PaperWorks Co News

Have you visited the PaperWorks Co blog lately? Peggy has announced the winners to the Ultimate Summer Challenge. Congrats to the grand prize winners - Buffalo Stampers! Head on over to the blog to find out the runners up.

Yesterday there was a new sketch posted:

Try out this fun sketch for a chance to be a PWCO guest designer!

In case you missed it, here's my challenge focus card from last Saturday:

And be sure to visit the PWCO blog on Wednesday to see the latest kit that Peggy has put together. I'll be in charge of kit sample cards this month so I can't wait to see what's in the kit! I'm sure whatever it is, it will be a great kit with lots of fun stuff! :)

Technique (almost) Tuesday

If you've been following along with the challenges on the Paperworks Co blog, you'll know that the 4th challenge was a technique challenge. Our challenge was to make our own background paper.

Here's a before and after of my background paper:

(The after is the "sand" background.) I started with some "natural" cardstock that had little brown flecks in it. I added color with this funky little sponge that a fellow stamper once gave me:

These are the Tim Holtz Distess Inks that I used - Vintage Photo and Tea Dye:

After I was done sponging the paper, I crumpled, straightened and recrumpled that paper several times until I was happy with the texture of it. Next, I ripped the edge of it to give it a softer, more natural edge.

And here's the final card:

I also sponged the sky background, as well. (I used a homemade cloud template and some blue ink - more Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Faded Denim.) Together, these techniques make a fun background for beachy images like these two cuties - Carlos the Crab and Wallie the Whale from PWCO's Aqua Amigos collection.

Wednesdays with Wings

I know - it's Thursday. I'm so sorry!! School started back up this week and it has been CRAZY at work. I was so exhausted last night I completely forgot about posting! I am soooo very glad that tomorrow is Friday!

Here's this week's card. It features a new set from the 2010-2011 catalog, "Sunflower" (T-3292). I love this new set and really like how the card turned out:

TAC Supplies: Sunflowers (T-3292), Kraft cardstock (V-244), Lilly Anna blue cardstock (B-314), Mia's Cotttage blue cardstock (R-2503), More Mimi (V-835), Prismacolor Pencils, Copics
Other supplies square antique finish mini brads

The thing I like about this set is that it is so versatile. You could use it for birthday, thinking of you, get well, anniversary or thank you cards. And, while I chose summery colors for my card, I think this image would look awesome done up in autumn colors!

Becky and Suki

Whew, today is my last day of "freedom"! I go back to work full time tomorrow (I work at a school) and my kids go back to school Thursday. I tried to fit in a little extra crating time this weekend, so I whipped up this card with the adorable "Becky and Suki" image from DigiStamp Boutique's Becky line.

Supplies: Becky and Suki (DSB), leaf dp (DCWV glitter floral stack), floral dp (Basic Grey), scallop border punch (Fiskars), ribbon (Michaels), Prima flower, rhinestone (Colorbok from Michaels), Copics, green cs (DCWV), lavender cs (Martha Stewart).

Aqua Amigos

The Aqua Amigos have come out to play in this week's Challenge Focus on the PWCO blog! For my challenge, I used this fun sketch from Taylored Expressions.

I thought it was the perfect sketch to showcase some of my favorite PWCO stamps, the Aqua Amigos!

I just love those guys!!!!

Supplies: Ollie the Octopus, Carlos the Crab and Tommy the Turtle - Aqua Amigos (PWCO), dp (My Minds Eye), cardstock, border punch (EK Success), buttons (Doodlebug), twine, Copics.

Rockin' Robins

Have you checked out the August releases yet at DigiStamp Boutique? I just love the Rocky Robin images in particular!

A few weeks ago, I received an email from Archivers advertising the new DCWV 3" square envelopes. I loved the cute sample cards they created to fit the envelopes! On our recent shopping trip to St. Louis I was sure to stop by Archivers and pick up some of these envelopes. I used this adorable image of Rocky and family singing on my first attempt at a 3" card:

The image has so much detail that I didn't add a lot of extras to the card - just some Stickles to give the snow a little bling and some white Fun Flock on the hats for extra dimension. I can't wait to play around and make some more of these adorable little cards!

A Wet Wednesday with Wings

Welcome to a wet and wild (OK, maybe not wild) Wednesday with Wings! :)

I just love the "Wonder and Joy" set that debuted in our spring supplement, so I was thrilled to see the new "Oh No She Didn't" set in the new catalog. (They're drawn by the same artist.) Last week I used the beachy girl and this week's card features a more springlike image:

Supplies: Oh No She Didn't (T3322, $15.95), Hip-Hop paper, Forget Me Not Bazzill cardstock, Lemonade Buttons & Blossoms kit, Amelia ribbon, Copics, Prismacolor pencils.

Challenge Focus Day

So have you signed up yet to participate in PWCO's Animal Challenge? There will be great prizes - you really should join us!! :)

Today is Challenge Focus day on the PaperWorks Co blog. As my inspiration challenge, I used this week's Sweet Sketch Wednesday as well the punch challenge at Crafty Cardmakers. I used this cute little bear image from Rachelle Anne Miller (a PWCO exclusive) in keeping with this month's Animal Challenge.

Supplies:
Stamps: Gone Fishing (RAM for PWCO)
Papers: Bazzill and Prizm cardstock, Persuasion Stripe (Bo Bunny Press)
Other: Copics, fish punch (Creative Memories)

SSW 61

When I stepped down from the team, I promised to check in on the Sweet Sketch Wednesday ladies from time to time. When I saw this week's sketch, I couldn't wait to play along. The embellishments reminded me of the EK Success punch that I just bought. I've been coveting that punch since I was at Archivers last month and finally bought when I was in St. Louis on Monday.

I love how the punch mimics the flower in this image from DigiStamp Boutique. The paper from Basic Grey also mimics the purple flower in the image.

Why don't you head on over to SSW and play along, too! :)

Wednesdays with Wings

I've struggled to find time to promote my Angel Company (TAC) business lately but I have been super jazzed up about TAC after I received the newest catalog. So, I'll be featuring TAC stamps & papers every Wednesday in a new feature called "Wednesdays with Wings" (WWW).

This week's theme is

THE GIRLS OF SUMMER

Sadly, this is my last week of summer! I go back to work part-time next week and then full time the week after, as school will be starting. So this is my farewell to warm summer days, swimming at the lake!

The first card features a brand new set, "Oh No She Didn't" (T-3332, $15.95). I just LOVE it! Does this little girl have attitude or what?! (I"m just glad she's not my little girl, lol!) Other supplies include Mia's Cottage SWIC (R2503 $4.95) and matching cardstock (B318 $6.50), Copics and an orange brad. (The little blue tag is part of the SWIC paper pack.)

Next up is a long-favorite, Squirrelly Girl. You have to hand it to Squirrelly Girl - winter, spring, summer or fall she always seems to having a great time with her squirrel friend!

Additional supplies: Miss Moxie SWIC (V841), Lemonade Blossoms & Buttons, Lime Scrapper's Floss, Bazzill Bitty Bloom, Copics. (Half circle cut with CM Shape Cutting System with circle template.)

One Cool Dude

Meet Rocky, part of the August release from DigiStamp Boutique. Isn't he the cutest? Today is probably the hottest day of the year here so he's here just in time!  We can use all the cool and wintery thoughts we can get!

Just how hot and sticky is it? I've become a fan of photographing my cards outside (colors are much truer) so I went out this afternoon and took 3 shots. When I checked them in camera display and they were all hazy - my camera lens had fogged up!! Yes, it's *that* humid here. Whew!

Happily Grateful

Happily Grateful is one of the new sets in the 2010-11 TAC catalog. I just love it! Here's the card we made at my open house this weekend. I wanted something quick and easy that still looked pretty.

Supplies (all from TAC unless otherwise noted): Happily Grateful (T-3277), Kraft, Brown and Ivory TAC cardstocks, Palette Inks in Burnt Umber and Violette, Juliette SWIC, border punch (Martha Stewart), ribbon (Michaels).

August Offer for DSB

Sally-Ann just released a cute new batch of images! Head on over to the DigiStamp Boutique store to meet Rocky and check out some of the cute new summer images, too!

PWCO Ultimate Summer Challenge - ANIMAL Edition!

Wanna meet new friends?  Challenge your skills?  Share your work?  Most of all WIN SOME PRIZES?!?

Paperworks Co is gearing up to host a fun new challenge!

Welcome to our first annual Ultimate Summer Challenge! – ANIMAL Edition

What is it?

• Make sure you have some crafty friends – this contest is designed for you to work in groups of 4!!
• Starting on August 15th- 18th, we will be throwing out daily challenges for your team to play! – that is, each person in the team will be doing one challenge.
• as this is an animal edition, make sure you have your PWCO and RAM Animal stamps handy! - if you dont own any PWCO stamps, dont worry, we’ll have you covered
• this is a contest, so of course there will be some competition.. and MAJOR PRIZES!

What kind of PRIZES:

• GRAND PRIZE:  $100 Gift Cert from PWCO (to be shared by the entire team)
• SECOND PRIZE: each member from the winning team will get an Animal Bundle (4 characters with matching sentiment set) of their choice.
• THIRD PRIZE:  each member from the winning team will get 2 animal stamps of their choice.

BONUS PRIZE:  EVERYONE who joins this challenge will receive a 15% discount for the upcoming RAM collection in Sept - you dont want to miss out, it’s OH SO CUTE!
How to start:

• form a team of four, make up a team name, and delegate a team captain – team captain will act as the liason between the team and PWCO.
• submit your application by emailing our Coordinator:  Jenny@paperworksco.com, subject title:  PWCO CHALLENGE TEAM SUBMISSION with the following info:
  • Team Name
  • members’ name, email, and blog addies
  • Once you are approved, your team will be posted on our blog

If you want to play along, but do not have a team of 4, email our Coordinator:  Jenny@paperworksco.com, and she will assign you to a team. Deadline for sign ups is Aug 12th. – official teams will be list on the PWCO blog on August 13th


How are you going to be graded:

• the DT along with 2 guest Judges will cast their votes on their favorite projects from each category. 
• After we collected our favorites, we will set it up for public voting.

And just because we are nice, we’ll even let you know what kinda challenges we have in store (in no particular order):

1. Technique Challenge
2. Sketch challenge
3. Inspiration
4. Color combo challenge

So thats it for now!  If you’re interested join us for a week of FUN FUN FUN….. be sure to sign up!