A Snowboarder's Cabana

Hi everyone--happy mid-week!  We're in the mad dash here in our house--DD birthday is today so there's lot of preparations! One of our nephews also has a December birthday and I was inspired by the fantastic work over at CAS(E) this Sketch and Fab Friday:

What a unique sketch, right?!  Combined with these fabulous holiday/winter colors, I had the perfect inspiration for my sports-lovin' nephew's card:

 

You might  be surprised to know that there is absolutely no stamping on this card--none. at. all!  It was all made with My Digital Studio!!  Once I printed out the design onto Whisper White cardstock, I just matted it with black and added it to a Coastal Cabana card base.  I love the flexibility of designing cards in MDS.  I can resize, color and modify to my heart's content! If you're interested, a full list of the MDS files I used is at the end of this post.

I couldn't find a suitable sentiment to coordinate with a "daring adventure" so I just used MDS, again, to type up my own.  I added a few more elements and printed it along with the front of the card.  I hope our nephew likes it!  As I am just getting this in under the wire, I'm going to keep this post short 'n' sweet!  Have a great day, friends!

Supplies
Paper: Coastal Cabana, Basic Black & Whisper White CS
MDS stamp Brush Sets: Extreme Snowboard, Daring Adventure, Woodgrain, Chevron Designer Kit, Ink Splatter 6
 

Cup of Inspiration {PP116}

Happy Sunday, all, and Happy Thanksgiving weekend to my Canadian friends!  It's another week with The Paper Players and this week LeAnne has given us a theme challenge "Cup of Joy":

I've had precious little time in my stamp room lately and when I hit a dry spell, I need a few challenges to get the mojo flowing.  With LeAnne's theme in mind, I went searching for even more inspiration and found a fabulous sketch over at Mojo Monday:

As well as some fresh and funky colors at Hand Stamped Sentiments:

I mixed all these together to create a get well card for a co-worker:

I had so much fun adding little details to this one...who am I kidding I always love the details, lol!  I flipped the sketch to fit the image and the Window Frame Framelit.  Piercing around the edge with the coordinating Festive Piercing Pack (FREE this month with a bundled purchase!) really adds detail without alot of fuss. 

Of course most of the details are concentrated in the focal element.  Using the Morning Cup stamp set, I paper pieced the teapot and mug with an Island Indigo pattern from the Floral District DSP.  The paper piecing was easy because I didn't worry about cutting out the handle or the lid--just trimmed 'em right off and then colored each with an Island Indigo Stampin' Write Marker.  Easy peasy!  I punched two 2.5" circles--Whisper White and Early Espresso.  I embossed the espresso circle with the Woodgrain EF and then trimmed off the bottom which I used as a table for the coffee pot and cup! 

I added a trio of galloping teacups to the Tangerine Tango banner and colored each heart with a Tangerine Tango Stampin' Write Marker.  Love how the Perk Up! sentiment from this set fits inside the Bitty Banner Framelit!

My first banner for the front didn't work out as I planned but made the perfect accent for the inside of the card especially paired with a sentiment from the retired set, Puns From the Past.  I hope this card brings a smile to my co-worker and...inspires you to play along with our challenge this week at The Paper Players!  If you need even more inspiration, check out the fabulous creations of the other designers: 

The Paper Players Design Team

Jen Arkfeld
Dawn Easton
Helen Heil 
Nance Leedy

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Ann Schach

Amy White

We hope you'll join in the fun...just make sure to do so before Friday, October 14th at Noon (PDT).   Can't wait to visit you and your creations!

 
Supplies 
Stamps: Morning Cup; Woodgrain; Puns From the Past [retired] 
Ink: Early Espresso
Paper:  Early Espresso, Whisper White, Island Indigo CS; Floral District DSP
Xtras: Tangerine Tango & Island Indigo Stampin' Write Markers; Tangerine Tango grosgrain ribbon [retired]; Early Espresso Baker's Twine; Window Frame Framelit; Bitty Banners Framelit; Festive Piercing Pack; 1 1/4" square punch

Evergreen Breeze {PP112}

Hiya, friends, and welcome to another week with The Paper Players. It's color challenge week and Lesley has some gorgeous colors for us.  Take a look:

Yummy!  When I saw these colors, I knew right away that I wanted to make a Christmas card with the Evergreen set.  Taking an advance peek at my team mates' projects, I see I wasn't the only one!  I paired the colors with Cindy's great design at Freshly Made Sketches:

 And, here's what I made for you:

 

 Had to laugh at myself...last week I had blue leaves and this week it's the whole tree!  Love this two-step Evergreen stamp and the way the solid tree looks in Baja Breeze.  The outline stamp was inked in Versamark and heat embossed in silver...pretty!

I did even more embossing on the background to really make the texture pop. First I inked one side of the Lacy Brocade embossing folder with a Versamark pad--just smeared it directly on the folder.  Then, I ran it through the Big Shot with a piece of textured Basic Gray cardstock.  Next, I sprinkled it with clear embossing powder and set it with the heat gun.  Voila!  Glossy embossed cardstock!  Trimmed it out with a little silver glimmer paper and we've got sparkle AND shine!

I struggled with whether to add a sentiment on the front and opted to go without.  However, the inside is the perfect size for a yuletide sentiment from Greetings of the Season.  And, of course, one more [blue] tree!

I hope that my blue holiday tree has inspired you to look at your stamps in a new way and come out to play!  We would love to see you in the gallery at The Paper Players.  Just make sure to load your crafty goodness before the challenge closes on Friday, September 14th at Noon (PST).   

The Paper Players Design Team

Jen Arkfeld
Dawn Easton
Jaydee
Nance Leedy

Anne Marie Hile

LeAnne Pugliese

Ann Schach

Amy White

 
Supplies 
Stamps: Evergreen; Greetings of the Season; Woodgrain
Ink: Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Versamark
Paper:  Baja Breeze, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White, Vellum CS; Silver Glimmer Paper
Xtras: Scalloped Border punch; Basic Gray Striped Ribbon; Silver stampin' emboss powder; Clear stampin' emboss powder; Apothecary Accents framelits; Lacy Brocade embossing folder; Oval nestabilities

Tres Papillon {PP84}

Happy Paper Players Sunday, friends! So glad you could join me today.  This week, LeAnne is our hostess and she has a long and lean sketch for us, take a look:

Now, you can interpret the shapes and layers of the sketch any way you want to just as long as the basics are there.  For my card, I was inspired by Arielle's fabulous color combination over at Colour Q: Dusty Durango [retired], Lucky Limeade, Baja Breeze, Basic Gray and Whisper White.

 Love these colors together and I even found a little bit of Dusty Durango in my stash!  

You can see that I had a loose interpretation of LeAnne's sketch but the basic elements are there--I hope LeAnne doesn't mind!  My card base is a 3x6 piece of textured Basic Gray cardstock and the three colored panels were glued together with sticky strip and stamped all as one in Versamark ink and the Woodgrain background stamp.  Stamping them all together allows the background stamp to flow uninterrupted over all three panels.  The pretty butterflies were made with the Beautiful Wings embosslit and a few rhinestones.  And here's a little peek at the inside:

I hope I've inspired you to play along with LeAnne's sketch!  Be sure to check out the fabulous inspiration from the rest of the Design Team:

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

The Paper Players challenge will close on Friday, March 2nd at Noon (PST)...I hope you will join us!

Supplies 

Stamps: Tiny Tags; Flight of the Butterfly, Woodgrain

Ink: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Lucky Limeade, Cajun Crazy classic ink; Versamark

Paper: Basic Gray, Baja Breeze, Lucky Limeade, Dusty Durango, Whisper White CS; Basic Gray textured CS

Extras: Beautiful Wings embosslit; Basic Rhinestones; Linen Thread; Jewelry Tag punch

Very Gold Cobbler {PP76}

Happy Paper Players Sunday, friends!  So glad you could join me today..I'm recovering from my almost-8-year-old's first sleepover birthday party.  All went well but Mama is POOPED, lol! So, today you're here for a card...and what a lovely color combination Ann has for us:

Oh so perfect for the holidays!  I used a sketch from Just Us Girls--even though it was last week's, I really liked it:

The oval in the center was calling out for a gold embossed tree don't you think?

Sorry the picture quality stinks but the weather was totally uncooperative today.  Yes, there's even a little bit of wood grain in the background:

I stamped Woodgrain in Cherry Cobbler ink on the oval before I stamped the tree.  It looks like a few stray bits of embossing powder got on the woodgrain but I think it's a lovely effect...or at least that's what I'm telling myself! 

The Brushed Gold cardstock was embossed with the Petals-a-Plenty impressions folder and I used a lovely pinecone spray from the Autumn Days set for a random background pattern.

The Champagne Shimmer paint has a light gold touch so I sponged it directly onto the tree and stamped it on the inside along with the companion sentiment from Petite Pairs.  And that's it, pretty clean and simple!  If you like my card, be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team's work:

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

Julie Marshall

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Tara Bilbao
  Rita Wright (December GD)

Since this is our last challenge of 2011, we are extended our deadline and will keep the challenge open until Friday, December 30th at midnight (PST).  We hope that you will find some crafty time to yourself during this busy holiday season and come play along with us!  Thanks for stopping by!

supplies: 

stamps: lovely as a tree, woodgrain, petite pairs, autumn days

ink: cherry cobbler, versamark

paper: cherry cobbler; brushed gold; very vanilla

xtras: petals-a-plenty EF; vanilla seam binding ribbon; decorative label punch; ovals nesties

Let's Get Cooking! {PP71}

Lordy bees, have I got a challenge heavy project for you today! Happy Sunday, friends and welcome to another week with The Paper Players!  Anne Marie is our hostess with the most-est this week and she has cooked up a Texas-sized recipe for Theme Challenge #71!  Take a look:

Wowzers!  But I had a day off of work and was feeling fresh and ready for the challenge.  I put on my crafting apron and browsed some favorite challenges sites for additional inspiration.  Bingo!  Check out these amazing fall colors over at the Colour Q:

I also remembered this amazing sketch from Create with Connie & Mary that was perfect for Anne Marie's "3 different patterned papers" (there's still time to play at CCMC):

So, I mixed all of that in my crafting stew pot and came out with a birthday card for a friend and co-worker:

The stamp set, Forever Young, has just been itching for ink so I obliged in Soft Suede, stamped onto a 3" circle of Very Vanilla and sponged a setting sun with Pumpkin Pie ink.  You can see 3 different patterned papers in Island Indigo, Pumpkin Pie and Cherry Cobbler--all from Designer Patterns Paper Stacks in the Brights, Regals, and In Color family of colors. 

For the two different ribbons, I wrapped the scalloped panel in Soft Suede taffeta ribbon and tucked in a small piece of Chantilly crochet trim ribbon.  This is such a great way to bring in another color and some texture without using a lot of specialty ribbon!  Since this is Anne Marie's challenge, I had to give it more than just a sprinkling of glitter!  LOL!  So, I [liberally] spritzed the main image with Vanilla Smooch Spritz for some real sparkle and glitz!

Lastly, using Stampin' Write markers, I finished off the inside with all the challenge colors and a bright and happy sentiment from the hostess set Happiest Birthday Wishes.  All together, I used 3 different patterned papers, 2 different ribbons, one punch, one die, 4 color families and 5 stamp sets to complete this card!  Whew, you should see my craft room--it exploded!  Well, I hope you will go make a mess in your craft space and join us over at The Paper Players with your handcrafted creations!  Be sure to check out the rest of the Design Team inspiration and give a big welcome to our November Guest Designer, Susan Joyce--hi Susan!

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

Julie Marshall

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Tara Bilbao
  Susan Joyce (November GD)

If you can join us, please load your creation to The Paper Players by Friday, November 11th at midnight (PST).  I can't wait to visit you!  Thanks for stopping by, friends!

supplies:

stamps: forever young, woodgrain, short & sweet, happiest birthday wishes, pony party (grass)

ink: soft suede, pumpkin pie

paper: soft suede, very vanilla; designer pattern paper stacks (brights, regals, in color)

xtras: soft suede taffeta ribbon; chantilly crochet trim; 3" circle die; scallop border punch; vanilla smooch spritz

Frosty and Fresh {FMS3}

Have you heard the news?  There's a fun, fresh and fabulous new challenge blog in town.  Yes, I'm talking about Freshly Made Sketches and today I am honored and delighted to be their Featured Designer!!  My fellow Paper Player and blog queen extraordinaire, Lesley Croghan lined up an all-star "Clean Team" to bring you a fresh and clean sketch every week.  What is "clean" you say?  Well, it's clean lines--no sponging, distressing or tearing but not simple style either--embellishments and layers are encouraged!  All the gals at FMS rock, hi girls(!), and I am tickled pink to be with them this week.    Here is this week's Freshly Made Sketch #3:

Fabulous, isn't it?  I wanted to get a head start on my holiday cards and had a "fresh" stack of Frostwood Lodge designer paper just calling my name:

Since I really bought this paper for the gorgeous woodgrain patterns (right, Rita?!), I surprised myself by actually using plaid!  I am not really a plaid girl--must be my catholic school girl roots--but paired with the birch background paper and the woodgrain background stamp (yes I used it again!), the Cherry Cobbler plaid just worked!  Here's few close-ups of the fun bits:

Love that birch patterned paper--another woodgrain, yay!  The trees from Plant Hope were stamped in Garden Green and outlined with dazzling diamonds....because who says you can't wear diamonds with plaid?  :) 

Even the inside got the fresh and clean treatment with this beautiful sentiment from Comfort & Joy.

So, what do you think....are you inspired?  Check out Freshly Made Sketches for even more inspiration--you won't be disappointed!  I hope you'll play along with the team!  Just make sure to link up your clean creation over at Freshly Made Sketches by Monday, September 26th at midnight (PST).   The Clean Team will be delighted to come visit you and offer an encouraging comment or two!  Thanks so much to Lesley and the Clean Team for inviting me on board this week...and thanks to you for stopping by! 

supplies:

stamps: plant hope; woodgrain; you're a gem; comfort & joy

ink: garden green, cherry cobbler

paper: cherry cobbler, early espresso, whisper white CS; frostwood lodge DSP

xtras: paper crimper; designer buttons (regals); dazzling diamonds; early espresso baker's twine

Thoughts of Thistles {PP64}

Happy Sunday, friends, and welcome to another fun-filled week with us at The Paper Players!  Ann is our hostess this week and she has a fun challenge for you.  It's our Clean and Simple week and Ann is challenging you to use either an animal or a plant on your card.  Any flora or fauna that you choose--have fun with it!

Trees, leaves, flowers and plants certainly fill up the bulk of my stamping arsenal so I reached for some brand-new rubber, Nature's Pace, and with this sketch from the gals over at Sketch Frenzy Friday in hand,

I made this for your inspiration:

My maternal grandmother, my Nana, was born in Scotland and emigrated to Canada as a young girl.  Thistles always make me think of her.  I loved listening to stories of her country and the longer she talked the thicker her brogue became--what a magical sound!  Knowing I wanted to use Rich Razzleberry for the thistle image, my card developed around those two elements.

For the main image I cut a circle with my Nestabilities and while the circle was still in the Nestie, I sponged a light application of Baja Breeze ink through the nestie.  When the Nestie circle is removed you get a nice matted edge.  The Rich Razzleberry thistle really pops against the Baja Breeze and coordinates well with this pattern from the Pocketful of Posies paper pack.

On each side I layered a piece of yummy Quilted Satin ribbon in Early Espresso and a Crumb Cake "button" made with the Sweet Buttons embosslit.

The sentiment that comes in this set is such a wonderful reminder in these hectic times.  Here's hoping that this inspires you to adopt the pace of nature this coming week--even if in only one area of your life.  Thanks for spending a little of your time with me today.  Please check out what the rest of The Paper Players design team has to inspire you:

The Paper Players Design Team

Ann Schach

Anne Marie Hile

Jaydee

Julie Marshall

LeAnne Pugliese

Lesley Croghan

Nance Leedy

Tara Bilbao
Sandra Conner (September GD)

I hope you will play along with us this week.  If you do, please link up your creation to The Paper Players blog by Friday, September 23rd at midnight (PST) to be in the running for Headliner or A Cut Above.  Have a great day!

supplies:

stamps: nature's pace, woodgrain, sincere salutations

ink: early espresso, baja breeze, rich razzleberry, crumb cake

paper: early espresso, crumb cake, baja breeze, rich razzleberry, very vanilla CS; pocketful of posies DSP

xtras: scalloped envelope die; 2.5" circle punch; sweet buttons embosslit; early espresso quilted satin ribbon; scallop ribbon border punch; nestabilities