Hello Fellow Stampers -
Welcome to Thursday -- and the Pals Paper Arts [PPA260]sketch challenge this week. I'm actually quite excited about this design today. I used my brand new Garden in Bloom stamp set for the first time, and although I didn't use a lot of the pieces to this set, I had a lot of fun starting to experiment a little bit. We will be talking about this stamp set on an Ask Wendy Wednesday coming up real soon, so stay tuned :-)
Doggone Delightful Stampin' Design Tips:
- Layerothology. I started this design by pulling out the new English Garden DSP. This is such beautiful paper (as are many of our new papers this year), and I find it hard to cut beautiful paper. How about you? ;-) I settled on this piece to create a beautiful background "garden" for my focal point. The card base for this card is cut from Whisper White cardstock (our new 100 lb cardstock -- you will LOVE this new heavier weight cardstock), 8 1/2" x 5 1/2", scored at 4 1/4", turned horizontal. There is a mat piece of Soft Suede cut 5 3/8" x 4 1/4". Then a mat piece of Night of Navy cut 5 1/4" x 4". The DSP is cut another 1/8" smaller again. The Night of Navy 1/2" seam binding ribbon wraps the DSP / Night of Navy layers before being adhered to the Soft Suede; and then onto the cardbase.
Technique Tip: Always use a scoring tool to make lines. Don’t just fold by hand. This often results in buckling and wrinkling of the cardstock, depending on its “weight”. A great card deserves a great foundation on which to build. Also, use a Bone Folder to create a crisp edge on all of your folds. But be careful…too much pressure can lead to unsightly “cracked” edges.
Technique Tip: Did you know that there is a right and wrong side to your scored card base? The “bump” formed by the scoring tool goes toward the inside of your card. You’ll notice when you fold inward so the score bump is inside that you get a perfect professional-looking fold and card every single time!
- Layers of Circles. The focal point of this card was stamped on Whisper White and then cut using the Circles framelits. Using the same size circle, I cut a Night of Navy circle, and then just slightly offset it under the Whisper White circle to give a "peak" of color. This piece is then laid on one of the new Silver Metallic Doilies, and then popped with dimensionals on the card front. I just love these new doilies -- you MUST give them a try!! Two banners were cut - one from the new Glassine sheets, and one from Night of Navy cardstock - and slipped underneath the circle layers. The glassine sheet is soft and allows the colors underneath to show through. I love the look.
- Garden In Bloom. I love this sentiment from the new Garden In Bloom stamp set. I think it reminds us that friends are like gardens - they need to be nurtured and tended and cared for. The sentiment is stamped in Night of Navy classic ink; the blossoms from the Garden In Bloom set are stamped in Tip Top Taupe, stamped off once first before stamping on the circle, to give the effect of "lighter" coloring, and laying in the background. Some gorgeous metal-rimmed pearls finish off this piece, along with the double bow, scrunched just right (Technique Tip: Use those glue dots ;-) )
So what do you think of today's card? Do you like the brown and blue combination? Do you struggle to cut into your pretty DSP papers like I do? I'd love to read your comments and do cherish every one! As always, if you have any questions, I'm only an email away -- wendyklein@doggonedelightfulstampin.com.
Are you looking for a Stampin' Up! demonstrator? I'd be honored and privileged to be your choice. Let me know how I can nurture your "paper passion" :-)
Until Next Time . . .
