Today is a big day! Today marks exactly one year since I started blogging and it just so happens that today’s occasion coincides with the Papertrey Ink monthly blog hop – so of course I’m playing along.
Before I get to the projects – and boy are there some projects – I wanted to share some more of my ramblings about the oh so wonderful world of crafting. Yesterday, I brought up my struggle with competition and letting it take over my passion for this hobby. It was great to read everyone’s thoughts and insight on the topic. I loved the dialogue! As frustrating as it is to feel my competitive nature creep up when it comes to crafting – there is a much bigger and better side to this hobby that makes it easy to stay motivated!
I have been 100% amazed at how supportive, friendly and kind this community is. I’ve certainly come across my fair share of nasty commenters, nay-sayers and generally unpleasant people – but those experiences are in the minority, by far – although they do make for a rather amusing stories! (Some people can get really nasty about cardstock and stamps! Geez Louis!)
I’ve come to “know” several crafty people and each has been a true gem! I remember going to Stamp-A-Faire and having dinner with a room full of crafty ladies. We had the best time and it was wonderful getting to know everyone! I truly get the sense that this crafting community is full of cheerleaders and go-getters who enjoy encouraging each other – I love it!
It’s a blessing to have found this creative outlet and a community of supporters who are always ready to lend a hand, give a compliment or simply come by the blog to say “Hi” – it’s positively fabulous!
Now onto today’s projects – this is a long post so I hope you’ll hang in there!
The assignment for this month’s Papertrey Blog Hop is to pick a favorite project from the past year and use it as inspiration for a second card!
This challenge totally fits in with my recent “Project Do Over” posts. Today, though, I’m taking a break from the projects that I don’t like and choosing two do-overs that are favorites of mine.
First up is a card I made for another PTI Blog Hop:
 
It’s so much fun to play around with stamps to see how they can be combined!
To create the symmetrical design, I started by using a pencil to divide the piece of cardstock into four quadrants, with the top two quadrants being a little bigger to account for the twine I planned to tie at the top. Then I stamped the design using the pencil lines as guides for keeping things even.
My second project is a card make-over and a CASE – I’ll explain:
This card is one of my all time favorites:
 
 
 
 
 
 
OMG I love the last card!!!!!!! Can I please use this idea to make my own cardset?????
I love ALL of your projects, old & new! Thanks for being a source of MY inspiration 🙂
Brilliant!
Both your cards are beautiful Amber. The second card is an amazing “CASE” of the Snow & Graham card (I don’t think it is a “CASE” – it’s an inspiration from their card). Thanks for the step by step directions. (And BTW, I did not even know they made a full adhesive sticky – where the heck have I been? Thanks for that lead too).
Oh my word – amazing card! I love how you recreated the stationary card with all that masking! Happy blog-birthday!
Absolutely love how you did the second card. It is gorgeous!
What a beautiful card and such a perfect CASE and re-do all in one! Very clever how you used what you had to create this design, too. Love it!
Holy creative awesomeness, Amber!!!
Amber! This! This is why I, er, we all love you so much! Simply genius how you came up with your second card! I love your first one and the stamping is beautiful! But, I love the creativity that made the 2nd so beautiful! I am in awe!
Awesome Amber! 🙂 I hope you don’t mind that nickname. I love your creations, girly! Great use of stamp building and masking techniques.
Amazing! Love your cards especially last one. Thanks so much for your step by step instruction.
Amber you are amazing and such an inspiration. Love all of the cards, but I really love that you made you own stamps and all the yummy masking to end up making such a dreamy card.
LOVE everything you make and you make it seem so effortless. I often stop myself from making cards because mine won’t look as great as what I see online…you’ve inspired me to try no matter what comes out! 🙂
Love the way you were able to see that Snow & Graham card in ink and stamps. It’s gorgeous and oh so clever!
What a fabulous idea!!! I just love them both, but holy cow, that second one is FANTASTIC!! I love how your mind works!! Thanks for the inspiration!!!
Hugs,
Teri
Awesome variations! Love the playful quality of your stamping!
Wow, woman! I can’t believe how wonderful everything you make is! I’m envious of your talent and that you’ve found your niche in this stamping world so well. Your ability to combine stamps/images into a CAS card with maximum impact is your forte! Beautiful creations! Thank you for all the inspiration and calendars and tutorials, etc!! ;o) Hope you have a fantabulous day!
Will you EVER cease to amaze?! I have been reading all your posts this week, and you’ve been perfectly expressing what I think most of us feel at points. But what you talked about today is something that strikes me so often – how kind, supportive and generous the online crafting community is. Even there there IS so much competition and the who’s who game is present, overall, everyone is just SO overwhelmingly kind and supportive!!
I love all the cards (old and new – I remember when you posted the originals!), but that last one turned out even better than the one you cased, if you ask me!!
fabulous! Love how you masked, so clever, it’s beautiful!
Congratulations on your blog anniversary. what a wonderful way to celebrate with a blog hop.
Love all your cards. You are truly one creative lady. I love how you shared your tip about creating your own stamping using a die. (I tolf you that you were creative)
That last card is an amazing one.
These are both really beautiful cards, as is the original card you posted. I enjoy reading your blog daily, although I rarely comment. You have such a sense of style. I never mind if the posts are long–there’s usually such good stuff there. I hope someday to meet you at Stamp-A-Faire, if I can ever make it out east.
Amazing as always but your second re-do is particularly breath taking. Thanks for the inspiration!
My jaw dropped when I saw your last card! That is brilliant. I love how it turned out and I had no idea post-its were available as full adhesive. I’ll have to remember that. Your blog is full of great inspiration. Thanks for taking the time to share. =)
You can never have too many photos! IMHO! Lovely cards for the PTI hop. Gorgeous!!!! Love the re-do too. What a fun way to make a stamp …from foam sheets. And the masking is so cool! I have to try this!
WOWZERS! Is that a real word?? LOL. Its the first thing that came to mind! Love the layered stamped leaves and the dandelion centers. Genius!
Oh wow where to begin, they’re all so fabulous! Love the softness of #2 and your final card is a masterpiece!
Wow Amber! These are gorgeous. The originals and the do-overs. I am so going to try my hand at imitating the void space card. What a creative technique and cool turn out!
amazing amazing CASE! and the fun foam leaf stamps were ingenious!
Amber, your cards are just stunning. The first one is so pretty and such a great use of a variety of stamp sets. Your second card is brilliant. I was expecting you to stamp the flowers after masking and then realized you left them white with a stamped center. How did you ever come up with such a cool idea??!! Amazing!!
breathtaking “CASE” so beautiful!
Amber, your folk artsy card is great but my jaw dropped when I saw your second card – amazing!!
Thanks for sharing with us . Love your work.
This post was not “annoying” in the least! In fact, it was quite inspiring! Love your cards, always so beautiful. Amazing!
really great! love the recreation of the stationery!
Oh can I have some of your creative brain cells?!! Gorgeous, inventive cards!:)
How do you think of these things??! This is amazing! I love the first one but the second is genius, I’m definitely going to give this a go, thanks for the inspiration!
Love Beth xx
Happy Anniversary! And I have to say, that last card is genius!!!
I am totally in awe, Amber! You have a God-given talent that is the most amazing of any crafter I’ve seen! Both these cards are gorgeous and the last one is so very inspiring! I adore your long posting, so don’t stop…yours is the only one I always read from top to bottom including all the comments! Happy Blogaversary, sweetheart, and love you!
Sharon
Wow, todays cards are amazing! Your clever one layer CASE’d card is fabulous!
SHUT UP with that white flower card…I am sorry to be rude! I actually said it out loud when I saw it, it’s soooo fabulous! Both of your folk art designs are spot on, just perfectly stamped. The eye candy from this post is sure to give us all cavities! Amazing projects, Amber!
oh my word. girl, you’ve got it!! i love them all…and now i’m going to have to try that flower masking…AWESOME!!!!
That technique that you shared is totally awesome!! That definitely deserves a try, thanks so much for sharing 🙂 You have a talent, for sure, and I love everything you have on your blog today!
I love the first card, I’m planning to try that folk-artsy style that you have demonstrated a few times, I love it.
The second card is amazing, stunning, beautiful, perfect! WOW! My 9 year old and I ooh-ed and aah-ed all over it, and then pinned it for future inspiration. 🙂
Really love your folksy cards. Love the card with the flowers in the lower corner and all the white space. Very pretty!
Amber, Congratulations on your first complete year of blogging! I am sure we are going to be seeing much more of your work in years to come.
I have been in awe of your style for quite awhile. Your masking technique using Beautiful Blooms is shear genius. Your result is much more beautiful than the one you CASE’d! And the In Bloom Thank you card too is so striking.
You’ve so much natural talent Amber, thank you for sharing it with us!
Fabulous cards, I love love love them!!
Okay, both cards are gorgeous, but I love your second card and how you achieved it– amazing!!
I’ve added this card to my Visualize Us site. It’s gorgeous and a tutorial so I can try it too Thanks!
You clever, clever woman! Your version of that Snow & Graham card is pretty darn amazing. Your first card is pretty darn great though, too. I really like how you were able to tone down the boldness of the original to make it a little bit softer and more romantic. Beautiful!
The use of stamps and ribbon is very fantastic… all these designs are pretty good.
plastic cards
plastic card printing