On Your Day – Fusion Card Challenge

by Shannon Jaramillo // October 29, 2015 // 16 Comments

Welcome to a new edition of the Fusion Card Challenge! Lesley has a fun color combination and cute sketch sure to inspire!

I have several poppy stamps but I chose to use just the sketch this week. The flourish reminded me of elegant, and elegant made me think of another challenge that I could play along with, so I found some stamps and went to work!

The last card I made had a circle element on it too and I had had the thought (after my card was done, of course) that I could have used patterned paper instead of just solid cardstock for the circle, so for this card, that’s just what I did! A few sparkles add just enough bling, I think 🙂

I have also incorporated the theme over at The Challenge into my card today:

I’m also playing along with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where Anything Goes!

Thank you for stopping by today!

Products Used:

Cardstock: Stamper’s Select White by Papertrey Ink

Pattern Paper: Color Wash by Pink Paislee

Ink: Sweet Blush by Papertrey Ink; Fog by Simon Says Stamp; Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps: On Your Day by Clearly Besotted Stamps

Dies: On Your Day by Clearly Besotted Stamps; Stitched Mats: Circles, Stitched Mats: Ovals, and Quilted Stitched Pattern Cover Up by Lil ‘Inker

Tools: MISTI (Most Incredible Stamp Tool Invented)

Embellishments: Assorted Moonshine Sequins by Simon Says Stamp

Time to Celebrate – Sunday Stamps 111

by Shannon Jaramillo // October 4, 2015 // 5 Comments

Hello there! Before I jump in to today’s post, I would like to apologize to all my blog update subscribers. I had a programming glitch with this past Thursday’s post and it was sent out multiple times. The company I use for all things blog related jumped on the problem and patched it right up. So if you are a blogger, or are thinking of becoming a blogger, I would recommend Integrant Services for all of your blog needs. They are very knowledgeable and helpful and even specialize in the paper crafting realm! And now back to today’s post…

It’s Sunday and time for another challenge from Sunday Stamps! This challenge is a beautiful neutral color combination from the very talented Holly Endress:

I went with a masculine theme for my project:

I saw a card on Pinterest that had a few different pieces of patterned paper and was inspired to challenge myself to use four different patterned papers but still leave a lot of white space for a clean, uncluttered look. This stamp set was fun to work with, using my MISTI to stamp all the individual pieces of the clock face and the hands. It’s five o’clock somewhere!

I layered the clock face onto two layers of cardstock to give it a bit more presence on the card and this wonderful label sentiment finished things up perfectly!

I was amazed by all the different takes on the sketch this week by the Sunday Stamps design team. They did a fantastic job so please stop by and show them some love!

Wishing you joy and blessings!

Products Used:

Cardstock: Stamper’s Select White by PTI and Basic Grey by Stampin’ Up!

Pattern Paper: Durable by Authentique

Ink: Smoky Slate, Baked Brown Sugar (retired), and Basic Grey by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Time to Celebrate (retired) by Clearly Besotted Stamps and Label Love by Altenew

Dies: Circle Nestabilities and Envelope Liner Die by Stampin’ Up!

Tools: MISTI; 2 1/2″ Circle Punch by Stampin’ Up!

Embellishments: Neutral Candy Dots by Stampin’ Up!

Happy Birthday, Josh

by Shannon Jaramillo // August 30, 2015 // 5 Comments

Hello Peeps! Today I am sharing the card I actually gave to my son for his birthday this year. The card in my last post was in honor of his birthday, but I couldn’t post the actual card because he hadn’t received it yet!

Simple, masculine, but still LOTS of pattern 🙂

Tip: I inked the edges of the papers to give it some subtle grunge and bent the tabs punched with the spiral border punch for some texture.

Super love him and super proud of him 🙂

Products Used:

Cardstock: Basic Grey by Stampin’ Up! and Soft Stone by Papertrey Ink

Pattern Paper: Abroad by Authentique

Ink: Enchanted Evening by Papertrey Ink and Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps: Happy Birthday, Everyone by Stampin’ Up! and For everyone by Clearly Besotted Stamps

Dies: None

Tools: MISTI; Spiral Border Punch (retired) by Stampin’ Up!

Embellishments: Unknown Source for paperclip, Twine by Making Memories

Without the Rain – Sunday Stamps 108

by Shannon Jaramillo // August 23, 2015 // 3 Comments

I’m so thrilled to be working with the Sunday Stamps design team again! I love, love, love their sketches and color combinations and can’t wait to share them with you! Today’s challenge is all about a sketch…

It’s so wide open, I think I could do cards all week in this format and have them all be different! Here’s what I was inspired to create:

Just a cheerful reminder for when someone you care about is going through a struggle that there will be better days!!…such a sweet sentiment!

The MISTI made stamping the word ‘rainbow’ in multiple colors very easy to do. I used Real Red, Gumball Green, Lucky Limeade and Pacific Point as my rainbow colors. The stamp I used did not have an umbrella handle that was long enough for me to get my sentiment where I wanted it, so I simple snipped the handle off of the stamp and extended the handle! MISTI to the rescue again!!

I hope you’ve enjoyed my creation and that you will visit the Sunday Stamps challenge blog and see the inspiration the rest of the team has provided!

Wishing you joy and blessings!

Products Used:

Cardstock: Stamper’s Select White by Papertrey Ink

Pattern Paper: Everyday by Avery Elle

Ink: Real Red, Gumball Green (R), Lucky Limeade (R), and Pacific Point by Stampin’ Up! and Memento Tuxedo Black

Stamps: April Showers & Additions by Clearly Besotted Stamps

Dies: Envelope Liner Die by Stampin’ Up!

Tools: None

Embellishments: Assorted Moonstones by Simon Says Stamp

Giving Thanks – The Paper Players 257 & SIP #9

by Shannon Jaramillo // August 12, 2015 // 9 Comments

Hello!! I want to share with you that one of my cards was a designer pick over at the Stamp, Ink, and Paper challenge! I’m so appreciative of the honor!!

And now I have a funny story about today’s card…

The card I am sharing today was created last Sunday after seeing the new challenge from The Paper Players. Then Tuesday, I popped over to see the latest Stamp, Ink, Paper challenge and discovered that the sketch is eerily close to the card I had already made for The Paper Players!

Here’s the challenge sketch:

And here’s the card I created before I saw the sketch!

Isn’t that the strangest coincidence??

Moving along, I wanted to share a few things with you I noticed about my card once it was done:

Visual Triangles are Pleasing to the Eye:

If you look at the card above, I have Bermuda Bay in three spots on the card that loosely form a triangle. For Old Olive, I used the envelope liner to complete the triangle. Now look at the Crumb Cake…there’s the tree and the strip of paper…but where is the third element? It’s the linen thread in the button! It’s a subtle but important detail that the eye picks up on.

Balance is harmony

Always try to give equal visual weight to both sides of the card. Here, the three strips of paper on the left side help balance out the large rectangle on the other side. Once I had put the strips of paper onto the card, I felt that they overbalanced it (too heavy on the left side), so I added a button on the right to bring both sides back into balance.

I don’t think about these things as I’m creating and sometimes don’t realize them at all but I did today so I wanted to pass that info along.

My last tip for today?? Don’t forget the inside of the card! I Know, I’m guilty too, but I’m making a conscious effort to change my ways! It’s a small thing, and perhaps you wait until you know who you’re giving the card to, but I find that I need to do it right when the card is created or it will never get done!

Thank you to Claire at The Paper Players for this wonderful color combination!

And thank you as well for visiting with me today!

Wishing you joy and blessings!

Products Used:

Cardstock: Stamper’s Select White by Papertrey Ink; Bermuda Bay, Crumb Cake, Old Olive by Stampin’ Up!

Pattern Paper: Brights Designer Series Paper Pack (retired pattern) by Stampin’ Up!

Ink: Bermuda Bay, Crumb Cake, Old Olive by Stampin’ Up!; Tuxedo Black by Memento

Stamps: Giving Thanks by Simon Says Stamp; Fancy Florals by Clearly Besotted Stamps; Tucked In: Thank You by Papertrey Ink

Dies: Stitched Mats: Rectangles by Lil ‘Inker; Envelope Liner Die by Stampin’ Up!

Tools: None

Embellishments: Brights Designer Buttons and Linen Thread by Stampin’ Up!