Merry & Bright – The Paper Players 268

Before jumping into today’s post, I wanted to share my excitement at having my card chosen as the headliner last week with The Paper Players!! Thank you so much Nance!!

Merry & Bright - The Paper Players 268I am really enjoying the Designer Series Paper this year from Stampin’ Up!. The pattern I used for today’s card is muted yet bold, and is the perfect backdrop for the drop dead gorgeous stamped images. And yes, I used Perfect Pines again because, well…they’re PERFECT!!

A simple circle provides a nice separation from the patterned paper and allows the focus to be on the tree and the sentiment. The cross stitch is an added bonus detail 🙂

Merry & Bright - The Paper Players 268The pretty poinsettias add a nice pop of red and help balance the card. Hint: I use the MISTI to double stamp the poinsettias, resulting in a vivd stamped image.

The Paper Players sketch this week was the inspiration for my card:

pp268I found the three panels to be a challenge, I just couldn’t make the math work so I eventually just cut the panels to 1 1/4″ wide each and then trimmed them down until the fit (and matched). I’m still not sure how that worked out, but I’m glad it did!! Thank you so much for stopping by!!

Wishing you joy and blessings!

Products Used:

Cardstock: Thick Whisper White by Stampin’ Up!

Pattern Paper: Merry Moments Designer Series Paper Pack

Ink: Cherry Cobbler and Mossy Meadow by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps:  Peaceful Pines, Lots of Joy, and Wondrous Wreath by Stampin’ Up!

Dies: Peaceful Pines, Seasonal Frame Thinlit Dies, and Envelope Liner Die by Stampin’ Up!; Stitched Mats: Ovals by Lil ‘Inker.

Tools:  MISTI

Embellishments: Unknown source for red sequins

Peaceful Pines…Take 2

Peaceful Pines...Take 2 Hello! I’m back today with another card made with the Peaceful Pines stamp and die set. The stamp set and this plaid pattern just pair so beautifully I had to use them together again!!

Peaceful Pines...Take 2And the “falala” die cut just cracks me up…how can you not smile at it 🙂 The Home for Christmas Enamel Dots make the perfect trimming for my white, heat embossed Christmas tree. I’m on a roll with this set, I hope you love it too!

Wishing you joy and blessings!

Products Used:

Cardstock: Thick Whisper White, Real Red, and Mossy Meadow by Stampin’ Up!

Pattern Paper: Merry Moments Designer Series Paper Pack (6×6)

Ink: Versamark Ink

Stamps:  Peaceful Pines by Stampin’ Up!

Dies: Peaceful Pines, Seasonal Frame Thinlit Dies, and Envelope Liner Die by Stampin’ Up!; Stitched Mats: vals by Lil ‘Inker.

Tools:  MISTI; Embossing Buddy, White Embossing Powder and Heat Tool by Stampin’ Up!

Embellishments: Home for Christmas Enamel Dots

Petals & Stems – Sweet Sunday Sketch 282

Petals & Stems - Sweet Sunday Sketch 282Time has away of slipping away sometimes, do you ever feel like Dorie and keep on swimming??? Yeah, me too. I didn’t get this card posted in time for the challenge but I still wanted to share…

I loved this sketch, so simple, yet so many opportunities to showcase papers!!

Petals & Stems - Sweet Sunday Sketch 282I pulled out some new ink pads from Simon Says Stamp for this project, they are simply divine! So soft!! And I pulled out some old (cough, VERY old) as well, in the fibers that I ran down the side of the top layer. Just a touch for added interest. Ditto with these awesome clear sequins that Stampin’ Up! came out with this year…love 🙂

Petals & Stems - Sweet Sunday Sketch 282And here’s a closer shot of the papers and fibers. Ever wonder how to get better stamp coverage?? Yes, it’s the MISTI, my BFF. Stamp and stamp and stamp (and stamp, if necessary) until the ink coverage is just right!

Here’s the sketch from the Sweet Sunday Sketch design team that inspired this card:

11750730_10206911238480938_788031494709494181_n

Wishing you joy and blessings!

Products Used:

Cardstock: Stamper’s Select White by Papertrey Ink

Pattern Paper: Cozy and Grace by Authentique

Ink: Rosie Cheeks, Lemon Chiffon, Lake Shores by Simon Says Stamp; Melon Berry and Spring Moss by Papertrey Ink

Stamps:  Petal & Stems by Avery Elle

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

Tools:  MISTI

Embellishments: Fiber by Making Memories and Clear Sequins by Stampin’ Up!

Sprinkles of Birthday Cheer

Hello Friends! I know it’s Monday, I hope you had a fun weekend!! It was HOT in Southern California so I stayed inside and made cards. 34 to be exact!

Sprinkles of Birthday CheerMy husband asked me to make birthday cards for him…it was SO much fun!! I’ll share them a bit more closely over the next week. Today I wanted to focus on just one:

Sprinkles of Birthday CheerSo much fun to make!! Almost all Stampin’ Up product today. The Cherry on Top Designer Series paper is very cute and versatile and I finally inked up the Sprinkles of Life stamp set. I has a coordinating punch so I used that too! I admit to being a bit dismayed when I realized I had to fussy cut the ice cream cone base out, but it turned out to be easily done.

Sprinkles of Birthday CheerI added a cherry on top from the Cupcake Builder punch…it’s perfect, don’t you think? And I love the coordinating sentiment…

Sprinkles of Birthday CheerSo fun! Thank you so much for stopping by!

Wishing you joy and blessings!

Products Used:

Cardstock: Stamper’s Select White by Papertrey Ink; Crushed Curry, Crumb Cake; Pool Party and Watermelon Wonder by Stampin’ Up!

Pattern Paper: Cherry on Top Designer Series Paper Pack by Stampin’ Up!

Ink: Chocolate Chip, Crushed Curry, Pool Party and Bermuda Bay by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps:   Sprinkles of Life by Stampin’ Up!

Dies: Stitched Mats: Rounded Rectangle Dies by Lil ‘Inker and Envelope Liner Die by Stampin’ Up!

Tools:  Tree Builder, Cupcake Builder and Project Life Corner Punches by Stampin’ Up!

Embellishments: Crushed Curry 1/4″ Cotton Ribbon (retired) by Stampin’ Up!

Giving Thanks – The Paper Players 257 & SIP #9

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:

Giving Thanks - The Paper Players 257 & SIP #9

 

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

Giving Thanks - The Paper Players 257 & SIP #9Isn’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.

Giving Thanks - The Paper Players 257 & SIP #9Balance 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!

Giving Thanks - The Paper Players 257 & SIP #9Thank you to Claire at The Paper Players for this wonderful color combination!

Giving Thanks - The Paper Players 257 & SIP #9And 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!