WhoIsTracy? Blog

1 & 1

nospam@example.com (Tracy) — Thu, 17 May 2012 08:21:00 -0700

Today's card is a super simple and cute one, if I do say so. But don't panic, there is no actual math required here. {wink}

As soon as I saw this month's Numbers and Lowercase die-cuts from Clear and Simple Stamps I knew I wanted to make a sweet, graphic card with them.

I cut the numbers, ampersand, and equal sign out (which is actually two brackets with the ends cut off) using the dies. Then drew in some lines on my card base. Each letter/number was adhered using dimensionals to really make them pop.

[Big thanks to my sweet niece Rachel for the lined paper idea- I was helping her practice writing not too long ago and the image of her lined paper kept popping into my head!]

On the inside, I spelled out u & me and drew in a few more lines. I just love how this turned out!

This is meant as a little love note for my hubby. But I can see these remade in different colors as sweet notes for lunch boxes, suitcases, etc.

1 & 1 Recipe
Cardstock: CSS A Blanc Check (heavy), Dare to Be a Diva Red, True Blue Fan
Accessories: Numbers die-cuts, Lowercase die-cuts, Copic Multiliner .3 black

Last Tulips

nospam@example.com (Tracy) — Wed, 16 May 2012 08:38:00 -0700

The weather has been so strange these past six months or so. March was unseasonably warm. Then April came with cold temperatures, snow, and wind. May has had its ups and downs so far, but the temperatures have been hovering in the 50s and 60s (with a few days to the north and south of that).

My tulips bloomed very early this year. But luckily, I planted several varieties of Endless Spring tulips, so even though the individual blooms lasted only a week or two, there were many more to take the place of those fading.

This is Endless Spring Yellow. They really do bloom as long as advertised. This fellow is the last one, and I will be sad to see him go.

In my backyard, I have these pink ruffled tulips. They have been here since before we moved in. Usually, I'm only lucky enough to get one bloom. But this year I have a handful.

They're so interesting up close- I just can't get enough of the fringe on each petal. Wish I knew the real name of them!

Thanks for indulging me today. I'll be back with something crafty for you tomorrow.

IHP May Challenge

nospam@example.com (Tracy) — Tue, 15 May 2012 06:00:00 -0700

Lots of fun things to share with you today. First some news from i {heart} papers:

Join us for our Spring Cleaning Sale! Beginning today, May 15th through May 19th. Save up to 50% on selected items and as always, free US shipping with your $60 order!

All stamps 15% off! Spellbinders 20% off! Alterables 25% off! Inks (Sorry, Copics are excluded due to the manufacturer's strict pricing rules) 10% off! 12x12 Collection Packs 15% off! 6x6 & 8x8 pads 10% off! Embossing folders 30% off! And much more!

PLUS! Have you heard about IHP's new rewards from the {heart} referral rewards program? If you love IHP and are looking for another reason to spread the word to your friends, you’ll now be rewarded for doing just that! With our new rewards from the {heart}, simply refer a new customer and earn 10% of their first order placed in the form of a gift certificate. Just have them list you in the “how did you hear about us” section at checkout and 10% of their order will be given back to you as a thank you.

Here are the nitty-gritty details: they must list you at time of checkout; rewards are not valid for any past sales and are only valid for their first order -- but you can refer as many people as you like! There is no limit to the rewards you can earn. We appreciate that you love IHP and want to give back when you share the love. Enjoy, and thanks!

It's time for our May i {heart} papers design team challenge. This month we're using the amazing Paper Smooches stamps that Kate carries in the store.

I made a punny little birthday card to share today using the brand new Happy Camper set. Isn't that deer sweet? She would be great for holiday cards, too.

The sentiment is a combination from this set plus the Sentiment Sampler set. I wrapped some twine around her neck to look like a scarf- I hope my intention was clear!

My layout was inspired by Chupa's Saturday sketchbook.

Be sure to check out what the other designers have made for the challenge:

Carolyn Mustopa
Deb Felts
Gretchen Belknap
Kate Baldwin
Loretta Lock
Lori Tecler
Lynn Mercurio

My Deer Recipe
Cardstock: PTI dark chocolate, kraft;
Stamps: PS Happy Camper, Sentiment Sampler
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Palette Seascape; PTI fresh snow
Copics: E43, E44, R11, R14, YG05, YG07, 0
Accessories: Inkssentials white pen, corner rounder punch, Divine Twine cotton candy pink, Sticky Thumb dimensionals

Birthday Girl

nospam@example.com (Tracy) — Mon, 14 May 2012 08:00:00 -0700

This week over on Card Patterns we're sponsored by Evgenia's Etsy Shop. And while she is providing the prize for all of the participants, the rest of the design team got to dig into our stash for our cards.

I just had to use this adorable Birthday Girl kit from Echo Park. I love that it's half the size of a normal 12x12 kit but still comes with coordinating papers and embellishments.

My niece's birthday is this week and so I thought these colors and patterns were just here style! Can you believe there is no stamping anywhere in sight on this card?

Be sure to stop by Card Patterns this week to see what our design team made with the sketch. We'd love for you to play along with us, too. You know we have a fabulous prize up for grabs and a chance to be our guest designer.

Birthday Girl Recipe
Cardstock: PTI white
Decorative Paper: Echo Park Birthday Girl mini collection kit
Accessories: Ornare paper piercer, Copic Multiliner Gray .3, SU slit punch, Webster's Pages white tutu tulle ribbon, corner rounder punch, Sticky Thumb dimensionals, white tulle & rhinestone flower

CSS App

nospam@example.com (Tracy) — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:44:00 -0700

Here's something I made with a little school spirit that's featured on the Clear and Simple Stamps iPhone App today.

Be sure to check it out if you can!

Mother's Day & GCD

nospam@example.com (Tracy) — Wed, 09 May 2012 08:01:00 -0700

Mother's Day is just about a week away. To celebrate all the moms out there (including my own wonderful mom and mother-in-law) I wanted to make some special cards just for them.

I used the Botanique collection for my first card. I love the vintage style of this collection and kind of let that guide me. The leaves were cut using my Silhouette, and I layered them for extra dimension.

And because my own mom is not someone who likes too much glamor, I kept the rest of the card really simple. Just some faux-stitching, a sentiment, and a little butterfly (which was cut from the Botanique collection, too).

[Supplies Used: Cardstock- PTI vintage cream; Decorative Paper- GCD Studios Botanique #1715, #1707; Stamps- Verve Because of You; Ink- Palette Noir, French Lilac; Accessories- Ornare paper piercer, Copic Multiliner black .3, Silhouette leaf_0117]

On my second card, I wanted to do something a bit more homespun and fun. I used the Country Charm collection and made a little paper quilt out of some of my favourite patterns.

The strawberries were fussy-cut from one of the patterns and added just the touch I was looking for to finish my card off!

[Supplies Used: Cardstock- PTI white; Decorative Paper- GCD Studios Country Charm #1510, #1512, #1513, #1505, #1506; Stamps- Lawn Fawn Many Thanks, Verve Because of You; Ink- Palette Noir, Versamagic Red Magic; Accessories- oval nestabilities, KaiserKraft clear gems, aqua ruffled ribbon]