PTI Anniversary Celebration

It's February and that means it's PTI anniversary time. Nothing gets me blogging quite like amazing contests with fabulous prizes. Mercenary? Yeah, just a bit.

My first card is from Day 2, when the stamp designers all provide a free upload. I chose Heather Nichols' cool image. I paired it with the PTI Sunshine Impression Plate and some Studio Calico wood veneers to make a quick card for my cousin.

 

 The next card is from Day 1, when the Design Team chose some of their favorite projects in an inspiration challenge. I chose the fabulous Trendy Tree Tops card by the even more fabulous Maile Belles. Nothing quite brings home how not Maile Belles awesome you are like trying to be Maile Belles awesome. For example, I had to add ribbon because there was a harsh line from the edge of the impression plate across the card. I buffed out some of it with my scoring tool, but it was still noticeable. Still, I'm happy with this card and it's for a dear friend's baby shower so thank you Maile for all the amazing inspiration!

Thank you for looking!

Supplies:
Happy Birthday - Free Image Download
Paper - PTI Stampers Select White, SU Baja Breeze
Other - PTI Sunshine Impression Plate, Studio Calico Tiny Stars Wood Veneers, Glossy Accents, Stardust Stickles

Showers of Blessings -
Stamps - PTI Scattered Showers, Scattered Showers Additions
Ink - Memento London Fog, Grey Flannel, A Muse Studio Pebble, SU Pink Pirouette
Paper - PTI kraft, Stamper's Select White
Other - PTI Sunshine Impression Plate, Notebook die, A Muse Studio Shell ribbon, pop dots

PTI Blog Hop and a New Arrival

I cannot believe I'm actually doing the PTI blog hop! It's been months since I've managed to hop! I loved, loved, loved the pumpkin picture with all the fun patterns and was all set to do something like that.

And then, totally didn't. I noticed the acorns and thought, "hey, I have a rockin' acorn set from PTI that hasn't seen enough ink." And then, "hey, I need to make a baby card for my friend who might come visit tomorrow." So I made this instead. :)

I used the onesie die, the canvas and linen impression plate, and the Autumn Acorns set and acorn die. The felt is not pti and I promise the dark one is green not black! I don't know what's up with that, but it's a very pretty dark olive green that I got at Joann's for an abandoned project a few months ago. Super simple, but I don't have much time to stamp lately.

Our own new arrival showed up earlier this month and I'm pretty nuts about her, too. Her brothers are over the moon and her dad is already in abject terror of her dating. She's pretty and sweet and took a nice little snooze so I could make this card tonight. Thanks for looking!

Supplies:

Stamps - PTI Autumn Acorns

Ink - A Muse French Roast

Paper - PTI Orange Zest, GinaK Ivory, Stampin' Up! Close to Cocoa

Other - PTI Autumn Acorns die, PTI Onesie die, A Muse light green felt, dark green felt from JoAnn's, PTI Canvas and Linen impression plate, scor-tape

Baby Season Preview

I have been reading crafty tutorials all morning long. Theoretically, I am getting a "break" this weekend. This may or may not happen since we have two birthday parties tomorrow and it's actually raining (YAY!) and wet today. Theoretically, if I get a break, I am going to be super productive and make lots of things. This may or may not happen as I am notoriously well intentioned but not overly motivated in general, I am about 26.5 weeks pregnant, and, well, do I need any other reason? Yes? Well, I bought oreos yesterday (because they're was a coupon stack at Target and it's morally wrong to not buy oreos when you are getting a good deal on them unless you are allergic to chocolate, sugar, or fun) and I have some pretty decent hot chocolate and it's a grey, rainy, and shockingly quiet day even though everyone is home. So not looking too good at the moment. I think my best shot is to have so many oreos and mugs of cocoa that I give myself a sugar high and that gives me the energy to craft. Sounds like a plan. (And, yes, I know it's July. I eat ice cream in February, too, so it's all good.)

If I should happen to get something done, baby gifts are high on the list. Two dear friends just had babies and I know 12 other preggos not counting myself. Baby season is at a trickle right now, but it picks up speed in August and breaks wide open in October and goes strong through January. Alyssa started things off with her sweet little chubby-cheeked man and I got a few things made for him. Just a week before he made his appearance, Alyssa had given me a cute little $1 stamp set of mustaches. I decided it would be fun to use that for his card and present so I did mustache onesie card and a custom mustache onesie. Since then, I've seen mustache pacifiers on Pinterest so that would have been fun to include too.

The other thing I made was this adorable rainbow sunshine plushie from Chez Beeper Bebe. It's a free pattern and even though I am really not a seamstress and have never embroidered it came together very quickly. I think next time I will either use thicker ribbon or more ribbon because it seems a bit sparse in places, but I still think it's pretty cute.

So a handmade with love baby gift that comes together in a day. Nice. And, since I had the onesie already and everything else was from my fabric and ribbon stash, this portion of the gift was free, which left more money to buy all those little baby things that add up crazy fast.

Now, to see what we can make today. :)