Clean and Simple Saturday - PPA173 Sketch Challenge

Hello there and welcome to my latest Clean and Simple Saturday post!

First and foremost I would very much like to thank Susan Itell of the Pals Paper Arts design team for recognizing my submission for last week's Pals Sketch Challenge as a Pals Artists' Pick!! Please click here to see the winning card.

I have accomplished several goals with today's card:

• I needed a baby card for a family friend,
• I needed a Clean and Simple Saturday card,
• I wanted to use this wonderful sketch by the talented Nicole Watt for the curent Pals Paper Arts challenge,

 

• And lastly I needed to come up with a card that used products that start with the same letter as my first name for a little fun the Stampin' Pretty Pals are having over on their gallery. 

So...baby card, check!...clean and simple, check!...followed the sketch, check!...and I used Smoky Slate and Soft Sky, starting with "S" for Shannon, check! Whew, I'm worn out, lol!

I did eliminate one of the layers of the sketch for this card...but this card suits me to a T! I am in love with this stamp set, Zoo Babies, and am thrilled to be able to put it to use to welcome a very long awaited little bundle of joy into the world...hello Abraham!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Zoo Babies (130456)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Smoky Slate (131202), Soft Sky (131203) Cardstock; Subtles (130135) and Neutrals (130132) Designer Series Paper Stack

Ink: Smoky Slate (131179) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (132172), Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: Whisper White (124262) Baker's Twine

Thanks for stopping by!

Clean and Simple Saturday #3

Inspiration can strike in the most interesting places...like the grocery store...really?

Yes really! I ran in to grab a few things for dinner, turned around and there these were, staring me in the face! I was immediately inspired to use these colors together in a clean and simple card:

I'm not sure I would have ever put these colors together on my own but I think they are very striking! And very masculine!

Please let me know what you think of this color combination and please enjoy your weekend!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Six-Sided Sampler (130956), Banner Greetings (129714), Gorgeous Grunge (130514)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Pacific Point (111350), Gumball Green (1126840), Early Expresso Cardstock 

Ink: Pacific Point (126951), Gumball Green (126861), Early Expresso (126974) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Hexagon Punch (130919), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: None

Thanks for stopping by!

Timeless Thank You - PPA172 Sketch Challenge

Before I jump into today's post I want to thank the Diane Roberts of the Pals Paper Arts design team for choosing my entry last week as a Pals Artists Pick! I'm just tickled to be chosen!!! If you wish, you can see my card here.

Today's post is a new Pals Paper Arts challenge, this week it's a sketch challenge by the wonderful Margaret Moody:

I must admit to a bit of trepidation with this sketch, there are SIX layers here and I'm a pretty clean and simple kind of girl :) But I thought and thought about it and came up with a way to follow the sketch and still stay true to my own style. And that is exactly why I participate in challenges...they get me out of my comfort zone and push me to grow creatively!

Here's my interpretation of the sketch:

I kept a lot of white space and used simple clean lines. But not too simple! I used banners, rounded corner and color for visual interest. 

There is no rhyme or reason to the color palette...I knew I wanted to use this chevron pattern in Soft Sky (I came across it several days ago and it called to me). The other colors, Pear Pizzazz, Primrose Petals and Night of Navy were a whim but I'm really pleased with the result!

Here's another view. I tried to add candy dots but they actually detracted from the effect. I think the card is perfect without jewelry this time...perhaps the bright colors are the jewelry...what do you think?

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Timeless Talk (126607)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Pear Pizzazz (131201), Primrose Petals (126841), Night of Navy (100867), Soft Sky (131203) Cardstock; Subtles (130135) Designer Series Paper Stack

Ink: Night of Navy (126970) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), 1" Circle Punch, 1 1/4" Circle Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: None

Thanks for stopping by!

Tags 4 You #4 - Valentine's Day

It's Thursday and time for the final card in my series featuring the Tags 4 You stamp set and so today we celebrate Valentine's Day! Yes, I know, we haven't even made it to Halloween but it's good to be prepared...right?

For my Valentine I wanted to tone it down just a tad so I chose to work with Soft Sky and small pops of Real Red and silver sparkle in the glimmer paper peeking out from behind the sentiment and in the 1/8" silver ribbon, available in the holiday catalog.

For being so small, the little red glimmer paper hearts sure pack a wow factor! And in case you are wondering, you will find the heart punch is part of the Owl Builder Punch.

So that's it! My clean and simple Valentine's Day card! I hope you have enjoyed this series and I thank you very much for coming on this journey with me. May you be inspired to create some wonderful cards for family and friends :)

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Tags 4 You (131820)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Real Red (102482) Cardstock; Subtles Collection (130135) Designer Series Paper Stack, Red (121790) and Silver (124005) Glimmer Paper

Ink: Soft Sky (131181) Classic Stampin' Pad,

Tools: Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stampin' Trimmer Rotary Addition (129407), Small Scallop Rotary Cutting Blade (129410), Label Bracket Punch (132153), Owl Builder Punch (118074), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: Silver 1/8" Ribbon (132137)

Tags 4 You #3 - Christmas

Whew! We made it to Wednesday and to card #3 in my series of 4 featuring the Tags 4 You stamp set...today we are celebrating Christmas!

Each card has been so much fun to make and I have enjoyed the special details of each. For this card I chose to use the old stand by of Old Olive and Cherry Cobbler, why? for the simple reason that they WORK. I just loovvveee this patterned paper from the Season of Style Designer Series Paper.

I also wanted to continue with the same general layout of my previous cards but, well, I really lack stamps that would work well...until I realized that in the Happy Hour stamp set is a little mistletoe stamp...PERFECT!!

So I inked the stamp up and then used my blender pen to clean away the Old Olive ink from the holly berry. I stamped the stamp and then went back in and added the holly berries with Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details. I think that the sparkle of the berries and of the Red Glimmer Paper peeking out from behind the sentiment are the perfect bits of jewelry.

I felt that since the accents of the holly berries were so small that I should go with a bow instead of a simple knot...seems to balance the card out with the added bonus of looking like a wrapped present!

I'm really pleased with the final result and I very much hope you like it as well!

Thank you for hanging in there with me, tomorrow is the final card and I hope you will be back to check it out! Here's a bit of a teaser...

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Tags 4 You (131820), Happy Hour (126642)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Old Olive (100702) Cardstock; Season of Style (132340) Designer Series Paper, Red (121790) Glimmer Paper

Ink: Cherry Cobbler (126966), Old Olive (126953) Classic Stampin' Pad,

Tools: Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Stampin' Trimmer Rotary Addition (129407), Small Scallop Rotary Cutting Blade (129410), Label Bracket Punch (132153), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Blender Pen (102845), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: Cherry Cobbler (123125) Baker's Twine, Cherry Cobbler (125585) Dazzling Details

Thanks for stopping by!