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.