Flower Shop Feel Better

Today's post is the result of inspiration from TWO challenges! I was intrigued and challenged by this sketch from the designers over at Freshly Made Sketches:

And this so lovely but so VERY challenging color challenge I found over at Pixel Maven's DigiChallenge:

The angle on the sketch challenge had me quite perplexed but I worked and re-worked it until I found something I was happy with! And the colors are terrfic together but the trick is all in the balance of the colors! I'm very pleased how this turned out (finally)

I chose Coastal Cabana as my main color. Elegant Eggplant really pops against the mid-tone background and the Pistachio Pudding is perfect as an accent color.

These blossoms from the Flower Shop stamp set and the coordinating Pansy Punch make creating a focal point easy! Stamp and punch, stamp and punch, that's it! I have attached them to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals for a wonderful 3-D effect. 

The Express Yourself stamp set has SO many sentiments in a wonderful font...and can be purchased with a party order of just $150!

I die cut leaves using the Little Leaves Sizzlit Dies and tucked them behind the flowers to fill out my bouquet a bit. And of course, Basic Rhinestones in a flourish add a delightful bit of sparkle!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Flower Shop (1130942), Express Yourself (Hostess-130339)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Coastal Cabana (131297), Elegant Eggplant (105126) Cardstock; 2013-2015 (130136) Designer Series Paper Stack

Ink: Elegant Eggplant (126969) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools:  Big Shot (113439); Little Leaves Sizzlits Dies (114511); Pansy Punch (130698); Stampin' Trimmer (126889); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: Rhinestone Basic Jewels (119246)

Thanks for stopping by! 

Clean and Simple Saturday - Just Sayin'

Saturday is here again and today I have a little bit different style of card for you! This one has very clean lines...well literally! lol

Isn't the Designer Series Paper wonderful? It's from the I Am Me Designer Series Paper set. The bright cheerful lines just seem to work well with the clean graphic lines of the new Just Sayin' stamp set.

And even better, this stamp set coordinates with the Word Bubbles Framelits Dies! Bundle them and save by purchasing the Just Sayin' Clear Mount Bundle! Love it!!!

And yes, candy dots are the PERFECT accessory! You may notice that I always add three. Odd numbers are just more visually appealing and I prefer three. Five looks too cluttered for me. 

I love the added pop of color that the simple strip of red ribbon adds.

This one definitely has clean lines! I hope you've enjoyed this card today and all the new product choices Stampin' Up! is offering with the Occasions Catalog! Now I'm off to enjoy a three day weekend...there will be lots of relaxing and football watching going on around this household!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Just Sayin' (133203)

Paper: Whisper White (100730) I am Me (130138) Designer Series Paper

Ink: Real Red (126949) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools:  Big Shot (113439); Word Bubbles Framelits Dies (132968) Envelope Punch Board (133774); Stampin' Trimmer (126889); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: 1/8" Real Red (119251) Taffeta Ribbon; Brights (130931), Subtles (130933) Candy Dots

Thanks for stopping by! 

Not A Day Older...

Good morning and Happy Friday to you!! For today's card I pulled out the new Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper from the new Occasions Catalog. The two patterns coordinate so well! I used the colors in the papers to pull out my card base (Tangerine Tango) and bottom layer (Baked Brown Sugar) colors.

Then I inked up the See Ya Later stamp set (coming soon with Sale-a-bration!) with Stampin' Write Markers. It's okay if the ink dries before you get done coloring the whole stamp, just 'huff' on the stamp a few times to moisten the ink again and stamp! This stamp works wonderfully wit the Stampin' Write Markers! I added a little knot with the Natural 5/8" Chevron Ribbon. I love that it adds interest while still being neutral and allowing the stamped image to maintain center stage :)

Once I was done I decided to add a bit of bling with some Gold Sequin Trim. The gold looked pretty but did not stand out well against the background so...Candy Dots to the rescue! I chose Candy Dots in Tangerine Tango, Bermuda Bay, and Daffodil Delight. The colors in the paper are Coastal Cabana and So Saffron but I chose colors just a bit deeper and richer to add a bit of 'pow'.

Then I cranked out a custom envelope in Baker Brown Sugar with a matching liner with the Envelope Punch Board! It's one of my favorite new tools, I use mine with almost every card now!

What's your favorite tool/product? I think my top three are the Big Shot, Envelope Punch Board and Candy Dots!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: See Ya Later (133533)

Paper: Tangerine Tango (111349), Baked Brown Sugar (131296), Very Vanilla (101650) Cardstock; Retro Fresh (132993) Designer Series Paper

Ink: Tangerine Tango, Baked Brown Sugar, Calypso Coral, So Saffron Stampin Write Markers

Tools:  Big Shot (113439); Ovals Collection Framelits Dies (129381); Envelope Punch Board (33774); Stampin' Trimmer (126889); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: Natural 5/8" Chevron Ribbon (132982); Gold Sequin Trim (132983); Brights (130931) Candy Dots

Thanks for stopping by! 

Oh Happy Day! - Pals Paper Arts Sketch Challenge #188

This card was inspired by this week's Pals Paper Arts sketch challenge:

All of Stampin' Up!'s coordinating products make creating cards so much fun! The images on today's card are from the Starburst Sayings stamp set and coordinate perfectly with the Starburst Framelits Dies. You can even purchase the two products bundled together and save!

How about these cleanly stamped images! Stampin' Up!'s firm foam ink pads make make it so easy to achieve these results. And I'm wondering how I ever got by without framelits! One of the things I love about framelits is that worrying about placement is a thing of the past. Just place your stamped image on your magnetic platform, line the framelit die up on top, and run it through the Big Shot. EZ Peasy! The framelits don't move because of the magnetic base. It's worth every penny invested in it, in my opinion!

I found this sentiment in the Really Good Greetings stamp set and think it pairs perfectly with "Oh Happy Day". At first glance you might think birthday but really, this card is perfect for lots of occasions. Do you know someone who got a new job? How about a promotion or a great score on their SAT? Made the drill team? Passed the driver's license exam? Found out they are pregnant or approved for adoption? Truly, the choices are endless. Keep the layout and just change up the colors!

If you've followed my blog at all, I don't need to tell you how I feel about Candy Dots. If you haven't purchased them, please give them a try! They are the perfect accent! If you have purchased them, do you love them as much as I do? Have a funny story to share about how you've used them? Please leave me a comment and share, I would love to hear your thoughts!

I hope you've enjoyed today's post. Please take a moment to pop over to the Pals Paper Arts Challenge and see all the wonderful projects the design team has come up with for this challenge. They work very hard to give us fun and challenging projects every week!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Starburst Sayings (133185), Really Good Greetings (130333)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Gumball Green (126840) Cardstock; Watercolor Wonder (132994) Designer Series Paper, 2012-2014 In Color (130137) Designer Series Paper Stacks (for envelope)

Ink: Gumball Green (126861), Summer Starfruit (126991), Pacific Point (126951) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools:  Big Shot (113439); Envelope Liners Framelits Dies (132172); Starburst Framelits Dies (132967); Stampin' Trimmer (126889); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: Brights (130931), Regals (130932) Candy Dots

Thanks for stopping by!

Clean and Simple Saturday - Sale-A-Bration Sneak Peak

Happy Saturday Peeps!

Today's clean and simple card uses yet MORE patterns from the Sale-A-Bration Sweet Sorbet Designer Series Paper! 

Sale-A-Bration is coming January 28th! If you would like to receive a free Sale-A-Bration catalog, please contact me here with your mailing information and I will get one out to you as soon as they are available!

EZ Peasy Design Tips:

• The envelope is lined with more of this yummy paper...remember the Envelope Liner Framelits Dies are on sale through Tuesday, January 14th only! You will love them!

• I used the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die to quickly create a perfect focal point with the pretty patterns as the star.
• The rolling font on this sentiment adds just the right amount of decoration to the card.

• Stamping on the inside of the card adds a sweet touch. These delightful blooms are part of the Petal Parade stamp set (This stamp set is exclusive to Sale-A-Bration and available for a limited time).

Here'a a close up of this sweet, sweet designer series paper. A tiny button adds the perfect finishing touch. Now to get this card in the mail! I made this quick card for a friend who is recovering from surgery, just to let her know I am thinking of her!

Are you excited for Sale-A-Bration? It's almost here and I can't wait to share it with you!

Stampin Supplies: 

Stamps: A Dozen Thoughts (131059), Petal Parade (available Jan 28, 2014)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Pool Party (122924) Cardstock; Sweet Sorbet (available Jan 28, 2014) Designer Series Paper

Ink: Sahara Sand (126976) Classic Stampin' Pad

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

Embellishments: Naturals (127554) Designer Buttons

Thanks for stopping by!