Fabulous Inspiration: {PP49}

Happy Paper Players Sunday, friends!  This week The Paper Players have a bonus challenge for you...Anything Goes!!  Your favorite technique, your favorite colors, your favorite sketch--whatever your creative mind can dream up!  

 Today, I have an inspiration card to share with you.  Since my paper crafting journey began, I notice colors and patterns everywhere but especially in home and fashion catalogs.  Does this happen to you?  I'm looking at a catalog or I see a top, dress or bag on someone and think about what stamps, paper and colors I could use to turn it into a card!  Today's card was inspired by this beautiful quilt at The Company Store:

Isn't it gorgeous?  So...do you see what I see?  I can't help but see Fabulous Florets in Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry and Naturals Ivory.  And, here's my interpretation:

It's a pretty simple one, just layered all the stamps from Fabulous Florets in my inspiration colors onto Naturals Ivory cardstock.  I used the Woodgrain background stamp in Sahara Sand to mimic the woodgrain on the side table and headboard in my inspiration photo.  Super simple and packs a big punch in person!  What do you think?  Would you like to play along?  With such a wide-open challenge, we hope you'll find time to join us at this week!  Check out all the design team inspiration at The Paper Players and then link up your lovely creation by midnight (PST) Friday, June 3rd to be considered for the design team's favorites!  Have a great day, friends!

supplies:

stamps: fabulous florets, woodgrain, curly cute

paper: naturals ivory CS

ink: old olive, rich razzleberry, pumpkin pie, sahara sand classic ink

Play Along on the Open Sea: {PP48}

Hiya friends!  It's Tuesday night and we're half-way to a holiday weekend here in the States.  I can't wait for a long weekend of relaxation!  Tonight, I am so excited to share another card using my sketch for this week's Paper Players challenge.

I just received The Open Sea stamp set--I know what took me so long?--and couldn't wait to use it.  I took a little creative license with the sketch to make this:

My Basic Gray cardstock was inked up with the manifest image from The Open Sea.  Stamped randomly on one side in Basic Gray ink, overlapping to create a collage effect.  

Some Cherry Cobbler paper from the Nautical Expedition DSP was edged with a Basic Black spiral border...

and triple wrapped with Cherry Cobbler baker's twine and a Crumb Cake (AKA Kraft) corduroy button.  These buttons are retired but still available in the Clearance Rack in many fabulous colors.  Their texture is perfect for the feel of this card.

The main circle was cut with the 3" circle die (still available on the carryover list) and stamped with the map image from The Open Sea in Crumb Cake ink (stamped off once) and a Cherry Cobbler ship.  Oh my mateys, the detail on this ship is amazing!  The line art is so delicate it's incredible!

And just a quick finish to the inside with another Crumb Cake map and a Cherry Cobbler sentiment from Word Play.  These two stamp sets are just made for each other! I hope my variation on this week's Paper Players sketch will tempt you to play along.  You have until midnight (PST) Friday, May 27th to post your creation and with my birthday on Saturday, your participation would be the perfect gift (wink)!  Have a great day, my friends!

supplies:

stamps: the open sea; word play; teeny tiny wishes

paper: basic gray, whisper white, basic black CS; nautical expedition DSP

ink: cherry cobbler, basic gray, crumb cake classic ink; jet black stazon

xtras: cherry cobbler baker's twine; 3" circle die; kraft corduroy buttons [clearance rack]; spiral border punch

Define my Gratitude: {PP48} & {JAI68}

Happy Paper Players Sunday everyone!  I am so excited to be your hostess this week for a sketch challenge.  Here's the sketch I designed for you and I can't wait to see what you make with it:

 I used it to make a Teacher Appreciation Week card for my daughter's teacher using the beautiful color combination over at Just Add Ink:  
 
Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze, Perfect Plum and Whisper White.

Would you like to see the details?  OK, happy to oblige!  I started with a Perfect Plum card base (why don't I use this color more often?) to which I added the flourish stamp from Strength & Hope in two columns roughly down the center:

I stamped each flourish in Perfect Plum ink and placed a piece of Greenhouse Gala paper down the middle.  I cut a 3" circle of Whisper White with my 3" circle die and a Baja Breeze scalloped circle with a nestie. 

I stamped "gratitude" from Define Your Life in Pear Pizzazz and over stamped with a Broadsheet Alphabet "G".  The "G" is stamped off once so it shows as more of a watermark behind the definition.  

Next, I stamped the roses from Flower Fest in Whisper White craft ink on Perfect Plum DSP, sprinkled with white stampin' emboss powder and heat set.  To make the 3 flowers on my card, I made 6 embossed flowers and cut out the center of half of them to layer and add dimension.  I wanted them to look a bit like sugar coated flowers, so I added some Dazzling Diamonds to the edges with a glue pen.  So sparkly IRL!  A few Pear Pizzazz branches from the 2-step Bird XL punch finished off my flowers perfectly!

The inside uses a non-SU sentiment that is so fitting for my daughter's teacher!  I stamped it in Perfect Plum on Whisper White and added some more Flower Fest roses in Baja Breeze and a couple more Pear Pizzazz leaves.

So, what do you think of today's card?  I would love to know!  Can you play along with us this week?  I sure hope so!  You have until Friday May 27th at midnight (PST) to link up your creation at The Paper Players.  We can't wait to come visit you.  Have a great week my friends!

supplies:

stamps: flower fest, define your life, broadsheet alphabet, strength & hope

ink: pear pizzazz, baja breeze, perfect plum classic inks and whisper white craft ink

paper: perfect plum, pear pizzazz, whisper white, baja breeze CS; designer patterns stack subtles; greenhouse gala DSP

xtras: 2-step bird punch; white stampin' emboss powder; dazzling diamonds; 3" circle die; scalloped circle nestabilities

Paper Players Challenge Extension

So did you survive the big Blogger crash?  Whether you have your own blog or follow others it was a rough stretch for a few days in blogland.  I was lucky and didn't lose posts or info but I'm still glad they got everything working again!  One good thing that came out of the Blogger troubles is an extension to The Paper Players Colour Challenge!!  You have one more week to play along with these yummy colors:

I just received the Nautical Expedition designer paper as well as The Open Sea stamp set and couldn't wait to use both of them so I made another card with our color combo!  

Yes, it looks alot like this card from a couple days ago!  Sometimes I want to create something but don't have the mental energy to put forth, you know?  Yesterday was one of those days so I CASED myself!  This time I stamped the sailboat from Sail Away in timber brown Stazon on SU watercolor paper and brushed on some Not Quite Navy ink with my aqua painter.  I used a Cherry Cobbler base with the manifest stamp from The Open Sea as my background:

Some Early Espresso Nautical Expedition paper was crumpled and sponged with Early Espresso ink.  The Tasteful Trims die got a workout again:

but this time I wrapped it with some Cherry Cobbler baker's twine--doesn't it look oh-so-nautical?  I can't take the credit for the idea--my good friend Elizabeth came up with that fantastic idea (hi, E!).   And here's a quick peek at the inside too:

I hope you've enjoyed my sample for round 2 of our Color Challenge at The Paper Players.  I'd love to know what you think of today's card.  If you would like to play along, you have until Friday, May 20th at midnight (PST) to link up your creation at The Paper Players blog.  We hope you'll play along with us!

supplies:

stamps: sail away, the open sea, word play

paper: cherry cobbler, very vanilla CS; nautical expedition & first edition DSP; watercolor paper

ink: timber brown stazon; early espresso, not quite navy, cherry cobbler

xtras: sprial edge punch; tasteful trims die; cherry cobbler baker's twine; star designer brad [retired]

Perfectly Surprised {CCMC}

Perfectly surprised…that describes this week over at Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition where they are full of surprises and I am SOOOO excited to announce that I am the SURPRISE GUEST DESIGNER for Week #5.  That’s right, ME!   Surprise GUEST DESIGNER!  If you are a subscriber to Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition, I will be sharing with you a FABULOUS 3D project and tutorial using one of that week's featured products in the Summer Mini.  But WHICH product is a SURPRISE, too!  

 Now remember...the only way to see my SURPRISE GUEST DESIGNER project is to be a subscriber to Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition and sign up now while you can save $5 off the subscription price.  The early bird special of $24.95 ends Saturday, May 14th at 11:55 pm.  Don't delay!

And speaking of summer, I am in love with Fabulous Florets from the Summer Mini catalog!   Today’s card features all of the stamps in the set:

Along with some bright and happy colors: Pumpkin Pie, Rose Red, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive—don’t they look smashing together?!  I used the embedded embossing technique to create my polka dot background: 

To a piece of Pumpkin Pie cardstock, I adhered numerous 1 ¼” Whisper White circles and ran the whole thing through the Big Shot with the Square Lattice embossing folder.  I also stamped the smaller flower in Pumpkin Pie on my cardbase in opposite corners.

The big Daffodil Delight flower was created by stamping the big solid flower from Fabulous Floretsthree times in DD on Whisper White cardstock .  Yes, each one was hand-cut but because they are all layered together and the edges appear as part of the flower—the cutting doesn’t have to be perfect!  There are 2 flowers glued together as the base and one popped up on top with a dimensional.  I also stamped the leaf image onto Old Olive CS in OO ink, cut out and crumpled for a realistic look layering one leaf under the top flower for extra dimension.  Some Rose Red seam binding ribbon added a pop of contrasting color—love how it looks with Pumpkin Pie!

The inside of the card received a touch of the Square Lattice embossing folder—just ran it through the Big Shot with just the bottom quarter of the cardstock actually in the folder.  The sentiment from On Your Birthday was stamped in more Old Olive ink and more flowers added in Daffodil Delight and Rose Red

So, were you perfectly surprised?  I sure was…and delighted to be the SURPRISE GUEST DESIGNER #5!  Remember...the only way to see my Surprise Guest Designer project is to be a subscriber to Create with Connie and Mary Summer Edition and sign up now while you can save $5 off the subscription price.  The early bird special of $24.95 ends Saturday, May 14th at 11:55 pm.  Thanks for stopping by and sharing in my big surprise!

stamps: fabulous florets, on your birthday

ink: daffodil delight, rose red, old olive

paper: pumpkin pie, whisper white, old olive CS

xtras: square lattice embossing folder; rose red seam binding ribbon; top note die

Breezy Cajun Sails {CCMC149}

Hiya friends!  Today's card started with this great sketch over at Create with Connie & Mary--those gals always have the best challenges!

I'm not sure I stuck with the sketch exactly.  :-)  It's still in there and hopefully you can recognize it although it's been flipped up and simplified a bit.  I wanted to pair with with my favorite stamp of the moment...Sail Away.  I can't put it down!  I love the line art and the movement of it--can't you just feel the Baja Breezes filling those sails?

I sure can!  The sailboat was inked first in Versamark, then Crumb Cake, stamped onto watercolor paper, sprinkled with clear stampin' emboss powder and heat set.  I lightly colored the sea and sky with my Aqua Painter and Marina Mist ink and a touch of Cajun Craze for the flag.  

The Marina Mist turned out so light that it looked better paired with Baja Breeze so I crumpled and distressed a piece of Elegant Soiree DSP, edged it with the Spiral border punch and sponged all the edges with Crumb Cake. 

Since the Sanded background stamp was sitting on my craft table from Sunday's card (yes, I hadn't cleaned up yet--shame on me!) I inked it up in Crumb Cake and stamped it on an angle on the card base.  I usually stamp it straight all over the front of the card but this card was turning out all wonky and distressed so angled seemed to fit!  My mom is laughing at this one (hi, Mom!) because she always angles everything and I always straighten out her angles!  So, this card broke all kinds of rules for me!

For the Crumb Cake trim down the side, I used the double scallop from the Tasteful Trims die.  See how both ends of the trim piece are rounded?  This die cuts a long piece of trim--about 12" actually.  So a short piece like this would have one end that was cut off.  That just wasn't acceptable!  So, I cut the cardstock a little bit longer than I actually wanted and ran it through the Big Shot to finish one edge.  Then I picked it up, turned it around so one scallop hung over the edge of the die and ran it through the Big Shot again.

 Which gave me a finished edge on both ends!  Pretty cool, huh?  

And here's the finished trim again.  I sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink and finished it with a Vintage brad and some Early Espresso/Whisper White Baker's Twine.  You can also see that the sailboat image is matted on some colored Newsprint DSP.  It was actually a scrap, sponged with Baja Breeze, I had laying on my table from a previous effort that got put to good use here!

I made quick work of the inside with a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, Sail Away stamped in Baja Breeze and another fabulous sentiment from Word Play overstamped in Crumb Cake ink.  You can't see it in this picture but I also stamped the Sanded background inside on the Cajun Craze base.  I can't put that one down either! :-)

So, I hope you've enjoyed the Baja Breezes of my Cajun sailboat today.  Please let me know if you have any questions and, as always, I would love to hear from you!  Have a great day, friends!

the goodies:

stamps: sail away, sanded, word play, you're a gem [retired]

paper: cajun craze, very vanilla, crumb cake CS; watercolor paper; elegant soiree & newsprint DSP

ink: baja breeze, crumb cake, early espresso classic ink; versamark

xtras: clear stampin emboss powder; early espresso baker's twine; vintage brad; tasteful trims die.

Paper Players Color Challenge {PP46}

Happy Sunday, friends, and Happy Mother's Day to all the mothers out there!  Today I rejoin the gals on The Paper Players DT and it's good to be back!  Ann is our color hostess this week and she has chosen a beautiful color palette of Cherry Cobbler, Not Quite Navy and Early Espresso plus a neutral of your choice.

I couldn't wait to use these colors with another new stamp from the summer Mini Catalog...Sail Away...which was perfect for a masculine card:

As my neutral base, I started with Naturals White cardstock stamped with the Sanded background stamp inked in Early Espresso and stamped off once.  Naturals White is a great weight for the card base--a little heavier than Whisper White--and the subtle flecks are perfect for this nautical card.  A piece of Not Quite Navy cardstock was cut with the Two Tags die, stamped with Sail Away in Versamark, sprinkled with white stampin' emboss powder and heat set.  I also sponged a little NQN ink to the water for more depth.  Next, I layered Cherry Cobbler patterned paper, Early Espresso cardstock edged with the Spiral Border punch and some retired Botanical Gazette DSP that I ran through the Big Shot with the Kit #4 Texture Plate.

I brayered the texture plate with Early Espresso ink before running it through the Big Shot and that really helps define the de-bossed areas and make the texture pop!  I created my own tag for the sentiment from Something to Celebrate with a rectangular piece of Naturals White CS and the Corner Rounder punch.

Were you just as excited as me to see Baker's Twine in the Summer mini catalog?!  Oh, yeah!  Here, I've wound some Cherry Cobbler/Whisper White Baker's Twine and Early Espresso 1/4" grosgrain ribbon around a [retired] silver circle designer brad. 

 

Lastly, even a masculine card deserves a finished inside--although maybe not one with all the frills and layers I normally do!  Here, I inked Sail Away in Early Espresso and stamped off once before stamping on the card.  A simple, but effective, sentiment from Word Play was inked in Not Quite Navy and overstamped on the sailboat. 

So, now it's over to you...will you join us this week?  I hope so!  Check out the DT inspiration over at The Paper Players and then link up your project by Friday May 13th at midnight (PST) to be in the running for A Cut Above or even, Headliner.  Before you go, I would love to hear what you think of today's card.  If you leave me a little note, please also leave your email or blog address so I can return my thanks!  Have a great day friends!

the goods:

stamps: sail away; word play, sanded BG

paper: naturals white, not quite navy, early espresso CS; botanical gazette [retired] DSP; patterns DSP stack (regals)

ink: early espresso, not quite navy classic ink; versamark

xtras: early espresso 1/4" grosgrain ribbon; cherry cobbler/whisper white baker's twine; two tags die; spiral border punch; corner rounder punch; white stampin' emboss powder; texture plates kit; circle designer brads.

We have a winner!

Happy Saturday friends...it's candy time!  Thank you all for your sweet and thoughtful comments on my last two cards.  I read every single comment, sometimes more than once (!), and appreciate the time you take to leave a little inspiration for me.  Beginning with Tuesday's post, there were a total of 47 comments so let's see who wins the candy shall we?  Random.org selected...#20....ColleenB who left this sweet comment on my Candy Butterfly card:

  

Congratulations, Colleen!  Please email me (nleedy@cox.net) your full mailing address and I will send out your candy right away.    Thank you to all my blogging friends and followers for your support and encouragement--it's your comments that keep me going!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend full of your favorite things.  I'll see you tomorrow with a fresh color combination for The Paper Players!

Another chance for blog candy!

Hi friends!  This will be a quick post tonight.  Just wanted to share a birthday card I made for my friend and downline, Diane of Rubber 'n' Rafters.  I think she has received it by now...hope your day was fabulous Diane!

As a fellow Stampin' Up demonstrator, I definitely wanted to use new products on Diane's card and boy did I ever!  It all started with the designer paper Beyond the Garden and it's bright floral pattern.  I love how it looks paired with...of all things...Pacific Point!  I've never been a big fan of Pacific Point but I love it with this paper! 

I liked it so much, that I embossed another strip of cardstock with the brand-new Flower Garden embossing folder and highlighted the gorgeous flowers by sponging on Pacific Point ink.

Onto a 3" circle of Whisper White I stamped the branch image from Fabulous Florets in Wild Wasabi and overstamped a favorite sentiment in Pacific Point.  Aren't those pink flowers gorgeous?!

I used Versamark ink to stamp the flowers on Pretty in Pink cardstock and embossed the image with our new Melon Mambo embossing powder.  I made three flowers in two sizes also from Fabulous Florets, cut them out, popped them up and gave them a rhinestone center.

Even the ribbon got a new product with our Whisper White baker's twine tied around the trimmed down Daffodil Delight striped grosgrain ribbon.  I just snipped off the two edges of the ribbon and frayed the edges a bit to make it a more manageable size.

And since I had a hard time putting down the new Flower Garden embossing folder, I also embossed the back of the envelope flap.

Ok, so maybe this wasn't a quick post--lots of pictures--but I am so excited to share all these goodies from the new Summer Mini Catalog with you.  There's still time to leave a comment to win my blogoversary candy.  Just leave a comment on my Candy Butterfly post or tonight's post and you will be entered to win!  I'll pick a random winner and announce it on Saturday May 7th.  Have a great Friday, friends!

the goodies:

stamps: fabulous florets, on your birthday

ink: pacific point, wild wasabi, versamark

paper: pacific point textured cardstock; whisper white, pretty in pink CS; beyond the garden DSP

xtras: melon mambo embossing powder; flower garden embossing folder; basic rhinestones; daffodil delight wide striped grosgrain ribbon; whisper white baker's twine; 3" circle die

Candy Butterflies

Hiya friends!  So glad to be back with you today.  Thanks for letting me take a little mental holiday.  As promised, I have some blog candy for you but first I have a card to share!  I really wanted to play along with the Shabby Tea Room's Butterfly challenge last week.  Just look at this gorgeous inspiration photo:

I missed that deadline but was delighted to have another chance this week with the Stampin' Up Only (SUO) challenge in celebration of...butterflies!   Using last week's photo as inspiration, here's what I made:

Oh, I had fun with this one!  They look like candy, don't they?  Fitting for today's blog candy post.  All the butterflies were cut with the Beautiful Wings embosslit that cuts and embosses in one pass through the Big Shot!  The designer paper is all from the patterned DSP stack in the Brights & Subtles color families using Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie and Melon Mambo.

I took a sanding block to the embossed sections of the butterflies to expose the white paper core and added a trail of basic rhinestones.

 I love a basic black card base especially when using so much color but that definitely means I need to complete the inside...unless the recipient can read invisible ink!  I love how the butterfly from Bold Blossoms (available in the Summer Mini) looks inked up in all the colors from the front.  They really pop against the black.  So, what do you think of today's card?  I would love to know!

Now for the sweetest part!  It's hard to believe that Saturday will mark my second anniversary of blogging.  When I started this blog, I wasn't sure I would have anything to say much less expect anyone to visit me!  But two years later, I've found a supportive community of crafters and made some wonderful friends!  So to honor all of my friends and followers, I am throwing a little party...and it wouldn't be a party without candy! Here's what you can win:

One of the most popular stamp sets from the now-retired Spring Mini catalog....Nature Walk in clear-mount and a pot of Silver Glass Glitter!!  I will chose a random winner from all comments left on this post by my blog followers and announce the winner on Saturday May 7th.  So, join in the fun...sign up to follow and let me know what you think of today's card, or the candy or anything at all--just hearing from you makes my day!  Have a good one, friends!

the goodies:

stamps: bold blossoms; something to celebrate; bring on the cake; hope happens

ink: jet black stayzon; wild wasabi, daffodil delight, tempting turquoise, pumpkin pie, melon mambo classic ink

paper: whisper white & basic black CS; patterns designer series paper stack brights & subtles

xtras: elegant lines embossing folder; beautiful wings embosslit; basic black satin ribbon; basic rhinestones; petal cone die (banner tag)