Fabulous You for the Paper Players {PP231}

Hi there, friends!  I am hosting a lovely (I think) color challenge over at The Paper Players...wanna see?  Thought you might:

Pretty isn't it?  When I selected these colors, I had Valentine's Day and SU's "Stacked with Love" DSP in mind but as it turns out, I needed a wedding card!  Of course, these "love"ly colors work just as well for a wedding too.

I was not at all concerned about making this card too girly.    I don't know the groom at all and the bride is a colleague so really this card is for her.  I've always thought the shoe from the [retired] Fabulous You set looked like a wedding shoe and couldn't wait to use it on this card.  Heat embossed in white on black, it's so elegant!

Elegant but...just a little too plain, so I added an embellishment made with some retired Calypso Coral organza ribbon and a little double layer flower punched with the Itty Bitty Accents punch. 

The enveloped punch board makes the sweetest little envelopes!  This one ended up being 2" x 3.5"--just perfect for a gift card on the inside!

You know what else is perfect?  All the inspiration from The Paper Players Design Team!  Be sure to check them out with the links below.  Then head to your craft space and join in the color challenge before it closes on Friday, February 13th at Noon (PST).  Thanks for stopping by today!

 

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile
Claire Broadwater
 Jaydee
Joanne James
Laurie Schmidt

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy
Sandy Mathis 
Debbie Mageed
Karren Johnson
Shannon Jaramillo

 

Poppies Full of Sympathy {PP131}

Happy Sunday, everyone! This week I am your hostess over at The Paper Players for our monthly Theme Challenge:

I find that sympathy cards are among the hardest to design--even more so than masculine cards.  For me, it's about finding just the right balance between enough embellishments to make it special but a clean design to convey peace and serenity.

So how did I do?  Do you feel calm looking at this card?  :-) One way I think it conveys a calming effect is through color.  The Color Coach came through on this one for me: Not Quite Navy, Pool Party and So Saffron are pleasing to the eye as well as cool and serene.  I stamped the large background stamp, Pleasant Poppies, onto Pool Party designer paper with Not Quite Navy ink.

I stamped it a second time and fussy cut a few flowers for added dimension.  This adds some interest but isn't too heavy or busy to detract from the overall feeling of the card.  I matted the focal image on So Saffron and added a sentiment from Loving Thoughts--also on So Saffron cardstock.  Just a touch of Not Quite Navy taffeta ribbon keeps it simple but elegant.

I hope you like my Poppies Full of Sympathy card and feel inspired to play along with our challenge at The Paper Players.  Be sure to stop by and check out the work of the other Design Team members...you won't be disappointed!  If you can play along with our challenge this week, just remember that it closes Friday, February 8th at Noon (PST).  Thanks for stopping by!
 

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Amy O'Neill

Brian King

Jen Nelson

Justin Krieger

Sandy Mathis

Supplies
Stamps: Pleasant Poppies; Loving Thoughts 
Ink: Not Quite Navy
Paper: Not Quite Navy, So Saffron cardstock; In Color Designer Paper Patterns Stack
Extras: Not Quite Navy taffeta ribbon; paper snips

Bravo, Midnight Cajun! {PP117}

Happy Sunday everyone and welcome to another week with The Paper Players! I'm sorry my blogging has reduced to once a week--just can't seem to manage more than that with all my daughter's activities too!  I'll keep trying though as long as you'll keep visiting, deal?  Good.  Let's take a look at the beautiful autumn colors Jaydee is hosting for us this week:

Yummy!  These warm, rich colors had me thinking of Thanksgiving and being thankful for family and friends.  With that in mind, here's what I designed:

I recently purchased the Layered Labels set and matching Apothecary Accents dies and wow, are they pretty!  I love the detailed scroll work on the large label.  I hope Jaydee will forgive that I used Midnight Muse instead of NoN--they're so close!  I really wanted to use the chevron paper from Comfort Cafe for one of the DSP strips since the pretty Cajun Craze pattern was in the same pack.  Had to dig a little deeper for Bravo Burgandy--with only one sheet of cardstock--but the Designer Series Paper Regals Pattern Stack came to the rescue with the polka dotted BB paper.  Love those stacks!

I layered the elements of the Layered Label stamp.  Stamping the middle section again in Bravo Burgandy onto Cajun Craze cardstock and fussy cutting the oval.  The sentiment came from the Loving Thoughts set and it's difficult to see but a added an extra bit of BB cardstock to the flagged end by adding a piece cut with the Bitty Banners Framelits.  A bunch of pearls and some Crumb Cake Scalloped Tulle Ribbon dressed it up nicely.

As I was making this, I realized that thankful thoughts also go out for my boss.  Did you know that Bosses' Day is Tuesday, October the 16th in the US and Canada?  This sentiment, from the retired set Occasional Quotes, is ideal for the workplace.  If you're in the US or Canada, don't forget your boss or supervisor on Tuesday--they would love to receive a handmade card from you!

And, I would love to see you play along with us at The Paper Players.  Go check out the rest of the fabulous inspiration from my friends on the design team and then gather up your crafting supplies and get busy!  You've got until Friday, October 19th at Noon (PDT) before the challenge ends.  Thanks for stopping by today!


Supplies 
Stamps: Layered Labels; Loving Thoughts; Day of Gratitude; Occasional Quotes (ret.)
Ink: Midnight Muse, Cajun Craze, Bravo Burgundy
Paper: Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Bravo Burgundy CS; Comfort Cafe, Orchard Harvest DSP; Designer Series Paper Regals Pattern Stack
Xtras: Crumb Cake Scalloped Tulle Ribbon; Basic Pearls; Apothecary Accents Framelits; Bitty Banners Framelits; 1.24" square punch; Chantilly Crochet Trim (ret.)

Create Opportunities {CMC201}

Hi there friends! Today's post for Connie & Mary is bittersweet as it is my last post on the Design Team. I am sad to say goodbye but find it difficult to keep up with the team and everything else in our busy lives!  Ironically, my 3 year blogoversary was this week and when I reflect on these 3 years I am so thankful for the friends I've made and opportunities that opened through sharing what I love.  Opportunities like Create with Connie & Mary and all their fabulous challenges...so...wanna see what they have for us this week?

It's a sketch!  Isn't it a great one?!  So unique--love the banner and the repeated greeting.  My card is a thank you to Connie & Mary for all the hard work and inspiration they provide to us each week:

When I started this blog, I imagined that my Mom would be my only follower.  :-)  I never imagined that anyone else would find my cards inspiring.  I dreamed that someday I might be on a Design Team.  When the dream became reality, I found how inspiring it can be to share my creations with others.  Inspiring to make new crafting friends, learn from their

creativity and participate in challenges that stretch my imagination.  I find inspiration everywhere, truly, and yes, I even dream about cards!

So...thank you, to my fabulous friends on the Design Team for your support and encouragement.  Your comments brighten every week and bring a smile to my face!  Be sure to check out their work over at Create with Connie & Mary.  Most of all...thank you, Connie & Mary....for giving me an opportunity that 3 years ago I couldn't even imagine.  You believed in me when I wasn't even sure I believed in myself....
 

Supplies 

Stamps: Loving Thoughts, Creative Elements, French Foliage; Four Frames

Ink: Soft Suede, Island Indigo, More Mustard

Paper: Soft Suede, Island Indigo, More Mustard, Lucky Limeade; First Edition Specialty DP

Punches: Bird Builder; Decorative Label; Fancy Flower

Xtras: Soft Suede wide striped Grosgrain Ribbon; Linen Thread; Framed Tulips Embossing folder; In Color Designer Brads; Homemade shimmer spritz; Stampin' Sponges

Open the Possibilities {CCMC194}

Happy Thursday everyone! It's another week at Create with Connie & Mary.  Each week I tell myself that I will try to post to my blog some day other than Sundays and Thursdays but....I'm just not finding the time.  At least I'm keeping up with the design teams, right?!  This week, Connie & Mary have a fun sketch for us:

 I started playing around with the different elements of the sketch and ended up with something totally different than what I had in mind....let's just say that the sketch was an "inspiration"...

It's actually a gate-fold card with the "gate" off-center a little bit.  What do you think?  An abstract take on the sketch but the elements of it are still there.  My base is a 4.25" x 11" piece of Soft Suede, scored at  3.5" and 9".  Once folded, it forms a regular A2 sized card.  Onto the gate doors, I layered some Calypso Coral paper from the Everyday Enchantment DSP and some Lucky Limeade patterned paper.  The focal image is the largest label from Apothecary Art which I colored with Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade ink and a Blender Pen.

I thought the background paper needed a little something, so I stamped the edge of the single stamp, Elizabeth in Soft Suede to frame the center image.

I also used Elizabeth on the inside in Soft Suede.  I intended to color in just a few parts of the stamp but once I started, I couldn't stop!  I like the way it brings in the Lucky Limeade.    I would love to know what you think of today's card.  A bit different in style from my usual but once the inspiration started, I had to run with it!  I hope you'll be inspired to play along with me and the rest of the amazing design team at Create with Connie & Mary this week.  Be sure to link up before Wednesday, March 28th at Noon (EST).  Thanks for stopping by today!

Supplies 

Stamps: Apothecary Art; Elizabeth; Loving Thoughts

Ink: Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Soft Suede 

Paper: Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral CS; Everyday Enchantment DSP; In Color Designer Patterns 

Xtras: Labels Framelits; Crumb Cake seam binding ribbon; Basic Pearls;  Scallop Ribbon Border Punch; 1 1/4" Square Punch; Blender Pens