Pals Challenge Presented On a Pedestal

Hooray! It’s time to “Play at PPA”! You have been waiting patiently this past week for the unveiling of this exciting, new challenge blog, and here it is: Pals Paper Arts! As a member of the Design Team, I am thrilled to present to you my first inspiration card. Although the Design Team will be using exclusively Stampin’ Up! products, we encourage EVERYONE to play along with us. So get out those stamps, dust off those inks, and select those papers! This week’s inaugural challenge is a Color Challenge…Bermuda Bay, Melon Mambo, and Chocolate Chip!

If you do not have these exact colors, just substitute! Our goal is that you have fun. And who knows? You may end up as one of the PPA’s “Picks of the Week”. But before you head out to create your own challenge card, please have a quick piece of cake. It has everything in it except the calories…paper piecing, embossing, beading, Crystal Effects, and bling!

  • Prepare a 5-1/2” x 5-1/2” card base from textured Whisper White card stock.
  • Use the Eyelet Border Punch on a Bermuda Bay selection from the Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper collection. Layer this onto the card base.
  • Zip a piece of Whisper White card stock through the Big Shot along with the Stampin’ Up! Finial Press Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. Cut a 1/3/8” x 5-1/4” strip of this embossed paper and mat onto a selection of Melon Mambo Patterns Designer Series Paper, followed by Bermuda Bay and Chocolate Chip card stocks. Adhere to the card base as shown.
  • Take a second 2-3/8” x 3-5/8” section of embossed paper and mat onto Bermuda Bay followed by Chocolate Chip. This will serve as the image mat.
  • Ink the “Pedestal” image from On a Pedestal with Chocolate Chip ink and stamp onto Whisper White. (All stamps used to make this card are from the On a Pedestal set.)
  • Ink the larger “Cake” stamp with Chocolate Chip and stamp it onto the pedestal, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig for perfect placement. Snip out the cake and pedestal using Paper Snips. For pizazz, I paper pieced the top of the pedestal using a selection from Melon Mambo Patterns Designer Series Paper. (Tip: I actually followed the diamond pattern of the paper to add interest.) I also beaded the base of the pedestal using Micro Beads and Tombow Adhesive.
  • Ink just the “Icing” section of the smaller Cake with Icing stamp with Melon Mambo. Cut out using Paper Snips and attach to the top of the cake. I actually shaped the icing using Paper Snips to make it fit the top of the cake better. (Tip: Because I wanted my frosting to look like fondant, I coated it with Crystal Effects clear craft lacquer.)
  • Ink just the word “Sweet” from the “Amazing-Thoughtful-Sweet” sentiment using the Bermuda Bay Stampin’ Write Marker and stamp onto Whisper White. Punch out using the Large Oval Punch, and mat onto a textured Chocolate Chip scallop, which has been punched with the Scallop Oval Punch. Position and adhere to the card as illustrated.
  • As a final touch, punch flowers from Bermuda Bay and Melon Mambo Patterns Designer Series Papers and adhere to the cake and the pedestal. (Tip: For even more bling, add Clear Circle Rhinestone Brads for the centers of random flowers. )

Strangely enough, as I was creating this card, I developed a craving for chocolate cake! Isn’t funny how the mind works? Although it wasn’t cake, I did bake chocolate chip cookies after I was finished…much to the delight of my son.

I am so happy that you stopped by today. As always, I look forward to your comments and emails. And remember, if you ever have any questions about the cards I create, please do not hesitate to Email Me! And after leaving your comment, remember to hop on over to the Pals Paper Arts blog and check out the other talented member of the Design Team and their inspiration cards! Until next time…

Click Here to Order Your Stampin’ Up! Supplies Now!
Stamp Set: On a Pedestal (113814)
Designer Series Paper: Thoroughly Modern (115673), Melon Mambo Pattern Papers (115687), Bermuda Bay Pattern Papers (115684)
Card Stock: Whisper White textured (108693—Neutrals Assorted), Chocolate Chip textured (108697—Earth Elements Assorted), Whisper White (100730), Bermuda Bay (115317), Chocolate Chip (102128)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (100908), In-Color Stampin’ Write Markers (116329)
Tools: Trio Flower Punch (109183), Scallop Oval Punch (114889), Large Oval Punch (107305), Eyelet Border Punch (113692), Paper Snips (103579), Stamp-a-ma-jig (101049), Big Shot (113439), Stampin’ Up! Finial Press Embossing Folder (115963)
Embellishments: Clear Rhinestone Circle Brads (113144), Micro Beads (104266)
Other: Tombow Adhesive (110755), Crystal Effects (101055), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), SNAIL Adhesive (104332)

The Thirty-Minute Challenge Card

With the launching of the new PPA challenge blog in less than two days, I decided to get in a little challenge practice of my own! My challenge was to use a stamp set I had not used, use the first Designer Series Paper and card stock in my stacks, and complete the card in thirty minutes! The thirty minute time limit was what concerned me the most. Sometimes I obsess over a card… re-stamping, re-coloring, removing embellishments, adding embellishments. Well, that would not happen in this case. Time would not allow it. So I selected the Country Morning Hostess Level I Set and opened up the drawer where I keep my Designer Series Papers. Luckily for me, Thoroughly Modern was on the top of the pile. Thank goodness it wasn’t Halloween or Christmas paper…That would have been a stretch! I then went to my card stock supply, and Bordering Blue was on top. After a quick check of the clock, it was off to the races! Here is the recipe for the “Thirty Minute Card”:

  • Prepare a standard card base from Bordering Blue.

  • Layer with a selection from Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper.

  • Using the Eyelet Border Punch, punch a horizontal strip from a second selection from Thoroughly Modern. Adhere to the card base.

  • Add a snippet of Soft Suede Polka-Dot Grosgrain Ribbon, placing it solid side out, at the interface of the two pattern papers.

  • Ink the “Crocks and Flowers” image from Country Morning with Basic Gray and stamp onto Very Vanilla card stock. Mat with Chocolate Chip followed by Bordering Blue. (Sorry…I cheated by adding Chocolate Chip card stock. But, every challenge is open to a little interpretation!)

  • Color the image using Blender Pens and the following inks: Creamy Caramel, Sahara Sand, Perfect Plum. Crushed Curry, Bordering Blue, and Close to Cocoa. Adhere this mat to the card base.

  • Ink the “Hope You Feel Better Soon” sentiment from Kind and Caring Thoughts Hostess Level 3 set with Chocolate Chip and stamp onto Very Vanilla. Punch out using the Large Oval Punch and mat onto a Bordering Blue Scallop Oval using Stampin‘ Dimensionals. Adhere to the card base as illustrated.

  • As a finishing touch, add a Styled Vanilla Brad in the upper right hand corner.

This card actually took right at thirty minutes! I did not stop to contemplate the colors on the image. Normally, I would have stamped the image on scrap paper first, and then experimented with the colors. In this situation, I knew I needed to work with browns and blues. From previous experience, I knew that the Creamy Caramel and Close to Cocoa look great with the Thoroughly Modern paper so I selected them first. I also love the blue-grey hue of the Bordering Blue, so it is one of my “go-to” colors for flowers.

I actually had a ton of fun creating this card…and that is exactly what a challenge should be…FUN! That is why I and my fellow design team members are so excited about our new challenge blog. We know that it is going to be fun for all! Join me right here at 5:00 AM Central time for the official unveiling of the PPA challenge blog. Soon you will be saying “I Love to Play @PPA!”

Why not try my little challenge on your own? It may be interesting to see what paper combinations you come up with! As always, your comments and emails are very important to me. Please stop and leave a comment, even if it only to say “Hi!” And remember, you can always email me with your questions. Until next time…

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