Today’s card is designed for the Pals Paper Arts 148 Color Challege. The colors selected for this challenge are gorgeous for any time of year, but they are especially beautiful for a close-to-Christmas challenge. The colors are Crumb Cake, Always Artichoke and Cherry Cobbler. I’ve also included a product from the 2013 Spring Catalog (active in January) – can you find it? Here’s my card: 
Although I opted out of piano lessons in middle school, I will step out on a limb and tell you that the music in the background of this paper is not the score of a Christmas carol. Sure looks like it, though, when the Cherry Cobbler is applied to the background. Although I am not an ornithologist (that makes me sound a lot smarter than if I had said “bird scientist”), I will step out on a limb and tell you that the bird featured in the Bird Builder punch is not a partridge in a pear tree or a winter cardinal. Sure look like it, though, when it’s placed inside this oval shape. So, I guess there’s nothing Christmas-y about this card, but the colors sure bring it all together to say “Merry Christmas!”
Tips, Tricks and Reminders:
- The background paper. Did I just hear you say, “Where’s that background paper? I’ve never seen it before.” Well you have. It’s the Natural Composition Specialty Designer Series Paper found on page 162 of the Annual Catalog. With a sponge and some Cherry Cobbler ink, I changed the entire look of this sheet. If you missed this technique the first time, check out my original post here.
- Did you see it? Were you able to point out the Sneak Peek item from the 2013 Spring Catalog? It’s not the paper, it’s not the bird punch, it’s not the branch. By process of elimination, guess again. That’s right! It’s the oval. That’s not the oval punch. In the Spring Catalog, Stampin’ Up! is introducing a collection of Oval Framelits. There are some beautiful DSPs coming your way and some really cool stamp sets, but the Oval Framelits are pretty great.
Paper: Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Natural Composition Specialty Designer Series Paper Ink: Cherry Cobbler Accessories: Ovals Collections Framelits (sneak peek), Bird Builder Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals
Thanks for stopping by my blog today! Pop on over to the Pals Paper Arts site to see the other cards – and to submit one of your own.
Brian
Love musical notes on cards …love love this little bird ….i have used this bird in a jillion different colors and DSP s ….and that branch is handy too for different uses …. one of the resons I love this sweet little bird is (yes, you guessed it ) NO FEET . I think it`s interesting that there will be ovals featured since I have been trying to decide if I want to order the oval punch . Now , I will have to wait and see what sizes these ovals are ….a lot of people use the ovals for punch art projects …. I like your card even though you say it`s not a Cardinal with a little something on top for a crest it could be !!! Thank you for the peek ….when will the new cattys be out?????
Sonny, I LOVE your “no feet on a bird” rule. It amuses me every time I hear it. Makes sense to me, though, because a walking bird (much like a walking cat) is up to something. A nestled, resting bird (much like a nestled, resting cat) is sweet and quiet and not biting my feet in the middle of the night.
I might be a day or two off on these dates, but it’s too early for me to look it up – Spring Catalog opens up January 3. Sale-a-Bration (the second “most wonderful time of the year”) opens up January 22. Yay!
This bird punch just arrived last thursday and I love it, I don’t know why I waited so long to get it. I have the stamp set that has that bird shape and I can see a lot of ways to use it for any occasion. I’m not to much of a fan of DSP because both sides of it are so pretty that I feel I’m wasting the underside. I still have to take that leap of faith and get some. Your card is beautiful, Brian and this colors speak Christmas. I got one card from the swap that had this bird stamped and punched in red sitting pretty inside a beautiful embossing folder that I’m getting on my December SU order.
Maria, Have I got a treat for you today? This Specialty DSP is only printed (and clear embossed) on one side. Yay!
Oh my goodness!!!!! Thank you, THANK YOU for letting me know this Brian. This paper is sooooo beautiful, you just gave me that little push I needed to get some. Fabulous!!!!!
I never look at the section on the catalogs where the paper is because I thought DSP meant double sided sheets. I feel so bad that I almost missed getting this gorgeous paper. From now on, I will pay closer attention to the catalog pages.
Thanks again, Brian.
Stunning! I studied your “dsp” forever wondering if maybe you stamped the music sheet note in bleach, such work..boy that Naturals Composition Paper inks up well! Amazing. I”m happy to see the Oval Framelits, -Sonny, invest in the punch as well, it matches the Designer Frames Embossing Folders set, but before you do, SIGN UP UNDER BRIAN! And join the Family!! You’ll earn an entire set of New Firm Foam Ink Pads on top of oh $165. of product with your $99. sign up fee. NO obligations. Never need to sell a thing, enjoy your discount and best of all, meet the most amazing people in this business. We all would be blessed to call you ” Sista!”
Wow, Patti! You’re good! You’re real good!
Brian, take note …did you see how Patti just made you a sale ???? Struck like a Cobra !!!! See…now I want both the punch and the folder… She also put in about the hobby status…Patti , I have had this put to me many times…tempting ..just to pay for my STUFF…but I don`t want the responsibiltes..
That Patti did me a solid, no? Let’s talk, Sonny. 🙂 This whole “responsibilities” thing is a myth. I respect your decision to stay as a customer, but I want to make sure you fully understand what comes with the demonstratorship. Could be real fun.
Sonny, I’m a hobby demo, and the only responsibility to it is shopping for fabulous Stampin’ Up products! You need to have a serious conversation about it with Brian. I have never been sorry about doing it — there are only positives!
Wow Beth! Thanks! Gold star for you!
I am so glad that I signed up under Brian! He’s my inspiration and mentor, but when it comes to business, listen to the numbers guy…he knows what he’s talkin’ about! ;D I may be having a slow start, but also, as they say, “my way”…it doesn’t bother me, because I know my time’s coming! Thanks, Brian…beautiful card, and the framelits are going on my next order, hon!
Another day, another dollar … no, I should say another great idea from BRIAN! I have that DSP; I just HAD to have it! But, I haven’t used it. 🙁 One of the reasons was it being on the Crumb Cake paper which I do love, don’t get me wrong; but I seem to reserve it for masculine cards. Sponging it with the Cherry Cobbler is such a great idea and changed it so dramatically. It went from casual to elegant!
And the little bird is just so sweet – I should use it more. As much as I love all the SU! punches, I really love the idea of them making more of the basic shapes in the framelit groups. It saves dollar-wise and space-wise as well as travel-wise if you attend crops, etc.
Thanks, Brian, from MinneSNOWta and I do mean SNOW!
P. S. I know what you mean, Maria, about DSP. It is SO PRETTY, but hard to give up one side of the paper for the other. 😉 I don’t use it enough on my cards. There are just so many wonderful ideas emanating from Brian’s blog (and dare I say others!) that I jump from idea to idea. I should make a list of all the top techniques, tools, papers, embellishments I want to use before I sit down to design my next card.
Hello Suzie: l don’t buy DSP but Brian just clarify for me that this particular one is one sided and that is good enough for me. And speaking of techniques…..remember that Fairy card I sent to Brian a while ago? Well, I used the Paper Napkin Transfer technique I learned at SCS video tutorials, you can also Google “paper napkin transfer video” and you can watch it on U-tuve, it’s super easy and the results are fabulous. It’s like making your own DSP with napkins, you know? right now, during the Holidays, stores have the most amazing display of paper napkins with beautiful colors and designs on them, and after the Holidays you can get them for pennies. The one I used to make the Fairy card came in a package of 20 napkins for .50c, in the clearance rack at Hobby Lobby.
I hope you try this technique, it’s really super easy.
Thanks, Maria! I will definitely check out the video! Sigh! I’m still working on my Christmas cards … Looking out at 6 inches of freshly fallen snow does help!
Great card, love the DSP and the way you used the large oval to highlight the bird, very nice~!
I am fairly new to your blog and am sure glad I found you!! Love the DSP and the new oval is a must have….thanks for sharing.
Beautiful Card Brian!!! That DSP is on my wishlsit…let’s hope Santa leaves it under the tree for me 🙂
Thank you for the lovely card, Brian, sorry I did not post yesterday! Loved today’s, too. I hope your Christmas is wonderful! I,too, love that Naturals Composition paper…and used up all my music paper as soon as I got it. LOL! Wish they made that paper as a single purchase, 12 sheets would be lovely! Suggest that to Shelli next time you see her. 🙂
Very pretty card, Brian. I love the DSP but haven’t tried coloring it yet. The bird is outstanding on the oval frame lit.
Double, no triple W-O-W, Brian!!!!! This is spectacular and I think it is perfect for Christmas….!!! Thank you for sharing it….and I have everything to recreate it…well, except I don’t have the SU! ovals yet, but do have a set from another un-named company that should work almost as well…..shhhhhh, please don’t rat me out!!!