Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Papertrey January Blog Hop Challenge

It's time again for the Papertrey Blog Hop! This month's challenge was a good one for me:
"With the new year comes a clean slate along with many resolutions. This month's blog hop challenge involves you challenging yourself to use a Papertrey stamp set that has yet to see ink or even one that might be collecting a little dust! Go through your stash and see what little used treasure it might hold."
There are a few (really, truly -- only a very few!) PTI sets that I've "collected" and think are amazing but have had a hard time using on a real project. In addition to Nicole's stamp set challenge, I also challenged myself to use this beautiful October Afternoon paper that I've been hoarding and have barely used. (Honestly, I can't call all of the loving gazes I've spent on it as "using" it.)
So on to the card. I managed to use three under-loved sets on this card: Quilter's Sampler, Quilter's Sampler Additions and Boxes, Bags and Tags. I have to admit that I realized after several reject "quilts" and layout ideas exactly why I so rarely pull this set out. I really love the idea of making my own quilts, but I just don't seem to get it quite right. I was hoping that simplicity would be the answer, but I feel like my result was more "plain" than "simple." I do love the style of the sentiments in Quilter's Sampler and included one on the inside of my card. The other under-loved set, Boxes, Bags and Tags, was much easier to use. I should pull it out more often because it really does have some nice little images in it. I love its little flowers and flourishes.
Here are the products I used:

Stamps: Boxes, Bags and Tags (PTI), Quilter's Sampler (PTI), Quilter's Sampler Additions (PTI), Mixed Messages (PTI)

Paper: Kraft (PTI), Thrift Shop papers and embellishements (October Afternoon), Harvest Gold (PTI)

Ink: Aqua Mist (PTI), Versamark, Versafine Onyx Black, Colorbox Yellow Ochre

Other: Harvest Gold Button (PTI), Rustic Jute Button Twine (PTI)

Thanks so much for looking!