Tic-Tac-Toe Vases {PP189}

Hiya, friends!  I'm delighted to be this week's hostess over at The Paper Players where we are challenging everyone to a project inspired by our Tic-Tac-Toe board:

I went on a diagonal with Paper Piecing, Patterned Paper and Twine!  I've had the Vivid Vases stamp for awhile but, alas, haven't inked it up but once.  It seemed like the perfect stamp for paper piecing--one of my favorite things to do!

I really love the combination of bright colors with Basic Black.  Coastal Cabana, Daffodil Delight, Strawberry Slush and a touch of Pumpkin Pie really pop against the black polka dot DSP from Modern Medley.

I love to fussy-cut!  Stamping images on patterned paper and cutting them out is so relaxing to me. And, I love the look of stamped images on DSP!

 I'm going to have to make this a quick post as we are headed out the door on a weekend trip and there's much to do!  Be sure to stop on by The Paper Players for inspiration from the rest of the team and then come back to play with us before the challenge closes on Friday, April 4th (OMG!) at Noon (PST).  Thanks for stopping by!!

The Paper Players Design Team
Ann Schach
Anne Marie Hile
Jaydee
LeAnne Pugliese
Nance Leedy
Sandy Mathis

Click any image for more details and ordering info:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Barn Door Sunflowers {PP188}

Hiya friends!  What a fun sketch the sensational Sandy has this week for us at The Paper Players: 

Isn't that great?!  I had a lot of ideas swirling in my head but in the end I just couldn't resist the pull of more happy flowers. I had the benefit of seeing the sketch early and was able to design a card for my stamp club gals and, with a few modifications, this challenge too.  My inspiration came from bright, happy colors and fields full of sunflowers--like the ones I received as part of the CSA farm share that comes to our campus every week.

If you don't yet have the Hardwood stamp from the spring catalog, what are you waiting for??!!  This stamp is fantastic and looks great in any color combination.  Here, Soft Suede on Crumb Cake creates a dramatic background that really makes the flowers pop.  I like the opportunity for a punch of color provided by the little strip in Sandy's sketch.  Here, a Tangerine Tango pattern from the Retro Fresh DSP ties to the sentiment and really livens up the design and color palette.

A close-up here shows you the different flower stamps, punches and dies I used.  Mixed Bunch for the largest flower and Simple Stems with coordinating Secret Garden Framelits on the two smaller ones.  All three were stamped in Soft Suede on Daffodil Delight cardstock.  Stamping on colored cardstock really gives a punch of color without any extra effort like watercoloring or sponging.

This is one of those cards where I didn't think too long about my choice of stamp sets or colors, just let inspiration take flight and see what develops.  As it turned out, this was the favorite card of the night at stamp club--even more than the ones I really fussed over!  LOL, there's a lesson in there somewhere I am certain....

I hope you will check out the rest of the inspiration from my pals on the Paper Players Design Team.  The range of styles and interpretations of the sketch will amaze you!  I also hope that you can join us before the challenge closes on Friday, March 28th at Noon (PST).  Until then...thanks for stopping by!

The Paper Players Design Team
Ann Schach
Anne Marie Hile
Jaydee
LeAnne Pugliese
Nance Leedy
Sandy Mathis

Supplies used on today's card...click any image for more 
details and ordering info:

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.

Memories of Summer Silhouettes {PP187}

Hiya friends, and welcome to another week with The Paper Players where the fabulous Jaydee is our hostess for a Spring themed Clean-and-Simple Challenge:

So, first, a little background about the inspiration for today's cards.  Even though we live in Florida now, I am a native of Michigan.  Maybe it's the years of separation or the sweet memories of childhood but I find myself melancholy for the beauty of it's land. Certainly not the snow...but the beauty of pine forests, blue skies and the long light of summer.  Gwen Frostic is a treasured Michigan artist renowned for woodcut images depicting the simple beauty of the flora and fauna of my home state.   The Summer Silhouettes stamp set evokes her woodcut images of gentle leaves, delicate flowers and sweet sentiments....while this week's beautiful color combination at Pals Paper Arts really spoke to me...

The colors turned out so pretty that I was inspired to make a few more cards with the same stamp set and layout.

I found that Wild Wasabi works equally as well with Soft Sky and Tangerine Tango...

as well as Blushing Bride and Melon Mambo:

Clean and simple with just a little paper piercing for texture.  A hint of rhinestone sparkle, polka dots for fun and I've got a trio of cards for my customers that really speak of home.  I hope you enjoyed today's cards as much as I enjoyed creating them.  Be sure to check out the rest of The Paper Players design team inspiration and don't forget to join us before the challenge closes on Friday, March 21st at noon (PST).

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Sandy Mathis

 

Supplies used to create these cards; click any image for more details. (Not including retired Woodland Walk DSP):

Table built using Product Table Builder by The Crafty Owl - Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator.