning make & take.  It is awesome!

I must say, I'm diggin' this new technique!!

xoxo,

Christy

SUPPLIES:

stamps - PTI Cupcake Collection

ink - PTI smokey shadow

paper - PTI soft stone, Pretty Pastels

dies - PTI Cupcake Collection, Tiny Tags
accents - PTI cream twine, vintage buttons in harvest gold & lemon tart, swiss dots ribbon in sweet blush, harvest gold, lemon tart, spring moss, aqua mist, spring rain & lavendar moon; EK Success border punch, Marvy scalloped circle punch (pink), pearl accent
other - white notepad

SAF 1: Make & Take + Crafting Crew

Despite a few early challenges I managed to complete the warm-up.

Then, the full crafting crew arrived:

First, some were wearing glasses.  Then, not.  Weird.

The girls were quite crafty.  The boys were pure trouble.

SAF Meet & Greet

It's 5am... it's my 1st day of summer vacation from teaching middle school science!  Why not make some crafty crafts!!  I'll be in & out all day with my DD and my dear college friend who will be making cards for the first time.  I also have 15 month old twin boys who I'm sure will need my attention, so we'll see what actually gets done.  But, the supplies are organized, the snacks are ready, and I'm up before the sun here!

This is where the magic happens *smirk*:

Even the now-1st-grader's Art Table got cleaned:

Here's my SAF 'kit' ready to go.  I made colored coded hanging files with pre-cut papers and little colored flags to make it easier to find all my supplies.  I'll be crafting, hosting, and doing mommy duties, so I need to be ready!

And one notebook from a batch I made for the Paper Dolls who I heard would be joining in the SAF fun, with my pencil case & icy cold water bottle.  (Although, it's 5am... really, I'm drinking cuppa #1).

Let the fun begin!!

xoxo,

Christy

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

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

ppd 40/41: baby thanks

Okay, I'm going to double dip for challenges, being busy with life and such.  I'm working backwards through the Paper Doll challenges, with # 41 and # 40: twine and background stamps.  Thanks Deena & Jen, both fun ideas!

Just a fun baby boy thank you - made skinny to fit a banner border.  I used Polka Dot Basics I and II on the kraft bits.  Although I've used the Night Night Moon strip as a background stamp, it's a simple strip here.  I kept the twine on the DL, too - button bows in enchanted evening. 

 Coloring those diaper pins is a blast - I love Pine's images!

Do you ever make a card you like and reproduce it?  I'm making eight of these babies :)  That's a lot of Cuttlebug cranking!  Better get to work...

xoxo,

ChrisTea

SUPPLIES

stamps - PTI Night Night Moon, Tag Its #1, Polka Dot Basics I & II, Fillable Frame #5

ink - PTI spring rain, fresh snow, true black

paper - PTI spring rain, blueberry sky, kraft, stamper's select white, Bitty Star Basics 2008

accents - PTI enchanted evening baker's twine, blueberry sky vintage buttons

dies - PTI Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Circle Collection, Banner Borders, Fillable Frames #5

tools - 1 3/4" circle punch, Copics B41/B45/T1/0

ipod - Bird & Diz, Charlie Parker & Dizzy Gillespie

inspiration blog hop

The inspiration photo for this month's PTI blog hop immediately made me think of the cubbies at my daughter's Waldorf kindergarten.  The walls are colored in soft and beautiful shades and each child has a cubbie with a special symbol, which I recreated with ribbon, the alpha-blocks die, and tiny treats images.

This is a special 'graduation' card with requested buttons and a princess.  DD's been a ladybug and a snowman (she's a winter birthday).  But she'll be attending traditional kindergarten at the K-8 school where I teach middle school science.  It's been five years at the Waldorf school, since she was 6 months old in mommy & me classes.  We've treasured our special time there, but we're excited to move forward too.

Thank for visiting - stop by later this week for new photos of the twins, now almost 12 weeks old!!

xoxo,
Christy

SUPPLIES  - (card is 3 1/2" x 8" for a business envelope)
stamps - PTI Tiny Treats Valentines and Birthday, Wood Grain 

ink - PTI dark chocolate, true black

paper - PTI rustic cream, kraft

accents - PTI hibiscus felt, ribbon and  vintage buttons in spring moss, lemon tart, sweet blush, summer sunrise, melon berry, hibiscus, plum pudding, and spring rain

dies - PTI Alpha-blocks, Tiny Tags

tools - Copics R01/02/05/20, RV13/14, YR12, Y32/35/38, B41, E55, T1/4, 0

ppd33 - baby card trio

It's been a busy and crafty week!  Lot of lesson planning (I'm off duty from teaching since the babies have 'dropped'), new home organizing (we moved 3 months ago), doctor's appointments/twice weekly 'non-stress tests' (36 wks now), crafting cards, and work on baby & family albums (I'm lovin' Project Life).

One special project was my first set of cards for the 'kids'.  We've long been a comfy family of three (mom, dad, DD), but soon we'll be five and we couldn't be happier! 

For our #1 daughter and big-sis-to-be, Caitlyn May, a glittered cupcake treat:

I love the cupcake liner pp from Pink Patterns.  And I couldn't believe I found the perfect flower buttons in berry and blush.  The polka dot top is glittered though hard to see.

(I got a migraine right as I was stamping the 'smiles' and adhering the diecut sentiment.  I knew it was coming because I kept thinking, 'Why can't I SEE right to get this straight?"  Then, bam!  Migraine.)

For Twin A, Dean Michael, our first baby-boy-to-be:

I LOVE this snail (stamped in sage & aqua).  The fun, wavy sentiment was the inspiration for the side border on all three cards.

A little practice at coloring with Copics, which can be trickier than you anticipate.

And for Twin B ('bee'), James Madison, our second baby-boy-to-be:

I had no idea I'd be cutting out the trail when I started but I just did it - and I love the surprise 3D curliness it has!  Thankfully, these don't need to be mailed :)

Room enough for a quick welcome note once the little guys arrive.

These cards were also designed with Leish's baby card challenge in mind.  Go on and join the fun over at the PTI Paper Dolls blog (link here).  I made a girl card, a boy card - and a gender neutral card, since I'm thinking multiples :)

xoxo,

Christy

Baby Card Trio 

stamps - PTI Baby Button Bits, Borders & Corners: Circle, Fillable Frames #5, Cupcake Collection; Basic Grey gamma series (tiny cupcake with cherry topper)

ink - PTI sweet blush, aqua mist, berry sorbet, ripe avocado; Versamagic sage, Distress Ink antique linen

paper - PTI sweet blush, aqua mist, spring moss, stamper's select white, Polka Dot Parade, Pink Patterns, 2008 Bitty Dot Basics, Bitty Box Basics

accents - PTI sweet blush, berry sorbet, aqua mist, spring moss & lemon tart vintage buttons, rustic jute button twine; Crystal Glitter multi ultra-fine

dies - PTI Fillable Frames #5

tools - Copic markers (BG18/13/11, YG 95/93, T1, 0), Marvy giga circle punch (purple), EK Success border punch

ipod - Deee-Lite

paper dolls blog hop

I hope you're enjoying getting to know the Dolls a little better!   I'm the last stop on the hop so if you want you can return to the Paper Dolls blog (link here).

This weekend was my baby shower and the theme was peapods:

"Two peas in a pod, double the fun!

The Hall Boys are coming, look out everyone!!!"

So for the P.T.I. challenge, I included the following elements in the favors and cards I made:

P - peapods, polka dots, plaid, pinking

T - tiny treats, thank you, twins

I - impression plate, italics, inside & out

Hellllllo cuties!  There were a baker's dozen of the treats and the thank you's.  The favor nestled a Russell Stover's caramel egg - picked for it's green packaging.

Here's a better shot of the Diamonds impression on the library card pocket.  The pea pod patterned paper (say that fast!) comes already glitter embossed.  The twins are the two button peas (I have a 3/4 chance of 2 fertilized eggs & a 1/4 chance of one split egg).  The thank you sentiment (from Inside & Out) is in italics that matched the baby shower sentiment.

The peas were easy to stamp & punch but the pods required hand cutting. {The one I photographed was poorly done - I usually leave more white around the edges.}

Plaid & pinking shown here.  When it was time for the shower I hadn't made the thank you cards yet, but I knew the image would be a preview of what I wanted to do in '3D'.

Sunshine goodness & shiny ribbons!  I used five colors of polka dot ribbon but balanced the blues, greens and yellows.  Honestly, I didn't want to use up too much of any one color :)

One last look.

And, some juicy Paper Dolls info:

-name  Christy Compton Hall (christea)

-state  CA... I grew up an Army brat (Kansas, Augsburg, San Francisco, Alabama, DC area),  but grandpa went to Cal, dad & uncles went to UCLA, mom & dad went to UCSF, & I got my undergrad/credential/grad degrees at UCSD where I've stayed put

-age  37 & pregnant with twin boys (spontaneous)

-day job  6th grade Earth, 7th grade Life, 8th grade Phys/Chem teacher (previously, HS bio/physics/adv.physics, then science professional development specialist)

-family information  Married to an electrician turned SAHD with 5-yr old DD, twin boys 't-minus 1 month', female Rottweiler, kitty... RIP ball python

-When did you discover PTI? When I discovered paper crafts in December 2008

-How long have you been a Doll I'm a newbie (~month)

-Favorite PTI products (besides stamps)  Coordinated ribbon, buttons, felt; dies!

-Favorite PTI stamp sets  Fancy Flourishes, Fillable Frames, Button Bits, Tiny Treats, Around & About Sentiments, Borders & Corners

-Favorite PTI color  Aqua Mist or Ocean Tides

-Favorite PTI color combo  Pure Poppy, Plum Pudding, Spring Moss, Rustic White

SUPPLIES 
Baby Shower Favors  

stamps - PTI Baby Button Bits, Tiny Treats: Christmas, Tiny Treats: Valentine

ink - PTI aqua mist, ripe avocado; Versamagic sage

paper - PTI kraft, stamper's select white

accents - PTI harvest gold felt, swiss dot ribbon in harvest gold, lemon tart, simply chartreuse, spring moss, aqua mist

dies - PTI Favor It #1, Mat Stack #1, Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Circle; EK Success 1 3/4" circle punch

ipod - Bauhaus, Icicle Works 

Baby Shower Thanks

stamps - PTI Library Card, Baby Button Bits, Tiny Treats: Valentine, Inside & Out: Thank You

ink - PTI aqua mist, ripe avocado, dark chocolate; Versamagic sage

paper - PTI aqua mist, kraft, rustic white, Library Ledger, Polka Dot Parade, Bitty Stars Basics, Pretty Pastels; DCWV Nana's Nursery Baby Boy

dies - PTI Library Pocket, Large Ric-Rac, Background Basics: Diamonds impression plate

tools - Marvy mega scallpoed square punch (pink), 5/8" circle punch 

ipod - Johnny Cash, Merle Haggard

mm3 - family!

[ETA - Okay I forgot, but I wanted to say, wtf? - what the Flock?  Heh heh.  

For my Project Life going back 2 months, I have a few pictures for each week, and lots of 'stuff' to fill the pockets.  I've been scrapping since 7th grade ('87, baby!) and stopped when I started teaching (14 years ago? really?), but I hoard meticulously collect memorabilia - I did two weekly layouts last night in front of the TV.]

This past week was dedicated to my newly arrived Project Life album (turquoise edition).  I've got two months to catch up on, but I'm so excited!!  I did crank out one card for use on the first layout page - our One Word for 2011. I shared a few ideas with DH - balance, family, nurture, twins - and this was his pick.  

One favorite saying between the three of us is "Fa-Mi-Lee!", accenting each syllable.  We also do Family Kisses where we say, "Let's do Caitlyn first...", then DH and I kiss her cheeks with tons of tiny, fast kisses.  Caitlyn announces who to do next for the round of kisses, then we announce and kiss the last parent.  (Don't know what we'll do when we add two more to the mix...)

I did a different spin on the PTI Monday Make-It challenge (glitter strips - link here) and chose to use rainbow flock on scor-tape strips.  Flock is PERFECT when you're not feelin' the glitter.  And using scor-tape, you can really rub the flock in there.

The sentiment is a $1 'family' stamp colored with Crayola markers.  I like their distressed look.  But using a rubber stamp makes the whole process go backwards - stamping the image first, then Fillable Frame #3, then holding it up to the window to line up and tape down the die, then die cutting.  Other than that, this card was so quick to knock out!

xoxo,

Christy

SUPPLIES

stamps - PTI Fillable Frame #3; Studio g 'family'

ink - PTI chartreuse

paper - PTI new leaf, stamper's select white

accents - Doodlebug flock

dies - PTI Fillable Frame #3
tools - 1/2" Scor-tape, Crayola markers

mm2 - b'day thanks

Here's one of a set of birthday thank you cards for our 5 year old.  She requested these colors for her party invitations (posted here), and wanted similar balloons on her cake.  The vellum sentiment strip (with defining score lines) is the look for PTI's 2nd Make it Monday challenge (link here). 

 

My heat gun ever-so-slightly warped the vellum (something old & cheap-o from an office supply store).  Still, I love vellum's soft look and will definitely use this technique again!

 

I love matching the flower from Everyday Classics with the flowers in the Raspberry Fizz Mix.  I chose three background papers, and punched a circle from the small stamped flower.  The epoxy dome and foam dimensional make it an adorable balloon.

  
For the party, all we had to do was arrive at the venue with a cake and party favors:

Inside is a cookie from our neighborhood bakery, Hans & Harry's, stapled in a small PTI glasseine bag.

Each kiddo's name stamped on the treat was a fun party hit.

Goofy grin alert!  Here's the Birthday Girl with her basket of favors, excited and waiting for the party to begin!

xoxo,

Christy

 

SUPPLIES:  thank you floral balloons

stamps - PTI Everyday Classics, Everyday Button Bits, Borders and Corners: Oval, Big & Bold Wishes

ink - PTI true black, raspberry fizz

paper - PTI stamper's select white, Raspberry Fizz Mix; marbled vellum

accents - PTI plum pudding and hawaiian shores vintage buttons, epoxy dome stickers

tools - Marvy giga (purple) scalloped oval punch, 5/8" (orange) circle punch, Scor-It mini

polka dot party favors

stamps - PTI Just For You; $1 alphabet set

ink - PTI true black, raspberry fizz, hawaiian shores, plum pudding

paper - PTI stamper's select white, raspberry fizz, hawaiian shores, plum pudding, Dotty Biscotti

accents - Michael's ribbons

dies - PTI Favor It Box 3
tools - EK Success 1 3/4" circle punch, Marvy super jumbo (blue) scalloped circle punch, corner rounder