Simply Sketched Birthday

Today's CAS (Clean and Simple) card was inspired by two things: firstly, my promise to a fellow Pal that I would step up and try my hand at watercoloring; and secondly by a delightful layout sketch over at Create with Connie and Mary.

Why does trying something new always feel like such a challenge? My personal excuse is that I am self-taught. I have been to exactly TWO group stamping experiences in my lifetime. Everything I have learned, I have learned by visual aid, either picture tutorials or online videos. Thank heavens there are demonstrators out there who share their knowledge! So, back to my card...trying new things takes me out of my comfort zone and requires that I research each new technique before trying it. Add to that serious issues with perfection and it's a wonder I try anything new at all!

Honestly, this was so easy I can't believe how much I built it up! I stamped the image with Staz-On Ink, then dabbed a Blender Pen directly onto my Pink Pirouette Classic Ink Pad, scribbled away just a bit of the color onto scratch paper, and added ink to the image. Ink and Repeat. Then with the same technique I added a bit of Crumb Cake ink to the stems. That's it! So ezpeasy!

The color scheme here was chosen from my Color Coach: Crumb Cake, Pool Party, and Pink Pirouette. How dainty and pretty and a perfect compliment to the delicate images in Stampin' Up!'s new hostess set Simply Sketched and this pattern from the Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper.

Jewelry? Of course! I tried VERY hard to add some ribbon but it just seemed to overpower the layout so I opted to leave it off and add some Candy Dots instead. I knew I loved them at first sight but tonight when I realized I had a Candy Dot in EVERY SHADE, my love for them notched up even higher. And all for $5.95 per color family! What a deal I tell you!

Today's project took about 15 minutes to complete, next time it will take less since I won't be so nervous to watercolor! 

I hope I have inspired you to try something new and thank you to Windy for inspiring me!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Simply Sketched (Hostess)

Paper: Crumb Cake (120953), Pink Pirouette (111351), Whisper White (100730) Cardstock; Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper (130141)

Ink: Jet Black StazOn Ink Pad (101406); Crumb Cake (126975), Pink Pirouette (126956) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Stampin' Trimmer (126889), Blender Pen (102845), Scallop Oval Punch (119856), Large Oval Punch (119855)

Embellishments:  Subtles Candy Dots (130933)

Thanks for stopping by!

Sketched Thanks - PPA160 Color Challenge

I am so excited to see each new color challenge created by the wonderful Pals Paper Arts Design team - each color combination is one I really love but probably would not think to have put together on my own. This new challenge is no exception!

Isn't this combination cheerful? Love it! I have to tell you, this card popped into my head (complete) in the wee hours of the morning and the image was so strong that I had to pop out of bed to create it! Luckily, it was a weekend! So without further ado, here it is!

What do you think?!?! I am in LOVE with the beautiful window sheet from the new Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper line and was determined to fit it onto a card...why not make it the whole card? lol

I adhered a layer of Gumball Green, Primrose Petals and Whisper White cardstock to the inside of the card base and used the AWESOME new ABC-123 Sketch Alphabet & Numbers Stamp Set to quickly add my sentiment. The card seemed to need a bit of 'something' so I used my Essentials Paper-Piercing template to quickly pierce an outline around the edge of the Whisper White card stock. I left lots of room for a personalized message.

Using a window sheet for your card base can be a bit tricky as you have to plan both the outside and inside of the card simultaneously. I chose to add just a bit of the 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Gumball Green and a simple daisy from the Secret Garden stamp set. I chose this stamp set because it has matching framelits and is a cinch to cut out! One little Dahlia in Gumball Green is the perfect final touch don't you think?

Another reason that using window wheets can be tricky is that whatever you use to adhere the layers together is going to be visible. I chose to use just one glue dot on each corner of the Gumball Green layer of cardstock to adhere it to the window sheet base and just one more dot to adhere the daisy to the top layer. I am also willing to pass on valuable information I gather during the creative process and my tip for today is to be 100% sure before you adhere anything to the window sheets with a glue dot...they stick like concrete so you will only get one shot at it!!

Thank you for stopping by and please leave me a comment, I love to hear what you think!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: ABC-123 Sketch Alphabet & Number (130565), Secret Garden (129144)

Paper: Gumball Green (126840), Primrose Petals (126841), Whisper White (100730) Cardstock; Quatrefancy Specialty Designer Series Paper (130141)

Ink: Gumball Green (126861), Primrose Petals (126858) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Secret Garden Framelits (129372), Essentials Paper-Piercing Pack (126187), Paper-Piercing Tool (126189), Stampin' Pierce Mat (126199),

Embellishments: 2012-2014 In Color Dahlias (127556), 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon in Gumball Green (126848)

Thanks for stopping by!

Hello Dahlia - Freshly Made Sketches #89

I have been absent awhile for which I sincerely apologize..sometimes life throws more at us than one day can hold, thus my extended absence. But I am back and inspired by a box of new goodies and a wonderful sketch by Rita Wright over at Freshly Made Sketches:

And here is what I was inspired to create after opening a shipment of new product from Stampin' Up!'s 2013-14 Catalog!

I just LOVE this fresh modern color combination inspired by my new delivered revamped Color Coach! If you do not have a Color Coach please run, don't walk, to your computer to order one! (after you finish reading my post first, of course!) If you do have one, whoo-hoo for you! It sure makes creativity easy! The revamped Color Coach contains color combinations that use the current catalog colors and so is a must-have on your next order!

The stamp set I used today has been at the top of my list since I first saw this catalog. It is called Regarding Dahlias and comes with a beautifully sketched image of a dahlia as well as five useful sentiments. The sentiment I used here was embossed with Black Embossing Powder for added depth to make sure it stood out. I used a wonderful new framelit from the new Chalk Talk Framelit Dies Collection to frame the beautiful dahlia.

 

Seeing the tiny banners on this sketch both excited and challenged me. I was excited because I just love all things banners, but challenged as well because I do not have ANY designer series paper in these colors at the moment! What to do, what to do... I know, make my own designer series paper! And so I did. I used various stamps from the Wonderfall and Hearts a Flutter stamp sets which have awesome textured stamps and just repurposed them into little banners! The banners on each end were stamped in Versamark Ink and then heat embossed with my Heat Tool and Black Embossing Powder on Bermuda Bay cardstock. The middle banner was also stamped with Versamark Ink and embossed with Black Embossing Powder, but Smoky Slate cardstock was used. The other two banners were stamped onto Smoky Slate cardstock with Bermuda Bay ink. And there you have it...DIY designer series paper!

The final piece for this, and really any, card is the jewelry. I am SO excited to introduce you to Candy Dots! Once I used Basic Pearls and Rhinestones, I have longed for the same ease when working with brads and now we have it! Candy Dots come in all of the four color families and are flat on the back and adhere to your project with a tiny glue dot already adhered to the back of the Dot! And for those of you who prefer the tried-and-true brad, never fear for you can purchase Candy Dot Brad Bases separately to turn your Candy Dots into Brads quickly and easily! How COOL is that?!?

I wrapped Whisper White Baker's Twine around my card and tied a tiny knot, then adhered three Candy Dots to Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons, the perfect final touch for this project!

I hope you have picked up on my enthusiasm for the products in the new Stampin' Up! Catalog, please contact me if you would like a FREE copy of the catalog (just pay shipping) or if you would like to attend a class or host a workshop for an up close and personal look at these products!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Regarding Dahlias (130327), Hearts a Flutter (129252), Wonderfall (128087)

Paper: Smoky Slate (131202), Bermuda Bay (131197) Cardstock

Ink: Bermuda Bay (131171) Classic Stampin' Pad, Versamark Ink Pad (102283)

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Chalk Talk Framelit Dies (129983), Heat Tool (129053), Black Embossing Powder (109133), Stampin' Trimmer (126889)

Embellishments: Whisper White Baker's Twine (124262), Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons (127555), Brights Candy Dots (130931), Neutrals Candy Dots (130934)

Thanks for stopping by! 

Twirly Whirly Birthday - PPA158 Color Challenge

I have a wonderful color combination to share today courtesy of the Pals Paper Arts design team:

Isn't this combination just delightful? Here is what I came up with:

I am in need of a few birthday cards and wanted to use the Pinwheel Sizzlit Die and the Wishes Your Way Stamp Set before they retire on June 3rd. I also loaded up on some beautiful Designer Series Paper that will be retiring as well...it's so sad to see these beautiful products retire but we must make room for beautiful NEW products!

Did you notice the Designer Series Paper I used for the pinwheel? I wanted to have one side be Pool Party and the other Summer Starfruit but I didn't have one Designer Series Paper that fit that bill so I created two pinwheels from the Sizzlits Die and attached them together before assembling the pinwheel...where there is a will there is a way!

Stampin Supplies:

Stamps: Wishes Your Way (129156)

Paper: Pool Party (122924), Lucky Limeade (122926), Summer Starfruit (126839), Whisper White (100730) Cardstock; Comfort Cafe (126898), Birds of a Feather (126899), Patio Party (126916)Sunshine and Sprinkles (130670), 2011-2013 In Color (122384) Designer Series Paper

Ink: Lucky Limeade (126984) Classic Stampin' Pad

Tools: Big Shot (113439), Pinwheel Sizzlits S Die (129411)

Embellishments: 2012-2014 In Color Dahlias (127556), Pool Party Baker's Twine (125574)

Thanks for stopping by! 

Gingham Garden Birthday - PPA157 Sketch Challenge

I am very pleased to share this project with you today, created with a wonderful sketch from the Pals Paper Arts design team:

The new catalog will be available on May 31st but as a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator I am allowed a sneak peek at the exciting new products and I am thrilled to share some of those new products with you on my card today! So without further ado...(insert drumroll) here is my creation:

You may notice this new delicious Designer Series Paper which I honestly think is my all-time favorite ever! The colors showcased here are Daffodil Delight, Melon Mambo, and Pear Pizzazz. And I have managed to feature not one, but TWO new stamp sets for you today:

One is a collection of stars, which I am just thrilled with, and the other is a new collection of sentiments, I can't say "love" enough! I chose this sentiment because I think it has so many options...we could be celebrating a birthday, or a baby, or a graduation, or a...well, you get the idea!

Thank you for stopping by and look for other sneak peeks at new product in the days and weeks to come!