March Pals Blog Hop

Thank you for joining us for the March Pals Blog Hop! Today the Stampin' Pretty Pals are excited to share new ideas and projects to get you ready for spring.

You should have just left stop number 23 on the Pals Hop - Amy Williams at Stampin' on the Range. If so, you are in the right spot.  If you get off track, the full blog lineup below will help you move along from blog to blog so you see all of the amazing creations.

I just love how Stampin' Up! is constantly providing wonderfully simple ways to decorate our homes and our lives...

My project today is a My Digital Studio download available for only $1.95 (Item #129889). I simply downloaded this template, printed it at home, and found a pretty frame to put it in! It doesn't get much easier than that!

I can't wait to display this in my home and bring in a touch of spring as winter makes it's retreat. But really, the colors are so cheerful, I think it could stay up year round!

I decided that this print would make a wonderful hostess or thank you gift so I added a few notecards in coordinating colors. One can never have too many note cards!

The notecards are simple 3 x 3 cards with a layer of cardstock in colors chosen to coordinate with the framed print. I added a layer of emobssed white cardstock and topped off with the flower image. I chose a flower image from the Button Buddies stamp set because it is sooo easy to punch out with the 1 3/4" Scallop Circle punch and then pop up with a Stampin' Dimensional for a bit of dimension. I couldn't resist (since the stamp set IS Button Buddies) adding a white button for a bit of jewelry. A tiny bit of cardstock threaded through the button holes provides a nice detail. Very simple but oh so cute!

I hope you have enjoyed my post today, simple and easy projects that you can do at home in an afternoon! And by the way...did you notice the Easter egg at the top of the post?? That's means I have blog candy to give away!!

My blog candy today is a sampler of items that you would normally only be able to earn with $100 purchase of Stampin' Up! product!

•  12 6" x 6" sheets of the Sycamore Street Designer Series Paper
• 6 buttons each in 3 colors: Pool Party, Tangerine Tango, and Rich Razzleberry
• 1 yard each of satiny ribbon in 3 colors: Island Indigo, Pool Party, and Tangerine Tango

Interested in receiving this blog candy? Please be sure to leave a comment by 6 PM CST on Thursday, March 14, 2013. One recipient will be chosen at random from the comments received. The blog candy recipient will be announced on Friday and the recipient will need to email me their mailing address within 24 hours. Blog candy can only be shipped to a US address -- thanks for understanding.}

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Button Buddies (1227374)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Baja Breeze (111352), Calypso Coral (122925), Lucky Limeade (122926), so Saffron (105118) Cardstock

Ink: Baja Breeze (126960), Calypso Coral (126983), Lucky Limeade (126984), so Saffron (126957) Classic Stampin' Pad 

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder (117335), 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, Stampin' Trimmer (126889)

Embellishments:  Neutral Designer Buttons (119743)

Thanks for stopping by!

The next stop is Amy L. Lazzell at Just a Thought...Cards by Amy, stop number 25 on the Pals Blog Hop! Thanks for visiting – and I hope to see you next month!

1. Dawn Tidd at tiddbitsfromdawn
2. Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty -
3. Nicole Picadura at Scraps & Stamps
4. Shannon Hokanson at Paper Works 
5. Debbie Mageed at Scrappin' & Stampin'
6. Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
7. Debbie Crowley at expressivelydeb...
8. Ann Schach at The Stampin' Schach
9. Katy McGloin at Just Fun Stamping
10. Nicole Watt at Impressions By Nicole
11. Kerry Willard Bray at stampgoodness
12. Brian King at Stamp with Brian
13. Maggie Mata at Maggie Made Cards
14. Jennifer Takacs at Stamped in Full 
15. Carmen Sublasky at The Creative Stamptuary
16. Debra Simonis at Deb's Stampin' Grounds
17. Linda Callahan at Stampin' Seasons 
18. Kim Czenszak at LiveLoveStamp
19. Susan Itell at Simple Stampin'
20. Julie Trevett-Smith at The Stampin' Affair
21. Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
22. Ginger Toivonvn at gingerstamps.com
23. Amy Williams at Stampin' on the Range
24. Shannon Jaramillo at ezpeasycards
25. Amy L. Lazzell at Just A Thought...Cards by Amy
26. Penny Nichols at Sierra Stampin!
27. Sherrie Gross at Stampin' Sunshine
28. Peggy Noe at prettypapercards.com 
29. Maxine Conrad at Stamp to the MAX!

Floral Fusion Hello - PPA154 Color Challenge

The Pals Paper Arts design team always has wonderful color combinations and this week is no exception...what a delightful color combination to work with!

I always start these projects by perusing the catalog for options in the challenge colors. Right away I spotted two of the three colors in the Print Poetry Designer Series Paper Stack and what a steal...all those pattern choices for only $6.95!! The patterns I chose were both from this paper stack and coincidentally, were flip patterns on the same piece of paper so I knew this was meant to be!

A friend recently posed a question about the flowers in the Floral Fusion die by Stampin' Up!. She wanted to know why the flowers were never offset in the style of actual flowers and I thought...good question! I told her I would pull the die out and make some flowers in each style and post pictures so when I started today, the plan was to make two of the same card, one with the flowers stacked, the second with the flower petals offset but I just couldn't do it! My orderly soul just could not cope with the flowers offset...sorry Terri!

Here is a close up shot of these pretty little flowers. The Floral Fusion die cuts three flowers of graduated sizes at once so all that is needed is to stack them on top of each other with a simple Crumb Cake button on top, assembled quickly wth glue dots. I did take an extra minute to curl the ends of each petal wth my bone folder to give the flower a bit of dimension.

I added some Calypso Coral Baker's Twine to compliment the Calypso Coral background layer as well as a sentiment from the Bloomin' Marvelous Stamp Set that I got for FREE during Sale-a-bration...I always love free and I think the sentiment is so sweet!

I really enjoy the subtle added interest that paper piercing adds to any project. Here I added a bit to two opposite corners of the card. I love the effect!

I think this card would be perfect to send to someone special just to show some apreciation for all that they mean to you!

I hope you have enjoyed today's project. Please check back next Tuesday for the Pals Blog Hop and some blog candy!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Bloomin' Marvelous (129654) - free with $50 purchase!

Paper: Very Vanilla (101650), Calypso Coral (122925), Crumb Cake (120953) Cardstock; Print Poetry (129312) Designer Series Paper Stack

Ink: Raspberry Ripple (126859) Classic Stampin' Pad 

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Floral Fusion Sizzlits Die (115969), Essentials Paper Piercing Pack (126187), Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199), Paper-Piercing Tool (126189), Stampin' Trimmer (126889)

Embellishments:  Neutral Designer Buttons (119743), Calypso Coral Baker's Twine (125573)

Thanks for stopping by!

Hello Dear Friend - Freshly Made Sketches #75

Wow! It's been awhile since I last played along with the gang over at Freshly Made Sketches! I feel like I've gotten Valentine's Day out of my system and I'm ready to move to spring! Lol, we don't have much of a winter in Southern California but it's going to be a glorious weekend here and with it's bright colors, this card is a reflection of that!

First the sketch:

And here is what I created with it:

EZ Design Ideas:

• Find inspiration in everyday things! My color palette came straight out of a decorating magazine...I figured if it will work for my living room, it will work for my card!

• I repeated both the yellow and the blue three times on this card, creating a visual 'triangle'
• I pierced a subtle design onto opposite corners of my design layer for added interest

• I sponged the edges of the blossoms and used Stampin' Dimensionals to pop them off the card
• The sentiment is adhered on the right with a glue dot, a Stampin' Dimensional in the middle to give it lift, and a slight flare on the banner end to pop it off the page
• Just a few pearls add a perfect amount of jewelry
• I love to line the envelope with either matching or coordinating DSP...it gives the recipient just a taste of what's to come!

I would love to hear your comments!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Moving Foward (126322)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Sahara Sand (121043), Daffodil Delight (119683) Cardstock; Print Poetry (129312) Designer Series Paper Stack; Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack (117157)

Ink: Midnight Muse (126860) Classic Stampin' Pad 

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Finishing Touches Edgelits (127010), Essentials Paper Piercing Pack (126187), Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199), Paper-Piercing Tool (126189), Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (118309), Stamping Sponges (101610), Stampin' Trimmer (126889), 

Embellishments:  1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Daffodil Delight (126872), Pearl Basic Jewels (119247)

Thanks for stopping by!

• Find inspiration in everyday things! My color palette came straight out of a decorating magazine...I figured if it will work for my living room, it will work for my card!

Loving Thoughts

There is a funny story attached to this card! Some fellow demonstrators and I were having a chat about how difficult it can be to "let go" of our stash of pretty papers. One of them suggested a challenge amongst ourselves to make a card using some of our precius stash. I thought the idea was genius but where to start? I went to my paper storage and pulled out a piece of paper from the first DSP series I have stored called "Attic Boutique" from the 2012 Spring Mini, found a sketch that spoke to me, and literally put this card together in abut 30 minutes!

EZ Design Ideas:

• Find a card or a sketch that speaks to you and change it up to suit your design
• When in doubt, choose a neutral color to accent the color of choice - in this case this paper really stands on it's own
• Let the style of the paper dictate the accents - this paper was so soft and delicate that every other design aspect needed to reflect those same qualities
• Let your tools do your design work for you! Stampin' Up!'s Adorning Accents Embossing Folders and Coordinating Edgelits provided the perfect mix of texture and detail and the Floral Fusin Sizzlits provided quick and easy flower accents. The new Large Pearl Basic Jewels are the perfect size and give the card that "WOW" factor without any additional work!

I just can't say enough how much I enjoy all the coordinating projects that make putting something like this together so simple and fun. I hope you enjoyed today's project!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Loving Thoughts (125845)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Pool Party (122924) Cardstock; Attic Boutique (Retired) Designer Series Paper

Ink: Pool Party (126982) Classic Stampin' Pad 

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Adorning Accents Embossing Folders (125601), Adorning Accents Edgelits (125595), Floral Fusion Sizzlits (115969)

Embellishments:  Large Pearl Basic Jewels (125577)

Thanks for stopping by!

Fab Friday Fall Gratitude

Happy Friday Everyone! I discovered a fun sketch over at Fab Friday. They have just set up shop so please pop on over to check out the wonderful designs by a very talented team!

EZ Design Ideas:

•  Pairing coordinating Designer Papers takes all the guesswork out of design for you

 

• Duplicating an image in multiple colors makes for a quick visual impact
• When grouping items, choose three rather than two or four for a better impact
• After your layout is complete, take one item away (just like you do for your jewelry) to keep the design simple

I hope you have a wonderful Friday!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: One in a Million (126382), Gently Falling (123804)

Paper: More Mustard (100946), Very Vanilla (101650) Cardstock; Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper Stack (126895)

Ink: More Mustard (126964), Raspberry Ripple (126859), Cajun Craze (126965) Classic Stampin' Pads

Tools: None

Embellishments: Linen Thread (104119), Naturals Designer Buttons (127554)

Thanks for stopping by!