PPA138 - A Reason to Smile

Hi there again! This week I chose to participate in the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge #138 using these colors:

These colors just said 'sunflower' to me so I pulled out the stamp set Reason to Smile and got down to work!

I really wanted the flower to be the focus so I kept the rest of the card simple. Some Cherry Cobbler cardstock and Early Expresso DSP for the backdrop, layered ribbon, and a button on top of the main image all help draw the eye in. I used a blender pen to add some color to the other stamped images, just a touch of soft color.

I hoped you have enjoyed my creation, and please don't forget that this wonderful stamp set is available this month only with a $50 purchase.

Thanks for stopping by!

Love and Laughter - Freshly Made Sketches #40

Last night my husband and I were out fairly late and he could see when we got home that I was antsy. When he asked, I told him that I had really wanted to participate in a challenge but only had until Monday to do it. As I work during the day and it was 9:45pm on Sunday night, obviously this was a long shot for me. He asked "Can you do it in a half an hour?" Pregnant pause...then, "Yes I can!!" So I ran upstairs and put this card together. I had no idea what I was going to create when I sat down but I had the layout and that is often the hardest part!

Here is the sketch this week over at Freshly Made Sketches: (I love their clean and simple style!)

 In place of the oval shape (which I do not own) I chose to use the Labels Collection Framelits Die. Next, I picked an image from the Love and Laughter stamp set (one of my favorites) and then browsed through my Designer Series Paper for a wedding-y paper.

I selected a pattern in Summer Starfruit (mmm, yummy color!) from the Patio Party Designer Series Paper collection. Then I grabbed my trusty Color Coach and found that Baja Breeze would be a good compliment to Summer Starfruit. I chose a piece in Baja Breeze with a nice complimentary pattern from the Designer Series Paper Patterns Pack. I placed my Labels Framlit Die on a piece of Whisper White CS and ran it through the Big Shot.

Next I adhered my pieces of DSP to the die cut piece of Whisper White CS and using it as a guide, placed the die over my DSP and ran everything through the Big Shot again to create my frame. The CS on the back is what is holding everything together! Then I attached a bit of 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Baja Breeze to each side of the frame to cover up the seams. I then stamped my image in Basic Grey ink on another piece of Whisper White CS. I adhered Dimensionals to the underside of my frame and, after lining it up with my stamped image, adhered everything together so that the frame is elevated.

I chose to use Basic Gray as the background paper to compliment the ink used. I stamped the sentiment in Basic Grey ink and handcut the banner. For the cake topper, I used my Stampin' Write Markers to ink up the image in Summer Starfruit and Marina Mist (slightly brighter than Baja Breeze so it would stand out better). Added some Basic Pearls for a touch of bling and done!

I'm really pleased with how this card came together. It feels bright and cheery to me. Oh...and it only took 35 minutes to create!

Thanks SO MUCH for stopping by!

PPA136 - A Color Challenge

Hi Everyone! I'm a little late for this challenge, but it was SUCH a challenge for me I was determined to get a card made in these colors before tackling anything else!

We all know what these colors represent here in the good old US of A so this should be easy, right? Not! I just couldn't find any stamps in my collection that seemed appropriate  and I kept coming back to the new stamp set Betsy's Blossoms so I finally gave in and just went with it! I was working on it but realized it wasn't clicking for me so I set it aside and concentrated on my son's college graduation (I think that was probably my creative block!) and now that he's graduated (YAY Tyler!!), I was able to put something together that I was happy with!

As I mentioned, I was determined to use Betsy's Blossoms, so I stamped the flowers in Night of Navy on Whisper White cardstock and then changed it up by continuing the pattern on Night of Navy cardstock with the new White Staz-On ink pad. I like the effect but I'm not sure if embossing it in white would have made me happier. Hmmm...I will have to try that and see. Regardless, I used my Scallop Edge Border Punch to punch a border on a bit of Summer Smooches DSP, then ran a bit of the new 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon in Night of Navy over top of it along with a few buttons and a bit of white twine to add some punch. I stamped the sentiment from the new Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and used my Bitty Banners Framelits to punch it out. I'm just loving these new framelits! When I got them I thought to myself that it would probably be easier to just cut them out freehand rather than line them up and try to cut them out perfectly using the Big Shot, but it is SOOO easy!! I am really loving it!!

Thanks for stopping by!

June Pals Blog Hop

 

Welcome to the Pals New Catalog Blog Hop! The Stampin' Pretty Pals are excited to share some fabulous cards and projects showcasing our favorite products from the new Stampin' Up! Catalog! You've probably hopped over from Marian Kay at All Aboard the Crafting Train, I'm stop number 13 on the Pals Hop and I'm glad you hopped in! I'll help you "hop along" from blog to blog where you'll find great ideas for new Stampin' Up! products from the Stampin' Pretty Pals! Should you hop off course, simply click on any of the links in the Pals Hop Line-up below and you'll be back on track!

I wanted to showcase my favorite new In Color Summer Starfruit for the hop this month. I just love the tone of this yellow! From there I checked my Color Coach and it suggested I use Elegant Eggplant as a complimentary color. Really???? Wow! I'm just in love with this combination now and I never would have put it together on my own! I really enjoy that Stampin' Up! provides such wonderful resources for creativity! I thought I would just add a bit of Elegant Eggplant using the rick rack pattern on the Tasteful Trims Bigz Die so I ran the cardstock through my Big Shot and then tucked it behind one of the patterns from the Comfort Cafe DSP.

 

Another new item I used for the first time on this card is the You're Amazing stamp set. The sentiment I chose fits perfectly in one of the Apothecary Accents Framelits Dies...so easy to use! For a bit more texture, I used one of the patterns from the brand new Essentials Paper Piercing Pack and my new Paper Piercing Tool to punch a matching pattern on my label. Everything coordinates! Lastly, I fussy cut the ballons from the You're Amazing stamp set to use as an embellishment and popped them up with Dimensionals. The detail on these ballons is incredible! Oh, and a few rhinestones for a bit of bling. Even a simple card deserves some bling, right? 

Supplies:

Stamp Sets: You're Amazing #126722

DSP: Comfort Cafe #126898

Ink: Elegant Eggplant #126969, Many Marvelous Markers #119806 (I used Elegant Eggplant and Soft Suede), 2012-2014 In Color Stampin' Write Markers #126856

Cardstock: Summer Starfruit #126839 and Elegant Eggplant #105126

Tools: Big Shot #113439, Tasteful Trims Bigz Die #120893, Apothecary Accents Framelits Dies #127003, Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack #126187, Stampin' Pierce Mat #126199, Paper-Piercing Tool #126189, Basic Rhinestones Jewel Accents #119246, Stampin' Dimensionals #104430

Now hop along for more inspiring ideas from Mary Fish at Stampin Pretty, stop number 14 on the Pals New Catalog Blog Hop! Thanks for "hopping" by!

1. Nina Dee at Deesigns by Nina Dee 
2. Brian King at Stamp with Brian 
3. Susan Lankford at Stamp and Scrap with Susan
4. Angela Richwine at Stampin' Away with Angela
5. Debbie Pierce at Stampin' Sunshine
6. Beth Beard at My Little Craft Blog
7. Kim Luithle at Kim's Stampin Stuff
8. Kim Czenszak at Live Love Stamp
9. Angie Blake at Angie's Musings
10. Kylie Nicolosi at Kylie's Crafty Corner
11. Nancy Gleason at My Stampin' Space
12. Marian Kay at All Aboard the Crafting Train
13. Shannon Jaramillo at EZPeasyCards
14. Mary Fish at Stampin Pretty
15. Nicole Picadura at Scraps & Stamps
16. Diane Roberts at Score at Four and a Quarter
17. Dawn Tidd at Tiddbits from Dawn
18. Maggie Mata at Maggie Made Cards
19. Leslie Davis at Ellalicious Elements
20. Jennifer Takacs at My Stampin' Blog
21. Rae Harper at Wild West Paper Arts
22. Kimberly Deacon at Delightful Stampin
23. Kris Kilcoyne at Kween Bee Kreations
24. Nicole Watt at Impressions By Nicole
25. Patti MacLeith at Papercrafts by Patti
26. Mikki Sarkisyan at Mikki's Creative Corner
27. Sandie Conner at Pretty Provisions
28. Max Conrad at Stamp to the MAX
29. Angela Curry at Kindred Stampers
30. Nakaba Rager at My Stampin' Blog
31. Wendy Smith at West Wind Curiosities

Mojo Monday #244 - Patio Party Happy Birthday

I was excited today to use products from the Patio Party Suite that I was able to earn for free during Sale-a-bration. Even the cardstock color is new! It is one of the new 2012-14 In Colors Raspberry Ripple and I have to say it is a truly stunning color! The blue on the card is another of the new In-Colors Midnight Muse. These new In Colors have such a deep vibrancy to them. So yummy!

When I put this card together I decided to follow the sketch exactly and my vision was for a crisp card that could be used for a masculine birthday. I also broke out the new Itty Bitty Banners stamp set and the new Bitty Banners Framelits. The image stamped perfectly with my new foam pads and the framelits were a dream to use. I was worried that the framelits might wiggle when going through the Big Shot and that my image would be askew, but I had no trouble at all. Easy Peasy! (Sorry, I couldn't restrain myself).

I had fun with this sketch and am pleased with how the card turned out...just gotta love all the coordinating products! Please pop over and see other cards created with this sketch at Mojo Monday - The Blog.

Thanks for stopping by!