June’s Featured Stamper

Wow! Can you believe it’s June already? We’re half-way through the year and I’m left wondering where the first half disappeared to!

We’re welcoming the new month here on A Passion for Papertrey with a new featured stamper which means we sadly have to say farewell to May’s featured stamper; I’m sure you’ll join us in thanking Jen Carter for sharing her creativity with us for May (I have to say, I’m still smitten with the home-made puffies she shared with us!) Thank you so much, Jen!

From farewells to happy hellos, wanna know who’s joining us for June? Well let us introduce you to…

Maureen!

Maureen is a lovely (and talented!) stamper from across the pond in Canada and she definitely has a passion stamping! Let’s grab a cuppa and get to know a little bit more about her:

1)How did you get into papercrafting?
I actually made cards when I was in elementary school! I even had a card making kit that someone gave me. Then in the ’90s I got into it again, but all we had was ink, paper, rubber stamps and embossing powder. THEN I got back into it in the early ’00’s with Stampin’ Up! and then about 3 years ago a good friend introduced me to card BLOGS!! Eeek! I’ve been hooked ever since!

2)How long have you been stamping for?
I would say about 15 years, but seriously for 4 years. I’ve had my blog for 2 years.

3)How did you get into PTI and why do you love it so much?
I believe it was that good friend that got me into the card blogs. We discovered Dawn McVey’s blog and then PTI through her (before she started on the DT). I love it because of the awesome quality of stamps and product AND that they are fresh and creative. All round top notch!

4)What would you say is your stamping style?
Hmm, I’ve always struggled with this a bit. I took the “What’s your Style” quiz in the 2010 Card Style Magazine by Papercrafts and it came out “Fun and Cute.” Although, I do Elegant and Classy and have been dabbling in a lot of Shabby/Vintage lately. I’m not a CAS gal, although the odd time I’ve done it, I’ve loved it and admire people who have perfected it.

5)Do you have a favourite PTI colour or colour combo that just makes you drool?
Okay, IMHO berry sorbet is a neutral!! LOL I probably would say berry sorbet…with kraft! Oh my!

6)If you had to choose just one PTI stamp set to keep, which one would it be and why?
I don’t like to play favourites with my stamps, but right now Button Boutique is not gathering dust…KWIM? However, Hello Friend is a pretty close second. These stamp sets are very “brown.”

7)Who is your PTI Idol?
Dawn McVey hands down. I followed her blog before she became a DT member and just love her stamping genius and the person she is. I also love Melissa Phillips work…I could never replicate it, but just love looking at all her eye candy. But really, Nichole has built an A-Team list of stampers with her DT.

8)Where do you get your inspiration from?
All over…mostly other blogs, inspiration challenges, Moxie Fab…I’m really into colour so any fabric with great colour combinations make me swoon.

9)What’s your stamping dream?
Truly? Aimes, our blog buddy Lynn and I making cards in my new studio and then enjoying martinis on the sundeck!! LOL But seriously, I reallyl want to make it to CHA one day and stamp with the PTI ladies…ugh, that would be a fantastic dream!

10)Where can we go to check out more of your wonderful creations?
Oh, yes!! Come visit anytime!!

• My Blog: Buttons and Bling

• My Splitcoast Gallery (Irishlatte)

• My Verve Diva Gallery

The odd time you’ll see me in CARDS magazine, and look for me in the July/August edition of Papercrafts!

Thanks so much, Maureen! I know for sure we’ve spotted a few of Maureen’s fabulous projects in a number of issues of CARDS (I recommend signing up for an online version if you don’t want to pay for the shipping to the Europe *wink*) and are so happy to have her on board with us. I’m sure you’ll welcome Maureen too and look forward to what she has to share with us!

Aimes, Caryn & Kate
xxx

May’s Featured Stamper

We’re in the middle of enjoying our super-sunny extra Bank Holidays and realised it’s May already!!! A new month means a new featured stamper here on the blog so it’s time for an introduction….

…but just before the introduction, I’m sure you’ll join us in thanking Claire for being our featured stamper for April. We’ve loved having you on board, Claire and thank you for creating some fabulous projects for us!

So now onto May’s Featured Stamper….we’d like to introduce to you:

Jen Carter!

Yup – if you don’t already know Jen, then we’d like to point out that we’re widening the field when it comes to featured stampers. Although our blog is primarily aimed at uniting PTI fans across Europe, inspiration is worldwide to us 🙂

Time to grab a cuppa and learn a little bit more about Jen:

1)How did you get into papercrafting?
I first started papercrafting in Junior High. I wanted to keep mementos from school and save some of my favorite pictures of me with my friends so I began scrapbooking. During college I didn’t have as much time to work on scrapbooking, but after I got married we had a spare bedroom so we turned that into an office/scrapbook room and I put together several scrapbooks for my Grandparent’s 50^th wedding anniversary. Several years later we had our son and I scrapbooked about everything…for the first 2 years of his life and then I got burnt out. I longed to use pinks and purples and flowers and everything girly! But, how do you do that when you are scrapbooking about all things boy!? That is when I found and fell in love with stamping!

2)How long have you been stamping for?
My mom bought me my first set of stamps when I was in High School. I used stamps off and on in my scrapbooks but didn’t have a large collection at all. It was about 6 years ago that I really got serious about stamping. I was so happy to be able to use color (I LOVE color!!) and lots of it! I wasn’t limited to blues and greens anymore, but could use the pinks and purples I loved and also stamp flowers!

3) How did you get into PTI and why do you love it so much?
After I stamped about a year, I became a demonstrator for a stamping company. During that time PTI opened for business and I instantly loved how well thought out their sets were. I couldn’t believe how each set was so versatile and could be used with punches (and now dies) and how so many of their sets were interchangeable and able to be mixed & matched! I remember when “Green Thumb” came out and how the boot had 3 separate stamps so that you could easily change the color of each piece without masking or using markers. That was LOVE for me! It was just such an ingenious idea! And each month as another set came out, I continued to see that well thought out plan and I was hooked!

4)What would you say is your stamping style?
I like anything simple. I don’t usually want to spend tons of time on one card and I like to keep them clean too.

5)Do you have a favourite PTI colour or colour combo that just makes you drool?
My favorite PTI color is a toss up between Raspberry Fizz and Hawaiian Shores , although I do love so many of them! One of my favorite color combos is Hawaiian Shores (or Aqua Mist) with Pure Poppy and any neutral mixed in. I just LOVE that one so much…drool worthy for sure!

6)If you had to choose just one PTI stamp set to keep, which one would it be and why?
That is a tough question! My all-time favorite is probably Polka Dot Basics, but if I only had one, I would want it to be set that includes sentiments and images so I would go with the CHA 2009 set, Floral Fusion followed in close 2^nd by Spiral Bouquet. Both of those sets offer so many possibilities and can be used as a background or as a focal image and both also include sentiments.

7)Who is your PTI Idol?
Nichole Heady for sure. It was her blog that originally drew me into PTI and where I really & truly saw how versatile PTI sets are! She never ceases to amaze me at her level of creativity both in designing her cards & projects and also in designing her stamp sets!

8)Where do you get your inspiration from?
I get my inspiration all over. I love looking at blogs and magazines as much as possible but I also find inspiration in normal everyday things. Just this morning I noticed that the colors & design on the cover of the book I was reading was a great source of inspiration for a card! Sometimes inspiration comes from clothing that I see in a store or a commercial on TV.

9)What’s your stamping dream?
I would love to have my work published in a popular crafting magazine, but I guess that means I need to actually SUBMIT something! LOL! I would love the opportunity to provide input on a stamp design too!

10)Where can we go to check out more of your wonderful creations?
I have a blog called Jen’s Ink Spot that I would love for you to visit at: www.jensinkspot.blogspot.com.

Thanks, Jen! Be sure to take a visit to Jen’s blog for some great inspiration and take a peek at her fabulous button rings – nope, I’m not saying anymore, just check ’em out! I’m sure you’ll join us in welcoming Jen here and like us, are really looking forward to her contributions to our blog starting tomorrow with our new challenge!

xxx

April’s Featured Stamper

Hey!

Aimes here, reporting from a mountain of cardboard boxes full still yet to be unpacked! Still, I don’t need my inky supplies to introduce our featured stamper for April (albeit it a few days later than planned!) So, without further ado, let’s give a warm welcome to April’s Featured Stamper:

Claire Hamer!

Kate, Caryn and myself have met Claire in person at our previous PTI Make and Take event and she’s such a fab lady who’s up for a good giggle too! I even managed to spot her at Birmingham NEC last Saturday and had a lovely little catch-up with her! (Honestly, Claire, I promise I wasn’t hunting you down to nag you about your interview questions for this blog post LOL!)

So here’s a chance for you to get to know her a little better too!

1)How did you get into papercrafting?

I needed a 60th birthday card for my Dad & couldn’t find anything I liked, so I decided to make him one instead. When I look back now at the card I made, I might have been better buying one! Although I think he loved it as he still has it.

2)How long have you been stamping for?

I started stamping almost as soon as I started papercrafting, so about 7 years ago.

3)How did you get into PTI and why do you love it so much?

I’m not sure how I found PTI, I think it was through some friends and they now have a lot to answer for. I love the attention to detail and the inspiration that’s available on what to do with all the gorgeous PTI products.

4)What would you say is your stamping style?

Ahhh, style! I’m such a flitterbug I don’t really have style, I’ll be clean & simple one minute and completely grungy the next with a dash of cute in the middle.

5)Do you have a favourite PTI colour or colour combo that just makes you drool?
I love raspberry fizz, especially with a hint of Hawaiian Shore.

6)If you had to choose just one PTI stamp set to keep, which one would it be and why?

Just one, that’s torture! I think it would have to be something like everyday button bits, so it covers as many occasions as possible and also contains sentiments. I love a sentiment to finish off a card.

7)Who is your PTI Idol?

Dawn McVey – I just love her style and she’s such a sweetie too but then again all the PTI girls that I’ve met – yep I’m that lucky I’ve met lots of them at CHA and they are a great bunch of girls.

8)Where do you get your inspiration from?

I love taking inspiration from fashion and media. I’ll often look at colour combinations in clothes shops and think that would like great on a card.

9)What’s your stamping dream?

To go to PTI HQ in Ohio and what’s even better is that dream may well be coming true. Although Julie & Jane (two thirds of PTI) have warned me I’ll have to work while I’m there. Woo hoo that means they’ll be letting me into the warehouse!

10)Where can we go to check out more of your wonderful creations?

My slightly unloved blog http://gingerpiedesigns.blogspot.com/ . I promise to be posting regularly again soon, it’s just that moving house cuts down on your crafting time for a couple of weeks, but my PTI goodies are now unpacked, so I’m a happy stamping bunny again.

Thanks, Claire! We’re sooooooooooooooooo totally jealous that you get to go to CHA and cosy up to the PTI DT – give ’em a hello from us next time 🙂 And I can personally sympathise with the amount of time moving takes from your precious inky time! I’m just waiting for the day my own inky supplies are released from their cardboard boxed prisons!

I’m sure you’ll welcome Claire and like us, are looking forward to seeing some of her fabulous creations here on the blog!

Before I dash, Happy Mother’s Day to all you peeps celebrating it! Gotta ‘fess up that my mum received a store-bought card for the first time in years *gasp*! That’s what happens when you don’t ink in advance so let that be a lesson to y’all! *wink*

Aimes
x

February’s Featured Stamper!

Phew! February already! I can’t believe that January has come and gone already – but I have to admit I’m kinda glad as I’m looking forward to spring arriving with some milder temperatures and more daylight…

But before spring arrives, let us introduce you to our featured stamper for February. So without further ado, we’d like to introduce you to Imke! I’m sure you’ll give her a warm welcome 🙂

Before we share one of Imke’s gorgeous creations let’s get to know her a bit better shall we?

1)How did you get into papercrafting?

Ever since i can remember i have liked crafting with paper. I’ve tried many different craft techniques, but remained in paper.

2)How long have you been stamping for?

For 4 years.

3)How did you get into PTI and why do you love it so much?

I became aware of PTI through my sister-in-law. I just love the style of their stamps and the versatility of stamps and other products.

4)What would you say is your stamping style?

Clean and Simple, cute, non-cute, but NOT Vintage. I like the vintage style but i can’t do it lol!

5)Do you have a favourite PTI colour or colour combo that just makes you drool?

Aqua Mist , Pure Poppy, New Leaf

6)If you had to choose just one PTI stamp set to keep, which one would it be and why?

My Fillable Frames Collection.

7)Who is your PTI Idol?

Nicole Heady of course, but i also really like the creations by Niki Estes and Dawn McVey.

8)Where do you get your inspiration from?

I like to try things on my own but i get inspiration from several blogs, like PTI and from my blogger friends.

9)What’s your stamping dream?

I would like to be a guest designer at PTI- Who wouldn’t ? I would also like to go on a once in a lifetime trip to CHA

10)Where can we go to check out more of your wonderful creations?

You can visit me on my blog http://craftingcreationsbyimke.blogspot.com/ or on Splitcoaststampers as “germanstamper”

You may recognise some of Imke’s creations through her fabulous entries to our challenges. We’re so happy to have her on board with us this month and she’s kicking of February with this fab project:

Isn’t this a fabulous way to use those clear boxes those scrummy PTI stamps come in?

If you’d like to try and create something similar, then check out the tutorial on the Papertrey Channel on YouTube.

Be sure to check out more of Imke’s creations on her blog: Crafting Creations by Imke and look out for more of her creations here on the PTI blog! I’m sure like us, you can’t wait to see what she comes up with!

Kate, Aimes & Caryn
xxx

P.S Are you on Facebook? Then why not check out our new Facebook Page and keep up to date with us?! Looking forward to seeing you over there!

December’s Featured Stamper

OK, OK, I know it’s technically the 2nd of December but it’s December nonetheless which means it’s time for a new featured stamper!

We’re so grateful to Bev and her fabulous work during her month here on the PTI blog. Thank you, Bev!!!

And so who is our featured stamper for December?

Aga!

We had the pleaure of meeting Aga during our Make and Take in Sheffield. She’s a super sweet lady and super talented too! Let’s find out a bit more about her:

1)How did you get into papercrafting?

I’ve been crafting almost my whole life. I enjoy drawing, painting, knitting, needle crafting etc. I started my papercrafting adventure from Origami, paper quilling and then I got into cardmaking. I got started by making cards for my friends and family. I seriously never thought I’d get addicted to it but here I am 🙂

2)How long have you been stamping for?

I’ve only been stamping since January 2009 and I still don’t have much experience. There are so many new things that I would like to try or learn and there are so many creative options with stamps that the possibilities are endless.

3)How did you get into PTI and why do you love it so much?

I was looking for some new (for me) stamp companies and I came across Nichole Heady’s blog. I just fell in love with her creations and the stamps. Love the style of PTI stamps and how well different sets coordinate with each other.

4)What would you say is your stamping style?

I’m not sure about that, I guess it all depends on my mood 🙂 I just love combining papers, stamps and handmade embellishments and I try to get a little from different styles.

5)Do you have a favourite PTI colour or colour combo that just makes you drool?

I love all shades of green, however I adore all soft and bright colours.

6)If you had to choose just one PTI stamp set to keep, which one would it be and why?

It would be something with a flower theme, maybe “Life” or “Larger Than Life” set as it still on my wish list, or “In Bloom”, or … no, it’s impossible to choose just one!

7)Who is your PTI Idol?

I don’t have one as I love all PTI design team. Each lady has a different and unique style and they all are so inspiring.

8)Where do you get your inspiration from?

Blog world is a big source of inspiration but I also love finding inspiration from sketches, magazines and all kind of challenges.

9)What’s your stamping dream?

PTI stamps available to buy in Europe and especially in UK. That’s one of them.

10)Where can we go to check out more of your wonderful creations?

You can find me at http://justmadefrompaper.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much, Aga! We definitely agree with your answer to question 9 LOL!

I’m sure you’ll join us in welcoming Aga on board for this festive month and like us, can’t wait to see what creations she has to share with us!

October’s Featured Stamper

Happy Friday, Peeps!

Now not only is it Friday, but it’s also the 1st of October; where does the time fly by to?! So as it’s a new month, that means it’s time to introduce our new Featured Stamper!

Before we do, we’d just like to thank Margaret for sharing her projects with us (and her humour!) as September’s Featured Stamper. Thank you so much, Margaret!

And so, would you please welcome our featured stamper for October…..

Debby!
(who’s a li’l camera shy – but we’re sure you’ve recognised this cute googly-eyed lime around blogland *wink*)

Debby caught our eye with her fab designs and we were delighted when she agreed to be our featured stamper for October! So without further ado, here’s a little more info about her:

How did you get into papercrafting?

I’ve loved paper ever since I was a little girl. I remember a shop which had a wall filled with writing paper and matching envelopes in every colour of the rainbow. I used to spend ages choosing just the right colours to go together. I didn’t often write letters mind, but oh how I loved having the paper!

I suppose I really got in to papercrafts after having my children. At first I dabbled in card making and then a friend encouraged me to try scrapbooking. However, I seem to have come full circle and am right back into the cards. I like the immediacy of completing a card and I love giving them to people. I haven’t bought a card in over 5 years. Not one.

How long have you been stamping for?

I didn’t start stamping straight away. At first I continued with my love of all things paper but after a while I realised that I wanted focal points for my cards and I started to buy stamps. I suppose my stamp collection really got started when I found PTI about 3 or so years ago.

How did you get into PTI and why do you love it so much?

I remember seeing Nichole’s blog and being utterly blown away by all the fabulous stamps and the cards made with them. It was seeing all the wonderful creations that just had me sold on day one. I love the style of PTI stamps; great design, simple and classic with a modern twist. Add on the colour coordinated products and now dies and such and who doesn’t love PTI!

What would you say is your stamping style?

It is perhaps easier to say what my style isn’t! It’s not shabby chic and it’s not totally one layer CAS cards but somewhere in between. A simple design, a few layers, a tied ribbon, couple of buttons but overall a clean design.

Do you have a favourite PTI colour or colour combo that just makes you drool?

I adore green in all its shades and I love simply chartreuse at the moment. I often mix it with some of the paler palette that PTI stock – lemon tart, aqua mist, sweet blush.#

If you had to choose just one PTI stamp set to keep, which one would it be and why?

Now that’s just plain cruel – just one set! For images I often reach for Turning a New Leaf, but if I can sneak another one in then for sentiments I’ve been using lots of Round and Round recently.

Who is your PTI idol?

Nichole without a doubt, but I’ve loved the addition of Mailes Belles to the design team. When their names pop up on my Google reader my heart skips a beat with anticipation!

Where do you get your inspiration from?

Mainly on the internet; there is a wealth of amazing talent out there who all generously share their ideas in blogs, forums and online galleries. I also find great colour combos in house magazines and generally out and about. I may be doing my day to day stuff but my mind is never far away from my craft table!

What’s your stamping dream?

I thought long and hard about this one, but when it comes down to it all I really want is to continue doing what I love – creating and enjoying the process. A few more hours in the day wouldn’t go amiss though, oh and an all expenses paid trip to CHA, and ……

Where can we go to check out more of your wonderful creations?

I would love it if you’d drop by and see me at my blog http://www.limedoodle.blogspot.com/

So pop over to Debby’s to check out her fabulous designs! I’m sure you’ll welcome Debby and are looking forward to seeing her creations here on the PTI blog as much as we are!

Aimes & Kate
xx

September’s Featured Stamper!

Hey it’s September already! Someone please tell me where the summer holidays went?! I can’t believe I’m back to work/school so soon!

So as it’s a new month, it’s time for a new Featured Stamper for September! Firstly, we’d both love to thank Caryn for being our Featured Stamper for August, we’ve loved having her on board with us and I’m sure you’ll agree that she shared some fabulous projects with us!

And now, without further ado, we’d like to introduce you to our Featured Stamper for September:

Margaret!

We’re so happy to have Margaret with us for September. She’s been a fab follower of our blog and challenges for a while now and really impressed us with her recent enthusiasm for our past Long & Tall Challenge; entering a whopping 4 times! Now that’s the kinda stamping spirit we like to see!

We gave Margaret the usual toughie interview questions to get to know her a little better:

1)How did you get into papercrafting?
I have always been into making things, but it was mainly textiles – embroidery, dressmaking and quilts – until I got Chronic Fatigue. I didn’t have the concentration for embroidery, or the strength to make quilts, so I was casting around for a new hobby. Luckily, a FABULOUS stamp shop called Stampaholics had just opened in Perth, Scotland, with an amazingly talented owner (hello Siobhan !!!) A friend and I took a couple of classes and I was hooked. We were originally going to go to watercolour classes – the fine art world’s loss is stamping’s …um… gain??!

2)How long have you been stamping for?

Eight years. My excuse for not being as brilliant as some of you who have been crafting a much shorter period is that I had a baby during that time (and if you ever met the whirlwind that is DD, you’d understand why it is only one baby !)

3)How did you get into PTI and why do you love it so much?

I probably found PTI the way I find most new stamp companies. I browse quite a few papercrafting blogs and when I see a stamp I like, I check out the company – it may well have been through the delightful Steph’s blog “Stamping & Sharing” (hello Steph !!!)

I fell in love with the clean lines of the PTI stamps and the fact they are so versatile. You just need to see a countdown to understand why they become such a staple of a stamp collection as you can create so many “moods” from one image. More bang for your (expensively exchange-rated) buck ! I also LOVE the sentiments and the fonts they use – I’m a real word girl.

4)What would you say is your stamping style?

My most common style is a variant on the Clean and Simple style – the Quick and Lazy ! However, I really love all styles and I am trying to be more adventurous than good old stamp’n’mat. The one I simply cannot do is Vintage. I could buy identical materials to Melissa Phillips, copy her card exactly, and while hers is whimsical and nostalgic, mine is a heap of junk in a puddle of PVA. I don’t visit her blog now out of sheer envy….!

I would say with the PTI stamps, you really can get away with the Quick and Lazy style of stamping – it still looks fabulous ! Give it a go, folks!

5)Do you have a favourite PTI colour or colour combo that just makes you drool?

I’m very seasonal – right now I am leaving my brights to head into the quieter tones of Autumn. If you said I could only ever have one colour for the rest of my stamping career, I’d cry. So don’t, OK?

6)If you had to choose just one PTI stamp set to keep, which one would it be and why?

You’re so MEAN – one colour, now one stamp !!! Right now, in this moment, I’d have to say “Through the Trees”, because I have a card that’s been sitting in my head ALL WEEK that uses one of the images in that set. However, the set I have used the most is “Beyond Basic Borders” – it really is a versatile set, with the mix of sentiments and images that can make any kind of card.

7)Who is your PTI Idol?
It’s got to be The Boss – Nichole Heady. That woman rocks. During the 5 days of sneak peeks, I always think “Nah… Don’t need it…. Won’t like it….” Then come the 5 countdown days and – oh my… her creations make me despair, because my don’t needs/won’t likes become GOTTA HAVE NOW!!!! She creates cards that are relatively simple in construction, totally different from each other, yet all just stand out in their loveliness. I also have a soft spot for Heather Nicholls for similar reasons, and I love visiting Mish, Maile and Dawn’s blogs. Heck, I think all the designers are great – I’d have them over for afternoon tea anytime ( can you imagine??! )

8)Where do you get your inspiration from?

I would love to say “nature” or “music” and make out that it’s all from my own talent …but that would be a Big Fat Lie. My inspiration comes from all of you bloggers. I am a very firm believer in CASE and I am often inspired by someone else’s work, or a technique that someone uses. I think card sketches are genius and can kick start you into something amazing. That said, I think it is SOOO important to credit someone when you nick their ideas – it’s only polite !

9)What’s your stamping dream?

Oooh ! That Nichole Heady reads this and decides to make me an honorary, for life PTI Design Member. She back dates my stamp collection with every stamp PTI have ever made …and makes the rest of the Design Team come round for that afternoon tea once a month. I make great cake – it wouldn’t be so bad.

Slightly more realistically ? OK – two. PTI open a European franchise …in Dundee, Scotland. IT COULD HAPPEN !! And that I manage to get my birthday card book filled for the year ( I think the PTI, Dundee might just be more likely…)

10)Where can we go to check out more of your wonderful creations?
Come to my blog – Threads, Ink and Me. You can skip the blether, and just look at the pretty pictures. Then CASE them. You can also come to tea – I wasn’t kidding about great cake !

Yummmy, well I know we’re tempted with the promise of tea and great cake! I’m sure you’ll join us welcoming Margaret on board, we can’t wait share her creations with you here on the PTI blog!

Aimes & Kate
xx

Peaceful Poinsettias

Here’s a project by our featured stamper for August, Cayrn!

A Christmas project to share with you today using Peaceful Poinsettias.

I made a little box (created with a Sizzix BIGZ XL die) and used the little window cut out as the main focal point of the matching card. I stamped and embossed (white filigree embossing powder) the Seasons Greetings and three little flowers into some pure poppy card and placed it under the aperture on the box. I then finished it off with a punched border and some red gingham ribbon.

The card has the same image stamped onto the “waste” from the box in Pure Poppy and again finished it all off with red gingham ribbon.

I am so getting that festive feeling already and it’s only August!

Caryn
xx

August Featured Stamper!

Hi Peeps! Can you believe it’s August already?! After a month off we’re back with a brand new Featured Stamper, and we’re so thrilled to introduce you to a dear friend of ours who will be joining us on the blog for the month:

Please welcome Caryn Davies:

In recent months Caryn has become a self-confessed Papertrey Addict, and her blog Glitter Me Silly is packed to the brim with inspiring projects.. let’s get to know her a bit better shall we?!

1)How did you get into papercrafting?
I started making cards when I was pregnant with my 4th baby, Sophie. A friend of mine had been to a card-making class at a local craft shop and was showing us her creations one evening. I loved the idea of it so next time she was doing a class I tagged along. It was a mixture of stamping, die-cutting and punching so a bit of everything really. From the first class I was totally hooked and booked for another 10 different classes there and then! That was six years ago and I have been papercrafting ever since, mostly card-making but dabbling in scrapbooking along the way too.

2)How long have you been stamping for?
I have been stamping from the very first class I did 6 years ago. I have tried all kinds of different styles and forms of papercraft but stamping is something I’ve stuck with all along. I am totally in love with acrylic stamps and have no idea how to use wooden ones any more!! Why do they still make them???

3)How did you get into PTI and why do you love it so much?
I was totally unaware of PTI until about 18 months ago. I discovered Steph’s blog (Stamping and Sharing) first of all and kept seeing these amazing stamps and papers and ribbons (oh my) and LOVED the whole co-ordination thing. Thanks to Steph’s generous nature and immense trust in letting me borrow some of her stamp sets to “try before I buy”, I then made my first purchase. My first set was “Signiature Christmas” but I have added to my collection somewhat over the last 6 months. I think I have about 25 sets now. The thing I love so much about Papertrey Ink is the versatility of the stamps – the way you can combine images and sentiments from all the sets to give endless amounts of different looks. I also adore the colour pallette – just looking at my button collection all laid out before me is enough to make me squeak with joy!

4)What would you say is your stamping style?
If you asked me that a week ago I would have said, eclectic. If you’d asked me a month ago I’d have said CAS. Ask me tommorrow and it’ll be a different answer again. I don’t think I really have a set style as I am a typical Saggitarius and can never make my mind up about anything – hence I flit from one style to another! I am very motivated by what I see around the blogs – I am an habitual caser of other people’s ideas!!

5)Do you have a favourite PTI colour or colour combo that just makes you drool?
This is another question with more than one answer!! At the moment I love seeing Hawaiian Shores next to Terracotta. BUT, my ultimate favourite colour combo is Raspberry Fizz with Aqua Mist ALTHOUGH I also love the three blues, Ocean Tides, Hawaiian Shores and Aqua Mist together. See, I told you I couldn’t make a decision if my life depended on it!!

6)If you had to choose just one PTI stamp set to keep, which one would it be and why?
As a serial mind-changer this is impossible to answer. At this exact moment in time I’m going to say Butterfly Dreams. I just LOVE it. It was the first set I got with a matching die and I am really enjoying making loads of butterlies but not having to cut them all out!! (I love the Enjoy the Ride set with matching die for the same reason).

7)Who is your PTI Idol?
Of all the PTI designers I have to say I love the fresh style of Maile Belles. Her designs are so clean and her use of colour is such an inspiration. Am I allowed more than one?? I also love Betsy Veldman and every time the countdown to the new release starts, hers and Maile’s are the first blogs I go to.

8)Where do you get your inspiration from?
ALL of my inspiration comes from visiting other blogs and the occasional CARDS magazine (if I can find one). There is such a wealth of amazing talent out there and sometimes I click on a blog and it stops me in my tracks. I love scrolling through the gallery on the PTI forum too.

9)What’s your stamping dream?
To go to CHA with an unlimited amount of cash in my pocket and an empty suitcase!

10)Where can we go to check out more of your wonderful creations?
My blog is called Glitter Me Silly and if you want to visit me it’s HERE.

Look out for Caryn’s work here on A Passion for Papertrey over the next few weeks!

Kate and Aimes xx

June’s Featured Stamper!

June is here, Peeps! I’ve no idea where the months are zooming to so fast but it’s a new month so you know what that means here on the PTI blog….time for a new Featured Stamper!

We’d like to thank Marinette for being May’s featured stamper – we’ve loved her samples she created for our challenges! Merci, Marinette!

Without further ado, let’s introduce June’s featured stamper who is….

Chris!

Chris has been a long supporter of our PTI blog and we’re delighted that she agreed to be our featured stamper for this month!

We gave Chris the same toughie interview questions to get to know her a little better:

1)How did you get into papercrafting?

I took voluntary redundancy from a company I had been working at for 24 years and decided to take the summer off before starting a job hunt. My daughter Fliss said she’d like to learn to make cards so I searched for a class we could do together. We ended up at Blade Rubber Stamps in London at a class run by the fantastic Susie Jefferson and I was hooked! By the time she went back to school in the Autumn she had lost interest but I have carried on since.

2)How long have you been stamping for?

That class was 5 years ago and I’ve been stamping ever since – it’s gone so quickly and my bank account is much lighter!

3)How did you get into PTI and why do you love it so much?

While looking for inspiration on SplitCoastStampers I kept seeing this chatter about a new stamp company which was coming called Papertrey Ink – as soon as the first stamp set came out I just loved the simplicity of the sets and most of all how much I enjoyed stamping with acrylic stamps. I don’t think there is another company out there that produces such quality stamps, paper ribbon etc.

4)What would you say is your stamping style?

Style is so hard to define that I find that a really hard question, so I’ll go with what others say about my work – clean and elegant!

5)Do you have a favourite PTI colour or colour combo that just makes you drool?

I get through Aqua Mist and Spring Moss the most but I dribble more over Raspberry Fizz!

6)If you had to choose just one PTI stamp set to keep, which one would it be and why?

It has to be Friends Till the End – I can colour it, cut it out, use it as a background stamp – the possibilities are endless. Of course it’s a flower set too which are my favourites.

7)Who is your PTI Idol?

It has to be Debbie Olson – she is a constant source of inspiration and her Copic marker work is just fantastic.

8)Where do you get your inspiration from?

I love hopping through the PTI DT’s blogs but most of my inspiration starts with a sketch so I turn to Mojo Monday to give me a kick start.

9)What’s your stamping dream?

It’s a simple dream really – to have more time to stamp! With a busy career and a family to care for, I snatch my stamping time from thin air! Oh and I dream of a craft room to stamp in!

10)Where can we go to check out more of your wonderful creations?

You can find me at http://purple-peonies.blogspot.com/

Thanks so much, Chris! We’re so looking forward to seeing Chris’ work here on our blog and we’re sure you are too!

Aimes and Kate
xx