It’s time for the Pals Paper Arts first inspiration challenge, and I am so excited to share my card with you! With an inspiration challenge, you can draw your ideas from prominent colors, the theme depicted, or even a specific image. In my case, the blue striped rug just jumped right out of the computer screen. And how could I overlook the giraffe! He is stamped onto a tag that mimics the shape of the bulletin boards. I pieced my rug from textured card stock, and actually laid it upon a “hardwood” floor composed of Stampin’ Up!s new Wood Sheets! How cool is that! Enjoy the recipe for “You’re the Inspiration” and then head right over to Pals Paper Arts to check out the other inspiration cards. Please play along with us! Who knows…You could be the PPA’s next “Artist Pick”! 
- Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 4-3/4″ card base from Sage Shadow (to mimic the wall color) and score at the top.
- Layer with a Texture Cuts Wood Sheet which has had its edges distressed with Night of Navy ink.
- Cut a 4-3/4″ x 4″ piece of textured Bashful Blue card stock. Cut 1/2″ strips of textured Ballet Blue card stock. Angle the Ballet Blue over the Bashful Blue to mimic the rug, and trim off the excess. Mat onto Whisper White, add a snippet of Crushed Curry Polka Dot Grosgrain ribbon, and adhere to the Wood Sheet. (Tip: I layered the ribbon onto the card stock solid side up, and then constructed my bow with the polka dots showing. A Brocade Blue button from Fresh Favorites II adds a little pop of color!)
- Ink the “Giraffe” image from Animal Stories with Crushed Curry and stamp onto Whisper White card stock. (Note: I cut the card stock 2-1/4″ by 4″ and the cut the top at an angle.) Using my Paper Piercer and Template, I outlined the perimeter of the tag, and then mounted it on Sage Shadow, which has been punched on its bottom border with the Eyelet Border Punch. This is then matted onto Whisper White. Distress the edges with Night of Navy. Add four Brocade Blue brads to the corners of the tag, and a White Jumbo brad at the top. (For a little something extra, I punched a 1/2″ circle from Ballet Blue textured card stock and adhered it to the white brad. Sage Shadow 1/4″ Grosgrain Ribbon completes the look!) Position and adhere the tag to the card base.
- Ink the “hello baby” sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes with Night of Navy and stamp onto Whisper White card stock. Punch out with the Large Oval Punch and distress the edges with Night of Navy. Layer this onto a Crushed Curry Scallop Oval with a Stampin’ Dimensional, followed by a Wide Oval which has been punched from the Texture Cut Wood Sheet. Distress the edges with Night of Navy, and adhere to the card base.
I will be the first to admit that I was challenged by this challenge! If you look at my past cards, I do not use a lot of blue. Yet, the blue color in the inspiration photo was what was catching my attention…that and the giant giraffe. SO…hop on over to Pals Paper Arts and get started on your challenge card. I am so looking forward to seeing what you create. As always, I will comment on your entries. And speaking of comments…please leave me a comment or send me an email. I love reading them! As I have said before, your comments and your questions are important to me! Until next time…
I love this card and all the design elements you pulled together from the Inspiration photo!! great job 😉
Seeing this card was a deja vu moment. I looked at the inspiration image on the PPA site, and before I peeked at the design team samples, I mentally laid out my own card.
Imagine my surprise when I scrolled down and saw your card. Everything I envisioned was there- seriously. A pieced blue “rug”, ribbon, baby sentiment, giraffe stamp placed on the left. It was kinda creepy!! But I can’t think of a card designer I’d rather copy-cat than you!
Love your card, Ann! I especially like your striped rug! Very cute!
I love the way you pulled specific colors from the photo, and your cute little giraffe. The stripes you used for the background are so perfect!
Another FAB card Ann… I love how you mimicked the rug, great idea!
Superb! I’m coming to Iowa so you can be my teacher. Your work is always so outstanding. Mary is so right, this card and all of your others need published. Hugs,
Your angled rug is genious! I had to keep mine straightened. I like how we all used different colors, even though we were looking at the same inspiration!
I love it! EVERYTHING about it – such attention to detail always – you are an amazing stamper!
As always – you outshine and out-craft all of us! 😉 I ADORE this card!
Sweet sweet sweet – I love baby cards! You have such an eye for detail – wow – think I’ll go back and look at it again! Beautiful!
Ann, you nail your cards every time!
Absolutely gorgeous.
Terrific job, Ann! The blue striped rug also caught my eye, but I couldn’t figure out how to create it! Leave it to you to be able to do so. Glad you showed me how.
This little number deserves to be published in a magazine. Absolutely fantastic. Adore the “rug.” Hugs, M
I love your layout. The tag is awesome and those diagonal lines look awesome. I was wondering “where did she get that striped paper?” Great job
Just adorable! I used exactly the same stamps as you did today!
That hardwood idea is super cool! And I love your “rug”. You did a super cool job on this from head to toe!
So cute Ann.
Thanks for sharing how you get your inspirtion. I often look at colours but not bringing in the shapes as you did with the bulletin board or even to make the “hardwood” floor look. That is just so cool. Love it!!
Beautiful card Ann! It looks like so many of us caught that rug in the picture.
Great job with the Challenge! Have a great day!!!
I love the card. Excellent Job and interpretation of the sketch!!!! I love the stripes on a diagonal!!