Jan 30, 2019 | Baby/Kids, Challenges |
Designer Series Paper – we all love it. We can never have enough of it. We love it so much we hoard it sometimes. Isn’t it hard when Stampin’ Up! bring out a whole new and fabulous selection of Designer Series Paper for us to drool over each time a new catalogue comes by? So many choices. I did a bit of a clear out on the holidays (as us craft-a-holics do) and the amount of brand new, unopened packages of paper I found …. oh my! I really need to stop. Or should I say – I really need help!

This week’s TGIF Challenge is all about showcasing pretty patterned paper. My difficulty was choosing which ones I wanted to use. So I began by choosing the stamp set first. This was a little bit easier as I wanted to ink up a set I hadn’t used as yet. I chose So Hoppy Together with the little frogs.
I’ve seen several cute and creative projects made with this stamp set. However, I do confess, I have an aversion to frogs so it was kind of translating into my stamping life and I was having a bit of trouble being creative with this set. So it was really good to be able to mix it with the Animal Expedition Designer Series Paper to come up with this card.

As this challenge was to showcase paper, I incorporated it in various ways and even added an accent piece with a circle punch. I also included a strip of Tropical escape DSP, stamped it with some dots from Amazing Life stamp set in Lovely Lipstick and then punched the edges with the Everyday Label Punch.
The sentiment is from the new Itty Bitty Birthdays stamp set which has some great sentiments for the inside of cards as well. The Lilypad Lake bundle gave me the perfect lilypad for my frog to sit on. Colouring in these images were fun and Stampin’ Blends allow you to add shading very easily and quickly.
Colours used:
Adding strips of DSP to decorate the inside of your card and envelope give a lovely coordinated look and is another way of using and showing those beautiful papers you have on your shelves or in your drawers.

See the other entries for this challenge on the TGIF site featuring great use of Designer Series Paper and be inspired.


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Neutrals Designer Series Paper Stack
[138435]
$38.50
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Jan 28, 2019 | Challenges, Friendship |
Hi Friends,
My card today is inspired by the colours of Soft Sea Foam, So Saffron and Petal Pink as I’m playing along in the Global Design Project Color Challenge. 
I immediately thought of creating a vintage look card with an aged feel and the Lovely Lattice stamp set seemed it could work for this. I wanted to recreate the look of cards my parents used to get, over 40 years ago, on their wedding anniversary – the flowers with the distressed look on cream card.
For many years I used to create paper tole images and when I started creating this card, something inside me snapped (for want of a better word) and made me want to create different layers to these flowers. If you don’t like fussy cutting – fear not. Get yourself some Stampin’ Up! paper snips. They are second to none. Paper, ribbon – I use it on everything. That is all I have used to fussy cut around these flowers. And fussy cutting can be therapeutic in a weird kind of way – just follow the lines!

I stamped several images in Crumb Cake on Shimmery White Cardstock. Using the ink refills of Soft Sea Foam, So Saffron and Petal Pink, I coloured the images. Then I fussy cut and layered the flowers and leaves, adding sponging around all my images – a mix of Soft Sea Foam and Crumb Cake.

Drop by the Global Design Project page to see the other lovely projects that have been created for this challenge.

Product List
Jan 27, 2019 | Friendship, Step-It-Up Sunday, Thank You |
Home to Roost is the lovely country style stamp set I am using on my Step-it-Up Sunday feature. I just love the rooster in this set and I highlighted the reed which also come in this stamp set, in last week’s Step-it-Up Sunday. Pairing it with the Gingham Gala Designer Series Paper really gives it a country feel.
Basic

I have kept it simple for the Basic card because that’s what it’s about. Just stamps, ink and paper and I’ve added some embellishments – because I can’t help myself!

I stamped the rooster on Whisper White cardstock. Then I inked up a clear block directly with the Daffodil Delight ink pad, spritzed with water and ‘stamped’ it over the rooster. This added a watercolour – look over the image. An easy way to add colour to your image.
The flower which is from the Butterfly Elements Sale-A-Bration offering, has been attached with a glue dot.
Product List for Basic Card
Intermediate

I stepped this card up by adding die cut squares and colouring the rooster with Stampin’ Blends. Don’t the Stampin’ Blends add a lovely, vibrant colour? You can almost hear the rooster crow.
Additional Products
Advanced

I added a sponged background to the rooster. This was done by masking. Sponge Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight and Old Olive around the rooster.
I altered the Gingham DSP by adding some lines with the Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker and Dark Daffodil Delight Stampin’ Blend to give it a bit of a plaid look. I think this adds to the country, homely feel of this card.
The Burlap ribbon has been separated and tied together to create the look of straw.
Get the Home to Roost stamp set free during Sale-A-Bration.with ANY $90 order.

Additional Products
Try this card and give it to a friend to thank them for their friendship. You just don’t know who may need to hear an encouraging word.
Have a great week.

Jan 24, 2019 | Love & Anniversary |

The All My Love suite has 2 great bundles and centres on the theme of love. Not just for Valentine’s day, it also celebrates friendship.The Designer Series Paper is a beautiful mix of hearts and florals and I really love the Crumb Cake addition in some of the sheets. Such a lovely colour combination.
I’ve been finding different ways to use my laser cut specialty DSP. The All My Love DSP pairs well with the lacy look of the laser cut paper. For this card, I cut around the oval free hand with paper snips. Then I attached this to the All My Love DSP. The Basket Weave embossing folder added texture and also highlighted the lovely flowers.
I added a border along the outside edge of the card with the Lovely Lipstick Stampin’ Write marker. This was totally out of my comfort zone as I generally like to have a ruler and mark things but off I went free handing it. It was fun just adding squiggles right around the card. I will definitely be doing that again.
Thanks for stopping by today. I’ll be sharing more Sale-A-Bration goodies with you, so hope to see you soon.

Product List
Jan 21, 2019 | Uncategorized |
The Occasions Catalogue has been out for a few weeks now and I wanted to share with you a few of my must have items. There are so many good things in this catalogue but narrowing it down gives you a starting shopping list. Of course, your wish list can extend as the catalogue period goes on.
What’s your favourite items in this catalogue?
As I created this ‘must have’ list I realized that I don’t have the first 4 items on it. Now off to do some shopping!
