#TGIF309 Stamp Your Own DSP

Do you ever stamp your own background paper?  Well, you have the chance to do just that AND check out what we have stamped over at #TGIF#309.  Our latest  challenge is to use stamps to create our own custom pattern paper.  I used the Pattern Play Stamp Set to make a quirky monochrome spotted paper.

I used the row of half circles image to stamp a series of spots in shades of green.  My ink pad colors include Soft Seafoam, Granny Apple Green, Pear Pizzazz, and Old Olive.  I am lovin' the way the background paper juxtaposes with the Free As a Bird image.

The birds were watercolored with Smokey Slate, Misty Moonlight, and Rococo Rose.  I do have to say I enjoy fussy cutting and so I did just that so that my background paper would peek through.

Subtle Spring Toned Succulents

So Saffron, Pear Pizzazz, and Highland Heather make up our latest color challenge at Hand Stamped Sentiments.  I enjoy these soft subtle tones and decided I would create a succulent themed card.  Look close and you may see that I mixed a bit of Smokey Slate into the color blending to give an aged-antique appearance to the succulents.

This adorable "sending you a paper hug" greeting image is part of the Comfort and Hope Stamp Set.  It looks great with the Simply Succulents Stamps.

Monday Montage 186: You've Been on My Mind

I can't believe how much I love the Simply Succulents Bundle!  The images are fantastic and the Potted Dies are the perfect mix of brilliant, cool, and functional.  I love this thinking of you themed card and I find the "you've been on my mind" greeting a bit less common.

I colored all the succulents with a range of Stampin' Blends and I backed the potted image with a bit of texture, by partially embossing the Brick and Mortar Embossing Folder.  To give the entire card a bit of visual relief I speckled by flicking the tips of a couple different Stampin' Blend Markers.  While the Blends were out I colored some "thinned" out Linen Thread for a custom Cinnamon Cider bow.

to Julie

to Cheryl

#TGIF307 Simply Succulents

Join us for a super cool sketch challenge at #TGIF307.  Give it a look over in the image below and then give it a whirl with your stamps and papers.

For this layout challenge I inked up my Simply Succulents Stamps and the matching Potted Succulents Dies.  To color my succulents I used an array of Stampin' Blends.  My cardstock colors include Whisper White, Purple Posy, Mint Macaron, and Seaside Spray.

For those embellishments that we all love to add to cards I grabbed Basic Rhinestones, Opal Rounds, and 3/8" Denim (shredded) Ribbon.

Hand Stamped Sentiments Sketch Challenge

Do you enjoy sketch challenges?  I do.  I like to interpret layouts and checking out how other paper crafters put their spin on the sketches.  The card map below is the latest challenge from Hand Stamped Sentiments.  How would you bring this to life?  What would you create?

My take on this sketch started with some Petal Pink Ink which I added to my Thick Whisper White card base with a Blending Brush.  Next I die cut a circlular shape in place of the square in the lower left corner.  That to me is the anchor, or background element, to highlight the focal point.  To the circle I included Painted Poppies which I stamped on Ice Cream Corner DSP.  

For the greeting I inked up an image from the set You Are Amazing with Blackberry Bliss Ink.   For the finishing touches I wrapped the entire card with Snail Mail Twine and then tied a shoestring bow.  And last a few Opal Rounds tucked here and there.

Darling Donkey Easter Treat Box

Welcome back to my blog and our Monday Montage Blog Hop.  Today I thought I would show you a cute fold up box made with one piece of paper for the base.

I call this 3D treat holder a One Sheet Wonder Box.  I've made this one with a piece of 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" Misty Moonlight Cardstock.  Then to gussy it up I added a combination of patterns from the Flowers for Every Season DSP.  Stamp wise to make this extra cute and lovable I included the Darling Donkeys Stamp Set from this past Sale-a-bration.  Hopefully you were able to get one of the stamp sets.  I love it and just can't seem to put it away.

Here's a look at and open view of the box.  You can see I used a Clever Clasp to keep the box folded up and closed.  I tied it with a big Misty Moonlight Ribbon bow.

I found these Dove Peanut Butter Chocolate Eggs which were the perfect fit.

Thanks for stopping by and spending a few minutes here.  Next up is Melissa Stout.  Click on over and give her some love.

to Melissa

to Dani

Creation Station Goes Outback and Outwest

It's hard to believe it's the beginning of a new month and that it's March.  Being that this is the first Sunday of the month it's time for a Creation Station Blog Hop and our theme is Outback Outwest. 

My interpretation of this theme includes succulents.  Why succulents?  I'm from San Jose California, about 30 minutes from the west coast, and it's the perfect place to grow all kinds of succulents.  They are plentiful and I love all the cool varieties especially the purply colored ones.  

This first card is bright, crisp, and breezy.  My colors include Petal Pink, Just Jade, Cinnamon Cider, Mint Macaron, and Soft Seafoam.  What I really like about this card is the dry embossed background.  To get the partial more random look I used a ripped piece of thick chipboard in place of one of the Stampin' Cut and Emboss Plates.

This second card was inspired by a traditional southwest color palette.  I thumbed through my stash of designer series papers and found these two patterns from the Flowers for Every Season pack. Colors for this card include Cinnamon Cider, Old Olive, and Pretty Peacock.

Take a close look at the stamped images.  This coloring technique is quick and easy.  Just ink up and stamp the image over and over until you've stamped off all of the ink.  It's kind of like stamp stuttering.

Keep on hopping with us to see more Outback Outwest stampin' inspiration.  Next up is the adorable Jeanna Bohanon.  She's an incredible stamper and you will love her post, so click on over and enjoy.

Ombre of Color for Stampin' Fancy Friday

This month's theme for Stampin' Fancy Friday is super fabulous.  Anything Ombre is our challenge for March.  Now, I'm not sure I would call this a challenge as designing anything ombre is fun and gratifying. For my spin on the ombre theme I went with soft plum tones through to intense blackberry hues because they are at the top on my list of favorite colors.  

Here's what I did to create this luxurious, Simply Succulent card: 

• Cut one 4 1/4" x 11" Crumb Cake card base and score and crease a top fold.
• Cut two 1/4 sheets of Crumb Cake Cardstock.
• Sponge brayer a blend of Petal Pink, Blushing Bride, Rococo Rose, Merry Merlot, and Blackberry Bliss Inks in an ombre fashion on the front of the card base and both 1/4 sheets.
• Use one of the 1/4 sheets to cut the background design using the Potted Succulents Dies.
• Use the second 1/4 sheet to stamp and cut the succulents.
• Layer the cut background to the card base.
• Create focal point of succulents and add with Stampin' Dimensionals
• Cut "love you" from Love You Always Foil and adhere to card front.
• Flick splatters of Wink of Stella.
• Thin out a piece of Linen Thread by pulling one of the threads away, color it with a Blackberry Bliss Stampin' Blend, and add it to the succulent focal point.
• Add Champagne Rhinestones.