The first time I flipped through Stampin’ Up!’s 2013 Spring Catalog, I was immediately drawn to the prominent use of Pool Party. Perhaps I was always so in love with Baja Breeze that I didn’t even give Pool Party a second look (I’m loyal that way), but I must admit that it’s nice to see Pool Party getting her time in the spotlight. It must have been cold there in Baja Breeze’s shadow, to never have sunlight on your face…
More Amore Designer Series Paper features three gorgeous colors (Real Red, Primrose Petals and Pool Party) and two accenting neutrals (Basic Black and Very Vanilla). All of these colors work beautifully together, so I didn’t have to work too hard to complete this 5″ x 5″ card:
Before I reveal some tips and tricks, I want to tell you that I took this picture multiple times with lots of different light. It came out a little hazy every time. That’s when I realized that this beautiful card pulled one over on me and contracted for an Elizabeth Taylor-esque filter over the lens – everything looks so soft and young with a lens filter. Diva!
Tips, Tricks and Reminders:
- Nesting. I’m an accountant. I love for there to be great symmetry and balance when I nest shapes inside of one another. A 1″ circle is ALWAYS the going to next perfectly inside a 2″ circle. A 1″ square is always going to next perfectly inside a 2″ square. Ovals and hearts, though, don’t have standard shapes. As a result, this lazer cut heart from More Amore doesn’t nest perfectly inside the Hearts Collection Framelit cutout (I would have loved for this framelit heart to have been stubbier and shorter), but I had to put my accountant ways aside and love these shapes for who they are. I had to look past the imbalance and just embrace the beauty.
- Balance. This card has several layers of rigid squares, followed by two layers of rounded hearts. When I was deciding what type of sentiment to add, I knew I needed to repeat the squared layers by adding a sharp-edged banner. I softened the banner a bit by curling the edge (a trick I learned from my good friend, Ann Schach). I simply rolled the edge tightly around my paper piercer and then flattened it a bit by rolling it back out.
- A Little Touch of Class. This More Amore DSP design strattles the fence between cooly modern and beautifully classic. How someone interprets the design will all depend on the way you dress it up. I selected this large Vintage Faceted Designer Button to really class-up the joint. This single accent, further highlighted by the gorgeous sentiment from Loving Thoughts, really sets the tone for the whole card. I tied in some thick vanilla baker’s twine from my Pop-up Posies Kit to finish off the look.
Stamp sets: Loving Thoughts Papers: Pool Party, Primrose Petals, More Amore, Very Vanilla Inks: Primrose Petals Accessories: Hearts Collection Framelits, Vintage Faceted Designer Buttons, Pop-Up Posies Kit, Glue Dots
Thank you for stopping by my blog today!
Brian
Update on Jude’s card: You’ll be so happy to know that Jude’s card arrived safely in Pittsburgh Wednesday morning, just four days after Jonas’ arrived. Phew!
WOW, great card. I’m a sucker for hearts! Glad Jude’s card arrived.
Love the sentiment on an angle here!! Thank goodness Jude’s card arrived safely, I know that’s a relief for all of you!
Beautiful! I love Pool Party! I actually had to push myself towards Baja Breeze because I love Pool Party so much. (Blush)
Hmmm … I struggle with design balance as well. Glad I can blame it on the “accountant” in me, too! 😉
Greet to hear the missing birthday card arrived!!!
Have a great day, Brian!
Simply beautiful, Brian. The fabulous die cut heart really looks amazing inside the Pool Party bigger heart and this colors are so soft and fun. I’m going to play around with my new paper, my dear and you can be sure I’m going to have a great time. Thank you so much Brian, for everything!!
PS. I’m also very happy that your other card arrived at it’s destination. Sheeesh!! maybe that is why we call the struggling US. Postal Service, “snail mail” now a days.
Great card Brian. I like hearing your perspective about the design and your thoughts about how this came to life. Funny though…. I always thought of Pool Party as a Mister, probably because he and I have had a torrid affair ever since Stampin’ Up! introduced him to everyone. Of course, I’ve had to keep a close eye on him because he really likes the ladies.
Regarding Judas’ card. I wish it had a lil video camera on it. Would have been fun to see what adventures it went on during its travels. I wonder if it was looking for the baggage handler that attacked your suitcase while you traveled for leadership.
Ta TA!
First I am glad you didn`t have a Dorothy experience yesterday ! I was so hoping that you and Bandit weren`t swirling around in a funnel cloud over Atlanta . Second …now this is freaky….last night I was in the big catty looking at the individual packs of Pool Party CS !! It was like a voice that kept telling me “You need to order some Pool Party card stock” …. It`s just like I suspected…this blog has “Mind Control” Thank goodness I already have this dsp and the Heart Framelets … or I would be in ordering torment all day !!! BTW…Ann…thanks for the tip you passed on to Brian …I will be using that one !! Hey, maybe we could call this Terrific Tips Thursday !! That is if the Tuesday title doesn`t fit .
O.K. Brian, now I’ll have “Wind Beneath My Wings” stuck in my head for a week. I just got rid of the Theme from Titanic. LOL
Anywhoooooo, the card is beautiful and I think the scalloped heart looks just fine nested inside the more oval shaped one. I to am a bit OCD about those types of things but heck, once in a while we need to step out of our comfort zone and just enjoy.
Very nice card Brian…love the ode to Bette Midler, ha ha. I know you LOVE Baja Breeze but I have never been a fan. The color is too washed out, but Pool Party…now that’s a happy blue and look how happy your card is since you used Pool Party! Happy Stampin’!
Luv it. Very refreshing to look at. Always adding non traditional colors for Valentine’s is cool. I like to make 5 x 5 cards, I wish SU would bring back the square envelopes.
Beautiful card!!
Love the card Brian! And, love, love, love your Bette Midler reference 😀
Finally some one feels the same as me about the Heart framelits. I abosultely love hearts and in fact I collect them, but I haven’t gotten on board with the framelits and now I know why. They just always felt off balance. I will have to take a serious look at them again.
Hey Renette, The Hearts Collection framelits all line up inside one another perfectly. Love that! I used the lazer cut heart from More Amore, though, and those hearts aren’t the same shape. THe framelits line up perfectly, though.
I’d like to say I’m totally irritated about now having Wind Beneath My Wings stuck in my head, but it did kick out Thrift Shop. 🙂 I’m crazy about nesting shapes properly, too. Trying to get over it, though!
I always enjoy reading about your thoughts as you create your cards. I am so totally not creative and never understand how people come up with all their lovely designs. Thank you for giving me some insight into the process. This Valentine is a beauty!
Wonderful design and I am a great fan of Pool Party so it makes me very happy to see that you used it for the base as well….TFS!