Pals Paper Arts {50}

Whew, two posts in one day! That's what happens when I procrastinate about deadlines for challenges! I love, love the color combination at Pals Paper Arts this week so I had to play along. Isn't this a great combination? Basic Grey, So Saffron, and Chocolate Chip--yum!

This is a great layout for showing off those fabulous designer papers from your stash! We all have them and sometimes it's so hard to cut into them, right?! That's the great thing about this layout, you only need to small squares in a variety of coordinating patterns. So easy with a square punch!

There are a couple of fun little details on this card that I had me squealing in delight in my craft room today, really it's true! The first is the So Saffron striped grosgrain ribbon (retired). A piece of sticky strip held my ribbon in place while I stitched it on with my sewing machine--such a fun detail! Also, I knew that I wanted the Chocolate Chip sentiment in that final square but a plain piece of white was just too...well, plain! So I inked up the Woodgrain background in So Saffron and stamped right over the sentiment. Just the right touch of a natural element. You might be wondering how I selected the designer paper...because you know it certainly wasn't random! :-) No, it took awhile to figure out. I tried to balance the selection of patterns with graphic elements--such as the polka dots, circles and stripes--with natural details such as leaves, flowers and woodgrain. Paying attention to the details made sure that my patterns work together rather than compete. I'm sure there is a design principle for all that but I don't know what it's called!

I did not have an occasion in mind with this card so there is no sentiment on the inside. I liked the look of the So Saffron Woodgrain so much that I carried it over to the inside on a piece of Whisper White. And finally, a pretty little stem of leaves from the retired Best Blossoms set adds the finishing natural touch in Basic Grey!

Thanks so much for stopping by, again! I look forward to hearing from you...cheers!


supplies:
stamps: great friend; woodgrain background; best blossoms
ink: chocolate chip, so saffron, basic grey
paper: basic grey & whisper white cardstock; walk in the park & sweet pea stack DSP (both retired)
xtras: so saffron striped grosgrain ribbon; chocolate chip epoxy brads; corner rounder & 1.25" square punch (marvy uchida)

A color Q sketch 4U

Two new-to-me challenges this week. I've been following the Color Q challenge but just never been able to meet the deadlines! Arielle always has fantastic colors and this week, with Color Q #32, I had to play along so I could pay homage to one of my favorite SU colors, ever--Kiwi Kiss! I sure wish it was returning with Baja Breeze but alas... Anyway, this week's Color Q called for Kiwi Kiss, Groovy Guava (love), Basic Black, Very Vanilla and Kraft (love, love). Here we go:

I really love the way this turned out using another all-time favorite, Upsy Daisy for the focal image. I inked it once in Groovy Guava, stamped off, inked again and stamped full strength slightly off from the first. This way it looks like a field of daisies! And, for this great sketch at 2S4Y, Two Sketches For You #52, I really wanted to try and make a paper ruffle border.



I used the same technique as for the distressed flower found in this post but applied the distressing to three strips of kiwi kiss trimmed with the scallop border punch. I am pleased with the results. It's not often that what I have in my head comes out exactly as I wanted on paper--tee, hee!


Several friends have birthdays this month, so the inside of this card was finished off with a birthday wish. I inked the sentiment from Great Friend in kiwi kiss and then went over just the word 'friend' with my basic black stampin' write marker before stamping it on my paper. The HB sentiment is part of a larger stamp from All Holidays and, again, I just inked the HB part with my black marker. I hope you like it. Thanks to the fantastic inspiration found at the Color Q and 2S4Y--be sure to check them out! Thanks so much for stopping by!

supplies:
stamps: great friend, upsy daisy, all holidays
ink: groovy guava, kiwi kiss, basic black
paper: kraft, very vanilla, kiwi kiss, basic black cardstock, retired dsp (can't remember name!)
xtras: scallop border punch, beautiful wings embosslit, color spritzer, basic black stampin' write marker, SAMJ, clear rhinestone brad, black grosgrain ribbon (non SU)

In Sympathy

Sooner or later we all need to make a sympathy card and usually when we least expect it. This one is for a dear co-worker and since I needed to make it late at night, it's CASE'd from Karen Giron's blog, The Sweetest Thing. Her blog really is sweet. She is one talented lady with a clean, modern style I aspire to! She's also selling some fantastic watermarks which I have ordered and can't wait to use. Thank you for sharing your creativity with us, Karen!

supplies: stamps: great friend, trendy trees
ink: baja breeze & basic black
paper: whisper white & basic black cs & urban garden dsp
other: nestabilities oval & scallop oval; black organza ribbon (jo-anns); sakura gelly roll clear stardust pen

Cherish

Now that she has opened it, I can post my mother's day card for my Mom here! Again, I used my favorite SU! DSP and stamp set but the color combination is completely different from yesterday's post. Just shows how versatile SU! designer series paper can be. The certainly celery ribbon is a poly-twill blend which has a sleek feel and finish but can be a little stiff to work with. I ran the ribbon over a bone folder a few times to loosen it up and it tied beautifully--it might be my best knot yet!

supplies: (Stampin Up!) stamps: great friend, warm words
ink: baja breeze, old olive
paper: so saffron cs, walk in the park & urban garden dsp
other: rhinestones (me & my big ideas), certainly celery ribbon, glue dots, 2" circle punch

For You on Mother's Day

This is a mother's day card I made for my Mother-in-law. This card uses 3 of my current favorite things from Stampin' Up! The Great Friend stamp set is a beautiful and versatile stamp set--who doesn't love butterflies? I tied a little bit of white organza ribbon around the butterfly to mimic the antenna.The Walk in the Park DSP coordinates fabulously with the Little Leaves Sizzlits die--another favorite. I hope she likes it!

supplies: (Stampin Up!)
stamps: great friend
ink: cameo coral,baja breeze basic gray
paper: basic gray & whisper white cs, walk in the park dsp
other: little leaves sizzlits die, rhinestones (me & my big ideas), white organza ribbon (jo-anns), stampin dimensionals, glue dots