Giddyup Cowgirl PP289

Happy Sunday, happy Funday friends!  We hosted a 40 person reception in our home last night so yesterday was all about cleaning and preparations.  Today is FUN day and my friend Laurie certainly has a fun theme challenge this week at The Paper Players:

I have very few...well, in fact, just one....stamp set that I could use for this challenge.  It's a retired one that, thankfully, I never got rid of.  As I considered the design of my card, two other challenges fell into place that gave me just the kick I needed.  The Global Design Project 029 has a fun color challenge and with my friend Brian King on the design team I couldn't resist!  Then I saw the fabulous sketch from my sweet friend, Dawn Tidd, at Pals Paper Arts PP294 and everything just clicked!  Here are the two challenges:

...and here's how they inspired me:

I promise you, I really did use Bermuda Bay...I know it looks more like Tempting Turquoise but the light was terrible when I took this picture and it made it a different color but I swear it is Bermuda Bay!  I stamped the Hardwood background stamp onto Crumb Cake cardstock, distressed the edges and placed it onto my Early Espresso base.

The boots were embossed with Early Espresso embossing powder on the Bermuda Bay cardstock and fussy cut.  I love the way the color pops on the Tangelo Twist sunburst circle.  The Linen thread looped behind the boots and the bit of Burlap trim all added to the rustic look I was going for.  

You can see the Bermuda Bay color a bit better here but what I wanted to show you was the dusting of Wink of Stella the boots received.  Because really, who doesn't love stardust cowgirl boots, right?

I hope you've enjoyed my card today....pop over to the challenge blogs that inspired me and say hello to everyone there.  Then, I hope you will join us at The Paper Players before our challenge closes on Friday, April 8th at Noon (PST).

 

The Paper Players Design Team

Claire Broadwater

Jaydee

Joanne James

Laurie Schmidt

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Sandy Mathis

Linda Callahan

Hannelie Bester

Colleen Begley

Cheerful Critters & Feathered Friends {PP232}

Hiya friends!  We've got another challenge for you at The Paper Players.  It's the first one to be hosted by Joanne and she has a really sweet Clean-and-Simple challenge for us:

I was so excited when I saw Joanne's challenge because I love bird stamps and images!  I went looking through my stash and found mostly small bird images....hmmm.  I wanted to feature a bird more prominently and then it dawned on me!

I got to work with my favorite Cheerful Critters!  So, I colored this cubby little chick with Blendabilities in Daffodil Delight (light) and Calypso Coral (light & medium).  I had a little bit of grass left over from this card and I thought the chick looked perfect peeking out from it.  I then colored the sign with my [new-to-me] Soft Sky Blendabilities, go tout my Soft Sky cardstock for the base humming along thinking I'm doing great and then....WHOA!  The color of my sign didn't really match my Soft Sky card base?  Hmmm....has anyone else had this problem?  I put my little focal piece on a [retired] Bashful Blue card base and whaddyaknow?  It looked like a perfect match!  Maybe I just got an off batch of blendies?  Or, maybe it's because I only used the light & medium shades.  I'll have to experiment some more.

What I did like was the idea to use some washi tape as a base for my focal point.  The clean look of some simple washi tape makes quick work of a clean-and-simple design.  I've been going through alot of Linen Thread lately.  Just love the simple rustic/natural touch it adds to any project.  That, and it's a dream to tie into a bow.

I know that the rest of the design team has some amazing inspiration for you!  Be sure to pop over to The Paper Players to check them out.  Then, head to your craft space and share your Clean-and-Simple "Feathered Friends" projects with us before the challenge closes on Friday, February 20th at Noon (PST).

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

 

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

Happy Fall Y'all {PP212}

I had the best day yesterday....spending part of it with my Florida downline, talking, laughing and stamping...what fun!  It's always energizing to spend time with this great group of women that I am fortunate to count as friends.  Thank you, Prima and Rita for hosting and feeding us!  Today, another friend, the always-amazing-Ann has a seasonal Theme challenge for us at The Paper Players:

Isn't Fall the best season?  Cozy sweaters, crisp cool air, warm cinnamon doughnuts....well, that's the fall of my childhood anyway!  Here is Florida, it doesn't feel much like Fall yet but I can make it so in my studio and what fun I had with all the autumnal goodies from the Holiday Catalog...take a look:

From the moment I received the Wonderful Wreath bundled stamp set and framelit, I coulnd't wait to use it on a Fall card.  Here, I embossed it in gold on Soft Suede and pulled the colors from the DSP for the sweet little leaves in Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze and Soft Suede.  This great sketch from The Friday Mashup was the perfect layout for the wreath focal point--once I turned it straight up that is!

Thought you might want to see a close up of these leaves from another Holiday Catalog set (have I mentioned how wonderful this catalog is??!!) called Fall Fest.  Did I mention it has coordinating Framelits?  Yep, bundle please!  :-)

Thanks so much for stopping by today, friends!  Do go check out the fabulous inspiration from the rest of The Paper Players Design Team...we hope that you will join us before our challenge closes on Friday, September 12th at Noon (PST).  

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Sandy Mathis

Andrea Whisman

Claire Broadwater

Joanne James

Laurie Schmidt

Mike Funke

Yapha Mason

Here's the fabulous sketch I used from The Friday Mashup:

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

Paper Players Challenge #197

Hi all, fortunately for me I've still got another week of vacation (yay!) but The Paper Players are still going strong!  LeAnne has an awesome sketch to inspire you this week:

I don't have a DT card to share but can show you something I made previously for a colleague at work:

I know I've mentioned before that I find inspiration nearly everywhere.  When I see a great design that resonates with me, I can't wait to turn it into a card with my paper, stamps and ink!  Smashing Magazine features monthly desktop wallpapers featuring fabulous designs from artists around the world.  I fell in love with this one and couldn't wait to turn it into a card!  Colors are (from left to right): Sahara Sand, Island Indigo, Pool Party, So Saffron, Basic Grey and Coastal Cabana.

I never really used the Fine Feathers stamp set but it was the perfect choice for an inside embellishment!  Thanks for stopping by today!

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