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 - Simply Thinking of You

I love Saturdays! They are the perfect time to catch up and let a friend know I am thinking about her.

This image from Field Flowers works well for so many sentiments, you could even do some up ahead of time and then add a sentiment as needed...or perhaps a set of blank cards as a gift? hmmmm...

An unexpected card in the mail won't solve all the world's problems but hopefully it will brighten her day...

I hope you enjoy your Saturday!...my son has been student teaching with a local marching band so I am off to cheer them on in a competition this evening...yay band!

Stampin Supplies: 

Stamps: Field Flowers (122762), Express Yourself (Hostess-130339)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Perfect Plum (101889) Cardstock

Ink: Perfect Plum (126963), Gumball Green (126861) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Stampin' Trimmer (126889)Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049)

Embellishments: Rhinestone Basic Jewels (129324)

Thanks for stopping by!

Clean and Simple Saturday - Get Well Wishes

Hello there and welcome to Clean and Simple Saturday!

I created this card to highlight heat embossing. It is a very simple, yet very effective tool. Here I have heat embossed my flower image with white embossing powder. Next I used a sponge dauber to daub Soft Sky ink over the image which brings the image out in a very soft way, giving the whole card a very feminine and romantic feel.

I paper pierced the edges to add a bit more impact and layered my image with Soft Sky, adding impact to the image. A simple sentiment stamped in Soft Sky completes the card.

Beautiful. Simple. Done!

Thank you for stopping by...have a wonderful weekend!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Best of Flowers (133342), Express Yourself (130339)

Paper: Whisper White (100730), Soft Sky (131203) Cardstock

Ink: Versamark (102283) Pad; Soft Sky (131181) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Heat Tool (129053); Clear (109130) Stampin' Emboss Powder; Paper Piercing Tool (126189); Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199); Stampin' Trimmer (126889); Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049); Stampin' Dimensionals (104430)

Embellishments: None

Pistachio Pudding Love - PPA165 Sketch Challenge

It is so nice to be back creating with the wonderful Pals Paper Arts Design Team! Nicole Watt has turned out a delightful sketch this week which made this card come together very easily...

And here is my interpretation of this sketch:

Do you like it? I really love how the colors and textures came together for a soft, feminine card. There are lots of details so let's start with paper (I just lovveee paper!)...

I love clean and simple but I also love, love layers of detail. Subtle detail. And that's what we have here. I layered Pistachio Pudding Core'dinations cardstock on top of a Very Vanilla base. The Core'dinations cardstock is white in the core so that it can be sanded down and the white core exposed, which makes for wonderful texture. But...for this card, I am very happy with just the texture of the cardstock itself.

Next I used the wonderful patterns of the Venetian Romance Designer Series Paper to add a bit of softness and visual interest. I wanted the pattern of the butterfly to be the focus so I kept the other papers muted. I used my bone folder to flip the edges of the banners up a bit for more interest. Next comes the butterfly...isn't it just adorable? I used the Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die to die cut the butterfly out of this AMAZING patterned paper. Once the butterfly was die cut, I realized that just layering it on top of all that Pistachio Pudding cardstock would just wash the butterfly out so I sponged the edges with Baked Brown Sugar ink. Well, I actually sponged it with Pistachio Pudding but it was too...green, so then I sponged it with Soft Suede and it was too...brown, so I finally sponged it with Baked Brown Sugar...just right! Whew!

I layered the butterfly onto a circle punched out with my 2 1/2" circle punch and run through the Big Shot with the new Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder which will be available in the 2013 Holiday Catalog, available August 1st. I sponged the edges of the circle with Pistachio Pudding ink to add some contrast.

Next...the jewelry! One Very Vintage Designer button with a Linen Thread bow in the center is the perfect finishing touch...at least in my humble opinion.

I left the sentiment until the end. Once the card came together I decided it would be perfect to send to my mother to let her know I am thinking about her :)

I would love it if you left me a comment with your thoughts on my card today!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Express Yourself (130339-Hostess)

Paper: Very Vanilla (101650) Cardstock; Pistachio Pudding (130136) Core'dinations Cardstock; Venetian Romance (130144) Designer Series Paper

Ink: Baked Brown Sugar (131174) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Beautiful Butterflies Bigz Die (114507), 2 1/2" Circle Punch (120906), Stampin' Trimmer (126889)

Embellishments: Very Vintage Designer Buttons (129327), Linen Thread (104199)

Thanks for stopping by!