PPA 259

As much as I love it, I had no idea what to do with this combination for the  Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge.  I looked at my list of cards to make and saw that I needed a graduation one for my grand niece.  Her school colors are royal blue and red but I decided to go for it anyway! 

I created a simple mortar board with squares, popped it up and put a candy dot and a tassel from Celebrate Today (kicking myself - looks like it shifted).  I cut the happy using brushed silver cardstock and thinlit word from Hello You.  I popped up the letters that hang over (as you can see a tiny bit on the Y).   I decided to emboss the Pacific Blue panel with the Lucky Stars embossing folder and mount on thick Whisper White cardstock.  The sentiment was heat embossed with silver and then cut with the Banner Triple punch.  I seem to use that for everything!  The little star came from the Itty Bitty Punch Pack.  I am obsessed with putting every last piece of paper to use so I punch out stars or flowers before tossing scraps.  Am I the only one who does this? 

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First Bokeh card

I've been seeing all of these beautiful bokeh cards on Pinterest and blogs and I decided to give the technique a try.  Bokeh is a photography term.  It is the look achieved when everything is blurred and soft dots appear. Anyway, here is my card.  I used Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo, Calypso Coral and Crushed Curry.  I have one more to make.

The technique is pretty simple but messy.  You sponge the inks in a random pattern on Whisper White cardstock and then sponge Craft Whisper White.  I used a template made from a transparency with cut outs from circle dies in several sizes.  On the top, I used a dauber with the craft white.  Let me know if you have any questions on how this is done!

Thanks for looking and commenting.  Your comments mean the world to me!

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First Easter card

The weekend is almost here!  I'm wishing spring would hurry up as well.  I was thinking spring when I made this.

I used the Irresistibly Yours Specialty Designer Series paper from the Sale-A-Bration catalog.  I truly love this paper.  There are so many things you can do with it!  It is a white paper with white embossed patterns.  I used the flowers and sponged inks over them.  Then I wiped with a tissue to clear off the ink from the embossed part.  I intended the peachy colors to be light pink, but I had issues.  I picked up what I thought was a clean sponge, dabbed into Pink Pirouette, and started to rub on the paper.  It came out peachy so I am assuming there was a light yellow on the sponge which I couldn't see.  I usually take a piece of cardstock and glue to the sponge so that I don't mix colors.  Oh well!  I ended up matching it with a retired color, Blush Blossom.  

I decided to do the sentiment with a curved banner.  All you need to do is take a photopolymer stamp and position it in the shape you want on the acrylic block.  I used Basic Gray ink because I thought black was too stark for the pretty colors.

You can get this paper if you hurry!  It's in the Sale-a-Bration catalog and it's free with a $50 purchase.  Click here to view Sale-a-Bration.   Irresistibly Yours is on Page 15.  This catalog ends on March 31st!!

Please let me know what you think.  I love reading your comments!

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PPA 239

Soft Suede says masculine to me.  I decided to make a valentine for my hubby with this color combination from the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge.  

I don't have Soft Suede ink so I used some retired dsp.  I really wanted a splash of ink near the heart but decided the chevron would work.  I bought this punch because I loved the look, and I've only used it once or twice.  I'm happy it seemed to work on this one.  Let me know what you think!

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PPA 237

This fabulous sketch by Nicole Watt had me a little stumped at first.  I decided to use the beautiful Painted Blooms dsp again because how can you go wrong with that, right?!  As always, I kept it simple.  I used my favorite new toy, Hello You Thinlits.  I cannot tell you how much I love these word dies!! The dots are from the Painted Petals stamp set and the sentiment is from Crazy About You.  They're both in the Occasions Catalog.

I also wanted to show you a card my four year old granddaughter made.  She slept over last weekend and we had a blast.  She just loves her Stickles!  And she always picks my "pupcake" punch.  She squirted out a blob of purple and then decided to add a bow of twine.   This was 100% her idea.  I think she has a career in stamping. What do you think?

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