Jumbo Snowflakes for PPA


It’s Thursday! Can you say, “It’s fun to play at PPA!”? I can! And I had a blast creating this textured card for the Pals Paper Arts sketch challenge this week. Sketch designer Margaret Moody was at her best with this versatile sketch:

Notice how I changed it up slightly? The circles became snowflakes, and I layered the horizontal strip while adding a bow. You can certainly alter the sketch if you need to! As you look at the inspiration cards that the design team created for you, you can see all of the unique touches that each designer added in making the sketch her own. I hope that you have tons of fun with this challenge! I know that I did. But before you bid me adieu to check out the challenge, I would like to share my recipe for “Jumbo Snowflakes” with you:
  • Prepare a card base from Taken with Teal card stock.
  • Zip a piece of Whisper White through the Big Shot with the Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder.
  • Using the Jumbo Snowflake Punch, punch snowflakes from Rich Razzleberry, Taken with Teal and Old Olive card stocks.
  • Ink the Delightful Decorations image with Old Olive and stamp onto Whisper White. Punch out the center using the 1″ Circle Punch. Repeat with Rich Razzleberry and Take with Teal inks.
  • Adhere the “Circles” to the “Snowflakes”, and add a Clear Rhinestone Brad to the center of each. Adhere this element to the textured Whisper White as shown in the photograph. (I layered Old Olive onto Rich Razzleberry, Rich Razzleberry onto Taken with Teal, and Taken with Teal onto Old Olive.)
  • Whisper White forms the horizontal strip. Mat this onto Old Olive, followed by Taken with Teal. Adhere to the textured Whisper White. Add a snippet of Rich Razzleberry Ribbon, polka-dot side down. Position and adhere this element to the textured Whisper White as illustrated.
  • You are now ready to adhere the entire textured mat to the card base.
I have a new love in my life. I absolutely love the Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, and Taken with Teal combination for holiday cards! And, are you ready for another little secret…I also love the Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder. How did I ever get along without it? I love the rich texture that it imparts to any holiday card.
Thanks for stopping by today and allowing me to share my new favorite color combination with you. Please leave me a comment and let me know what you think about today’s card. I do appreciate your comments, and your questions, too! Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Delightful Decorations (116517—Holiday Mini Catalog)
Inks: Rich Razzleberry (115658), Old Olive (102277), Taken with Teal (103257)
Paper: Whisper White (100730), Rich Razzleberry (115316), Old Olive (100702), Taken with Teal (101584)
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder (116824—Holiday Mini catalog), Jumbo Snowflake Punch (116628), 1” Circle Punch (109046)
Embellishments: Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144), Rich Razzleberry ½” Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115613)

Mojo Crock and Apples


Do you know what I like best about Mondays? I just love the Mojo Monday challenges! And today was definitely a challenge for me in finding just the right size stamp for this layout. I opted to use “The Crock and Apples” image from Gifts of the Earth. Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper provided the rich colors which I felt were perfect for the look I was trying to achieve. The eyelet border and smaller Chocolate Chip “Masterpiece” Ribbon add a feminine touch. As for the crock itself, this is the reason I wanted this stamp in the first place…I collect crocks!
  • Prepare a card base from Chocolate Chip card stock.
  • Select the “Sahara Sand Floral” and “Small Rose Red Dots” patterns from the Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper collection. Punch the edge of the dotted paper with the Eyelet Border Punch. Add a snippet of Chocolate Chip Masterpiece Ribbon at the interface of the two pattern papers. Adhere to the card base.
  • Ink the “Crock and Apples” image with Basic Brown and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Color using Blender Pens and the following inks: Rose Red (apples), Sahara Sand and Bordering Blue (crock), More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive (leaves), Sahara Sand (shading). Mat onto Chocolate Chip.
  • Zip a piece of Very Vanilla through the Big Shot with the Finial Press Embossing Folder. Cut into strips as illustrated and mat onto Chocolate Chip. Adhere to the card base and pop the image mat on top with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
  • Ink the “Grateful” sentiment from Falling Leaves with Chocolate Chip and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Punch out with the Modern Label Punch and mat onto Chocolate Chip. Adhere on top of the ribbon.
I enjoy participating in challenges. Sometimes they really stretch my creativity, and that is a good thing. And speaking of challenges, there is still time to participate in the Pals Paper Arts color challenge. But hurry…Mr. Linky closes at Noon (CST) Tuesday.
And speaking of hurrying, don’t hurry off before leaving me a comment or dropping me an email! I do appreciate them. And, if you have questions about any of the cards that I make or techniques that I use, don’t hesitate to ask. I love sharing what I do! Until later…

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“Star” and Stripes at the OCC

The Our Creative Corner challenge is always one of my favorites, so it was with anticipation that I checked out their new challenge today. It sounded simple…”Stars and Stripes”…until to my dismay I realized that my stash of “star stamps” and “star punches” was non-existent. However, stars are relatively easy to draw, so I surged ahead. I selected this wonderful paper from the Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper for my stripes, and decided to ink up my Wings of Friendship Hostess Level 2 stamp set for the first time. A liberal application of “bling” and a smidge of ink distressing complete the look. And, lest I forget, a lone star graces the upper corner! Enjoy this bling-laden card!

  • Prepare a standard card base from Rose Red card stock.
  • Using Stampin’ Write Markers, ink up the “Bird and Flowers” image from Wings of Friendship. (I used Always Artichoke, Rose Red, Bermuda Bay, and Sahara Sand.) Stamp onto Whisper White. Round the right hand corners with the Corner Rounder, and punch the left side with the Spiral Punch. Distress the edges with a Sponge Dauber and Sahara Sand. “Spritz” using the Color Spritzer and the Sahara Sand Stampin’ Write Marker. Mat onto Bermuda Bay, and round the two right hand corners. (Stampin’ Schach Tip: Outlining the swirls with Sahara Sand gives the appearance of “instant watercoloring”!)
  • Ink the “Swirls” stamp from Wings of Friendship with Always Artichoke and position into the upper right-hand corner. (Stampin’ Schach Tip: Use the Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement!)
  • Mat a strip of textured Sahara Sand card stock onto Rose Red. Add an Eyelet Border which has been distressed with Soft Suede. Add a snippet of Bermuda Bay Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon. Adhere to the “Stripes” pattern from Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper and layer onto the card base.
  • Stamp the “Flower” and “Bird” images onto Whisper White a second time and snip out with Paper Snips.
  • Distress the edges of the Bird with Sahara Sand and a Sponge Dauber. Add a Clear Rhinestone Brad for the eye. Coat the wing with Tombow Adhesive and “bling it up” with the Silver Bead Duo. (Stampin’ Schach Tip: Add the large beads first, and then fill-in the remaining spaces with the smaller microbeads!) Pop on top of the first bird with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
  • Add a Clear Rhinestone Brad to the center of the Flower. Run a bead of Tombow Adhesive around the edges of the flower, and add Silver Microbeads. Pop on top of the first flower with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
  • Snip out a Star from Rose Red. Add Tombow Adhesive to the edges and adhere Silver Microbeads. Pop on top of the corner swirl with a Stampin’ Dimensional.
  • Using the Photo Corner Punch and Sahara Sand textured card stock, punch two Photo Corners. Distress with Soft Suede. Add Clear Rhinestone Brads for “bling”. Adhere to the right-hand corners of the card as illustrated in the photograph.
I had been wanting to use this stamp for some time, and this seemed like the perfect opportunity since I could easily ink it up in colors that were complimentary to the paper. One thing I do know, however, is that I will be adding both of the Stampin’ Up! star punches to my next order! One would have certainly been handy today!
Feeling challenged? There is still time to Play at PPA! This week’s color challenge includes Ruby Red, Brocade Blue, and Crushed Curry. Have fun with this one! Upload your projects through Mr. Linky until Noon (CST) Tuesday. Will you be one of this week’s Pals Paper Arts Artist Picks?
As always, please leave a comment on today’s card! Your comments and questions are welcomed. Plus, never hesitate to ask me about any card that I have created! As I tell my students, asking questions helps us to learn! Until next time…

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Stamp Set: Wings of Friendship (114308—Hostess Level 2)
Ink: Always Artichoke (105219), Sahara Sand (105208), Soft Suede (115657), Stampin’ Write Markers: Bermuda Bay (116329—In-Colors Set of 6), Rose Red (100063), Always Artichoke (105113), Sahara Sand (105105)
Designer Series Paper: Thoroughly Modern (115673)
Card Stock: Very Vanilla (100730), Rose Red (102544), Bermuda Bay (115317), Sahara Sand textured (108693—Neutral assorted)
Tools: Photo Corners Punch (109042), Eyelet Border Punch (113692), Spiral Punch (108341), Sponge Dauber (102892), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)
Embellishments: Clear Rhinestone Brads (113144), Silver Bead Duo (110733), Bermuda Bay 5/8” Polka Dot Grosgrain Ribbon (115610)