Can't Wait for School {PP58}

Happy Paper Players Sunday, friends!  This week Ann is our hostess for a fun theme challenge and it's back-to-school time! 

No matter how much you love school everyone loves recess, right?  So I knew right away which stamp set I would be using from the Summer Mini Catalog--Recess!

Most of the kids I know are still young enough to love school so the expression on this little boy's face captures the enthusiasm of that first big day.  In fact, this card will be heading to a sweet little friend who starts his first day of kindergarten this month!

I stamped the little boy in jet black Stazon on Whisper White and colored the image with a blender pen and ink pads: Riding Hood Red, Daffodil Delight ad Crumb Cake.  The playground tree is from the Trendy Trees set with a few clouds from Up, Up & Away.

I stamped the hopscotch pattern, also from the Recess set, repeatedly on Basic Black cardstock with Whisper White craft ink.  The craft ink gives the perfect chalk effect for a sidewalk game!  The Daffodil Delight background was distressed with the 7-sided tool (love that thing!) and edged with the Spiral Border punch.

My new Pennant Parade stamp set and coordinating Petite Pennant punch went to work here as well.  I stamped the faux stitched border onto polka dot patterned paper from the Designer Paper Patterns Stack in brights (Old Olive & Daffodil Delight), neutrals (Crumb Cake) and regals (Riding Hood Red).  Love these pattern stacks--they're a great value!  The Petite Pennants punch popped out the sweet little pennants which I adhered to some 1/8" Old Olive taffeta ribbon with sticky strip.  The Daffodil Delight stars and sentiment are all from Pennant Parade too! 

So whether you have children of your own in school or not, I'll bet you know somebody who is starting a new school year soon.  Wouldn't they love to receive a card from you to kick the year off right?  I know they would...and we would love to see it over at The Paper Players.  Be sure to link up your creation before Friday, August 12th at midnight (PST).  We have a new Guest Designer joining us this month, the Artistic Avenger herself, Carrie Gaskin!    Check out all the fabulous inspiration from Carrie and the rest of our design team---have I mentioned how great these ladies are?!

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

Lauri Ingram

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Sandra Azzopardi

Carrie Gaskin (GD)

supplies:

stamps: recess, trendy trees, up up & away

ink: basic black, old olive, crumb cake, riding hood red, whisper white craft, jet black stazon

paper: crumb cake, basic black, daffodil delight, whisper white

xtras: 2.5", 1/2", & 3/4" circle punches, petite pennants punch, 1/8" old olive taffeta ribbon, spiral border punch [retired], blender pen

Happy Hula Hoop: {CCMC156}

Yahoo, it's Thursday and that means a new challenge at Create with Connie & Mary! This week we have a fantastic color combination for you.   Check it:

Love it, right?  These colors are so bright and happy that I had to give some love to the Recess stamp set from the Mini Catalog:

This card reminds me of my daughter and her love for jump ropes and hula hoops!  I thought the Playdate Designer Series Paper was the perfect match for these happy colors.  I used the big flower from the DSP and just cut down the 12x12 paper to the section that I needed.

Then I stamped my girl in Jet Black Stazon and colored her shirt, skirt and hula hoop with my Stampin' Write markers a Blender pen and ink pads in the challenge colors.  See the little bows in her hair?  Yes, I drew those free-hand with a Tangerine Tango marker!  I also rimmed the edge with a glue pen and then dipped it in Dazzling Diamonds because a little girl can never have too much sparkle!

I trimmed the main panel with a Tangerine Tango Scallop Ribbon Border and stamped the background randomly with the Recess hopscotch image inked in Old Olive. 

Using the Cupcake punch (coming back in the new catalog July 1st) I made some Whisper White clouds which I sponged with Tempting Turquoise and stamped in the challenge colors with "Happy Sweet Day" from the Fabulous Phrases set.

Of course, I couldn't forget the inside!  Some Funky Four flowers were stamped in the challenge colors and the Apple Blossoms [hostess] sentiment just seemed to fit the feel and emotions of this card...happy thoughts do indeed make happy days!  You'll make us happy if you play along at Create with Connie & Mary!  Be sure to check out the rest of the design team inspiration over at Create with Connie & Mary and then load up your challenge card for a chance at the top 3 pick!

supplies:

stamps: recess, funky four, apple blossoms, fabulous phrases

ink: tangerine tango, tempting turquoise, old olive

paper: old olive, tangerine tango, whisper white CS, playdate DSP

xtras: scallop ribbon border punch; dazzling diamonds; stampin write markers (tangerine tango); blender pen; cupcake XL punch; 2-way glue pen; 1 3/4" circle punch; 2" circle punch (non SU)