Secret Garden DSP for Paper Players

This week's challenge over at The Paper Players was so wonderful I simply had to join the fun.  I typically find sketch challenges to be particularly well, challenging, and this was no exception--especially when I looked at the gorgeous DT cards!

I've been playing with this faux DSP I created using the "Secret Garden" stamp set and some lovely warm colors, slicing and punching and adhering and making some truly wonderful CAS cards.

I knew the paper would be perfect for this challenge and went right to work. I punched various flower centers from the paper trying to locate the centers in corners instead of the center of the square (and boy howdy that's a lot of "centers" in that sentence! ;oP) and adhered them using Stampin' Dimensionals.  I wanted them to "pop", but not too high and those were perfect.

I stamped the sentiment from "Sweet Essentials" in Poppy Parade (I still adore the color and desperately wish I had thought to purchase the stamp pad...foolish foolish Rachael...) and wanted to draw the eye to it so added some bling I colored using a couple Copics.  I finished it off with a piece of white baker's twine and mounted it on some taller dimensionals and adhered that to a white base.  I scored three lines across the bottom of the base but they didn't photograph well at all.  Oh well. 

It's been so drab and dreary for it to be spring I know Grandfather will be delighted to receive something so bright and cheery in the mail. :o)

--Rach

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Secret Garden", "Sweet Essentials"
*Paper: White card stock from PTI for the base, Whisper White for the "DSP"
*Inks: Real Red, Poppy Parade, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Kiwi Kiss, red Copics (Prawn and Lipstick--I have no idea of the numbers and I'm too lazy to go check into it)
*Accessories: dimensionals, rhinestones, baker's twine

Secret Garden DSP

As I may have mentioned, it was cold, grey and dreary and I was craving bright and sunny.  I picked up one of my new stamp sets and set to work creating my own DSP.  I used bright, bold colors and selected a set with both solid and line stamps. 

Then, I cut it apart and used it to make cards. :o)

In this card, I used a Copic marker to color the bling so it would match the stamped images.

And, this card uses a variation on the stamped paper I used for the rest of the cards since I used Pumpkin Pie for the orange flower instead of Calypso Coral.

This card was made when I saw all the scraps lying on the desktop.  I fiddled with them a bit and this was the result.  :o)

This was truly a fun bunch of cards to make and I'm already thinking of how I could use that same stamp set with a different color scheme.  :o)

These cards us:

*Stamp Sets: "Secret Garden", "Friendly Phrases", "Sweet Essentials", "Bloomin' Marvelous"

*Inks: Calypso Coral, Real Red, Poppy Parade, Tangerine Tango, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Kiwi Kiss

*Paper: Whisper White

When Life Gives You Lemons...

So, if you're a regular reader of my other blog, you know I've been down and out a bit due to forces beyond my control.  When stressed, I like to hunker down and be creative. 

I was closing in on midnight but still had just one more idea bumping around in my head and I knew I needed to get it out so I could sleep. Anyone else have that problem?  The one where your creative ideas just keep thumbing and bumping around and won't let you rest?  No? It's just me?  Ah...well...hm.

I have long adored SU!'s "Tart and Tangy" stamp set (it's still one of my all time faves--and I'm not sure if it's because of the the citrus or the cherries...) and knew I could pull together a fairly quick card.

I pulled out my Daffodil Delight and Kiwi Kiss stamp pads and went right to work.  I know, the lighting and color is all off in those photos up there.  I'm sorry. 

I stamped a bunch of slices on a scrap sheet of white card stock and punched them out and then cut them in half and adhered them to the base using dimensionals.  I hit the second card with some vanilla Smooch Spritz before stamping because, hey, who doesn't like a little sparkle and sheen on their summery cards? :o)

I stamped the sentiment on the lower right and they were finished.  Easy peasy lemon squeezey.  (No pun intended, although, it really does work there, doesn't it? ;oP)

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Tart and Tangy", "Friendly Phrases"
*Inks: Kiwi Kiss, Daffodil Delight (although, since I'm going to make this card again, I may go with the retired Summer Sun as it is a brighter, more summer-y color)
*Paper: Whisper White
*Accessories: Vanilla Smooch Spritz, dimensionals

--Rach

Poppies for Catherine

 As I've been working towards getting back in the stamping groove (and sticking to that New Year's goal!), I've been searching out challenge blogs to help me stretch my creative wings. 

I found Freshly Made Sketches (okay, so I've been lurking there for a while now) and decided to play along this week. 

 And, here's what I came up with. 

This beautiful stamp set arrived last week and I couldn't wait to play with it.  Of course, to me, the poppies were crying out for Poppy Parade.  I know it's an intense color, but I do so love it, and it does indeed work beautifully with the poppies. :o)

I stamped the image on a piece of watercolor paper using Staz-On.  I then used markers and water pens to color the image.  I added a lacy boarder to one edge, popped the image up on dimensionals and finished it off by adding the sentiment stamped on vellum. 

I've a friend who's been going through a difficult time and this will be perfect for her and her family to let them know we're here. 

--Rach

This card uses:
*Stamp Sets: Pleasant Poppies, Sweet Essentials
*Inks: Poppy Parade, Old Olive, black Staz-On
*Papers: Watercolor, Poppy Parade, Old Olive, vellum, Very Vanilla (inside)
*Accessories: pearls, dimensionals

A Baby Card for Sarah

My dear friend Sarah delivered her (not so) little man Tuesday and I'm overjoyed for her and her family.

I wanted to make the perfect card for them and knew at once I wanted to use my "Oh, Whale!" stamp set.  So, how chuffed was I when I saw this week's Paper Player's challenge was to create a CAS baby card with buttons and bows?

And, per the norm, I'm leaving it to the last possible moment to post my card here and to the challenge, but hey, at least it's done. ;o)

I typically have a layout in mind, but just wasn't sure how I wanted to use this cutie.  I toodled on over to CAS(E) this Sketch to look for a layout.  If you're a fan of CAS cards, this is a site you will want to visit!  There are wonderful sketches and super inspiration, and if I had managed to get off my patootie a bit sooner, I could have entered this card in the challenge. Oops.  This happens to me more often than I would like to admit...;oP

I had originally made the card using Basic Gray and Daffodil Delight, but it was missing something.  I realized the "something" was a Basic Gray layer and I had no Basic Gray card stock.  Drats.

So, I dropped back and punted and just love the results. :o)  Pool Party and Midnight Muse work so beautifully together! I popped the whale up on some dimensionals, added a small pearl for an eye, and three more below the sentiment because who doesn't like a bit of elegant bling?

Maybe someday I'll figure out how to take a non-crooked photo...

Inside I stamped the wave across the bottom (have I mentioned how much I love my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig?) and used the little die cuts from cutting the whale to create my ocean scene.  I added little eyes to make them "pop".  Besides, who doesn't love a little personality on their sea stars and fishies? :o)

And, here's a slightly more CAS version of the same card minus the buttons and baker's twine. 

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Oh, Whale!", "Teeny Tiny Wishes"
*Inks: Pool Party, Midnight Muse
*Paper: Pool Party, Midnight Muse, Whisper White
*Accessories: pearls, dimensionals, Clearlits "Happy Whale", neutrals white flower buttons, white baker's twine

--Rach

Sweet One

The Paper Players challenge this week is to make a C & S baby card that includes buttons and bows. I found an old, old SU set that was free during Sale-A-Bration in about 2008 and used that stamp. Then, I located an old sheet of SU DSP that has no name that I can recall. ARGH! I used Whisper White satin ribbon and Whisper White buttons to complete the card.

Paper Players Challenge

A Challenging Color Challenge

Since my card making mojo has been slowly returning, I've had fun playing along with the Paper Players.  This week's challenge was a color challenge, and well, it pretty much stumped me for most of the week. 

Each of these colors is pretty intense in their own right, and to combine them would take some careful planning.  Typically color challenges are the easier challenge for me--not so this week.  :oS  I'm about to make a confession here that I know will have me whipped with wet noodles--I really don't like Summer Starfruit.  *ducks and covers and runs away*

I know so many folks who are absolutely enamored of the color, and I just can't get into it.  It just looks like a dingy, dirty yellow to me and typically I adore yellows.  This one just doesn't do it for me.  :oS  So when I saw it was one of the challenge colors, I knew I had to do this challenge since I've avoided this color like the plague.  

Finally, last night, inspiration struck and I managed to pull this together.  :o)

I just love my "Season of Friendship" stamp, and I have to say it doesn't see ink nearly often enough.  It's such a versatile set I don't know why I haven't.  Hm...Thinking out loud here, I can see doing a set of seasonal cards using this set...yes, yes, that's a plan...

At any rate, I'm happy with how this turned out.

And, here's the inside. 

I LOVE LOVE LOVE my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig. Looooooooooooove it! I use it with practically every card I make these days.  I drew a light line across the bottom of the card and then another to mark the middle and used the Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (as much as I love to use it, it's a pain to type it out ;oP) to position the flowers and birds and then erased the line, leaving me with straight, (pretty much) evenly spaced elements. :o)

Now to add a sweet message and send some springtime greetings on to Sister Berenice.  :o)

--Rach

This card uses:
*Stamp Sets: "Season of Friendship", "Sweet Essentials"
*Inks: Chocolate Chip, Primrose Petals, Midnight Muse
*Papers: Whisper White, Summer Starfruit, vellum
 

Sympathy Card for Paper Players #131

The Paper Players challenge this week was to make a sympathy card. 

I find sympathy cards very difficult to make, especially when I need one.  It's going to be quite helpful to have a card on hand that I can simply pull out and write a message in and address, rather than struggling to create a card in the midst of my sadness for my friend.

I knew I wanted to create something soft and subtle so I began pulling out my sets that had leaves, trees and flowers.  I loved the negative space in this leaf and knew it would be lovely heat embossed in gold. 

My next challenge was finding a color to work with the gold that wouldn't be jarring or too bright.  I tried a couple of neutral colors, but found I needed the darker contrast of the Always Artichoke to compliment the gold. 

I also knew I wanted quite a bit of white space, but wanted it textured.  I pulled out a Cuttlebug embossing folder that mirrored the organic quality of the leaf and it worked. :o)

Finally, I stamped the sentiment from "Thoughts and Prayers" on a piece of vellum and adhered it using two glue dots. 

I have found this is a fall-to layout for me of late--I seem stuck in a rut.  Oops!

And, the inside.  I stamped the same leaf in the center using VersaMark Dazzle in Champagne and then stamped the sentiment over that in Always Artichoke. 

I sincerely hope I don't have any cause to use this card anytime soon, but it's comforting to know I'll have it on hand if I do need it.


--Rach


This card uses:


*Stamp Sets: "Autumn" (retired), "Thoughts and Prayers"
*Papers: Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Vellum
*Inks: VersaMark Dazzle Champagne, Always Artichoke
*Accessories: Cuttlebug embossing folder

Thoughts and Prayers

It is always good to have a sympathy card on hand and this week that was the Paper Players' challenge. So, I decided to try my hand at making a card that I can use when the occasion arises. The overall size of the card is 5" x 5".

Here's what I used:

Papers:
Parisienne Breeze
Chocolate Chip
Baja Breeze
Whisper White

Stamp Set:
Thoughts and Prayers

Ribbon:
Baja Breeze

--Lissie

Inspired Birthday

First off, I have to say how utterly chuffed I was to find my "Blowing Kisses" bunny baby card was selected by Nance as a "Cut Above" in last week's Paper Players challenge!  Thank you so much, Nance!  It's been so long since I've stamped or entered a challenge and to have my card selected was such a delightful surprise!

So, I needed a birthday card for Brien's grandma's husband (B's step-grandpa?) and had no idea what I wanted to do.  Masculine cards are a HUGE challenge for me (and I have to say, this one is most likely still a little to fru fru for a "guy card"), so I thought I'd see what the Paper Players were up to this week in an attempt to find some inspiration.

I was inspired, all right...it was a sketch challenge and I really struggled with it.  But, that's the point of challenges, right? To oh, I don't know, challenge yourself?? Hm.

Looking at the sketch, I saw the "Inspired by Nature" stamp set in my mind's eye and decided to see how I could make it work. 

This is the sketch. 

I turned it on its side and used the sentiment (and the scoring on the Chocolate Chip card base) as the vertical element.  Can you still see the bones of the sketch in the bones?

I have always loved using Summer Sun on the cone flowers, but it was a bit intense for this card.  So, I used More Mustard, then stamped off, then went over the flowers again with the Summer Sun marker, thereby toning down the intensity somewhat. Then, I stamped off the main image to make it softer. 

It's a sunny, happy card and I hope it makes Bill smile when he sees it. :o)

--Rach

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Inspired by Nature", "Wonderful Words"
*Paper: Crushed Curry textured card stock, Whisper White, Garden Green, Chocolate Chip, vellum
*Inks: More Mustard, Summer Sun, Garden Green and Chocolate Chip Markers

Blowing Kisses Birthday

I can't seem to stop using this sweet "Blowing Kisses" bunny.  He makes my heart feel light and happy and I find him utterly adorable.

Miss Gracie had a birthday earlier this month, and being the spot on auntie I am, I got this card out right away...yeah, no.  No, I didn't.  But, I called her on her birthday and let her know we were thinking about her, and hey, this extends her birthday a bit, right?

I stamped the bunny and grass on watercolor paper and colored him using markers and a water pen.  I then cut him out using my Deckled Rectangles Nesties. The "ribbon" is two strips of paper cut 1/2" and adhered together using  two-way tape.  I figured out a nifty trick to cutting the chevron in the end, I take my 1 1/8" square punch, and match it up to cut a notch out using a corner. 

I finished it off by stamping the sentiment from "Teeny Tiny Wishes" and using VersaMark to stamp just the heart part of the balloon from "Blowing Kisses".

I know this image is fuzzy--I'm sorry. The sentiment is from "Friendly Phrases" and I added the heart balloon to finish it off. 

Happy Birthday to Miss Gracie!

--Rach

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Blowing Kisses", "Teeny Tiny Wishes", "Friendly Phrases"
*Paper: watercolor paper, Crumb Cake, Pretty in Pink, Very Vanilla
*Inks: black StazOn, Pretty in Pink, and Wild Wasabi, Pretty in Pink and Crumb Cake markers
*Accessories: Deckled Rectangles Nesties

Buttons Buddy Birthday

I mentioned the slew of January birthdays we have and here's yet another card for one of them.  I can't help myself, I just adore the Button Buddies piggy with a birthday hat on his head. :o) He's such a cheerful little guy. :o)

Since my nephew's favorite color is green I went with Wild Wasabi for the base.  I mimicked the polka dots on the hat with the Swiss dots embossed on the white layer.  I also figure no birthday hat is complete without some pom pom trim and the Daffodil Delight picked up the yellow in the hat's dots. :o)

I finished off the inside with the same sentiment I used on Lydie's birthday card and the same cute little cupcake from Warm Words. :o)

--Rach

This card uses:
*Stamp Sets: Button Buddies, Curly Cute, Friendly Phrases, Warm Words
*Papers: Wild Wasabi, Whisper White, Cutie Pie DSP (retired)
*Inks: Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi, Real Red
*Accessories: Daffodil Delight pom pom trim

Curly Cute Cupcakes

January is a month of many birthdays around these parts.  It's our second heaviest month behind July.  I've been busily making birthday cards and trying to make sure each one is unique and suited to the recipient. 

This card is for my niece, Lydia. I chose the DSP with polka dots to mimic the dots on the cupcakes.  I'll come right out and admit I'm a sucker for polka dots.  :o)

I found the sketch at the Paper Players, and it's such a versatile sketch you'll be seeing it a couple more times. ;o)

And, the inside. 

I got it addressed, stamped and mailed just in time for Lydie's birthday. Whew!

--Rach

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: Darling Dots, Curly Cute, Friendly Phrases
*Paper: Bella Rose DSP (retired), Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Whisper White
*Inks: Chocolate Chip, Real Red, Wild Wasabi and Pretty in Pink markers, Pretty in Pink and Riding Hood Red stamp pads

Blowing Kisses for Baby

You know what they say about good intentions...

I had every good intention of making cards and sending them and entering challenges, and somehow they just didn't come to fruition. It was so much easier to get in and make cards when Ellie was a little baby.  Now she's this busy toddler who is into everything and I just can't leave her unattended.  The thought of what she could get into simply boggles my mind. 

I've determined, though, no more excuses.  I love making cards and getting my creative juices flowing, and if I want to do something, I just have to make the time to do it. 

My cousin and her husband just had their first baby and I'm SO excited for them! I knew I could combine the challenge at the Paper Players with the need for a baby card and come up with something sweet.  :o)

A big challenge for me is stepping outside the box with regards to stamps.  For example, if the stamp is a Christmas or summer stamp, I have a tough time thinking of a way to use it other than for its intended purpose.  "Blowing Kisses" is a Valentine's stamp, but that sweet little bunny just called to me and I knew he was perfect for this card. 

I stamped him in Staz-On on watercolor paper and colored him using Crumb Cake and Pretty in Pink.  The grass is colored using Wild Wasabi and Pretty in Pink.

I found a piece of pink gingham paper I had stashed away and it pulled the card together.  I'm such a sucker for gingham and baby cards...:o) 
 

I always like to so a little something special on the insides of my cards and I loved the way I was able to tie in the balloon from "Blowing Kisses" with the sentiment from "Friendly Phrases".

Hooray for getting into my space and stamping again! :o)

--Rach

This card uses:

*Stamp Sets: "Blowing Kisses", "Teeny Tiny Wishes", "Friendly Phrases"
*Paper: Pink Pirouette, Crumb Cake, watercolor, Very Vanilla, Memory Makers pink gingham DSP
*Ink: Black Staz-On, Pretty in Pink, Crumb Cake and Wild Wasabi markers

Long Time No Post...

Hello, poor neglected blog!  How have you been?  Lonely?  Yes, yes, I can see that.  The stamps, ink pads and all the accessories have been rather lonely as well. 

I could hear you all calling out to me, yet I ignored you, my mojo gone.  Gone, I tell you.  And, there were other crafty things that needed to be done.  No, I know that's no excuse, but I had to sleep, didn't I?  No?  Well, now I think you're just being unreasonable...  I'm sorry.  It's the best I've got, and the truth.  I'm truly sorry, and I promise to try and do better in the future.  With Christmas coming, you know I'm back for a while. :o)

I have been longing for the "A Wreath for All Seasons" by PTI for quite some time now.  I had to place an order with them for some heavy white card stock, and I'll be darned if this set didn't just jump in my cart.  No, really, it did!

And, how happy am I it chose to do so? Look at that lovely CAS card up there.  Ahhhh. (This is a card heavy post as I'm loading them all for Lissie to see.)
 

I played around quite a bit with the set, trying out different ideas.  I decided no rounded corners, and yes, I was going to add the baker's twine to the wreath.

One layer and simple.

My Thanksgiving cards.  I inked the stamp with Pumpkin Pie and then rocked and rolled it in Cherry Cobbler.  Oh how I love love love the depth and richness of Cherry Cobbler. :o)

And, Jaydee is doing a card drive for Enchanted Makeovers, and I needed to kick it into high gear to get at least a few cards to her.

Here I pulled out one of the first sets I ever purchased, "Pick a Petal" and went with one of my go to color combos--yellow (Daffodil Delight) and black.

To add some interest, I used some of my newly purchased Twinkling H2O's.  I have this thing about bling and sparkles, what can I say?

Another card using "Pick a Petal".

Simple, elegant, and effective, this card uses Baja Breeze and is just like so many others I've created.  It's a fall to for me when I need a lovely card.

And, I pulled out "Darling Dots" once again to make the next two cards.  I'm planning on making cards using each of the stamps in that set if I can.

I added bling to each of the cards for a bit of added sparkle and shine. :o)

Oh, it's been so fun to get back in and play around.  I'm anxious to get in again this evening.  I made twelve cards last night, let's see how many I can make tonight! :o)

--Rach

Watercoloring for APP91

In keeping with my New Year's goals and in need of stress relief I turned to the Paper Players challenge this week which was to create a CAS card using watercoloring.  I find coloring--watercoloring in particular--so soothing.  It's a go-to activity for me when I'm in need of calming and peace.  In fact, when I was teaching, if the class was particularly unruly, I would quickly come up with some activity that required coloring (I would join in!) and before I knew it, we were all calm once more.

It's been a hectic couple of weeks around here and this challenge was just what I needed. 

I hate that that old adage about death coming in threes seems to be true because I found I was once more in need of a sympathy card.  I pulled out my "Easter Blossoms" stamp set, inked up using brown Staz-On and went to work.  I used Rich Razzleberry on the buds and blooms as it reminded me of the gorgeous red bud tree in my front yard.

Although you can't see it in the photo, the vanilla base is stamped with the same branch using VersaMark.  I wanted to include a sentiment (I don't always) but wanted the branch to stand out so I stamped the message on vellum.

And, because I was still in need of a bit of calm, AND I needed a birthday card for Miss Beanie who turned two yesterday, I made a second card (so I once more have two submissions for the challenge--I can't seem to stop at only one these days...):

I love the "Greeting Card Kids"--I find them utterly adorable!--and knew this little sweetie would make a perfect card for my little sweetie. :o)  I had a blast coloring her as Lissie and I watched "Pride and Prejudice" (the good version with Colin Firth as Mr. Darcy :dreamy sigh:).  Talk about soothing--watercoloring and Mr. Darcy?  I was in heaven. ;o)

I cut the little darlin' out using my oval Nesties, added a very sweet sentiment from "Curly Cute" and I was finished.

I'm grateful to the Paper Players for this week's challenge--it helped me find my calm center once more.  Thanks, ladies! :o)

Close As A Memory

This week's Paper Players' challenge is to focus on water coloring on a C & S card. That's exactly the effect I wanted so this card came together easily. I used Rose Red and Certainly Celery as my colors, added a punched piece at the bottom of the card, and a satin ribbon across it. Finally, I paper pierced the corners of the water color paper. The stamp set is one of my favorites--Close As A Memory.

Ellie's Birthday Card

Next week Ellie will be two, and I needed to make a card to go with her gift. I wanted to use my new cupcake punch and new Nestabilities die. I found a sheet of DSP that I thought would work and I set out to design the card. I cased a card at Treasure Oiler's site and adapted it. Here's what I used:

-DSP: ???? I have no idea! It was a single sheet that wasn't labeled.

-Card Stock: Bashful Blue, Regal Rose, Whisper White, and So Saffron

-Stamp: Curvy Verses

-Ink: Bashful Blue

-Punches: Cupcake and Scalloped Eyelet

-Nestability Die: Open Scallop

-Ribbon: Bashful Blue Satin

The card looks much better in person than in the photograph. :-)

--Lissie

Card 2 Color Challenge: Not Quite Navy, Certainly Celery, Pool Party

Here is the second card I made using the colors in this week's Paper Players' challenge.

And for this one ...

-DSP: Botanical Gazette

-Card Stock: Not Quite Navy, Certainly Celery, Pool Party, Whisper White

-Buttons: Certainly Celery

-Nestabilities: Scallop Circle, Circle, and Border

-Ink: Not Quite Navy

-Ribbon: Certainly Celery

-Stamp Sets: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Nature Walk

--Lissie