PTI's Amazing Prize Package

Papertrey Ink is celebrating their fourth anniversary with an AMAZING prize package.  Oh my gosh - a $700 prize package - including 22 stamp sets, 20 dies, and paper and felt and ribbons and - oh my gosh, it's amazing!!

There are two ways to win - one is simply leaving a comment on their blog post.  The second way is add a link to the favorite card that you did with PaperTrey products in 2010.  But...you have to do this all by 7 a.m. EST tomorrow (Sunday, Feb. 6th!)

I did not start blogging until the very end of 2010 - so I went through my SplitCoast gallery and picked my very favorite that I did in September - here it is again!

Papertrey has AMAZING products.  It is all so original and I love the way that they make sets/dies/embellishments that work together. There were so many other cards that I love, I couldn't resist adding some other older cards to this post.  Just click on the title to go to my SplitCoast post for the recipe.

Gobble, Gobble
(I bet you smiled when you saw this charming turkey!  And I smiled when I had the die that cut him out!)

Falling for You
(Look how well their stamps work for CAS cards!)

Feel Better Rainbow
(The sentiment is not Papertrey but they have just come out with a set called Healing Touch Sentiments that would have been PERFECT on this card!)

Lighten Your Load

Sympathy for a Quilter

Birthday Violets
The sentiment is not Papertrey but I really wanted a sample of their gorgeous flowers.  Also check out this card that I made this year with their larkspur set for a totally different look.

Fly Away for a 3-yr Old
This little airplane is called Fly Away and is only a $5 set.  Also notice the clouds - Papertrey has cloud dies!!  And, they have a set that you can stamp on the cloud dies: Up, Up and Away.  Amazing!

OK, I'm done gushing (I think I should work for these guys!)  I'm only back to August in my SplitCoast gallery, but I think you get the idea of how wonderful this company is.  I love their product - I really, really, really want their prize package - but I will probably buy that much anyway.  Even if you have never purchased from them - drop over to the blog post and leave a comment.  I would love for a PTI newbie to win this prize package!!  Good luck!

Friday Focus: Dimensional Flowers

Many companies are coming out with dies or punches to help us create dimensional flowers.  I have purchased a number of them but then have never used them because they seem to have a fairly steep learning curve.  But I do enjoy the results, so...here are my cards along with usage tips for four different brands:

1. Stampin' Up's Build a Blossom stamps and punch (I don't actually own this yet but I love playing with my stamping friend's product!)
2. Sizzix/Tim Holtz Paper Rosette die
3. My Favorite Things Die-namics Rolled Roses die (I have the bigger rose, but they have since come out with a die that cuts two smaller roses!)
4. PaperTrey Ink's Bloom Builders (I have set #2)

Stampin' Up Build a Blossom:

To get the dimensionality of this flower, I found that this tool kit from McGill was a worthwhile purchase.  McGill does have an entire series of punches used to make dimensional flowers.  You can see some gorgeous samples at their website.  The problem that I have with their flowers is that most of them require multiple punches - large, expensive punches.  And, there isn't a coordinating stamp set, so in this case I really like the Stampin' Up product.

You use these tools and the soft pad to rub the petal in a circular motion.  Obviously you cannot see the "motion" part of this - but you can see how my petal is starting to bend.  I am rubbing on the back of the petal so that it bends back toward my card.  It also looks fantastic if you rub on the front of the card.

I used dimensional glue dots to put my flower together.  First I layered the five large petals, then I plopped another glue dot on top of them and layered the smaller petals.  FYI: I left the glue dot on the paper backing until I had the petals on and arranged the way that I wanted them.  Then it was easy to peel it off the backing and plop it on the card in the perfect position. 

MY FINAL REVIEW:  Gorgeous results - but a lot of work!  Stamp, punch, shape every single petal! Definitely doesn't work often for me as we simply do not have time to put together cards like this at our church cardmaking group.  But..I definitely would like to do it for own special occasion cards.

• Stamps: Stampin' Up Build a Blossom and Tiny Tags
• Inks: Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive
• Paper: Stampin' Up Pear Pizzazz, Poppy Parade, Daffodil
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Build a Blossom Punch, Tiny Tag Punch, Polka Dot embossing folder, Daffodil 5/8" grosgrain and black/white gingham

Sizzix/Tim Holtz Paper Rosette die

Here's the die:

Here's the card:

I have a love/hate relationship with this die.  I love the look of these accordion pleated flowers, but with all the steps that I have to take to deal with the "flaws" in the die, it would probably be easier to crease and pleat my flowers manually!

Problem #1: I think it's just too darn big for your average card

Problem #2: The perforations are too big or too deep and the paper often falls apart when you are forming the flower.  After a quick search on the internet, it appears a lot of people have this problem. Some suggested adding a piece of cardstock between the die and the paper that you are cutting, but it didn't work for me at all.

Problem #3: The white core of the paper shows through the perforations.  You can kind of see it in the above picture.  I simply take a coordinating marker and color over top of the perforations.

Here's the process that I go through to make this thing work for me.  First, die cut your chosen paper.

I cut a small strip from the straight edge.  This makes
my rosette a little smaller and gives me an extra
piece of paper to add stability (as follows).

Apply adhesive to your extra piece. If you are
really careful, you can use a tape runner but it
could pull your perforations apart.  Spray
adhesive would be the best choice.

Apply the taped piece to the bag of your
rosette strip, lining up the perforations so
you can still accordion pleat it.

Accordion pleat the whole thing
then apply adhesive to the final
flat side.

Adhere the two ends together.

Add a big glob of glue to a scratch piece of paper
cut smaller than the rosette.  This particular piece
is cut from the same die, but I am not going to
use this paper for the center, so I just globbed the glue.

Sit your rosette around the glue.  (I just realized
that I took this picture with the rosette upside
down - the scalloped edges should be down)

Start pushing on the center of the rosette.

When it is flat, hold briefly while the glue sets.

FYI: I have noticed that Sizzix has a new product that is three dies that make different smaller rosettes. 

MY FINAL REVIEW:  Too many flaws in my die to be worthwhile. 

• Stamps: Our Daily Bread Lift Up Your Hands
• Ink: Stampin' Up Early Espresso
• Paper: Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Soft Suede, Rose Red, Sweet Always dsp
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Embossing Folder, gems (colored with copics to match the paper), misc ribbon to match Soft Suede
• Challenges: Christian Paper Crafts Sketch Tuesday and Just Add Ink Color Challenge

My Favorite Things Die-Namics Rolled Rose 

Here's the die:

Here's the card:

This die is actually quite easy to use.  It takes some "fussing" but nothing hard.  Here's my process.  Start with cutting your flower.  (For some reason, they leave a small part of your flower connected to the cardstock - just snip it off)

Start rolling up your flower from the
outside edge.  A quilling tool is
highly recommended - I don't have one
so simply used the handle of a paintbrush.

When you get to the end, you will have this small
flap.  This will be the based of your flower as you
will soon see.

You can sit the flower down now to
fuss with it a little.  I loosened mine
up a little bit and I unrolled the outer
petals just a titch so that the big
scallops looked more even.

Add a pop up glue dot to the base.  A hot glue gun is
also recommended - I just find those so messy!

Push down on each petal to it embeds in the glue dot.

If you want, you can use a tweezer to fold down
some of the outer petals.

I would see the glue dot in the center of
my flower so I sprinkled in some microbeads.

I learned a lot from this video tutorial.  She does a rose with grunge paper, embossing and shimmer spray that is absolutely spectacular!

MY FINAL REVIEW: This die is easier to use than I had expected and I like the final result.  I do very little "dimensional" work in my papercrafting because I can be all thumbs.  But this flower came together very easily.  On the other hand, I'm not quite certain what you would do with this card - it definitely can't be mailed!!

• Stamps: CCDesigns Sympathy Sentiments (at All That Scraps)
• Ink: Stampin' Up Early Espresso
• Paper: Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue, So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, So Saffron dsp 
• Accessories: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Tim Holtz flourish die, unknown leaf punch
• Challenges: technostamper sketch challenge and the color throwdown.

          NOTE: Technostamper has consistently nice sketches and
            now has a fun process in which we can all be in a blog hop -
            see all the details at the very bottom of my post!

PaperTrey Ink Bloom Builders

Here are the dies (it comes with three sizes):

Here is my card. (I wish that I had added another flower underneath this one to make it fuller, but it's all glued together and just too late!  If you put together two of the sizes, the flowers nest into each other perfectly.)

And here is how I did it.  First, die cut your flower.

Lightly crease each petal for dimension.

Thread floss through the holes.  Be sure to start going
down into the hole.  We will be pulling the floss
tight and you want the petal to fold appropriately.

Here's the piece all "strung out"!

Start pulling the floss together.  It's easiest if your petals
are pointing downwards and you want the backside
of the paper to the outside.

Tighten it up and tie a knot.

Flatten it out.  You can fold each of the tabs down
so that you can adhere it to your card.

There are lots of things you can do at this point.  You can leave the floss, pull it up to the front of the flower and tie on a button!!  You could make another flower - then the tabs on this one would nest right into the second flower.  Instructions for all of these can be found here (scroll down a ways to find them).

MY FINAL REVIEW: LOVE this one.  My favorite of the batch.  Very easy to do.  Dimension without a lot of bulk.  I would highly recommend it!

FYI: Although I have picked the die as my favorite, I am not thrilled with the card that I made to showcase it.  Check out this later post for a much nicer card.

• Stamps: PaperTrey Ink Healing Touch Sentiments, Fancy Flourishes
• Ink: Stampin' Up Perfect Plum
• Paper: Stampin' Up Basic Gray, Perfect Plum dsp
• Accessories: Stampin' Up Basic Gray Taffeta, gems, circle punches
• Challenges: SplitCoast Stampers Friday Free For All: Almost Monochromatic and Sketch Frenzy Friday

Whew...

TMI?

There are so many other options out there.  I would love to hear from any of you that have found the perfect die!!

-----------------------------

Fun Stuff from Techno Stamper: Mary Jo has consistently nice sketches and now she has added the ability for us to easily blog hop through everybody else's card based on the sketch.  I love looking at everybody's card to compare what I did to what they did and get lots and lots of ideas.  It's a fantastic way to learn - and to enjoy learning.  So, apparently, if I just cut and paste code from her site, everybody who links cards to her site will also appear on mine!

As a reminder, here's the sketch:

And here's what the participants have done with it: (You can click on the thumbnail to get to their blogs or galleries for details)

It has begun!!! With the Coffee House Mysteries!! by Cleo Coyle!

So, some of you may remember that I joined this reading challenge back in December! So far not much work has gone into this, what with my busy advocacy life and all, but it has begun...and shall continue...I really REALLY...love the coffee house mysteries by Cleo Coyle and they fall right into this category...I am going to just post the blurb from her site here on the first book because a review by me is not a requisite part of this challenge...just a list...and besides..the virtual coffeehouse is such a fun place to be and I shall send you there in a minute too!

The first book in this delightful series is titled "On What Grounds" and the name of our coffee house is The Village Blend. "The perfect cup of coffee is a mystifying thing. To many of my customers, the entire process seems like some sort of alchemy they dare not try at home...."

Ten years ago, Clare Cosi left an unhappy marriage along with a job she loved: managing the historic Village Blend coffeehouse in New York’s Greenwich Village. For a decade, she was happy raising her daughter in the quiet suburbs of New Jersey; but now that Joy is grown and gone, life has gotten way too quiet for Clare.

     With a little cajoling from Madame, the Blend’s flamboyant, elderly owner (not to mention a persuasive pot of Jamaica Blue Mountain), Clare agrees to return to her old job—and right from the start she gets one heck of a jolt.

     On her first morning back as Village Blend manager, Clare unlocks the front door to find her beautiful, young assistant manager, Anabelle Hart, unconscious in the back of the store, coffee grounds strewn everywhere.

     As Anabelle is rushed to the hospital, police arrive to investigate, but Detective Mike Quinn finds no sign of forced entry or foul play, and he deems it an accident. Clare disagrees; and after Quinn leaves, there are a few questions she just can’t get out of her mind, like why was the trash bin in the wrong place? If this wasn’t an accident, are her other baristas in danger? And are all NYPD detectives this attractive?  Ok, that was the write up now, this is the link to the virtual coffee house...enjoy...TheVillageBlend

So the first book on my list while Crusin' thru the Cozies is...Drum roll please...

1. On what Grounds by Cleo Colye

I will be adding to this post or at least changing it as I read through the series...

Stay Pink!

Emeril's Garlicky Sizzling Shrimp

It seems a lot of people have mixed feelings about Emeril Lagasse.  I've always liked Emeril and LOVE his cookbook, 20-40-60 Fresh Food Fast. I find myself going to this cookbook over and over again when I want a quick and simple meal that really delivers in the flavor department.  This recipe for Garlicky Sizzling Shrimp takes less than 10 minutes and is fantastic.  It's fabulous on it's own, but pairs well with pasta, rice, and/or bread....anything to mop up the juices with.  

Garlicky Sizzling Shrimp

Adapted from Emeril 20-40-60 Fresh Food Fast

Serves 2-4

2 pounds medium shrimp, peeled and deveined

2 teaspoons Emeril's Original Essence or Creole Seasoning

1/2 teaspoon salt

2 tablespoons olive oil

2 tablespoons unsalted butter

2 tablespoons roughly chopped garlic

6 tablespoons shrimp or chicken stock 

2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley

In a medium bowl, toss the shrimp with the Essence/Creole seasoning and the salt.  Set aside

Heat a large cast-iron pan over medium-high heat, and add the olive oil.  When the oil is hot, add the butter and garlic.  Once the butter is nearly melted (about 20 seconds), add the shrimp and cook, stirring occasionally, until they are cooked through, about 3 minutes.

Add the stock, lemon juice, and parsley, and cook for 30 seconds.  Remove from the heat.  Serve immediately.

Notes/Results:  Fantastic!  In my opinion, this is probably the very best way to enjoy shrimp.  The shrimp were buttery, garlicky, and cooked to perfection.  We enjoyed ours served over angel hair pasta, but I really think this recipe begs for a little bread on the side so that you can mop up all the delicious juices.  This is another keeper recipe!