Polka Dots & Squares - Stampin' Up! All Squared Away - The Paper Players 541

  My first order out of the new Stampin' Up! catalog arrived early last week and was just calling out for me to use ALL of the stuff!  Of course when I have all this new stuff to use it's hard to decide where to even start! Luckily for me it's a new challenge at The Paper Players today so at least I was able to focus!  Anne Marie's challenge for us this week is to use Polka Dots and keep it clean and simple (CAS).  Well that made me have to focus even more!

  After looking through my new stamps I decided to use the All Squared Away bundle.  The cute background patterns and the fun floral frames are a great match and I thought they would compliment the polka dots.

  I pulled in the polka dot theme using a decorative mask from the Basic Patterns and a blending brush with Soft Sea Foam ink.  I made the ink darker on the lower left corner and lightened it as I went up and out.  I also round 2 of the card front corners for some more interest.

  The sentiment from the new Biggest Wish stamp set is stamped in Versamark and embossed in black onto Soft Sea Foam cardstock. I love these bigger sentiments that can be mixed and matched and the block letters paired with the script font makes for great combos.

  I tried using some of the All Squared Away backgrounds but they just ended up being too busy for this CAS design so I just left the back panel plain white and mounted the diecut on dimensionals.  I colored the leaves with Soft Sea Foam Blends dark at first but it did not end up looking even close to the inked background so I went over it again with Granny Apple Green light and that was a better match.  The flowers are cut from Flirty Flamingo cardstock and glued onto the frame.  I popped one on a mini dimensional and then added a From My Heart faceted gem.

  The little flower die cuts out 3 flowers at a time so I had one flower left and I added that to the side of the sentiment with a dimensional and another gem.

  Check out The Paper Players team designs and then join the fun!

   Jaydee
 LeAnne
Claire
Joanne
Laurie
Anne Marie
Ann
Nancy
Debbie 

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Biggest Wish

Ink: Soft Sea Foam, Versamark

Blends: Soft Sea Foam dark, Granny Apple Green light

Paper: Whisper White thick, Whisper White, Soft Sea Foam, Flirty Flamingo

Accessories: Floral Squares dies, Decorative Masks Basic Patterns, dimensionals, faceted gems, black embossing powder

Well Suited Birthday - Stampin' Up! Perennial Petals - Paper Players 540

   Happy Sunday Stampers!  And Happy Mother's Day to you all out there whether or not you have children of your own or not.  I hope the day is whatever you need or want it to be!

  Hopefully you want it to have some stamping in it!  The Paper Players are back with a new challenge!  Laurie has given us a great color challenge to try out.  Red, Black and Gray.  

  This combo just called out for me to do a masculine card.  I've been trying to up my game with having some more masculine cards on hand and not just stamp them when I need to have the card in the mail yesterday.  I looked through my stamps and papers and this is what I came up with.

  Some of the only DSP that I had that was in either red or gray was the gray pinstripe pattern from the Well Suited DSP so I decided to use it in the background and jazzed up the edges a bit with the new Basic Borders dies.  

  Since I'm still woefully lacking in masculine stamps and had convinced myself that I couldn't do anything but masculine, I used the large sentiment from Perennial Petals embossed in black, the little stack of gifts from Kangaroo and Company (also embossed), and the mini envelope die from the Snails dies to make the little birthday grouping.

  I finished off some details with a black bakers twine bow on the envelope and some retired candy dots to bring a bit more red to the design.

  For more inspiration check out what The Paper Players design team did with these colors: 

 Jaydee
 LeAnne
Claire
Joanne
Laurie
Anne Marie
Ann
Nancy
Debbie 

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Kangaroo and Company, Perennial Petals

Ink: Versamark

Blends: Real Red dark, Smoky Slate dark

Paper: Smoky Slate, Whisper White, Real Red, Well Suited DSP

Accessories: Basic Borders dies, Snail Dies, dimensionals, black bakers twine, candy dots (retired)

Hand-Penned in Purple - Stampin' Up! Han-Penned Petals - Fab Friday 213

 Fab Friday is back with another challenge today.  It's a sketch this time with a nice big center panel to work with.  Have at it and share in the gallery!

  I'm using my Hand-Penned Petals stamp set along with the coordinating Hand-Penned DSP.  I thought these colors and flowers are perfect for spring.  I used the scallop die for the skinny cross piece but added the sentiment square because I wanted to use this sentiment from another new set; Inspired Thoughts.

 Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Hand-Penned Petals, Inspired Thoughts

Ink: Memento Black, Highland Heather, Pale Papaya, Mint Macaron, Versamark

Paper: Hand-Penned DSP, Whisper White, Basic Black

Accessories: Layering Squares dies, Penned Flowers dies, Stitched So Sweetly dies, white embossing powder, dimensionals, Mint Macron Sheer Linen ribbon (retired), purple sequin (retired), adhesive pearl

Etched for Spring - Stampin' Up! Etched in Nature

   The dogs wore themselves out early this morning so I've got a few minutes to blog!  Now if only I could find a few more minutes to actually stamp!

  I made this card a few weeks back to share as part of a virtual swap during a Stampin' Up! online demonstrator event.  As part of the registration fee we received the Etched in Nature stamp set (coming tomorrow in the new Annual Catalog!!) and everyone was to make a card with it and share it during the event.

  I wanted to use some of the new In Colors to go along with the set so I got to work with 3 of the 5 of the colors; Fresh Freesia, Pale Papaya, and Soft Succulent.

  I started with a Soft Succulent base and stamped the branch/sprig in the same color ink.  I stamped it once more onto Whisper White and then cut it out with the Stitched So Sweetly dies.  I colored it in with my Pale Papaya and Soft Succulent Blends markers.  I backed it with a piece of Pale Papaya and added some new Open Weave ribbon in the same color.  Before adhering it to the card front I cut a vellum doily in half and added it to the back of the rectangle.

  The butterfly was stamped in Fresh Freesia and blends were used to add a bit more color to the details and then I fussy cut it and popped with dimensionals.  I colored a few adhesive pearls with the Soft Succulent Blends and added them to the butterfly body.  I wanted to use the new In Color faceted gems but I could not for the life of me find them on my desk!  I uncovered them a few days later in a bin next to my desk where they had fallen.  Clearly its time to tidy up!

  Finally, the sentiment is stamped in Fresh Freesia and die cut with the Tasteful Labels dies and popped to the side of the bow with dimensionals.

 Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Etched in Nature

Ink: Soft Succulent, Fresh Freesia

Blends: Soft Succulent,  Fresh Freesia, Pale Papaya

Paper: Soft Succulent, Pale Papaya, Whisper White

Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly dies, Tasteful Label dies, vellum doily, pearls, dimensionals, Open Weave ribbon

Treats for Boys - Stampin' Up! Sweet Ice Cream - Paper Players 539

   Happy Sunday everyone!  The Paper Players are back with a fun new theme challenge to start off your stamping this week!  Joanne has challenged us to make a card with boys in mind!

  Now this should have been a super easy challenge for me having 2 boys of my own but of course it didn't happen like that!  With the exception of one retired sports stamp set I really don't have much geared toward boy boys.  Men I can work with but boys are hard and I'm reminded of that every year come birthday time!  Clearly I know what I need to add to my wish list!

  I did power through and came up with this fun popsicle card.  What boys don't like some icy treats??  At first I thought to do a bomb pop or do you call them firecrackers or rocket pops?  It was always bomb pops where I grew up.  It didn't work out getting the different layers just right so I stuck with the basic red and blue color scheme instead.

  After digging through all my DSP, retired and current, and realizing I have quite the hole in my collection for not only boys but also Pacific Point and Poppy Parade I ended up with a piece of Natural Touch Specialty paper.  It's a nice neutral with a bit of pattern and subtle texture and goes well with these bright colors.

  I over stamped the popsicles with Versamark and then embossed them with clear embossing powder so they have slick shiny look which I thought was a fun way to add some interest.

  The popsicles are popped on dimensionals as is the sentiment circle.  I found a few old retired enamel stars to add as well.

  I can't wait to see all the inspiration in the gallery this week!  It should help me with my shopping list for boy stamp sets!  Check out the rest of the Paper Players Design team at the challenge site or on their personal blogs:

 Jaydee
 LeAnne
Claire
Joanne
Laurie
Anne Marie
Ann
Nancy
Debbie 

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Sweet Ice Cream

Ink: Poppy Parade, Pacific Point, Night of Navy, Versamark, Crumb Cake

Paper: Whisper White thick, Whisper White,  Natural Touch Specialty paper

Accessories: Stitched Shapes dies, clear embossing powder, dimensionals, enamel shapes (retired)

It's a Beauty - Stampin' Up! Beauty of Friendship - Paper Players 538

 The Paper Players are back with a new challenge today!  It's time for a sketch!  Claire has given us a classic center panel layout to play with this week!  

    I got right to work using one of my new annual catalog pre-order sets; Beauty of Friendship.  Since my go to nature set is retiring (Rooted in Nature) I thought this classic tree set with the fun layering possibilities would fill the hole in my collection.

  I stuck right with the layout except for maybe having my sentiment up a bit higher.  My card starts with a Misty Moonlight base and then a layer of SAB Paper Blooms DSP which has this nice blue pattern that I never cut into.  I stamped the sentiment from another new set, Inspired Thoughts, in Misty Moonlight on a piece of Seaside Spray (retiring). Next, I used the retiring Old World Paper embossing folder on the panel.

  Digging through my ribbon scraps I found a piece of wide burlap and trimmed it to fit across the card and added a piece of Misty Moonlight twill ribbon because why not?

  The tree trunk is stamped twice, once on the Whisper White oval and once on scrap with Cinnamon Cider ink.  I then stamped the leaves twice on the oval to give the tree a bit more width.  Then again on the scrap so I could die cut it to line up on the oval tree trunk and pop with dimensionals.

  The final details are the two Misty Moonlight birds and the linen thread bow on the tree trunk.

  I can't wait to see your take on the sketch!  For more inspiration for the challenge and for all week long check out the Paper Players Design team: 

 Jaydee
 LeAnne
Claire
Joanne
Laurie
Anne Marie
Ann
Nancy
Debbie 

 Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Beauty of Friendship, Inspired Thoughts 

Ink: Cinnamon Cider, Misty Moonlight, Old Olive, Mossy Meadow

Paper: Misty Moonlight, Whisper White, Seaside Spray, Paper Blooms DSP (retired SAB)

Accessories: Oval dies, Old World Paper embossing folder, Beautiful Trees dies, burlap ribbon, Misty Moonlight twill ribbon, dimensionals, linen thread

Hand-Penned Birthday - Stampin' Up! Hand-Penned Petals - Fab Friday 212

 TGIF everyone!  It looks like we might have a wet weekend so lots of time to stamp right?  The team at Fab Friday Challenge has a new challenge to start your weekend stamping!  It's a fun set of colors and we can't wait to see what you create with them.

  I think these colors are perfect for spring flowers but I'm always amazed at the creative ways stampers will use our colors.

  Getting some ink on a new stamp set was a priority and I had Hand-Penned Petals just sitting there waiting with all of my preorder items.

   This card starts with a Soft Sea Foam base, then a layer of Ice Cream Corner DSP that was perfect for the Old Olive and Soft Sea Foam requirement.  Then a Stitched So Sweetly scalloped rectangle was cut from Soft Sea Foam and stamped with the same color of ink using the other large outline flower stamp in the set.  I then backed the panel with Whisper White.

  The flowers were first stamped in Memento black and then I filled them in with Terracotta Tile, Flirty Flamingo and Soft Sea Foam using the 'fill' stamps.  They do not line up exactly so don't get yourself in a tizzy trying for perfect alignment.  This way gives it a more artist, watercolored look.  I ended up adding a little Old Olive light Blends to leaves so they didn't blend into the background so much.

  The sentiment from Many Messages is stamped in Old Olive and I layered it with dimensionals over a length of retired ribbon and added some sequins and pearls.

  Have fun with the colors and don't forget to share your creation over at Fab Friday!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Hand-Penned Petals, Many Messages

Ink: Soft Sea Foam, Old Olive, Terracotta Tile, Flirty Flamingo, Memento Black

Blends: Old Olive light

Paper: Soft Sea Foam, Whisper White, Ice Cream Corner DSP

Accessories: Stitched So Sweetly dies, Penned Flowers dies, dimensionals, sequins, pearls, ribbon

Tie Dye Treat - Stampin' Up! Spiral Dye

   I am finally getting into a routine with the puppy and finding time to get to the stamp room.  I was able to pull out all of the retiring items yesterday and see what I was left with (not much by the way!).  It's always a bit depressing seeing so many products go all at the same time but also exciting to have new things to play with.  My sentiments took a hit and I only have 2 that are carrying over so I think that will be a priority once we can order from the full catalog!

  For today I've got the card that I had made when I was thinking that the current Paper Players challenge was just birthday and not CAS birthday.  As you can see this one is certainly not CAS!  To see the one I ended up making click HERE.

  I had fun pairing up some new In Colors with the new Spiral Dye background stamp along with the still current Sweet Ice Cream stamp set.  How's this for fun?

  I started with a Fresh Freesia card base, then a layer of Whisper White cut with a Stitched Rectangle die.  Next I stamped the Spiral Dye using the new In Color Polished Pink; flipped the cardstock 180 degrees and stamped again in Mango Melody.  I really like how you get another color where the 2 lighter ones overlap.  It's a fun look and will come in handy for some more lighthearted cards this year.  

  Next, I used the 3 colors to stamp the ice cream, adding some sprinkles to the Fresh Freesia one and then popped them on a Cinnamon Cider cone after the punching.

  The sentiment is embossed in black and fussy cut and then popped with dimensionals.  The sentiment banner is stamped and trimmed and also popped with dimensionals.  A little baker's twine bow accents the cone as I couldn't find the In Color jewels that I had ordered.  I did find them after cleaning up a bit so you'll get a look at those soon!

  Thanks for looking!  Did you stamp today?

Stamps: Sweet Ice Cream, Spiral Dye

Ink: Fresh Freesia, Polished Pink, Mango Melody, Versamark, Cinnamon Cider, Memento Black

Paper: Fresh Freesia, Whisper White, Cinnamon Cider

Accessories: Ice Cream punch, Stitched Rectangle dies, black embossing powder, dimensionals, baker's twine