Sending Many Thanks & PPA149

During this week of Christmas, I am sharing ideas for your thank you cards. If you’ve already exchanged gifts with your loved ones, then I hope you received everything you dreamed of. If you haven’t yet exchanged, then my fingers are crossed for you. More than anything, though, I hope you have relaxing day filled with family, friends and food (or in peaceful solitude, if that’s what you wish for).

Today’s card is based on a Pals Paper Arts sketch challenge.  The sketch for this card was unveiled on Thursday.  Since I first saw the sketch, I have designed at least fifteen cards.  Ooh!  A nice bold ornament.  Ooh!  I should use my Oval Framelits.  Ooh!  What about a New Year’s card?  None of these card ideas, though, ever made it to paper.  Isn’t that the way it always goes?  I’m glad because I quite like the clean and simple card that I finally made. 

First, the card, then the sketch. Here’s my thank you card:

The layout for my card was inspired by this sketch by the very talented Margaret Moody:

Tips, Tricks and Reminders:

• Create a Continuing Pattern.  I’ve wanted to create this card for a couple of weeks (since I first worked with this Comfort Cafe DSP for this polar bear card).  When I was working on the polar bear card, I was intrigued by the idea of creating the illusion of a continuing pattern.  Here’s how I did it:  I trimmed the DSP at 1-3/4″ and 5-1/4″.  Using my 1-3/4″ circle punch, I carefully punched a circle from the remaining piece of DSP and lined it up perfectly inside the Perfect Pennants Bigz L die cut.  
• A Perfect Crop.  When I ran my Perfect Pennants Bigz L die through my Big Shot, I added two sheets of copy paper on top of the cutting plate to ensure a thorough crop.  I didn’t want to cut out all those delicate pieces.  I used my paper piercing tool to poke out all those little pieces.  They came out with ease.
• Keep it Simple.  I decided to limit the colors on this card, using only three.  I like the simplicity of it all.  It’s hard to see in this picture, but while the DSP is as smooth as can be, it has a lovely texture to it.  Soft enough, though, for the beautiful sentiment and surrounding circles and dies.

Stamp sets:  Petite Pairs  Papers:  Midnight Muse, Comfort Cafe DSP, Pool Party, Very Vanilla  Inks:  Midnight Muse  Accessories:  Perfect Pennants Bigz L die, 1-3/4″ Circle punch, 1-3/8″ Circle punch, 1-3/4″ Circle punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Thanks for stopping by my blog today.  Now, finish your coffee and then get the ham in the oven.  After dinner, you can start making your thank you notes.  Merry Christmas, my friend!

Brian

Be on the lookout!  I’ve got lots of wonderful offers for you when the Spring Catalog is revealed on January 3.  I’ll be hosting product shares and bundles.  I’ll also be creating a DSP sampler that you won’t want to miss.  Also in January, I’m introducing some .pdf tutorials and joint projects with other great designers.  2013 is going to be amazing, and I’m happy you’ll be sharing in the excitement with me.