Purple Onion Designs

DIY Journal Cards

There is a great special on a stamp grab bag right now.  It is perfect for creating your own journal cards.  The grab bag contains thirteen stamp/stamp sets and is on sale for $15.00.  The grab bag contains over $40.00 worth of stamps.  You can see the assortment here. 

Several members of the design team have been using the stamps to create journal cards for Project Life inserts.  I thought you might like to see them for some ideas.

Julie created a series of journal cards/inserts using some coordinating patterned papers.  I love the look of her cards with the patterns.  It is a little different then the simple and plain backgrounds found on most cards.

This is how the cards look inserted into the pages.

 

 

We Have Some Winners!

I have some winners to announce for the new Paislee Press stamps!

The winner of the Happy Mail & Envies set is:

The winner of a Paislee Press stamp of your choice is:

I have sent an email to both winners.  Congratulations!

Here are a few more projects using the new Paislee Press stamps:

Jennifer Holmes

stamps used:  Happy Mail & Doodle Flower Sentiment Set

 

Donna Mikasa

stamps used:  Instant Film Frame, Home Sweet Home,  The Bird House & Beach Chair Set

Jennifer Roach

stamps used:  Happy Mail

 

Cherry Nelson

stamps used:  Be Setaed & Happy Mail

 

Joy Taylor 

stamps used:  Happy Mail & Envies

 

 

New Stamps: Instant Film Frame, Be Seated & Book Stack

Here are the last 3 stamps from the Paislee Press March release. The Instant Film Frame is Liz's take on a Polaroid or Instax type photograph. This stamp is so much fun to use to frame stamped images or a photograph.

Donna created this adorable card with the Instant Film Frame and several stamps from Stephanie Ackerman.

stamps used: Instant Film Frame, A Little Bird Told Me, Home Sweet Home, The Birdcage, The Birdhouse, & Damask Background.

 

Jennifer Roach also used the frame to create this next card. I love how the frame makes the images pop.

stamps used: Instant Film Frame, Olive & Sam and Post Office

Liz Tamanaha of Paislee Press used the frame and a photograph to create a journal card for her Project Life album. Isn't it cute?

stamps used: 3 Cameras & Instant Film Frame

 

Liz also used the Book Stack to create a journal card.

stamps used: Instant Film Frame, Book Stack, Happy Mail

 

The final stamp from Paislee Press is Be Seated. Jenn Biederman created this wonderful card with the set. The chairs can be used in a row or individually.

stamps used: Be Seated & thank you

 

I believe I promised you all another giveaway today. It is another simple one...leave a comment telling me which is your favorite Paislee Press stamp from the new release shown the past two days. A winner will be randomly chosen and will receive the stamp they chose. You have till Saturday, March 24, 2012 at 11:59 to leave a comment.

Don't forget to take a look at the "Specials" page on the website for some great deals.

 

New Stamps: Happy Mail & Envies

I've got a new release to show you today (and a giveaway)!  The majority of the designs are from Liz Tamanaha of Paislee Press.  We love Liz's designs around here and this release is long overdue.  I have been sitting on some of these images for probably a year now.  The good thing is the waiting allowed for the addition of a great set.  Liz's stamps are so versatile.  They are designed with the scrapbooker in mind but translate perfectly for cardmaking.  Just wait till you see how to incorporate them into your Project Life pages. 

All the new stamps are up on the website and can be found here.  The stamps I am showcasing today are Happy Mail and Envies.

Jennifer Holmes created two very different cards using the Happy Mail set.  The first card shows the classic use of the set to create mail art.  The second card uses one of the sentiment markers to create a fun card.  I love the CAS style of this card with the bright colors against the white background.

stamps used:  Happy Mail, Vintage Postmark & Be Mine Logo

 

stamps used:  Happy Mail, Flower Framed Doodle

Courtney created some cute little paper piecing cards with the next set.  Envies is a collection of mini envelopes.  The smaller row of envelopes can be left in a row or cut apart.

stamps used:  Envies and Post Office

 

stamps used:  Envies and thinking of you

 

Jenn B. mixed it up and combined both sets to create some fun journal cards.  Look how adorable the open envelope is that she created by altering the original.

stamps used:  Happy Mail, Envies & Doodle Heart Set

stamps used:  Happy Mail, Envies & Doodle Heart Set

stamps used:  Happy Mail & Envies

 

Take a look at the journal cards Liz has created with the stamps and a glimpse of how she incorporates them into her Project Life pages.  Her clean and minimalist style has such a great look.  Make sure you pop by her blog to see more details of her journal cards.  Oh, and another giveaway over there too!

stamps used:  Happy Mail, Envies, Instant Film Frame, Book Stack, 3 Cameras & Photographer

 

I have one more thing for you before I get to the details of the giveaway.  If you have caught the Project Life bug I have a great deal for you!  I have put together a selection of stamps to create a journal grab bag.  The grab bag is on sale for $17.00 with a value of over $40.00 worth of stamps!  The selection is made up of stamps I am currently overstocked in.  Once the inventory levels get down the grab bag will no longer be available.  It is a fabulous deal which you will find on the Specials page of the website along with a few other deal. 

Here is a little more inspiration for creating your own journal cards with Liz's new stamps and stamps from the journal grab bag.

Jennifer Roach

 

Joy Taylor

Ready for the giveaway details?  Simple...leave a comment on today's post telling me what Happy Mail means to you.  You have until Friday, March 23, 2012 at 11:59 pm to enter the giveaway.  One name will be randomly chosen to receive both the Happy Mail and Envies stamp sets.  Remember to stop by the Paislee Press blog for another chance to win.

I'll be back tomorrow to showcase the other new stamps and of course there will be another giveaway!

Feel free to order your stamps now.  If your name is chosen in the giveaway, I will gladly issue a refund for the stamps won.

 
 

 

 

 

In one week...

In one week it will be Spring!  The weather here the past few days has been gorgeous.  I got a little a head of myself and just changed my blog banner.  I also wanted to share this card from Jennifer Roach with you.  It is a perfect card for a perfect day! 

stamps used:  The Flower Shop

 

Erin Go Bragh

It will be quiet around here this week.  I have a lot of cooking to do for the big St. Patrick's Day party this weekend.  Here is the menu (so far) incase you are curious:

• Corned Beef with Cabbage & Potatoes
• Cottage Pie
• Irish Bangers
• Colcannon
• Roasted Veggies
• Mac & Cheese (made with Irish cheeses)
• Irish Soda Bread Cookies (see last year's post)
• Rainbow Cookies (in the colors of the Irish flag)

Jennifer Roach

stamps used:  St. Patrick's Day Noteblock

Color Palette Challenge

Purple Onion Designs is sponsoring a color challenge over at Lily Pad Cards.  Kathy Racoosin has chosen a yummy color palette to work with.  You can check out the color palette and get all the details on the Lily Pad Cards Blog.  There is a $25 Purple Onion Designs gift certificate up for grabs!

Kathy created one of my favorite cards for the challenge.  I love everything about this card.   I think you will also agree that the colors are yummy!

 

 stamps used:  Home Sweet Home

 

It's almost time...

It is almost time for the annual St. Patrick's Day party.  Every year I try to figure out something new to make but it isn't the easiest thing.  There are not a lot of Irish recipes to choose from.  The other problem is there are a lot of beef recipes and almost everything contains potatoes.  In addition to serving corned beef, I make Cottage Pie.  Cottage Pie is like Shepard's Pie but made with beef.  Shepard's Pie is traditionally made with lamb.  Everyone raves when they try this dish.  The best compliment was when a friend from Ireland said it was exactly like what he grew up with.  He then went on to say that he has never had it anywhere in the states that reminded him of home like this did. This is the recipe I use with some tweaks:

Cottage Pie @ Epicurious

 

Here are the tweaks.  You need to double, if not triple the Worcestershire Sauce & the marjoram.  This is what gives the dish its unique flavor.  I probably add even more Worcestershire since that is the way my hubby likes it.  You can adjust to taste.  I also use the whole can of gravy.  I have jazzed up the potatoes that are layered on top with cheeses sometimes too.

I'll share a few more of my St. Pat's recipes over the next week. Now it is time to share a St. Patrick's Day card.  I love the CAS design of this card by Jennifer Holmes.  It is so simple & fun!

stamps used:  St. Patrick's Day Logo & Vintage Postmark Set

 

 

Seriously...

Seriously, how stinkin' cute are these Hometown stamps!  I love this card that Jenn B created.  The combination of Jenn's coloring and popping up the flower shop adds such dimension to the card.  Take a look at how she cut open the doors and added a little topiary tree inside.  It is these little details that always make me giddy when I see her cards.

stamps used:  Bakery & Flower Shop