ETA (02/07):  Soon after I posted this, I went back to making more cards and then it hit me.  I knew exactly what the card with the “Dawn” image needed!  I remade the card and am so pleased with the final results.  It was hard waiting for the sun to come up so I could take a photo and share.  I was a little embarrassed with the first one but I think I made up for it.  Maybe?  Please see below for the updated card.

Papertrey Ink is celebrating its 6th Year Anniversary this month!  Yay!  It’s an extra special month because along with the usual product releases being introduced there will be special announcements, contests and challenges, and prizes every single day during the release!  They definitely know how to celebrate! :)

Today, the 2013 PTI Stamp Designers were introduced and they each contributed an image to a FREE printable (go here to get it):

Aren’t the images just awesome?!  The challenge for today is to create a project using one of the images above.  The prize? A personalized stamp set!  There is a return address stamp and a custom “handmade by” stamp and each will be customized with your personal details.  How COOL is that?

For this challenge, I made two cards.  One with the image designed by Heather Nichols and the other with the image designed by Dawn Mcvey.

I totally love this image that Heather designed.  After I printed it and cut it out I decided to make another print and just cut the banner out and pop it up with foam tape.  When I laid it on top of my card base (4″ x 5.5″) I just loved it the way it was.  Everything I kept trying to add to it I felt took too much away from the focal image.  She designed such a complete image for us to use!  I feel like I cheated though…it was too simple a card to make.  Thanks for the image, Heather! :)

This is such a happy image that Dawn designed.  It’s SO Dawn. ;) The only thing that I felt was missing was pink!  To me, that’s one of her “signatures” so I had to incorporate it into my card!  She’s also the one who made me aware of that awesome washi tape at Target, so I felt using it on a Mat Stack die cut was fitting.  I just wish I were happier about the outcome of this card.  It feels like it’s missing something but I can’t quite figure it out yet.  If I had a day or so to let it “sit” maybe it would come to me.  Or not.  Sometimes it takes a day or so for it to grow on me too.  Regardless, I wanted to participate in this challenge and was pretty stressed with having it finished before the sun set.  What’s great about the free printable is that I can do it again at a later time.  :)

Updated card:

Ahh…much better, huh?  I guess I just needed to step away from it for a bit.  That and work when the kids are (finally!) asleep.  LOL

(Note: Card base = 4″ x 5.5″)

Thanks for stopping by!

~Cynthia

Supplies:

Paper: Printable printed on Neenah Royal Sundance Cover (brilliant white, 80#), Card base is Lynx Digital Paper (white, 100#), The Paper Company (Teal)

Stamps: Background Borders: Medallions (PTI)

Ink: Bamboo Leaves (Momento), Bahama Blue (Momento)

Other: Mat Stack 1 Die (PTI), Limitless Layers 1-3/4″ Die (PTI), Washi Tape (Target)