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…

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I wanted to try my hand at something quick and easy today, and Dasher seemed to be calling my name! I love this little stamp, which is one of the under $10 stamps featured on Page 208 of the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog. Since Dasher is vintage in appearance, I selected a vintage styled greeting from the Grateful Greetings set, a Holiday Mini selection which will be available September 1st. Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Valentine sentiments are also part of this set of twelve. Of course, my new found favorite ribbon, Sleigh Bells, completes the card.

• Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card base from Old Olive textured card stock.
• Ink Dasher in Chocolate Chip and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Repeat with Real Red and Old Olive, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect alignment. Mat onto Old Olive, followed by Real Red. As a final mat layer, use Chocolate Chip which was been punched using the Scallop Edge Punch. Adhere to the card base.
• Add a snippet of Sleigh Bells ribbon as illustrated in the photograph.
• Ink the Christmas Greetings sentiment from Grateful Greetings with Chocolate Chip and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Mat onto Old Olive. For a unique touch, use the Designer Label Punch on Real Red card stock. Cut into half horizontally, adhering a piece to both the top and bottom of the sentiment mat.
• Add two small Clear Rhinestone Circle Brads for a touch of bling.
• Adhere on top of the ribbon with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!
Stamp Sets: Grateful Greetings (116511—Available September 1), Dasher (116816)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), Real Red (103133), Old Olive (102277)
Paper: Old Olive textured (108697—Earth Elements Assorted), Old Olive (100702), Chocolate Chip (102128), Real Red (102482), Very Vanilla (101650)
Tools: Scallop Edge Punch (112091), Designer Label Punch (107590), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049)
Embellishments: Sleigh Bells Ribbon (116795—Available September 1), Clear Circle Rhinestone Brads (113144)

Christmas is my favorite holiday! I enjoy nothing more than decorating the tree with heirloom ornaments that have been passed down through the family. Although I admire trees with newer ornaments, my trees have a penchant for the vintage. And vintage is the look I attempted to achieve with this card! I love this sentiment from the Good Cheer stamp set, and even though its size did not quite fit with today’s Mojo Monday sketch, I just adjusted the rest of the sketch and made it my own! The Real Red and Soft Suede hues of the Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper (available September 1st) contribute to the vintage aura that I was hoping to achieve. Enjoy a serving of Christmas Cocoa in August! Here’s the recipe:

• Prepare a 5-1/2″ x 5-1/2″ card base from Real Red. Layer with the Stripes pattern from Christmas Cocoa Specialty Designer Series Paper which has been matted onto Soft Suede. (Tip: What makes this collection “special” are the two flocked patterns and the metallic touch!)
• Prepare two vertical mats from the “Circle Snowflakes” and “Soft Suede Subdued Stripe” patterns from Christmas Cocoa. Each of these have been matted onto Real Red. Position and adhere to the paper as illustrated in the photograph.
• Zip a piece of Real Red through the Big Shot, using the new Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions Folder (available September 1st). Mat this onto Soft Suede. Prepare a rosette from Real Red 5/8″ Grosgrain Ribbon and Sleigh Bells Cotton Ribbon (also available September 1st). (Tip: Both the Impressions Folder and cotton ribbon add texture, texture and more texture! I love them both!) Adhere to the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals.
• Punch two snowflakes from “Stripes” Christmas Cocoa using the new Snowflake Punch, and adhere to the textured mat with Mini Glue Dots.
• Ink the “At Christmas” sentiment from Good Cheer with Soft Suede, and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Mat onto a strip of Soft Suede card stock and adhere to the textured mat with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

There are so many elements that I love about this card. The Christmas Cocoa paper is just phenomenal, and I have never used a Textured Impressions Folder that possesses as much depth as Petals-A-Plenty. The Sleigh Bells Cotton Ribbon was just made for this paper with its Real Red and Natural colors! If it sounds like I am gushing, I am…with good reason!

If you like sneak peeks like these, remember that pre-orders are just one of several perks of being a Stampin’ Up! demonstrator. Please click here to learn how you can become a demonstrator for only $85! I would love to have you join my ever-growing group! One of the things that I enjoy the most is helping my new recruits as they discover everything that being a demonstrator has to offer.

As the final days of my summer vacation come to an end, I find it bittersweet. I have enjoyed the luxury of being able to blog and create on an almost daily basis. I know that as I begin the new school year on Monday, that my time will be at a premium as I get back into the routine. I will miss spending my days with Missy the Boxer and Brady the Boy…although Brady will be headed back to Western Illinois University’s School of Music. On the other hand, I have missed my “kids”. As rewarding as it is to create a card from paper and ink, it will never compare to the reward I receive from preparing my students for their futures. I have been blessed in the fact that for thirty-three years, I have been employed in a profession that I truly love!

As always, your comments are important to me! Please leave me a comment, or if you have questions, send me an email! Until next time…

Please Click to Order Stampin’ Up! 24/7!
Stamp Set: Good Cheer (115326)
Inks: Soft Suede (115657)
Designer Paper: Christmas Cocoa Specialty (116770—Available September 1)
Card Stock: Real Red (102482), Soft Suede (115318), Very Vanilla (101650)
Tools: Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Textured Impressions Petals-A-Plenty Folder (116824—Available September 1), Jumbo Snowflake Punch (116628)
Embellishments: Sleigh Bells Cotton Ribbon (116795—Available September 1), Real Red 5/8” Grosgrain Ribbon (109052)
Other: Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Mini Glue Dots (103683)