Sadly, it is the last Paper Players challenge for 2011, as the Design Team takes a well deserved two week break.  But the Paper Players will be back, refreshed and renewed,  in January to begin a new year of challenges!  As the hostess this week, I am treating you to a Clean and Simple Color Challenge based on one of my favorite classic color combinations, Cherry Cobbler, Gold, and Very Vanilla!  I hope that you will take time out of your hectic holiday schedule and play along!  And I hope you enjoy a peek at these products from the new Occasions Mini:  Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Hat Pins, Large Basic Pearls, Apothecary Art Stamp Set.

The finished card is 5-1/4″ x 5-1/4″.

• Tempting texture! Finial Press and Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folders add a mix of patterns for a quick and easy eclectic look!

• The Midas Touch! After inking with VersaMark, the image from Apothecary Art was heat embossed with Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder.  The flowers were colored using a Blender Pen with Cherry Cobbler ink, while the leaves were colored with Always Artichoke! With heat embossing, the colors do not bleed as readily, making your job faster and easier!

• Hat Pin Haute Couture! The new Hat Pins are perfect for adding a touch of vintage yumminess in minutes.  Chantilly Crochet Trim is scrunched right onto the pin and held in position with Mini-Glue Dots.  A Cherry Cobbler Ribbon Rose was added to the mix for a splash of color.  (See pictorial HERE for instructions on how to make Ribbon Roses using Stampin’ Up!’s Seam Binding.)  Of course, I  am in seventh heaven with the new Large Basic Pearls!

• Christmas Wishes! The sentiment from A Christmas Carol was inked in Cherry Cobbler and stamped onto Very Vanilla.  After distressing the edges very lightly with Crumb Cake, the ends were flagged and the sentiment was placed into position on dimensionals.

I hope you enjoyed today’s card and the peek at new products.  I would love to read what you think in today’s comment. And remember, if you ever have a question about the cards that I create or the techniques I use, I am only an email away!

I know that Brody can’t wait to tell you about his latest show, where he went Reserve Winner’s Dog.  As for little Miss Muffy, she has been helping mom bake cookies and decorate the house…Boxer style.  She has been quite the naughty girl, pulling their stockings off the fireplace…AND she ran away from home.  If it would not have been so dangerous, it would have been funny.  She proceeded to stay one house ahead of me as I tried to grab her leash.  She would race up to each front door and stand, as if to say, “Help! Let me in! There is this crazy lady trying to dognap me!”  As soon as I would get close, off she would frantically race to the next house.  Luckily when she came to the end of the block, she allowed me to catch her. I explained the dangers of running off, which prompted her to put on her “pouty face”. 

 Oh well.  Moms have broad shoulders.  Until next time…

Stamp Sets:  Apothecary Art (W 125525, C 125527—2012 Occasions Mini), A Christmas Carol (W 122635, C 122637); Ink:  VersaMark (102283), Cherry Cobbler (119669), Always Artichoke (105219), Crumb Cake (121030), River Rock (109010);  Card Stock:  Very Vanilla (101650), Brushed Gold (102935), Cherry Cobbler (119685);  Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Labels Collection Framelits (125598—Occasions Mini), Snow Burst Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (124096), Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (115963), Blender Pen (102845), Heat Tool (100005); Glitz and Glam:  Gold Stampin’ Emboss Powder (109129), Hat Pin (125578—Occasions Mini), Large Basic Pearls (125577—Occasion Mini), Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding (120992), Chantilly Crochet Trim (118480);

It has been a busy week! But I am able to give you a little peek at tomorrow’s The Paper Players card!  It features one of the new sets from the Occasions Mini! I hope you will join me for the reveal!  In the meantime, make sure to check out this week’s Cuts Above and Headliner!  As for me, I will be working on catching up on my emails and comments as this hectic week comes to an end!  Until next time…

It’s time to play with Pals Paper Arts! Today’s challenge is a Fashion Inspiration Challenge…Puttin’ on the Ritz!  This is also our Blog Candy Blowout.  One lucky participant in this week’s challenge will be showered with Mystery Blog Candy from all nine members of the PPA Design Team.  To be eligible to win…you must play in this week’s challenge!

 

“Puttin’ on the Ritz” is a 1929 Irving Berlin song.  The title was derived from an expression, inspired by the Ritz Hotel, meaning to dress very fashionably.  Whenever I think of  the phrase “puttin’ on the Ritz” I  think of  three things:  the scene from the movie “Young Frankenstein”, where the “Monster” sings out “Puttin’ on da Riiiiitzzzz”; the dancing icon, Fred Astaire; and New Year’s Eve!  These served as my inspiration.  I wanted to re-create the glitz and glam of a formal New Year’s Eve ballroom, with men resplendent in ties and tails.  So out came my stash of rhinestones, silver glimmer paper, and black and white card stock.  Now you may be wondering about those lips. They represent the traditional New Year’s Eve midnight kiss!  And now you know the method behind the madness!

The finished card measures 5-1/2″ x  4-1/4″.  

• Texture! I think Clean and Simple cards benefit from a healthy dose of texture! Textured Whisper White card stock serves as the card base, while textured Cherry Cobbler serves as matting! And if you look closely, you will see that the image mat has been passed through the Big Shot with the “Quilted” Perfect Details Texturz Plate.  (Tip:  To get a deeper embossing with a Texturz Plate, spritz the paper with a little water and emboss when damp!)

• Cheers! Sentiments take on an entirely different look when stamped onto textured card stock!  The word “Cheers”, was selectively inked from the Delightful Dozen’s “Cheers (way to go)” stamp, using a Basic Black Stampin’ Write Marker.  The result looks as if it were stamped on canvas!

• Bring on the Bling! Silver Glimmer Paper serves as a sparkling backdrop to the Cherry Cobbler embossed  S.W.A.K. Lips!

• Yipes! Stripes! I resisted the temptation to bring out the Black Satin Ribbon, and opted to add  strips of card stock for a more formal look.

• Rhinestones anyone?  At every intersection of the Quilted Texturz pattern, a Basic Rhinestone was placed. Plus I colored rhinestones red with a permanent marker and placed one at each corner of a Frame It Ornate Frame.  Indulgent…yes! But since this card is headed to a very special person, it was worth every single one!

 

Stamp Sets:  S.W.A.K. (120861), Delightful Dozen (W 122650, C 122652), Frame It (W 122850, C 122852);  Inks:  VersaMark (102283), Jet Black StazOn (101406);  Card Stock:  Whisper White Textured (121078…Neutrals Collection, Textured), Whisper White Smooth (100730),  Black (121045), Cherry Cobbler Textured (121076…Regals Collection, textured), Silver Glimmer (124005); Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Perfect Details Texturz Plate (115962), Heat Tool (100005), Large Oval Punch (119855);  Glitz and Glam:  Cherry Cobbler Stampin’ Emboss Powder (122949), Basic Rhinestones (119247);  Other:  Red Permanent Marker