I'm back again! I know, two posts in one day is totally not my norm, but I just had to get a project done for the Papertrey Ink Design Team Favorites Inspiration Contest/Challenge before the deadline!

One of my favorite all-time, paper-crafting idols, who I admire so so much (and am secretly hoping to meet someday since we're both from the Chicago area), is Christina Kowalczyk. Her style is graphic, clean and simple. I think my style for the most part has evolved as a clean and simple style. Christina's artwork has been quite the source of inspiration for me, and I was thrilled when she joined the Papertrey Ink Design Team last year.

The goal for this is to use one of the designers' favorite cards from the past year and use it for inspiration for our own project. I couldn't decide which to use, so I combined ideas from two (the top two in the photo above). I used a gradient, like the first card, but stacked the Square Prints set like the second card. I felt it needed some more dimension or texture, so I added the large purple button in the center. Can I just say I LOVE the end result!!! I love challenges like these because it makes me think so differently and I come up with things that I probably would have NEVER done otherwise! I'd love to hear your feedback on this one ;) Thanks for stopping by for a visit!

Valentine's Cards and More Valentine's Cards

I have a few more Valentine's Day cards to share with you. Like I said in my previous post, I could make Valentine's/heart cards all year long!

I decided to make some cards to send to Grandparents and an Aunt. No, I'm not talking about MY Grandparents or MY Aunt, but to my unborn babies' grandparents and aunt!! I haven't made this news public here on the blog yet, so I thought this would be a good chance to do so. My husband and I are expecting twin boys this spring! So I thought it would be cute to send V-day cards from them to our family (this explains the 'be my valentine' stamped twice)!

For all of these, I used the Papertrey Ink set Heart 2 Heart #3, and the sentiment is from the Fillable Frames #11 set. Enjoy, and hope you had a wonderful Valentine's Day with your loved ones!

All You Need is Love - Valentine's Card

Just popping in real quick to share a lovey dovey Valentine's card. This is my FAVORITE holiday to create cards for....I can't get enough of hearts ;)

I used a PTI set called Heart 2 Heart #3, and the sentiment is from the Fillable Frames #11 set. I hope you can find some inspiration from my CAS card!

Supplies
Stamps: PTI - Heart 2 Heart #3, Fillable Frames #11 (sentiment)
Cardstock: PTI - White; Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler, Kraft
Ink: Stampin' Up! - Cherry Cobbler; PTI - Classic Kraft
Other: Button - PTI; Sew Easy Tool & Embroidery Floss

Uniko Studio February Release & Blog Hop!

Good morning stampers! It's already time for a new release from Uniko Studio! I am showcasing two stamp sets today. The first is called Label Love: Birthday, and whatdya know, it's Uniko's first birthday today. The second is called Bright Butterflies. Make sure to read all the way down to the end of the post to find out how to enter for a chance to win the ENTIRE February 2013 Release! WOO!

The first card above is pretty self-explanatory. The second one uses both the solid and the polka dotted balloons. I stamped the kraft colored balloons first, leaving the bottom portion of the balloon cut off. Then the polka dotted ones were stamped on top. I wanted to just create a fun pattern that didn't necessarily look like balloons, and with the colors I used, it turned out kinda looking like Easter eggs, LOL! Oh well, I still like it. The top cardstock panel is popped up with dimensionals and a small strip of patterned paper is peeking out at the bottom.

The butterflies are heat embossed with white EP, and then I inked a sponge with teal ink and applied it to the white cardstock, leaving it to fade slightly at the bottom so the sentiment could pop on the white background. I added small black rhinestones on either side of the sentiment.

Along with the two clear stamp sets being released this month, there are FOUR new digital paper collections available as well! They include: Big Birthday Wishes, Bright Butterflies Additions collection, Classics Spring, and Eclectic Mix Spring. See the images below!

I hope you enjoyed my samples using the new goodies ;) Now, on to the details of the giveaway. All you need to do is participate in the Blog Hop and leave a comment on the designers' blogs! That means you have up to TEN chances to enter! So hop on over to the Uniko Studio blog if you are just starting out, or continue onto Ren-Yi's blog if you've already started the hop.

Uniko Studio
Aimes
Amber
Erika
Gayatri
Kerri
Nicki -------THAT'S ME!
Ren-Yi
Stacey
Feb Guest Designer - Deborah Frings

Supplies:
Striped Birthday

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Label Love: Birthday

Cardstock: PTI - Rustic White
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket - Salt Air

Ink: SU - Sage Shadow, Groovy Guava

Other: Spellbinders Large Labels Die; Stampin' Up! Stripes Embossing Folder; Dimensionals

Pastel CAS Birthday

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Label Love: Birthday

Cardstock: PTI - White
Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup - Blossom Soup

Ink: SU - Baja Breeze, Regal Rose, Lavender Lace; PTI - Classic Kraft

Other: Dimensionals

Teal and Black Butterflies

Stamps: Uniko Studio - Bright Butterflies

Cardstock: Stampin' Up - Basic Black; PTI - White

Ink: SU - Taken with Teal; Staz-On Jet Black

Other: Sweet Stamps - White Embossing Powder; Black Rhinestones; Dimensionals