Hello all!  Coming to you with a sweet little Valentines inspired card today and some news.  I just wanted to let everyone know since it was a tad unclear that I will no longer be designing stamps for Papertrey Ink.  No other big news other than that, but it is time for me to move on, and I wish them continue success in everything they do.  I certainly will be showing you more inspiration using my stamps I have designed through them, and I am sure I will probably be designing stamps in my future, but as of right now no plans are in the works for anything at all.

With that being said, I hope you know how much I love you all, and want you to still gain inspiration from my posts.  They will become very varied, because I am desperate to learn new and exciting things.  This new studio has really been an inspiring space and I can’t wait until I can share more things with you.

As an homage to my little stamps, here is a card made using Wonderfully Whimsical and Fly Away.

These hearts in Wonderfully Whimsical make the best little Valentines.

A little glitter is always fun!  This heart and sentiments in the banner are from Papertrey’s Sweet Love set.

Remember when I said I have been having many other adventures as of late?  During the time my studio was being built, I was in Verdi’s opera, Otello with Opera Company of Philadelphia.  I had a blast.  Thought I would leave you with a fun pic!

Well, there is NO WAY you can escape the news of the pummeling of the East Coast with snow the past two days.  It has been a bit crazy here, and this card is quite fitting for what has been going on outside my window!  Nutty McNutterson, let me tell you!  The best part about a good heavy snow is the scenery when I look out the window.  Let’s be honest.  I live in Jersey.  We don’t get many “pretty scenery” moments.  A bit of my sarcastic way comes from the fact that I grew up in Pennsylvania.  Where it is sylvanus!  I don’t care if I am making up Latin words, but we had beautiful scenery and trees and…sigh…weren’t looking into our neighbor’s windows.  But I digress…scenery…yes!  So, after a big wet snow it looks pretty Seussical around here.  the trees are bending and look all puffy like Truffula Trees.  I love it.  Really I do

I started with a clear acrylic cardstock for my base.  I think it makes it look a little more chilly, no?  The hills were made from my stamp set “Wonderfully Whimsical”, and the clouds are from Scattered Showers Additions.  The little snowman is from Made of Snow

So I put the hat and little snowman head up on dimensionals, but I first stamped and colored  set underneath, so I had perfect placement.  Do you do that, too?  Stamp the image and color it as well?  It might be a little crazy, but if the card gets turned, you see the proper color all the way around.

I finished off the hills with some fun clear glitter.  Oh snow.  You have been kind of crazy here, but you gave me my whole family a day off from school, and for that, I am grateful

This is a very exciting day for me here in my own little corner of the world.  Something that I have been working on for over a year now, and something that has grown into a deep passion.  Today is the day I open up my own stamp line through Papertrey Ink, {Studio 64}!  It all started out of curiosity really.  The curiosity grew as my imagination grew, and finally I simply couldn’t resist it anymore.  I had to design stamps.  Thousands of ideas, hours of work, even more hours of self-editing, and then I was left with these tiny things that I was deeply proud of.  These little images that danced on the page.  These little images that could capture so many feelings!  These little images were…MINE!  It captured my sweat and tears, my heart, my joy and MY ART!  It captured ME!  So much so, I would find myself working and thinking an hour went by when it was really eight… or nine… or ten!  These stamps that reflected whimsy, elegance,  and a defined sense of playful modernity…  THIS IS {Studio64}!!!!!!

The Name:  {Studio 64} is named from the fact that between my design studio and my vocal studio, THIS is where I spend most of my existance.  My passion.  My life.  The 64 is from the 64th note or “hemidemisemiquaver.”  A merge befitting of a blog  and a stamp line. 

The Decision:  As Nichole mentioned yesterday, I have chosen not to renew my contract this year in my senior design team duties with Papertrey.  Though you will still see my projects on the Click Simple team, my goal is to focus my energy on my new stamp line, and take it to staggering heights!  This has become a serious passion, and I intend to have it capture YOU as much as it has captured ME!  SO much so, that I am featuring an INCREDIBLE freebie for you today! 

Now this free downloadable PDF digital stamp is for YOU from ME!  If you make a card from this stamp, or any of the Papertrey Ink stamp designers, you will be entered to win $159.00 worth of stamps chosen by Nichole.  Please see below for the full details, but first, my stamp, and THEN, my projects with it!

          DOWNLOAD THIS PDF IMAGE HERE:   Birthday Balloon -Studio 64

 This sweet set of images leaves you so happy!  Perfectly suited for a birthday!

The way the house gently holds the balloon with it’s chimney!  Aw!

This sentiment from “Birthday Basics” is a perfect sentiment for Papertrey’s birthday, don’t you think?

Those “puppet like” clouds and sun hanging from a string!  Looks positively theatrical!

Oh, my girls wanted a GREEN house!  With that quilted hill it has  become more of a greenhouse! 

“Sugared up” images really show off  the whimsy! 

and a sentiment from “Everyday Button Bits” was curved on the block to give it a fun shape to match the curved look of the hill!

 Add some dashes with my copic multi-liner, and I have a sentiment and a hill with dashes!

Pop dots pump up the charm!

  Hope you create like crazy with these, my FIRST images for you!

Please Read the Rules and Fun Stuff:

Welcome to my all-new weekly challenge!  This challenge is called “Compose a Card!”  It is super fun, because each week on Tuesdays I will post a fun video with some super music and a card recipe JUST FOR YOU!  SO… with this challenge there are a couple of things all rolled into one for YOU…my WONDERFUL readers! 

This challenge will include:

A VIDEO 

SUPER FUN MUSIC TO INSPIRE YOU

AN INSPIRATION PICTURE INCORPORATING THE CHALLENGE COLORS 

A VIRTUAL RECIPE CARD -which includes: ALL CUTTING, COLOR and EMBELLISHMENTS

Fine Print- please read it all…it will only be once:

 I hope to make this not only inspirational, but so easy and fun for you to collect!    There are NO rules when it comes to how you sketch out your card or what inks you use, and you can use ANY elements or ANY stamp sets to create the style you want.  All you have to do is stay within the cutting recipe and colors.  This is a wonderful way to build up a library of card recipes for you!  Even though I use Papertrey Ink colors and terms, you may use any supplies you wish, just stay within the color and cutting parameters!  Since this was actually my first video I ever made (even though you saw my bow tutorial one first,) I had some problems rigging my camera…so it is a bit shaky at times–ESPECIALLY in the beginning.  Don’t worry…it is fixed for later!  Also…sorry if the Melon Berry in the recipe card looks REALLY  pink.  Something happened in the processing…I am not quite sure what.   I will work out all of the kinks for next week.

****** UPLOAD YOUR CREATIONS VIA THE COMMENTS SECTION.  MR. LINKY HATES WORDPRESS   AlSO, PLEASE UPLOAD YOUR URL TO THE ACTUAL POST,  NOT YOUR BLOG OR GALLERY HOMEPAGE **********  I will feature my faves from the week previous every Tuesday!

Stamps:  Tiny Treats: Valentines, Polka Dot Basics II

Paper: Kraft, Vintage Cream, Melon Berry

Ink: Dark Chocolate

Other: Copics E 11 & E 31, Melon Berry Vintage Button

Guide Lines I Grid Cardstock
featuring the same basic grid pattern found in the original Guide Lines stamp set. 
10 (8.5 x 11″ sheets) for $3

AND…

Guide Lines II Grid Cardstock
featuring the same circular grid pattern found in the our follow up set, Guide Lines Two.
10 (8.5 x 11″ sheets) for $3

I am eager to show you my projects, so here we go!  This project was made using the new Guide Lines II Grid Cardstock and Nichole’s new Two for Tea stamp set also being released on the 15th!

 Who wouldn’t love to receive a “Tea Card?”

 You can barely make out the guide pattern on the project, even in using the lighter colors!

 This booklet -type card was so easy to make!  It measures 7×3.5.  Just score at 3 1/4 and 3 3/4 along the 7 inch side!  It will give you plenty of room inside to do some fun scrapping!

 I had a great time making this pocket out of felt and using the Two for Tea stamp set to match my color scheme!  Doesn’t that teapot on the left look like it was paper-pieced?  Nope!  Just stamped!  And I had fun curving the sentiment on my block to go over top of the sentiment page of the card!

 All topped off with the beautiful aqua mist vintage buttons coming out this month!  Why just give a card when it can be a gift AND a card?  This gift was given to a special friend of mine for Easter?  Who will you give YOURS to?

And now…for the Guide Lines I Cardstock!  I wanted to focus on a couple of really great things about this cardstock.  Even though I did not emboss with it today, just think about how fast it will go now using Guide Lines Cardstock with embossing now.  Because your work is done for you already, you can now get through techniques like embossing faster than ever!  So I thought I would encourage you to try out another thing I thought about with this cardstock.  Use your copics!   Getting used to copics?  Thinking about trying them?  Well now with this cardstock, if you do not like your first couple of tries, it is OK!!  You don’t have to re-stamp the grid, so you can practice without getting frusrated!

I got out my Quilter’s Sampler Additions set and picked this lovely flower stamp!  I love how this doesn’t look like a quilt at all, but a modern block of art.  This also allows you to get used to your copic markers in a small unintimidating space, and by using only two colors, you really build your confidence in the coloring once you are finished. I stamped the flowers in Palette Noir Ink.  Do NOT use your True Black ink.  It will bleed.

Hope you loved the ideas for using this cardstock today girls!  This has been SO much fun for me!  Hope you are enjoying the sneak peeks of everyone’s sets!  You may want to check them out today again!

Lisa Johnson has more really fun things to share using her Spots & Dots Backgrounds

Lauren Meader has been doing amazing things with her new templates!

Heather Nichols is bringing out the sports star in all of us!

Dawn McVey has been making a splash with her new Scattered Showers set

Stamps: Guide Lines Two, Quilter’s Sampler Additions, Handwritten Notes and Two for Tea (coming on the 15th)

Paper: Guide Lines I Grid Cardstock, Guide Lines II Grid Cardstock, Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist, Hibiscus Burst, Bitty Dot Basics Patterned Paper (Summer Sunrise, Aqua Mist)

Ink: Summer Sunrise, Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist, Melon Berry, Palette Noir

Buttons: Vintage Buttons (Aqua Mist, Hibiscus Burst)

Ribbon: Hibiscus Burst Twill, Aqua Mist Grosgrain, Summer Sunrise Twill

Other: Marvy Scalloped Square Punches (Giga, Mega) Pom Pom Fringe, White Felt, Red-lined adhesive, Primas, hemp

And now for the card.  When I thought of how I wanted to make the card, I thought it would be so nice to tie it in with another photo of the girls, so I used a photo on my card as well!

  I just ADORE that sentiment, don’t you?  If you are a Mom, you can relate to that sentiment so much, because it is so true!  I hope you have been inspired by the frame and the card!  If you are worried about taking pictures like this, let me tell you my secret.  I had them done at Target.  YUP!  Target now does digital pictures and they actually HOLD the camera which gives them more play in depth and posing!  These were all snipped from my Christmas card that went out this year.  It was a collage of pictures.  Just something for you to think about when you take your kids for their pictures next time.  The more poses the better for crafting opportunities!  For the full supply and cutting list for these projects, head to Nichole’s blog for a full PDF of all of the projects from the design team.  To see the other girls’ fabulous projects head over to visit them!

Nichole Heady
Debbie Olson
Genevieve Cassady
Heather Nichols
Lauren Meader
Lisa Johnson
Michelle Wooderson
Dawn McVey
Niki Estes
Betsy Veldman
Melissa Phillips

And don’t forget about all of the cool templates from Lauren coming out this month too!  WOW!  Haven’t you been LOVING her samples??  So many fantastic things toget your hands on this month!

#1: They are expensive

#2: They are great for now, but what about when they go out of style?

#3: Will I get the “perfect” colors I need?

So come with me as we explore a great way to use your stamps in your home, and something you can change out easily when you get bored…oh and how much fun would this be to hold your cardstock?!

You will need the following supplies:

Stamps: Damask Designs

Paper: True Black, Stamper’s Select White, Spring Rain cardstock

Ink: Spring Rain

Ribbon: True Black Stitched Grosgrain, True Black Twill

Punches: Marvy Super Jumbo and MegaCircle Scalloped Punches

Other: Plastic FIle Folder (Preferably one with a flat front.  This was from Rubbermaid.  I bought it at Wal Mart. Fiskars Cutting Wheel With scalloped blade, favorite adhesive (I used red-lined tape, but you can also use scor- tape)

First cut your Stamper’s Select White cardstock to 3×11 inches.  (This will cover most of the front panel, but not all of it, so you will need a coordinating color for the top and bottom of your file folder.)

Begin by stamping your Damask Designs backround stamp.  I start at the bottom and move my way up.  I always start on the same place on the stamp, so when the file folders are lined up on the bookshelf, it will look as close to a continual pattern as possible.

Using your cutting wheel and cutting mat, roll wheel  to create a scalloped border and then cut.  You will need a 3×2 inch piece for the top and a 1 inch piece for the bottom.

Before adding the border pieces, add your True Black Grosgrain ribbon (but only go slightly under where the bottom of your border is.  You do not want it to look lumpy.) Add your top and bottom borders.   

Then I took my Spring Rain cardstock and using the “Arial” font on my computer, typed the names of the files I wanted to create.  I made sure to leave enough space around each word for punching.  This is extremely important!  If you are unsure, do a test run on typing paper!  Then I punched the titles out using the smaller punch, and to keep my accent colors, I used the larger punch with True Black card stock.  To add a finishing touch, I chose the True Black Twill ribbon to tie bows and adhere them with a large glue dot.  Now I have the perfect colors to match my blue walls in the entryway.  A color that otherwise may have been hard to find in a pre-bought folder, but was so simple to create using all of the Papertrey Ink colors to choose from.

I chose the black as an accent because I also have many performing folders which are black.  Try and pay attention to other colors around the environment you want to enhance to aid and assist you in your color choices.

 (click to enlarge all photos)

While they may not align “perfectly”, they are very close, which is why it is important to try and start in the same place on your stamp at the beginning of your stamping.  The best part about this, is that it was pennies to create, and you can always start again if you choose to redo your decor!  What will YOU do with Papertrey to enhance YOUR home?  I would love to know!!  For more Papertrey Inspiration in home decor, you can visit my sidebar in my {Hemidemisemiqauver Home} section!  Have a great day!  OH…and I ALMOST forgot!  Wait until you see one of the new Timeless Templates coming out from Lauren this month!  It will be a perfect way to complement this project!!

 This large round tin was made into a cough drop container, holding some Ricolas for a friend of mine who has been under the weather.   I hope this brightens her day!

 Floral Frenzy was the perfect set to use on this tin because of how the flowers are set up in this particular flower set.  The half-flowers were perfect for embossing with yellow embossing powder to add  decorative edging around the bottom of the tin.

 For the top of the flowers on the tin and cards I cut the pompoms off of the trim itself and then cut them in half to eliminate some of the bulk, which is a great option if you needed to mail the card.  I hope you try this out yourself, and take the time to check out the wonderful things the other Senior Team members contributed!

Heather Nichols

Lauren Meader

Lisa Johnson

Michelle Wooderson

Maggie Holmes is playing along too!

Stamps: Floral Frenzy

Paper: Black and White Basics Patterned Paper, True Black, Lemon Tart

Ink: Versamark

Buttons: White Vintage Collection Buttons

Other: Large Round Tin, Yellow Embossing Powder (Ranger)

Maybe this will lead to…Mawaige!!!! I mean, how can she resist a man who makes matching envies? ***swoon***

Hope you have a blast in Baltimore guys! Hope you love it Brittany! He worked VERY hard!

Stamps: Heart Prints, Love Songs

Paper: Raspberry Fizz, True Black, Stamper’s Select White

Ink: Pure Poppy, Raspberry Fizz, Berry Sorbet

Ribbon: Raspberry Fizz Grosgrain

Other: Large Heart Punch

Using Ripe Avocado as my accent color (because I love black white and green together) I played with a negative image and positive one to show the contrast between saturation and light. So using one of Heather’s new border stamps from “Beyond Basic Borders” stamping it twice right next to each other, I created a side strip. I then used the solid leaf image from “Spiral Bouquet” for the main section of the card. The one thing I did do that is a little bit different which you can’t see is that I made the border side up a little bit higher by using taller dimensionals. The main panel is up on smaller dimensionals because I didn’t want it flat on the base of the card, but I really wanted the side panel to be a little bit higher to escalate the sentiment a tad more. It is quite effective. The fabulously “mod” button is from the new Papertrey Ink Vintage Button Collection. I LOVE this button. It has one really big hole (almost oval) and one medium sized one. It is so funky! The twill ran through it so nicely too. I tied a knot in the back so it would accentuate the different sized holes. With the ribbon running straight through it, the holes looked the same. The for the sentiment I used Heather’s “Around and About Sentiments” set and used another leaf image from “Spiral Bouquet” for the middle. Hope you have a great day. And if you want to particpate in this challenge, just upload your photo to Splitcoast using the Keyword: ssnotime75.

You really should play. This was very satisfying! Check out what the other girls have done!

Check Out Julie Koerber’s Sample here

Check out Heather Telford’s sample here

Check out Jennifer Buck’s sample here.

Check out Janine Orchard’s sample here.

Check out Tammy Hershberger’s sample here.

Check out AJ Otto’s sample here.

Check out Dee Jackson’s sample here.

Check out Sharon Johnson’s sample here

Stamps: Spiral Bouquet, Beyond Basic Borders, Around and About Sentiments

Paper: True Black, Ripe Avocado, White

Ink: True Black

Ribbon: Ripe Avocado Twill

Other: Vintage Buttons, Dimensionals