Thanks!: PPA153 Sketch Challenge

I love sketch challenges because they provide the structure for a card but leave the theme, colors and patterns to the creator – these challenges simply remove one of the design elements.  On the one hand, this relieves a little bit of design pressure.  On the other hand, there’s added pressure to respect the sketch designer’s vision.  Today’s project is based on the Pals Paper Arts 153 Sketch Challenge, a layout by Margaret Moody.stampwithbrian.com - Thanks!: a PPA153 sketch challengeAnd here’s Margaret’s sketch:PPA153w-frame

When I first saw Margaret’s sketch, I was puzzled about how to treat the the main panels on the sketch.  I knew I wanted bold patterns (there are so many in the Spring Catalog and Sale-a-Bration that I’ve not yet used), but I also knew I didn’t want to include three panels of bold, different patterns.  I wasn’t in my craft room when I wanted to design the card, so I played around with My Digital Studio.  That allowed me to really play around with the DSP without wasting a scrap of paper.  I created this card:stampwithbrian.com - MDS card

MDS is a great resource for making projects you want to print or have printed by Stampin’ Up!’s print center (did you know that the printing prices are really, really low? – I received a package of cards I printed for a friend last week – they’re lovely).  But, MDS is also a great resource for designing a project, playing around with shapes and sizes and patterns while not wasting a scrap of paper or ink.

To try a free 30-day trial of MDS2, please click here.

Paper Card:  Stamp set: Vintage Verses (Sale-a-Bration)  Papers:  Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Parker’s Patterns Designer Series Paper  Inks:  Cherry Cobbler  Accessories:  Window Frames Framelits, 3/16″ Neutrals brads, Stampin’ Dimensionals

MDS2 Card:  Stamps:  Creative ElementsCreative Elements, Designer KitsGet It DoneGet It Done – fun things  Punches:  1.25 Square Punch, 1.25 Circle Punch, ExtrasFlag Punch, Tall Heart Punch  Papers:  Designer Series Paper_Designer KitsParker’s Patterns – designer series paperParker’s Patterns – 1

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  I hope you’ll make a project of your own to enter in the Pals Paper Arts challenge.

Brian
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Good things are starting.  The Charter Members of “My Stampin’ Clubhouse” have been identified, and the club is set to start March 1.  How exciting is that?!  I’m happy to start a new club at anytime, so please let me know if you are interested by emailing me at [email protected].

Good things are coming to an end.  I’ve been offering Spring Catalog DSP swatch books since early January.  I’ll soon be discontinuing them, so please order them now if you are interested!  Click here to learn more and to order them.

17 Comments

  1. So handsome in Early Espresso & Cherry Cobbler. You’re right, there is no shortage of designer paper in the current Catalogs! Margaret, love the sketch!

  2. gorgeous card, colors, everything! I love the idea of using MDS to design a project before digging out the suplies and cutting and gluing.

  3. Very very nice. Great color combo. I am in need of a masculine card soon and believe I will use this layout and colors. Brian, hope everything is falling in place for your debut this weekend. Wishing you tons of luck. I know you will be very successful. 🙂

  4. Great masculine card, I like the color combination and the layout is fantastic.
    Good luck this weekend, wish I could go!! Take pictures, ok?

  5. It’s great that you took a vintage stamp and created a CAS card with it. I also like the color combination.

  6. Bold and trendy…thats how I would describe this card . I always like Margaret Moody`s sketches . I am curious to see how other people used it . I think I will play around with it myself . You could probably sell a few of these cards this weekend . Hopefully you made extras .

  7. Red is my favorite color so this card really made me smile! Hope you are taking help with you for Saturday. Things can get really crazy at those vendor shows!

  8. With the bold DSP as your background, I find the use of the plain Very Vanilla pennants as well as the use of a stamp which does NOT fill the entire Window Framelit to be just about perfect! (Wouldn’t want to cause you to get a big head by saying totally perfect! Wink! Oh, alright, it IS totally perfect in my opinion, Brian! Way to go!)
    How clever to use the MDS software as a design tool …
    Wishing you a very success day at the Chocolate & Vendor Show this weekend!

  9. Oh, my, Brian! I love that you used those bold red chevrons! And the black and white are perfect! Love the 3 banners and sentiment…perfect for this sketch! You ROCK, my friend! I’m waiting to see if my daughter had her baby last night. Cross your fingers!
    Hugs!

  10. Color combo is great. I especially love the 3 accent strips on the left. They they are all different lengths add lots of interest.

  11. Great card, Brian! I just may borrow the sketch/your design for thank you notes to friends who attended a crab feed this last Saturday…the colors are perfect as my table decorations were red and gold for Chinese New Year….thank you!

  12. Love the statement this paper makes along with your embellishments! This is such a great use of the sketch. It’s great how you used MDS first to create your card.

  13. Fabulous card, Brian! I love the chevrons!

  14. Love both cards and the great idea of designing first with MDS! Also love, love, love the colors and paper choices. Thanks for sharing with us at Pals Paper Arts this week!

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