I apologize for not being a very good "blogger" these last few weeks. Soon after our March release myself along with my entire family came down with a bug. When I finally began feeling better, I had a lot of work to catch up on in preparation for our April release. We have some REALLY fun sets coming out for April and I know you will all love them. They really focus on some different themes other than what we have presented before and I think it will add a lot of versatility to to your Papertrey collection! I thought I would show you an itty bitty sneak peek of what is to come! It’s hard to believe that the April 15th release is just around the corner!
……………………………………………………………………………………………………………
We also just returned from a little family vacation to the Preserve Resort nestled in the Smoky Mountains for Spring Break last week. We rented a wonderful cabin that was balanced on the edge of a hillside. It had the most incredible views, probably some of the most beautiful scenery I have ever seen. I highly recommend the trip to anyone who is in need of rest & rejuvenation!
…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….
Creative Inspirations for the Day…
I am occupied today with finishing up some details on the stamp sets for our May release, so I am not going to have a chance to play with any ink & paper. But I thought I would leave you with a few links that will be sure to inspire you today!!!
—>Today marks the second official Papertrey Design Team Challenge. This month we have entitled the challenge "Boot-iful Basics". The challenge was for the team to use the adorable boot stamp from our Green Thumb set in a unique & creative way.
If you do not yet have this spring-themed set, I really encourage you to take a close look at it! It is such a fun set with adorable images & sentiments that can be interchanged with many of the elements of other Papertrey sets. Here are the participants with direct links to their projects!!!
—>One of our very own stamp designers, Melissa Bickford, has been posting up a storm on her blog the last few weeks! She has pulled out many of the older Papertrey stamp sets and combined them with the newest releases. She has dozens of projects that will surely inspire you to get out your supplies today and recreate some of her amazing work!
—>We recently held what we called the first Papertrey Blog Hop. We issued a fun challenge and bloggers were encouraged to register to participate. This month’s challenge was to create a project using ribbon as a focal point rather than an embellishment. I thought I would share a few of my favorite results with you!!!
Dawn McVey created the most stunning stitched ruffles with her project. I love the texture it adds and it has such a trendy look. This type of trim is found on so much clothing & home decor right now!
Jillian Winters made this really pretty rosette. I thought her card almost looked like a present, all wrapped up and ready to give to someone special!
Julie came up with this clever little technique to create "flames" above the birthday candles. I am anxious to try this one out myself!!!
Susie created the most incredible dress, from ribbon! She also includes a step by step tutorial on her blog if this is something you are interested in recreating yourself!
"I Am Derby" made this really pretty project. I love how the large bows are the focal points of her creation. I can think of a million and one ways to use this concept with project of my own. This is also a fantastic way to utilize wider ribbon widths.
I hope you have enjoyed these links today and find a little time to do something creative today!!!
What a great focus! 🙂 The set (Green Thumb) is new to me, one I so often admired but didn’t own, yet, so since I just received it in my last order, now I have all this inspiration to view and copy.
Great to hear from you, Nichole! Glad you had such a nice vacation…I’m looking forward to ours coming up in a few weeks! Can’t wait to see the April releases and participate in the blog hop again…it was really fun and a great way to meet new e-friends since we all share a love of PTI in common!!! Take care, Jessica Diedrich
Wow Nichole, that vacation spot looks like a little piece of heaven!! Can’t wait for the upcoming goodies, just clear out more space!
Can’t wait to see all the ideas for Green Thumb! I love getting more ideas for the older sets, too!
Welcome back Nichole. Wow, that resort sounds and looks wonderful. Shame I am so far away!!
K.
I’m so glad you are feeling better. What a wonderful vacation it looks like you had! Beautiful view! So excited for the new releases! Your sneak peak is looking pretty cute already! Thanks for sharing! 😉
Hm the sneakie peek is most intriguing, is it a bird, is it a plane, is it a……. Tree??? :oP
I sure hope so, I am loving nature stamps right now. ;o)
That sneak peak looks like a snail to me! And can I tell you how over the top thrilled I am to see my blog here. I am THRILLED!! lol
Michele
OMGoodness. Nichole thanks so much for listing my card here. I am beyond thrilled.
I am flattered you liked my card because I so, love yours! Can hardly wait until the next release!
Yay, you’re back!! Hope you rested and are feeling great. Yep, I think it’s a tree….a really cool funky tree!!
you tease i have to have that stamp NOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I’m seeing a trunk and Horton hears a hoo!
But I love it anyway!! Can’t wait to see more
And I love Susie’s dress… what an inspiration!! It’s 12:40 am and my ribbons and stamps are calling….
Welcome back! I missed your inspiration. Thanks for sharing the link to the preserve resort…I must visit there!!
What a gorgeous vacation resort! My parents just got back from the Smokey Mtns and the pictures were just breathtaking! Glad you’re feeling better and can’t wait to see the new sets!!!
So glad to hear you had a good vacation!! It is such a beautiful area of the country! Can’t wait to see the new releases, seems like so long since last month! I’m looking forward to more! 🙂
I can’t wait for the new releases. Maybe a friendship greeting set like the birthday basics, but with all kinds of great phrases and sentiments between friends. Or maybe a thinking of you sentiment set. Keep those sentiment sets coming. Wish I knew where to email you to share ideas like that.
melissa
The resort photos made me so lonesome! My parents live in the Smokeys just into North Carolina. We’ve gone down there every spring for years and were not able to go this year. I love the area. Always do some power shopping in Pigeon Forge! There’s a large scrap book store at one of the strip malls.
Looked to me too like it could be an elephant trunk…different and funky from the other stamps…you switching things up on us a bit are ya?
The view from your vacation picture is breathtaking. Mmmm…is the sneak peek a fish or whale. Something nautical?
It looks like a Peacock or elephant!!! I can’t wait to see!!
Thanks for the tip on Preserve Resorts – that looks like a gorgeous place to vacation – DH and I are thinking about going there for our next respite!
http://www.createwithjulia.blogspot.com
I think it is an elephant blowing bubbles!
Hmm, I see some exotic guesses — at least compared to mine. I thought it was a tree when I looked the other day and I guess I still see a tree today!
NIchole – Thanks for sharing the link to the resort. I went right over and booked a coupla days. I couldn’t believe how reasonable it was! it’s a surprise birthday gift for hubbie!