Star Gazer

Hello, folks!

The Papertrey Ink design team is out and about for another group post featuring PTI's all new releases for April.  {Remember, all of PTI's new products will be available for purchase at Papertrey Ink beginning April 15.}

Today we're highlighting a few super unique sets.
First up... Star Gazer...



 

At first glance, I thought that Star Gazer might be a bit tricky for me to use.  I'm not familiar with astronomy or astrology and had a bit of trepidation about getting started. 

 

I loved the look of the constellations (12 constellations, 12 sentiments using their coordinating astrological signs, 2 general use sentiments, and a few small filler images), though, so I figured I would try to give it a bit of a different spin by pairing it with a previously released sentiment. 

 

I did a little brainstorming about what might pair well with a night sky theme and that led me to this.  Which I kind of love :)  Seriously, looking through my older sets for dream/wish/night/etc. themes really got the ideas flowing.   I had several projects working at once so my trepidation turned out to be misplaced.  

 

After some worktable deliberating with myself, I finally settled on this set of sentiments from Inside & Out: Baby.  I was hoping that the constellation imagery would really bring them to life.

How perfect is this inside sentiment?

"May you touch fireflies and stars, dance with fairies..." inspired the extra embellishments around the constellations and sentiments. 

I pulled out a few bottles of simple craft paint (I just used some of what I had on hand - a bright yellow, aqua, and deep orange) and used the ends of a few simple tools to randomly dot the paint circles. 

I used the non-brush end of the paintbrush for the bigger dots and both ends of the embossing tool for the smaller dots. 

This turned out to be such a satisfying project!  I love that it's a baby card without looking so traditionally "baby."  Love, too, that it would be perfect for an adoption, too.  This one's getting tucked away for some special people whose wait will end soon, I just know it ;)

{And no... those parents are not us.  Swear.}



Here's another one of the projects that came to mind during my brainstorm session...

 

This time all of the images are from the all new Star Gazer Additions set. 

 

The key to this card is building everything backwards... I started by embossing the sentiment and stars, then stamped the smaller trailing stars in VersaMark ink, then stamped the star map image a few times using Fresh Snow ink. 

 

Starting with the embossed images saves you a lot of frustration because you have a clean card front with no inks for the embossing powder to get stuck to other than the images you mean to emboss. 

I love the depth that this combination of inks and images give.  It's totally a one layer card but doesn't feel like it at all. 

Let's see... the horoscope says that it must be your lucky day because there's lots more Star Gazer and Star Gazer goodness to be found with the rest of the design team...
Nichole Heady
Betsy Veldman

Maile Belles

Dawn McVey

Heather Nichols

Melissa Phillilps

Danielle Flanders - {FYI, Danielle's taking a break this month due to her big move!}

Cristina Kowalczyk
Erin Lincoln
Ashley Cannon Newell

So, how are the new Star Gazer and Star Gazer Additions set striking you?
I'd love to hear what you think!


{Every Child} card

Supplies not available now but available 4/15: 

Stamps - Star Gazer
Supplies available now:
Stamps - Inside & Out: Baby
CS - Smokey Shadow, Silver Glitter CS (Best Creations)
Ink - VersaMark
Other - Filigree white embossing powder, Craft paint (white, aqua, yellow, orange)

{Love You} card

Supplies not available now but available 4/15: 

Stamps - Star Gazer Additions
Supplies available now:
CS - Enchanted Evening, White
Ink - VersaMark, Fresh Snow,
Other - Filigree white embossing powder