Stampin Up, Pals Paper Arts challenge # 298, Smile

Wow, where did April go?  It seems like it just started and it's almost over, that is what happens to the wonderful not too hot and not too cold months here in AZ.

Todays challenge for PPA is a sketch challenge. I like for my cards to me meaningful to me. So, while it takes me a lot of time sometimes, I just have to find a way that works the sketch so that it makes sense to me.  The sentiment is from Suite sayings, and I really love this set, so many really good sentiments. This one is good for so many things, from a card for a loved one to maybe a card for a friend you care deeply about who might be going through a tough time.

That is what this one is for, I have a friend who lives a bit too far to see her very often and she has been going through a very tough time for over 2 yrs. I know that everytime I send a card it perks up her day and I can just picture her smile as she opens it.   She is a stamper who hasn't done much in those too years because of what is going on, so she does love the hand made cards.

My colors today are Rose Red, Blushing Bride, Whisper White and Crumb Cake.
Retiring products as of May 31st are, Love Blossoms DSP stack, It's my party enamal dots, and the 1/4" cotton ribbon, all of the colors are retiring, and the Floral Frames dies.  If there is anything here that you really want, I urge you to place an order really soon, most stuff is likely to be gone very quickly.

Our sketch today at PPA, is by Ginger Toivonen and here is what it looks like:

 Just click on the link above to check out what the rest of the team has done with this sketch.  And please feel free to join in.  Click on any product shown  below to be taken to my store.

Love Blossoms Designer Series Paper Stack

$8.00

Floral Frames Collection Framelits Dies

$27.00

Tags & Labels Framelits Dies

$27.00

Suite Sayings Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$21.00

It's My Party Enamel Dots

$4.00

Blushing Bride 1/4" Cotton Ribbon

$6.00

Pansy Punch

$16.00

Pearl Basic Jewels

$5.00

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Stampin Up, Global Design Project#032

I decided to play the GDP032 challenge this week.  I had this idea in my head after looking at the challenge for the week.   It's a CASE the designer challenge, that is always a fun one.

The idea is not an exact copy, but for you to take away inspiration from the designer and make it your own. 

In addition, I'm wanting to use some of my favorite goodies one more time before they retire. I must say, I'm a little surprised we are loosing the framelits to this bundle, I expected to maybe see a new stamp set to go with.   This set of words, the Greetings Thinlits is also retiring, but there are others and some new ones as well. I really love my die cut word framelits! 

So, here is the inspiration:

My Hello is cut out from a piece of pattern paper from the Subtles DSP Stack, those are a great go to. You always have the right color and in several designs.

A Nice Cuppa Photopolymer Stamp Set

$17.00

Greetings Thinlits Dies

$15.00

Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack

$22.00

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Stampin Up, Pals Paper Arts Challenge #297

This is both a sad and a happy time for SU demos.   We say goodbye to some very much loved product, but get to say hello to lots of exciting new product too.  We will be pre ordering starting in May and you will be seeing some brand new product. There are some really awesome things coming our way.
In May we can only show you things we make using new product and we can show you the pretty new catalog cover as well.     Ordering for everyone starts June 3rd!  Start saving, you are going to fall in love.

This stamp is one that is retiring and I am going to miss using it, it's gorgeous.  It's one I shall be keeping, but for purposes of my blog and challenges I don't use anything for the most part, except current product.  I may use the odd piece of ribbon or something, I just don't always have just the right ribbon for any given card.   After all, we all have budgets.  Stamps and dies are first on my to buy list.

I used Watercolor paper for my image, stamped with Versamark and watercolored the color in using my ink pads and a brush.

Wisteria Wonder peeks through the back of the watercolor paper to bring the image together with the background.   The patterned paper is from the Subtles DSP Stack, they are wonderful to have on hand, such great patterns in every color.

So, colors are: Whisper White, Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder and Daffodil Delight. 
Thanks for looking.

Sweetbriar Rose Wood-Mount Stamp

$13.00

Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack

$22.00

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Stampin Up, Pals Paper Arts Challenge #296

Yup, it's another PPA challenge today, this time a sketch challenge.

I know I'm not posting many cards these days, but I've been trying to get some other stuff done between bouts of illness.  I just can't seem to stay well, but then making cards is great therapy.

For my colors this week, I used Pink Pirouette, Blackberry Bliss and Whisper White.  I bet you are wondering about the middle piece. It's 2 items put together, they are from the Memories in the Making Project Life kit.   The pink piece comes as a white card with the resist lines, it can be used as is or you can watercolor or sponge any color on it that you want. The top piece is clear with the gold scallops printed on.

You may have seen the white paper before,  SU has had a couple sets of this type of thing. I love it, and wish we got more.  The circle design is from the Serene Silhouettes stamp set, I made it a bit larger by sponging the edge after die cutting and then cutting a larger circle from white.

I also used Pink Pirouette 1/2" seam binding. I love the seam binding ribbons, they are so soft.  The embossing folder is called Zig Zag.

This just went together so well and turned out so soft and pretty. I hope I've inspired you just a little bit.

Serene Silhouettes Clear-Mount Stamp Set

$18.00

Pink Pirouette 1/2" Seam Binding Ribbon

$7.00

Circles Collection Framelits Dies

$27.00

Zig Zag Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

$7.50

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Stampin Up, Pals Paper arts #295, A color challenge

Time for another color challenge.
You may wonder what we do with all these cards we make.  I used to send to Operation Write Home, however, that mission is over, and big Thanks to Sandy Allnock for all the hard work for so many years.  I know it had to be really nice for our military to be able to select a hand made card to send to someone at home.

So, Now I send cards if requested for some reason.  But I am about to get out of my lazy chair and start going through my cards to sort.  One of my daughters has requessted some, and I think I will start sending a card a day.  I may send them all one day each week, but I am going to make the effort to send one a day.  I know where this one is headed.

I used the Wink of Stella on this one. I dearly love that stuff, how fun to brush on that beautiful glittery look and it doesn't come off.  Here is a close up.

I think the butterfly shows it off best. It doesn't really glitter here but you can see it on there.  What a fun addition to a card.

Here are our colors this week.

Michelle Quinno is our host this week, didn't she pick great colors?

Garden In Bloom Photopolymer Stamp Set

$25.00

Venetian Crochet Trim

$7.00

Circles Collection Framelits Dies

$27.00

Decorative Label Punch

$18.00

Blender Pens

$10.00

Pearl Basic Jewels

$5.00

Table by StampinBuddy. Try it FREE.

Stampin Up, Mojo Monday #442 A sketch challenge

I'm doing Mojo Monday this week. I'm super happy with how this card turned out. But I just have to remind you about this awesome paper.  The patterned paper is from the neutrals collect DSP stack, the 12x12 stack.  The latest version of this has awesome designs and also, instead of Whisper White and Very Vanilla (who used them anyway?)  It has Silver and gold.  I think you can almost see the shine from the silver, it sure is gorgeous in person!

I happened to have a bunch of the 1/4" cotton ribbons which I pulled out. And when I did I noticed the colors interacting. So I laid them out and tried out colors together. I was surprised when Real Red and Blushing bride worked so well together, normally I wouldn't use them together.   I think the silver sets them off so very well too.

Just a little tip,  I don't know about you, but I don't care for the white space around things after they are punched or die cut, so what I often do, is use  my sponge daubers to rub a bit of ink around the outside edge. 
BTW, I recently found out why this is. The white space I mean, it seems when they make rubber stamps, they can shrink, so in order to make sure the die or punch does it's job, it's made to be a little later then the stamp.  So, now you know too.

Anyway, I do hope I've given you some inspiration today. Thanks so much for stopping by.