Cup of Inspiration {PP116}

Happy Sunday, all, and Happy Thanksgiving weekend to my Canadian friends!  It's another week with The Paper Players and this week LeAnne has given us a theme challenge "Cup of Joy":

I've had precious little time in my stamp room lately and when I hit a dry spell, I need a few challenges to get the mojo flowing.  With LeAnne's theme in mind, I went searching for even more inspiration and found a fabulous sketch over at Mojo Monday:

As well as some fresh and funky colors at Hand Stamped Sentiments:

I mixed all these together to create a get well card for a co-worker:

I had so much fun adding little details to this one...who am I kidding I always love the details, lol!  I flipped the sketch to fit the image and the Window Frame Framelit.  Piercing around the edge with the coordinating Festive Piercing Pack (FREE this month with a bundled purchase!) really adds detail without alot of fuss. 

Of course most of the details are concentrated in the focal element.  Using the Morning Cup stamp set, I paper pieced the teapot and mug with an Island Indigo pattern from the Floral District DSP.  The paper piecing was easy because I didn't worry about cutting out the handle or the lid--just trimmed 'em right off and then colored each with an Island Indigo Stampin' Write Marker.  Easy peasy!  I punched two 2.5" circles--Whisper White and Early Espresso.  I embossed the espresso circle with the Woodgrain EF and then trimmed off the bottom which I used as a table for the coffee pot and cup! 

I added a trio of galloping teacups to the Tangerine Tango banner and colored each heart with a Tangerine Tango Stampin' Write Marker.  Love how the Perk Up! sentiment from this set fits inside the Bitty Banner Framelit!

My first banner for the front didn't work out as I planned but made the perfect accent for the inside of the card especially paired with a sentiment from the retired set, Puns From the Past.  I hope this card brings a smile to my co-worker and...inspires you to play along with our challenge this week at The Paper Players!  If you need even more inspiration, check out the fabulous creations of the other designers: 

The Paper Players Design Team

Jen Arkfeld
Dawn Easton
Helen Heil 
Nance Leedy

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Ann Schach

Amy White

We hope you'll join in the fun...just make sure to do so before Friday, October 14th at Noon (PDT).   Can't wait to visit you and your creations!

 
Supplies 
Stamps: Morning Cup; Woodgrain; Puns From the Past [retired] 
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper:  Early Espresso, Whisper White, Island Indigo CS; Floral District DSP
Xtras: Tangerine Tango & Island Indigo Stampin' Write Markers; Tangerine Tango grosgrain ribbon [retired]; Early Espresso Baker's Twine; Window Frame Framelit; Bitty Banners Framelit; Festive Piercing Pack; 1 1/4" square punch

Paper Players Colour Challenge {PP42}

Happy Sunday everyone!  I love Sundays because it's one more day to sleep in and it's also Paper Players day--hooray!  This week Ann has challenged us with a fresh color combination:

I will be the first to say that I'm not a huge fan of Poppy Parade but this is a challenge, right?  So, I persevered and...well...I used just a little bit!  That's my solution when I'm stumped by a color, LOL!  I started with this fantastic sketch from Create with Connie & Mary:

 to make this:

And, to my surprise the touch of Pure Poppy is my favorite part!  These colors said "retro" to me and I love the retro/vintage feel of the Morning Cup stamp set so I knew this would be my stamp of choice for this week's card.  Not too many details to explain here but I do need to show you the paper piecing up close:

Cute, eh?!  The coffee pot was pieced with the Baja Breeze pattern from Elegant Soiree DSP and the mug uses a So Saffron pattern from the Play Date DSP.  I love how our DSP always has several versions of a one-color pattern that make incorporating a color so easy!  My favorite part just might be that sweet little Pure Poppy puffy heart!  I stamped it onto Pure Poppy cardstock, cut it out, added a dollop of Crystal Effects and sprinkled with Dazzling Diamonds while wet.  Puffy glitter heart!  I did add Sahara Sand to my color palette in the steam rising off the mug and a little touch at the bottom to ground the mug and coffee pot.

Well, that's all from me today folks!  We've got a 24-person BBQ to prep so not much time in the craft room or on the blog today.  But, I hope you'll have time to swing on by The Paper Players blog for some DT inspiration.  If you share a project with us, be sure to load it up before midnight (PST) Friday April 15th for a chance at the DT's selections for A Cut Above and Headliner.  We can't wait to see what you make of Ann's colors this week!  Have a good one, my friends!

the goods:

stamps: morning cup, puns from the past, so much [retired]

ink: early espresso, sahara sand

paper: whisper white, so saffron, pure poppy CS; elegant soiree & play date DSP

xtras: baja breeze grosgrain ribbon, designer buttons (neutrals), scallop border punch,