Vintage Finds Card

Wow, what a month for Papertrey goodies right? For the rest of the month I'll be showing you cards from my PTI gallery and a few new cards like this one that I created using Button Boutique.
I absolutely love the idea of being able to create vintage looking button cards without depleting my stash of the ones I've found at thrift shops, auctions and my little junking outings. Those little treasures will serve as inspiration for sure. Here I've created a colorful button card using Summer Sun, Dark Chocolate and Aqua Mist inks. For the button card itself, I used four different stamps from the Button Boutique stamp set. You can mix and match the fun graphics and sentiments til the cows comes home. The Bitty Background Blocks stamp set works perfectly with the pinked square die that comes in the button lineup of dies. I used the gingham patterned in Aqua Mist as the underneath layer for my buttons.
For the bottom of my card I used lots of October Afternoon scraps from my little scrap basket I keep at my stamping table and then stitched back and forth to keep them all attached. I also added a snippet of Sweet Symphony patterned paper. Wrinkle Ribbon and a tiny clothespin from my shop finish off the card. One of my favorite new cards for sure...it will be going up on my clipped row of cards for display and inspiration. Hope you enjoy!
Now for the rest of the month...

momsitting: my dad is going to Africa for long jaunt so i've got some fun plans for my mom to keep her entertained.

sewing projects: some beautiful new fabric is calling my name...and so is this cute project. i think i even know someone who can make me yo yos. ;)

tidying up: love to clean up my work table after a PTI release so i can start even more projects. i've got a fun idea for a inspiration scrap basket that i'll show you soon.

on the shelf: a few new items to inspire me will go up on the shelf soon. photos to come as soon as i get it organized.

dreaming of flowers: found a new Better Homes and Garden magazine that features gardening with flea market finds. can't wait to thumb through that. am missing my flower beds.

project life: coming along nicely and hoping to add some posts about that soon.

meal planning: got a new system of lists that is helping me out lots.

today: shipping out etsy orders, cleaning up the studio, working on my project life, getting events on the calendar.

on being a mom: lots of giddy girls coming home after school then we'll head out to some basketball games. i love a house full of laughing, beautiful girls.

Doily Details

Welcome to the second group post for Papertrey this month. Today we're featuring Dawn's new Delightful Doilies stamp set with coordinating dies, Doily Details dies and the Parisian Lace Doily die. Please be sure to visit Nichole's blog for additional details and the hints for today's prize.
For my first project I worked with the Delightful Doilies stamps and coordinating dies. I created a colorful card with layered doilies using Plum Pudding, Aqua Mist and Dark Chocolate colors.
I love the layered look of the stamped images cut out with the dies. The great thing is you can make doilies in any color you like. Reminds me of the Spirograph images I used to make as a kid. For my background paper I used Green Boutique and the base card is Fine Linen. You'll see a lot of projects from me this month using Fine Linen as my neutral base. Love it.
For the sentiment part of my card I stamped and die cut a label image from Pine's new Fillable Frames Additions 1 using Dark Chocolate ink. I adhered the label to my card front with part of it hanging off the side. I stitched the label back and forth with my sewing machine. If you'll notice in the main card photo I used the cut off portion of the label as another embellishment piece. Love that too and will keep that in mind for more projects. Oh how I love Piney's label stamps, sentiments and coordinating dies. They mix and match with any project.
For my second project today I used the Parisian Lace Doily and one of Dawn's Doily Details dies as backgrounds on a card.
The doilies are a great layering accent to add under focal points, tags, patterned papers, or to tuck behind ribbons, etc. They can be cut from patterned paper, cardstock for stability or from regular copy paper if you want a traditional paper doily feel. Great little accents that I know I will reach for often to use on my projects.
For the focal point of my card I used the original jar image and die from Friendship Jar along with a stamp from Button Boutique. Instead of stamping a jar filler, I stitched on a snippet of patterned paper from Pretty Pastels. Vintage Buttons and a wooden button from my shop were hand sewn onto the jar. Tiny wooden spools from my shop were covered with patterned paper scraps and adhered with glue dots.
The buttons and ribbon that I'm using today are from the new Royal Velvet color collection. Very vibrant and pretty.
Whew, what an exciting month. That does it for our countdown projects for this month....and now on to the big release night. The 15th is the big day..have fun shopping!! Thank you so much for joining me this month as we've celebrated Papertrey's 4th anniversary together. Come back soon as I'll be showcasing my PTI projects for February on the blog. :)

• Nichole Heady
• Heather Nichols
• Dawn McVey
• Lisa Johnson
• Betsy Veldman
• Melissa Phillips
• Maile Belles
• Jessica Witty
• Erin Lincoln
• Danielle Flanders

Friendship Jar Spring Fillers

Edit: Where do I find my vintage ledger papers?.....I have found ledger paper all over the place. Sometimes it's in the bottom of a bin at the thrift shops...a lot of times I'll find old notebooks, accounting books,etc in junk boxes at auctions that will be practically free because it looks like a box of junk....and recently I've found whole bundles on Ebay. I've seen cut sheets and full sheets on Etsy too. And actually I don't know how *vintage* it is...but the ones I find usually are weathered, discolored and are found with other old stuff. Hope that helps!

I've been so excited for this post. First up this month was Button Boutique and now I have another fun set that Nichole and I designed together to show you. Be sure to check out Nichole's blog for all the detail...and you won't want to miss out on the great prize package either.

If you've been following my jar series, then you'll remember the original Friendship Jar and the coordinating dies. Next up was Friendship Jar Fillers, then Friendship Jar Fall Fillers....then Friendship Jar Holiday Fillers....and now Papertrey is excited to offer Friendship Jar Spring Fillers!

Friendship Jar Spring Fillers is full of fun Valentine, Easter and Spring stamp images + lots of fun sentiments that fit the small label image. All of the images fit inside the original Friendship Jar image or they can be separately to increase your creative possibilities.

For my first project I'd like to show you a Valentine card. Knowing that this set won't make it to you in time to create Valentines for this year, no worries...there are plenty of sweet images to get you through Easter, Spring and beyond. And next year you'll have a fresh new Valentine theme to work with.

First up, I die cut and stamped the original jar image. Next I stamped the conversation hearts in Dark Chocolate ink and then colored with the Copic markers shown below.

Then using the same marker colors I shaded the bottoms of the hearts. I then added some additional shading and blending with a W3 and Colorless Blender (0).
Next up I added a die cut topper using Simple Valentine patterned paper. To finish off the conversation hearts, I added the signature sentiments that we all loved to read as kids.
Next I was ready to assemble my card. Using the medium scalloped border die, I cute several scallops from the Simple Valentine paper and chose the heart paper as a background. It's looking very Valentine-y, don't you think?
And here's my finished Valentine card, so full of bright and cheery reds and pinks.
A little glitter on the jar adds a little shimmer.
And I used Pine's new Tag-its #1 stamp to create a fun sentiment piece. Both the sentiments are from Friendship Jar Spring Fillers. A Fresh Snow satin ribbon finishes off the card.
And here's the sketch I used as inspiration for this card. Thought you might like...

Next up I created a springy card. I'm so over winter, how about you? I started with my focal point by using the button card die from Button Boutique. I stamped the border on Eclipse Masking Tape and placed it over my die cut piece. I then stamped it with Dawn's new Background Basics: Newsprint in Aqua Mist ink. Just a fun little background around the edges of the frame.

Next I stamped a fun flower image with picket fence onto the button card. Although this image fits into the original Friendship Jar image, it looks great all by itself too. The Copic colors I used are shown below. I also went in with an N2 Grey on the fence to add a little shading.
For the background of my card, I created a patchwork look using Bitty Background Blocks. So many fun uses for these little stamped squares. I used Aqua Mist, Summer Sun and Orange Zest inks in a mixy matchy fashion....no need to line them up perfectly.
Here's my finished card. So many pretty, springy colors.
The flower centers are blank so you can color them in or add Vintage Buttons like I did on my card. I topped each button off with a clear rhinestone. The sentiment was stamped on the label stamped die from the original Friendship Jar. A little stitching on some Green Boutique patterned paper adds a little interest to the focal point.
I also used a sketch I had on hand for inspiration for this card. You can see that below.
For my third project, I used the adorable little stack of letters from the new Friendship Spring Fillers stamp set to create a cute brown paper sack pouch. Perfect to tuck in a little card or some goodies. The background airmail envelope, white tag and airmail ribbon are from my Air Mail Supplies Basic Kit. I trimmed off the right side of the airmail envelope then stitched it to my folded paper sack to form a pouch.
I colored the cute air mail envelope with Copic colors of R29, B28, E00 and E11 for the shadows...then cut the image out with scissors. I am loving the airmail look these days...bright strips of red and blue on white envelopes. I also created some custom air mail ribbon by drawing on stripes of the blue and red Copic marker over Fine Linen Satin ribbon. Love the vintage, postal look of this. Must create more. The little label was stamped and die cut out of some old ledger paper. Same thing with the jar image. For the white tag, I stamped on an image from Dawn's Background Basics: Newsprint in Vintage Tea Dye ink.
I used my scraps to create a cute little card to tuck into the paper sack pouch. Fine Linen cardstock is the base with more vintage ledger paper and scraps added for embellishments.

Hope you enjoyed my projects for today. Stay tuned all month as I use more images from Friendship Jar Fillers Spring. The Easter images are A-DOOOOR-A-BULLL!! Thanks to Nichole for bringing another fun set to life for me. :)

Get out your big ol' buttons...

Welcome to another Papertrey countdown and anniversary celebration day. Today my good friend Heather Nicols is debuting her Fillable Frames Addition 1 and Tag-Its #1 stamp sets. The Fillable Frames are some of my most used stamps and I'm sure the Tag-Its will soon be just as popular. Be sure to visit Pine's blog and Nichole's blog for all the countdown low down. :)

Thank you so much for the wonderful response to Button Boutique. I'm sure you will love it as much as I do. Want some more ideas? Well let's dig into some more button fun. Today I filled up my little vintage tins with Papertrey Vintage Buttons along with a few other goodies. Let me show you what I have in store:

(don't you just love this photo?)

I'm pairing up my Button Boutique stamp set + Bitty Background Blocks stamp set + Button Card Die Collection Dies. As you can see in the photo below I'm thinking outside the box today and am going with a horizontal button card. You don't see this much in the vintage type button cards but we can now create whatever we want right? You can see that die cut patterned paper (October Afternoon), stamped the outline...then die cut some Rustic Cream cardstock then stamped with the dots.....then stamped strips of cardstock with the 25cent border stamp.
And here's something that you'll flip over. I dug out the BIGGEST Vintage Buttons I could find from my Papertrey stash. I know some of you aren't fond of the big buttons. But whyyyy...they deserve crafty love too. :)
Using 20 or 30 glue dots...okay maybe 4 per button.....I adhered the buttons to my button cards. Notice how each button card is color coordinated with Ripe Avocado accents and ink...Hawaiian Shores....and Summer Sun. Love that. But I'm not done yet.
Using some fantasticly awesome vintage glass *thingies* from my stash, I adhered one to each giant button.
Eeeek. I now have beautiful buttons that look like they would adorn granny's wool coat. Soooo pretty. If you don't have fantastically awesome vintage glass *thingies* in your stash, why not try some big rhinestones...or a cluster of smaller ones...or another vintage type button stuck on top. I challenge you to dig through your stash and find something suitable. I finished up the button cards with a pretty silk bow.
I tucked each button card into a small glassine bag. Then I stitched a brown paper sack into a pouch to hold the button cards.
Then I tucked all the little button card sacks inside, safe and sound.
I created an accent for my pouch by die cutting a piece of patterned paper with the Button Boutique die. Then I stamped a button card topper and craft worthy sentiment onto a die cut and stamped Fillable Frame Additions 1 piece of cardstock. Isn't that kinda cute? Makes an adorable label, I think. I finished off the pouch with Hawaiian Shores ribbon and a clip on earring from my vintage stash. My grandmother wore earrings like these every day. I never saw her without them. And a hanky. She called the earrings her *baubles*. I have a few pairs of hers that I keep in my cedar chest.
So there ya have it....lots of button goodness today. I little creative play. A LOT of fun! Thanks for stopping by!

(don't you just love this photo too?)

Button Boutique

Vintage button cards are always a treasure find while I'm out on my junking adventures. When I get them home, I always have beautiful visions of how I will use them on projects. But when it comes time to deplete my pretty stash, the hoarder in me never uses them. I want to keep them in a little basket, all nestled safely together with all their vintage goodness. That's when I knew it was time to sketch up a stamp set concept for button cards and whisk it off to Nichole. And holy button bliss, did Nichole pull through for me. She took my sketches and scans and illustrated just what my mind had pictured for the new Button Boutique stamp set. I can now create oodles and oodles of vintage looking button cards and never run out.

Just look at the photo below. At first glance can you tell which button card is one that I made from scratch? It's the one on Kraft cardstock. Get out!! We now have stamps and dies that enable us to create our very own button cards. What do you do with button cards, you ask? What can't you do with button cards? You can make them look vintage or very modern. You can use them as card accents, gift tags for packages, embellishments for scrapbook pages....the possibilities are endless. Whether you're a sewing enthusiast, a vintage lover or just plain like fun stuff...this stamp set and coordinating dies are going to supply you with an endless amount of creativity.

Each design team member has put their own special touches on the Button Boutique stamp set and dies today. I can't wait to see what they create, I'm on the edge of my seat just waiting to see their projects! But first, how about a little button bliss from me? I'm going to show you how to use vintage fabric (or you can use new fabric or felt for that matter) to create a beautiful card with a button card focal point.
First, die cut two fabrics of choice. You'll end up with small, medium and large button circles of each fabric. Layer the circles with every other color of fabric. Then secure with a stitched on button.
I ended up with a layered fabric button full of homespun goodness. Next I die cut the new pinked edge square die with a purple snippet from Pretty Pastels. I layered on the fabric button and positioned more buttons and a Mini Wooden Spool (coming later today to my Etsy shop)wrapped with twine. Tip: To sew real buttons to paper, I first use a paper piercer and a foam mat to poke the holes through the buttons. So much easeir than trying to guess where the holes need to be poked with the needle.
Next up is creating the fun, fun button card. I die cut the button card rectangle using Rustic White cardstock. In the Button Boutique stamp set there are lots of graphic, card topper phrases and then several one line sentiments. You can mix and match these for endless button card looks. I like to lay the actual clear stamp and other elements onto the button card to *stage* the design elements. This gives you a good feel for how each element needs to be spaced before you start stamping and adhering items.
Once I was happy with my staged element, I stamped my images onto the die cut button card. Ahhhhhh. Eeeeeek. It's starting to look so much like an actual button card. I can hardly stand it, friends. The beauty of having our very own button card set is that we can mix and match the colors and phrases for a bo-zillion combinations. Here I've used a black outline, a Plum Pudding topper phrase , a Ripe Avocado one line sentiment and a Plum Pudding 25 cent stamp at the bottom. Cuteness. Yes indeedy. Next I layered on my embellished square with the fabric button.
Next up, it's time to assemble all my card elements. I layered my button card onto a very special doily then added Fine Linen ribbon and a die cut piece of Bitty Dots paper. A sentiment from Studio Style is attached to the ribbon with a Mini Clothespin.
Oh how sweet. A pretty little number, don't ya think?
I would love to hear your thoughts on Button Boutique and the coordinating dies. I really think this set will be a fun one for you...a good way to sit and play around with different buttons and little baubles like my new Mini Wooden Spools. Thanks so much for stopping by today.

For even more inspiration, please visit the Design Team blogs. Plus Nichole will be doing her big write up about Button Boutique along with today's prize announcement. Stay tuned this week as I show you more projects made using Button Boutique....plus the new jar set later this week. Let the fun continue:

Nichole Heady

• Heather Nichols
• Dawn McVey
• Lisa Johnson
• Betsy Veldman
• Melissa Phillips
• Maile Belles
• Jessica Witty
• Erin Lincoln
• Danielle Flanders

Favorite PTI Color Combination

Hi friends. Today the Papertrey girls are celebrating anniversary style by sporting our favorite Papertrey color combinations. I have to admit that it was hard to narrow down a specific color combination. I've been using so many mixy matchy color combos lately that it seems that the sky's the limit...almost literally because my color palettes have been so *rainbow-y* lately. And doesn't it seem that sometimes your favorite colors...or card layout....seem to be what you're currently working with or have out on the table? Then the next time you create something, THAT color combo is your favorite? Happens all the time to me. And that's okay.

For today's challenge though I've chosen a sweet little combination of colors that just say *spring* and *happy* and *mixy matchy*...everything sweet and delicious, especially during this snowy weather we're having again. I'm using Aqua Mist, Sweet Blush, Simply Chartreuse, Harvest Gold, Dark Chocolate and Rustic White. Lots of color but if you use them in moderation, they look great!

Oh how I love my little Friendship Jar card I created for today. I used the Friendship Jar Holiday Filler handle stamp to create a pink mug......I guess you could say that today I'm seeing the world through a rose colored glass. Ha!

My favorite thing about my card is the sparkly straws. How cute are they? Very!!!! Makes me think of sipping ice cold pink lemonade out on the porch on a hot summer's day. Super duper dee-lish! I love the little scalloped jar topper too. Love that there are dies to cut these out.
The filler part of my jar consists of some polka dotty October Afternoon paper, stitched with an overlay of vintage pink lace. A die cut felt flower has a stitched on button using chocolate baker's twine. The sweet label was created with the small Friendship jar label die and stamp. The sentiment *sweet* just sums up this card, I think. Perfect for a birthday, a thank you card....any kind of card. :)
I've been getting all stitchy-like on the bottom of my cards lately. Back and forth stitches over scraps of paper. A pretty Sweet Blush Luxe Satin ribbon finishes off the card.
Soooo, how about you? Have some favorite colors you've been working with lately? I know for me I tend to think of Springy, happy colors at this time of year. I look for inspiration through my magazine clippings and inspiration notebooks that I've compiled. I think of my pretty flowers in my gardens....fresh coats of paint....a pretty new outfit.....any little thing can trigger a fun new color combo. Hope you give mine a try. Would love to see your links in the comments if you have a creation to share. Thanks for stopping by today!