simply flat..with {tExTuRe}

Happy Friday to you!  Hope you all had a great week.  Just wanted to pop in with a simple card I created.  After making this one, I decided that I should sit down and make a stash of these simple one layered cards to have on hand..especially thank yous!  The inspiration for this card is actually from a couple things - 1) the chevron arrow stamp from the Border Banter stamp set and 2) the leaf from the Wonderfall stamp set, both of which are in the Holiday Mini catalog.  I've been wanting to play with both of these and I happened to have a white 3 1/2" x 5" card in close proximity to my computer, so, as I was sitting on a conference call, I thought I'd try these stamps out.  I found it to be very effective multi-tasking!  I was really pleased with how it came out - for no layers at all, it seemed to be chock-full of texture.  Here's another view, so you can see what I mean about flat texture:

So, what do you think?  I thought it had a nice retro-modern look to it, especially with these colors.  I used the brand new In Color, Summer Starfruit, and paired it with a classic favorite - Pumpkin Pie.  For the Thank You sentiment from the Itty Bitty Banners set, I used Early Espresso Ink to make it stand out, in a subtle sort of way.  Here's the recipe for you:

 

{Wonderfall Chevron Thanks}

• Stamps: Wonderfall, Border Banter, Itty Bitty Banners
• Cardstock: Whisper White Notecards & Envelopes (3 1/2" x 5')
• Inks: Summer Starfruit, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso

Now, the fun part.  Last but not least, I was blurfing {aka blog surfing} a little bit ago and saw that my sketch actually fits Pals Paper Art's sketch challenge for the week, so without even intending, by serendipitous luck, I'm actually getting to play in a card challenge!  Woohoo!  It's been awhile for me. :) 

 

In any case, I hope you guys like the card, or, at least come away with an idea for trying to create texture with a one dimensional card.  Patterns really do a lot - be it stamps or paper - and they're fun to dabble with!  Give it a whirl and see what you come up with.  Thanks for popping by and have a great weekend!

 



Vintage Challenge with {Embellish}

Hi all! Can you believe it's November??! Yikes!  Where does the time go.  Thankfully, I stole a few moments of it to create this card for the Embellish Challenge...yay!  The colors were too enticing to pass up, especially now that November is here and Fall is getting into full swing.  Here are the colors and photo inspirations:

What do you think? I have to say that these aren't colors I use very often (except probably for fall time), so it was a nice creative exercise for me to play with this palette.  The colors I used are Garden Green, Daffodil Delight, and Cajun Craze.  I also, had fun making my flower.  Similar to my peony flower technique, I sprayed the 2 flowers {punched out from the SU! Extra Large Flower Punch} with water, and then balled them up.  Next, you gently open the flowers up and let it dry.  They feel like paper machete when they're done.  So easy and fun!  Here's a close up for you.  You can click on the picture for an even bigger view.

{Fall Vintage Flower}

*Stamps: SU! - Curly Cute

*Cardstock: SU! - Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, Autumn Spice DSP, Very Vanilla

*Inks: SU! - Cajun Craze, Crumb Cake (sponged on the edges)

*Accessories: SU! - Extra Large Flower Punch, Candy Cane Big Designer Buttons, Linen Thread, Daffodil Delight 1/8" Taffeta ribbon, Basic Pearls; lace

Hope you like it!  Thanks for popping by!

fall time with Colour Q 50 Challenge

Hi there peeps!  Happy Saturday to you.  It's a beautiful day here...finally!  The marine layer has burned off and the sun is peeking through.  I even got my run in already and did some blurfing and stamping.  I was inspired to play in this week's Colour Q challenge with their yummy fall color palette.  You've got a sneak peek of my card up top..what do you think so far?  Aren't those leaves so fun?  I finally broke down and got that Leaves #2 Originals die...and so glad I did!  It's got my creative juices flowing for fall ideas.  Anyway, let me show you what the Colour Q #50 challenge looks like:

I love all these colors together and I think the bell pepper print inspiration is fun, too!  So, for my card, in addition to these colors, I was also inspired by a quilt I've been eying at Pottery Barn:

So I tried to mimic that texture by using the Square Lattice Embossing folder.  Here's a look at my full card:

What do you think?  Does it look quilty to you?  I really do love the colors and the stamp set I used goes so well with it too!  It's called Style Beautiful...such pretty flourishes and designs!  I sponge daubered the edges of each of the rectangles with the Early Espresso ink pad and I think it helps the squares pop a little more.  Here's a closer look:

I also embossed the peach parfait leaf with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder. I love how dry embossing instantly dresses up cardstock!  Then, I embellished with a bit of baker's twine and secured iwth a little button...and viola!  My first fall card of the season!  One last look at the card for you:

{Fall time styled beautiful}

*Stamps: Curly Cute, Style Beautiful

*Cardstock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Peach Parfait

*Inks: Chery Cobbler, Early Espresso, Peach Parfait, Pear Pizazz

*Accessories: Leaves #2 Originals Die, Square Lattice and Vintage Wallpaper Embossing folder, Regals Button, Baker's Twine

 Thanks for visiting. Enjoy your weekend!  Toodles for now ;)