Sending a Little Sunshine – The Paper Players #235

by Shannon Jaramillo // March 8, 2015 // 21 Comments

Congratulations to all who participated in last week’s Spring Theme challenge…so many beautiful cards!! Y’all rocked the challenge 🙂 This week Ann Marie has a bright and spring-y color challenge for you!

Was I right? Bright and Spring-y! This color combination screamed ‘flowers’ to me so I went with my gut:

Gerbera Daisies. Nothing in the world is as cheerful as a daisy (in my opinion, of course). They are my favorite flower and never fail to make me smile. It was just coincidental that my new Gerbera Daisy Dies from My Favorite Things had just come in the mail…perfect timing, I would say!! But do Gerbera daisies come in this week’s challenge colors??? I turned to Google for the answer and it did not disappoint. May I present my direct inspiration for today’s card:

In looking at the picture again, I probably should have added a ruff of small petals in Crisp Cantaloupe as well, oh well, next time!! I’m still thrilled with how easy the flower was to create and how beautiful it is!!

I wanted the flower to pop so I chose Crumb Cake for the background and inked up my Moroccan Background Stamp from Simon Says Stamp in Versamark Ink. I didn’t emboss at all, just gave the ink a chance to set up before working with it. I love the neutral backdrop it provides the daisy. I die cut a leafy accent from the Leafy Accents Die by Clearly Besotted Stamps and then trimmed the leaves to fit my flower. I thought everything was a bit too plain so I inked up all the edges in coordinating ink. I love the subtle texture it provides! I also used retired Stampin’ Up! Co-ordinations cardstock to add even more texture. I LOVE textured cardstock!! (and the co-ordinations cardstock is still on the clearance rack if you want to add some to your stash for a great price!)

I wrapped it all up (literally!) with lots of loopy linen thread. Yum. And I resisted the temptation to glitter it all up with Wink of Stella…I decided I like this country, rustic-y look! A simple sentiment stamped in Tuxedo Black and a fun rustic-y pattern paper to line the envelope finishes it all off.

I hope you like my spring-y card and that spring is around the corner wherever you are!! For me, this week will zoom up in to the mid to high 80’s!! It’s early for us, even here, but I’m ready with my freshly manicured toes and I’m pulling out the flip-flops!!

Please take a few minutes to be inspired by The Paper Players very talented design team:

Wishing you joy and blessing!

The Paper Players Design Team

Products Used:

Cardstock: Crisp Cantaloupe, Crumb Cake, So Saffron and Wild Wasabi by Stampin’ Up!

Pattern Paper: The Sweetest Thing-Tangerine by My Mind’s Eye

Ink: Tuxedo Back by Memento; Crisp Cantaloupe, Crumb Cake, So Saffron and Wild Wasabi by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Morrocan Background Stamp by Simon Says Stamp; Strictly Sentiments 2 by Wplus9

Dies: Gerbera Daisy Die-namics by My Favorite Things; Leafy Accents by Clearly Besotted and Envelope Liner Die by Stampin’ Up!

Tools: MISTI by My Sweet Petunia

Embellishments: Jute Twine by May Arts

It’s Been Too Long – SSSC257

by Shannon Jaramillo // March 4, 2015 // 3 Comments

Hello my friends! I’m here today to share a fun card inspired by a sketch over at the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge #257:

I knew immediately that I wanted to have the inner rectangle stitched with a word floating across the top. When I started looking through my papers, this wood grain paper immediately caught my eye. I chose the rest of the colors to support it and I love the soft look of the finished card.

When I put it all together though, I thought it looked TOO soft, so I added some bits behind the banner, and a flower on top, even a pearl…still too soft. SO…I added some lace to the other side. I love the look of the lace juxtaposed with the staple I used to tack it into place! But it STILL wasn’t enough! So I pulled out some twine and added a bow to my lace and staple. We’re getting warmer but it STILL needs more!! So I grabbed the twine and went to town with loops and swirls…FINALLY!!

I pleased with how it turned out even though it took MUCH longer for this card to develop than it should have!! Oh well, it was a fun creative experience. I can’t wait to pop it into the mail!

Isn’t the little flower punch adorable? It’s a retired punch by Stampin’ Up! and I just want to go on record that for me, this little punch set will NEVER retire!! It is SO useful and the perfect size when you just need a ‘little’ something. Do you have a product that you feel that way about? I would love to know what it is and why you love it too much to part with!

Did you notice that I used the same wood grain paper for the die cut ‘hello’ that I used for the background? I actually ran the die through the machine three times, twice in white card stock and once with pattern paper to give it a bit of dimension and stability. Whatever did we do with out a Big Shot?? Oh yeah, scissors and templates, I remember now! Ughh!!

Thank you so much for visiting today and I hope you will pop by again soon!

Wishing you joy and blessings!

Products Used:

Cardstock: Vintage Cream by Papertrey

Pattern Paper: The Sweetest Thing-Tangerine by My Mind’s Eye

Ink: Crumb Cake by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Hand Lettered Hello by Wplus9

Dies: Hand Lettered Hello by Wplus9 and Envelope Liner Die by Stampin’ Up!

Punches: Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack (retired) by Stampin’ Up!

Tools: MISTI by My Sweet Petunia

Embellishments: 5/8″ Crochet Trim (Retired); Basics Jewels by Stampin’ Up!; Jute Twine by May Arts

Birthday Celebration

by Shannon Jaramillo // February 9, 2015 // 9 Comments

I’ve been a bit under the weather lately but I wanted to check in with you and let you know I am still here 🙂 I created this fun little card just as I fell ill so it has been a bit neglected and waiting to be finished. I HAD to try out this adorable scribble stamp set from Papertrey Ink! SO adorable!!

And isn’t the sentiment font wonderful?? A new goodie I recently picked up from Wplus9.

I chose the background and envelope liner paper first and then added ink colors I thought would pop off them well.

I hope you have enjoyed my sweet birthday wish…I’m off to finish getting better but I will be back tomorrow with the Pals Blog Hop!!

See you then!!

Products Used:

Cardstock: Stamper’s Select White by Papertrey

Pattern Paper: Sugar Shoppe by Doodlebug Designs

Ink: Berry Sorbet, LavenderMoon, Ocean tides, Spring Moss, Sring Rain by Papertrey Ink; Smoke by Simon Says Stamp

Stamps: Circle Scribbles by Papertrey Ink; Strictly Sentiments 5 by Wplus9

Punches: Project Life Corner Punch; 1/2″ Circle Punch; 3/4″ Circle Punch; Itty Bitty Shapes Punch pack (circle) (retired); all punches by Stampin’ Up!

Dies: Stitched Mats: Rounded Rectangles and Envelope Liner Die by Stampin’ Up!

Tools: MISTI by My Sweet Petunia

Embellishments: Neutral and Subtle Candy Dots by Stampin’ Up!

Dragonfly Hello – CAS(E) this Sketch #107

by Shannon Jaramillo // January 26, 2015 // 12 Comments

I came across this sketch on the CAS(E) this Sketch blog and was immediately intrigued:

I then went and laid down on the couch for an afternoon snooze and woke up with the following card idea ready to go! I love it when that happens!

None of my chores for the afternoon happened, but I got the card idea onto paper, that’s the important thing, right?!? lol

I see a lot of butterfly stamps and dies, but the dragonfly is much rarer to see in the stamping world, I wonder why that is? I’ve had this die from Clearly Besotted Stamps for quite a while but could never figure out how to use it. This sketch showcases it beautifully!

I’ve really been wanting to use this polka dot paper, I think it’s super cute and I found that Hibiscus Burst really pops with it! I applied Wink of Stella liberally to the dragonfly and then popped him up on really tiny pieces of Stampin’ Dimensionals. Can you see the shimmer?

A few moonshine sequins from Simon Says Stamp adds interest and sparkle and I managed to find the perfect pink paper for the envelope! Woot! I was starting to worry that my clean and simple days were over, I’m relieved to find that they aren’t!

We have rain in So Cal scheduled for today…yay!! Not a huge storm but we will take everything we can get. My thoughts are for those on the East Coast as this next storm blows through…please stay safe and warm!!

Wishing you joy and blessings!

Products Used:

Cardstock: Stamper’s Select White by Papertrey

Pattern Paper: Date Night by Chickaniddy; Springtime by Doodlebug

Ink: Hibiscus Burst by Papertrey Ink

Stamps: Strictly Sentiments 2 by Wplus9

Dies: Dragonfly by Clearly Besotted Stamps and Envelope Liner Die by Stampin’ Up!

Tools: MISTI by My Sweet Petunia

Embellishments: Assorted Moonshine by Simon Says Stamp

A Special Get Well Wish

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

A few days ago, a question was posed in a Facebook group I am in, asking what Stampin’ Up! ink color did we think we were? Most everyone chose one color, but I just couldn’t. I don’t think I AM just one color so I came up with several. I said Sahara Sand, with pops of Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz and So Saffron. Well, the whole thing led me to decide to make a CARD that represents me…so I did!

What do you think? I’m so happy with it I could just pop! We’ve got the Sahara Sand covered with the card base and the sentiment. Large pops of So Saffron and Pear Pizzazz, some Soft Sky for added softness, pops of the bright Calypso Coral and teeny tiny pops of Wisteria Wonder 🙂

I had a friend point out to me recently that I really like flowers, I had never noticed that before but she’s absolutely right!! I use them ALL the time!! I chose this particular set because it is soft and dainty and works perfectly with all of my soft colors. Now, the thing about this stamp is, it’s all one stamp. So how did I color it? With Stampin’ Markers? Nope. For me, Stampin’ Markers don’t work very well on photopolymer stamps. I can never seem to get the ink to spread evenly. So…how DID I do it?

With my favorite new tool, of course!! I positioned my stamp where I wanted it to be on my cardstock (which is Primitive White by the way, to keep the effect soft) and then pulled out my Post-It Notes and got busy masking!! Yes, I masked off for every color, stamped, cleaned it off, repositioned my masks and stamped again. Fast forward about 40 times to finish the card!! Have you ever tried something ridiculous just to prove you could do it? Lol, I am guilty of that here! But I wanted ALL of these colors on my stamp, what’s a girl to DO??? At the very least, it’s a great advertisement for the MISTI! I could never achieve this look without it!!

Once I had the large image stamped, I added bits and pieces from individual stamps to add a bit of color to the top left hand corner. It looked lonely up there ;).

And having stamped the outside, I proceeded to the inside…

These stamps at least are individual, so I just played around until I had a grouping I liked.

From there, I moved on to the envelope….

I know, that’s A LOT of stamping!! I sure was having fun making a ‘ME’ card…and it’s for a very special person. She deserves it and I KNOW she will appreciate it. Can’t say any more than that in case she, by some random fluke, actually reads my blog!

Well, that’s it, me laid out bare for you all to see. Please be gentle with your comments, I’m a delicate flower!! (I’m laughing at myself here because in reality I’m an introvert so unless I’m really working at it, you would never think I’m a delicate flower. Aloof maybe, but NOT delicate!)

I hope you’ve enjoyed my latest endeavor, it’s actually been sitting on my desk for awhile, I’m a bit nervous about sharing so much of me!!!

I hope you have a wonderful weekend! Today is my every-other-Friday off so I’ve got lots of plans to clean out closets and paint. I don’t know what it is about January that brings this out in me, but I won’t rest properly until it’s done!!

I will be back on Sunday morning with another fun Paper Players challenge!! Can’t wait to share!!

Wishing you joy and blessings!

Products Used:

Cardstock: Rustic White by Papertrey, Sahara Sand, Pear Pizzazz and So Saffron by Stampin’ Up!

Pattern Paper: Blink of an Eye by My Mind’s Eye

Ink: Sahara Sand, Pear Pizzazz, Calypso Coral, Soft Sky and Wisteria Wonder by Stampin’ Up!

Stamps: Embroidered Bouquet by Wplus9, Rustic Wreath and Inside & Out: Healing Touch by Papertrey Ink, Envelope Sentiments by Simon Says Stamp

Dies: Femme Frames by Mama Elephant and Envelope Liner Die by Stampin’ Up!

Tools: MISTI by My Sweet Petunia

Embellishments: Pearl Basic Jewels by Stampin’ Up!