Jen Caputo

‘Pin’spired cards

I’ve been pinning a lot of cards lately and I thought I’d share some that I made recently, ‘pin’spired by my pins. (There’s got to be a better way to say that)

The first card that inspired me is this one by Shari Carroll for heroarts.com

Source: heroarts.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

My experiments with this didn’t turn out too great so I’m going to need to play more but here are my versions so far:

 

 

My next card is a combination of two pins:

   

Source: leascupcakesandsunshine.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest  Source: mailebelles.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I made this:

I loved the simplicity of this card, in fact I love everything that Maile Belles does!

Source: mailebelles.blogspot.com via Jennifer on Pinterest

I made these:

 

 

And finally, here are a few cards that weren’t inspired by pinterest, but while I was working on the cards above I found these images that I’d stamped and colored years ago and figured it was finally time to make them into cards.

 

I made the backgrounds with alcohol inks. For the one on the left, I smeared alcohol inks on the back of a piece of vellum. For the card on the right, I lightly swirled a felt pad tabbed in alcohol ink on white glossy paper.

If you want to follow me on pinterest you can do so right here. Leave me your pinterest links in the comments so I can follow you too! Have you made anything you were ‘pin’spired by? I wanna see/hear about it!

PTI Blog Hop: June 2011

It's been a long time since I've played around with a Blog Hop but since I'm home sick instead of at the Green Music Festival with Adam, I decided to jump in.

Nichole gave us this photo as inspiration:

{photo credit}

I loved the way the colors all blended into each other so I focused on that as my inspiration. I took a piece of vellum and used Alcohol Ink in stripes, blending as I went all over it. This left me with a full sheet of striped paper so I cut it into quarters and used it as the background for 3 cards.

The artist in me really wanted to add some buttons to this card but I am sick of my recipients telling me they arrive damaged due to the buttons getting stuck in the machines at the post office so I restrained myself and went embellishment free.

All of the white stamped designs are embossed (after letting the alcohol ink background dry for a few hours).

This one uses Background Basics: Stars and Tiny Tags.

For this one I stamped various circles from Borders & Corners: Circle. The sentiment is from an anniversary set a few years ago. I really wish this one had a few buttons :)

Finally, I stamped a bunch of whales (they are so cute!) from Whale Wishes.

The color is off in all of these photos, the olivey green strip of paper is actually "Simply Chartreuse" but I took these pictures at 7pm so it's about all the natural light I could hope for.

Fathers Day Cards

Happy Fathers day going out to my dad, father-in-law, and grandpa. These are the cards I sent them this year.

Here's a peak at the inside of one of them.

All of the paper strips are embossed.

All supplies are Papertrey Ink.

Salted Caramel Jars & Money Cards

I was watching Kelsey's Essentials on Cooking Channel this morning and she was crafting Holiday food gifts. One of the items she made was a salted caramel sauce and I decided to give it a try this morning before Adam woke up.

You can find her recipe for the caramel right here. It says the caramel only stays good for 2 weeks in the fridge so I decided to package it in these small 4oz jars (or maybe they're 3 oz) so people wouldn't have to figure out what to do with all that caramel. But I had to pretty them up first!

I started by die-cutting canvas with the largest scalloped Nestabilities die and stamping a snowflake on each with Palette Hybrid ink.

Then added a little Homemade stamp on top of it.

 

I added the date the Caramel would be good until in the date box as opposed to the date I made it. With the lid already on the jar, I placed the canvas over the top and centered it.

Then I screwed the band on 

 

I used the Papertrey Ink coordinating dies to die cut a bunch of snowflakes in 2 different sizes.

I decided to die-cut the whole sheet since I thought it might make a cool background for another project (look for that at the end of this post).

Then I stamped the coordinating snowflakes on the dies and punched a hole in each one.

 

Tied some jute around the jar bands.

And then tied the snowflakes with a button onto the ends of the jute.

 

 

 

 

I also needed a nice card to use to hold a monetary gift and I wanted to see what I could do with the leftover die-cut paper.  I started with an entire sheet of 8.5 x 11 cardstock and scored it at the 4" and 8" marks.

Then I cut about an inch off the 3" flap and rounded the corner. This will hold the money.

I added a contrasting piece of paper on the middle section of the inside and then adhered the left hand side only.

And then I used the leftover piece of die-cut paper that I mentioned above as the base of the card.

Baby Card

This is the year of the baby in our circle of friends.  I think we are up to 12 pregnancies so far! I made this card for the birth of baby Harper Lou.

Here she was in her mom's belly back in March.

Adam and I got to hang with her when she was just a week old!

I'm pretty much in love with this little one! 

August

August is birthday month in my family.  I only have 3 cousins total that were not born in August. Most of us all in the same week!  So of course, the month always flies by.  Here are a few cards I made for my cousins, brother, aunt, etc.

For the boys:

And the girls:

All supplies from Papertrey Ink.

Still a Stamper Too!

Dad - don't read this.  Lindsey - you too.

Seriously, go away.

Are you gone?

 

 

 

My cousin's wedding is this weekend and I was flat out of wedding cards.  This is what I whipped up.

 

It's simple but I like wedding cards that way.  I used an embossing plate on the bottom and PTI paper for the top.  The Congratulations stamp is from My Cute Stamps. Ribbon is PTI. Nestabilities dies.

 

 

And here are my Father's Day cards this year.

Everything here is from Papertry Ink except for the Fiskars border punch.

 

It was pretty sad to make one less Father's Day card this year :(  I miss you Grandpa.

Thank you cards

These went airborne on Monday so hopefully they've made it to their new homes by now...

Everything is from Papertrey Ink as usual.  Except the punch - that is EK Success.

I'm a little worried how the button stacking bulk made it through the postal service. If you got one - let me know!

Hybrid Money Card Templates

Hey digi-girls!  Need a last minute gift for someone?  Well everyone knows that Cash is King but how about gussying it up?  I threw together a few Money Card Templates for digital/hybrid scrapbookers based on the one I shared yesterday.

Check them out:

I've got them marked at just $1.50 right now, so go pick them up and whip up an extra special holiday card to make someone's day!

Money Card Tutorial

I needed a card to put some cash in as a Christmas gift so I decided to get in the craft room for the first time in a while.

Here's the diagram I made to help me cut and fold the card.

Cut a piece of paper to 6.75" x 8" and score at 3" and 6" on the long side, cut out a corner from the 2" piece, then round the part that's left.

You'll have something like this:

Then tape it up on the left hand side with a thin layer of adhesive

After it's all decorated you have this:

Two Cute & Simple Cards

I don't have a lot of crafty time these days so I wanted to make some cute & simple cards.

This one was inspired by FTL 51 (I rotated the sketch).

And this one started out as being inspired by FTL 49 but I got a little side tracked.

All stamps are from My Cute Stamps. I combined quite a few sets like Jelly Beans (for the birdies and the speech bubble in the bee card), Little Forest Friends (for the bee), and Matryoshka Dolls (for the 'hello' greeting).

Here's a close up of the bee card - I stitched the ribbon onto the card but it barely shows up :(

Almost out of this paper...

I'm so sad, I'm almost out of this green graph paper.  I've been using it a lot because I love it to pieces! (literally.. ha ha)

So this was a happy accident card. I'd planned it all out but when I put it together it didn't fit the way I wanted (the owl and the sentiment would not both fit on the card). So, I had to cover up the word "thanks" on the sentiment and then I got to use my favorite American Crafts Thickers alphas in it's place!

Inspiration for the card design came from FTL 47!  I'd never played along with her sketches before but I loved this one so I had to give it a shot!

Supplies
Stamps: Little Forest Friends from My Cute Stamps
Paper: Cosmo Cricket, Club Scrap
Ink: Copics, Memento Black, PTI Ripe Avocado
Alpha: American Crafts
Punches: EK Success, Circle Nestabilities

I ♥ Robots

I really do... except, of course, for Cylons (I just started season 3 so if for some reason I may end up liking them at some point, please don't tell me - I didn't read that wikipedia page, I just linked to it, I WILL remain spoiler free!!!) .... :)

Ok.. end Battlestar Galactica chatter.  Er wait... not yet... Have you guys seen this show?  It's so awesome. I'm definitely addicted. I'm watching an episode or two or three every night!

So I created this Robot/Battlestar inspired card, for Kristina's Color Inspiration #55.  This was her palette:

It was based on her boss's skirt. I NEED that skirt!

It was nice to finally have a chance to use this wrench charm too.  By the way, I dedicate this card to Chief :)  hehehe  I sure hope someone knows what I'm talking about...

Credits
Stamps: My Cute Stamps - Space Ships & Robots
Paper: Club Scrap (Rust - paisley patterned), PTI Rustic White, Smokey Shadow, Summer Sunrise
Ink: PTI Smokey Shadow, Summer Sunrise, Palette Cognac, White gel pen
Other: PTI Twine, Club Scrap Wrench Charm, EK Success Border Punch, Fiskars 1" Square Punch, Sewing Machine

Happy Father's Day

Since I'm pretty sure this didn't make it to my dad on time... here's a peak at your card! Love you, Dad!

 

Supplies
Stamps: Father Knows Best by Papertrey Ink, Background Basics: Text Style by PTI
Paper: PTI Spring Moss, Craft, Rustic White, Dark Chocolate
Ink: PTI Ripe Avocado, Dark Chocolate
Other: Twine (Papertrey Ink), Buttons (Unknown)

Happy Birthday, Baby!

Yesterday was Adam's 30th birthday!!!  Obviously a big day :)  This is the card I made him.

and the inside

I'd been wanting to try a yellow/gray card for a while and I thought this adorable robot from My Cute Stamps' "Space Ships & Robots" set would work perfectly.  I love how he can wear that cute little hat!

To celebrate Adam's birthday we went to see the Detroit Tigers (our hometown team) play the White Sox.

We (the Tigers) lost.  It was a double header and the Tigers actually won the early game but not the one we went to unfortunately.  Oh well, it was still a great time!  Here's our group of 10!

We were amazed at our ability to pose for this picture with barely any obstructed heads in 2 seconds flat!

CPS117

I love the summer but it totally zaps any spare seconds I have for being crafty!  Adam had to go downtown tonight to finish cleaning out the condo (we close tomorrow!!!!) so I had a few minutes to play.  I decided to make it easy on myself and followed along with CPS117.

Supplies
Stamps: Little Forest Friends - My Cute Stamps, Hello Doodle - My Cute Stamps
Ink: Memento Black, Copic Markers
Paper: Club Scrap (Lime and Blue), PTI Stampers Select White
Other: Circle Nestabilities, Corner Rounder,White Embossing Powder

And for those who like to know the colors:

Greetings from Seattle

We flew out to Seattle on Thursday night and our headed home in the morning.  I haven't been here since middle school. This city is awesome :)

Thought I'd share my Mother's Day cards.

The inside:

Supplies
Stamps: Life, Mother - Papertrey Ink
Ink: Spring Moss, Melon Berry
Paper: Stampers Select White, Spring Moss, Melon Berry
Ribbon: Melon Berry Satin
Other: Labels 1 Nestabilities

Two "Cute" Thank You Cards

I have barely had any time to play in the craft room lately but I had to get in there and get my fingers inked up before I went crazy! 

I decided to break in Spunky Nature from My Cute Stamps. It's such an awesome versatile set. I only used 7 of the 16 images from this 12.99 set on these cards - I can't wait to play with it more and see what other combinations of images will present themselves.  I can't believe what an amazing value these stamps are!

 

 

I found this piece of patterned paper in my stash by Cosmo Cricket that seemed to coordinate so well with Spunky Nature.

The "Thank You" greeting is from Matryoshka Dolls set!  (It's only $7.99!!)

Far Out!

I haven't posted in almost a week so this will be a catch up post.

I'll start with a quick card I made tonight using the Space Ships & Robots set from My Cute Stamps. I always wanted to be astronaut when I was a kid so this set is so totally me!

The patterned papers are from Scenic Route, the cardstock is Bazzil, the Ink is Palette. Ribbon from my stock, a Nestabilities star die, and a new EK Success border punch!

 

So I have a new obsession - couponing :)  Adam thinks I'm being ridiculous, but come on - who couldn't use a few extra bucks in their pockets these days?

Basically you don't buy stuff unless you have a coupon, and it's on sale.  That sounds like a lot of work keeping up with that kind of stuff doesn't it?  Well not so - there are legions of blogs out there dedicated to mashing up coupons and sales and telling you what to buy and where to buy it.

Some of my favorites

• It's Hip 2 Save
• Mashup Mom
• Bargain Briana
• Frugal Coupon Living
• The Bargain Jargon

And so on...

Anyway, I thought I'd show you my latest take.  In honor of Earth Day, Walgreens was offering 15% off your entire purchase (20% off walgreens brand items)

Here's what I bought:

• Walgreens re-usable bag - FREE (Earth Day Special)
• Skintimate Shaving Cream - $3 - 15%off = $2.54
  But you get $3 back in Register Rewards (money you can spend on your next trip).
  $.46 profit!
• 2 Glade Soy Candles: 5.99 each - 15% off = 5.09 each
  $2/Easy Saver Coupon in the booklet at Walgreens each
  $4/off each - printable here
  FREE (w/overage)!
• Energizer Batteries - 3 packs of 16 (2 AA, 1AAA) On Sale for 8.99 each - 15% off = $7.64
  - $1 coupon off each - printable here
  Plus, the batteries each had a Gillette Quattro Platinum razor in them (no idea why)
  Plus, it generated a $2 Register Reward
  Total: About $6 each with bonus razors!
• Nature's Bounty Vitamins (Fish Oil (9.34 after 15% discount) & Melatonin (7.22 after discount)) -
  Buy One Get One Free Walgreens sale
  2 - $2 off coupons printable here
  $5.34 Total for both jars of vitamins (regular price - over $20!)
• Plasticware - 2/$.80 when you scan the coupon in the Walgreens flyer (I forgot to do this... arg... so I paid $.79 each but they would have been that price for both if I remembered the coupon
• Paperplates - $.80 when you scan the coupon in the flyer (again, I forgot to do this so I paid $1.43)
• 2 Glade Plugin Refills - on sale 2 for $5 (15% off = 4.25)
  Plugin Oil Heater - 3.99 (3.22 with sale)
  $1 off of 2 refills from a coupon in last Sunday's paper
  Free oil heater when you buy any refill from a coupon in last Sunday's paper
  Plus, this generates a $1 Rebate Reward
  Total Cost: $2.15 for 2 refills + the nightlight oil heater

All in all, my final total including our crazy high sales tax was $37.40.  I saved $11.58 because of the 15% off sale and $42.87 in coupons and Walgreens sales!

And I have $6 in Register Rewards to spend time I go.

Seriously, how fun is that?

My receipt:

 

Ok, last thing.  A recent pic of me for my mom.  I've lost 19.5 lbs in the last 12 weeks and I got a haircut after I saw her last over Christmas so she wanted a new photo.

Picture taken this weekend at Rockfest!

Sorry Adam, this is what you get for making faces at the camera all the time.

 

Notebook paper doodle fun

 

I was just so tickled with myself  when I finished this card.  See that "notebook paper" that the flowers are resting on...  It started out as PTI's Stampers Select White.  I used Heather's Journaling Lines set to stamp the lines in Spring Rain.  I drew the pink line with a copic marker.  And then I punched the holes with a new punch from EK Success.  Custom made notebook paper in a matter of seconds.   I love it!

The notebook paper screamed for doodley type images so I was happy to oblige with these fun flowers from My Cute Stamps' Celebrate Today set.. I stamped them with Memento Black, colored with copics, and then cut them out. 

A little patterned paper and another EK Success Punch finished this quick card off.

 

Supplies
Stamps: My Cute Stamps Celebrate Today (Flowers, leafs), My Cute Stamps Hello Doodle (Hello), Fancy Pants (stems), PTI Journaling Lines (lines on notebook paper)
Paper: PTI Stampers Select White, Club Scrap Kraft, PTI Bitty Dots (Sweet Blush), Making Memories green vine
Ink: Memento Black, Palette Landscape, PTI Fresh Snow, Copic Markers
Punches: EK Success
Ribbon: PTI Spring Moss Grosgrain
Other: Button, Brads, String