My Summer Staycation

While some people plan big summer vacations every year, I really enjoy hanging out at home during my time off.  I’ve really grown to love Summer Staycations.  Sure, I will spend some time in Mom’s guest room and on Nana’s couch, but I mostly enjoy when they come to visit me or when I can just hang out at home. 

This week’s theme challenge from The Paper Players is Summer Holiday.  Would I take you to the beach?  Would I try to recreate a theme park trip?  A cruise?  Nope.  I decided to keep it “chill” and hang out, happy to do nothing.  Here’s my card:From My Heart, Dude You're Welcome, Stampin' Up!, Brian King

And here’s the challenge from The Paper Players:

Tips, Tricks and Reminders:

  • Look Carefully!  When I first saw the challenge for this week, my mind went straight to the sentiment in the middle of this card.  Have you seen it before?  While most of today’s project is created by snipping and paper-piecing, I’ve used two stamps that you might not recognize.  Both stamps are very high-profile stamp sets, but it’s possible that you might not have seen these particular images before.  Can you guess them?  Pay close attention to your stamps – you might have some images that you are neglecting.  🙂  The sentiment is from From My Heart, and the jagged circle is from Dude You’re Welcome: 

  • Deconstructed Sunshine.  Other than the sentiment, the central focus of this card is the 1970’s-inspired, deconstructed sunshine.  I didn’t want to make a literal sunshine, so I played around with different shapes and patterns to arrive at this look.  I am quite happy with it – later this week, I am going to share some tips about how to crop these shapes and assemble them.
  • Colors.  Daffodil Delight and Pumpkin Pie were the obvious choices to represent sunbeams.  As the card began to take on a groovy ’70’s vibe, I added Tempting Turquoise.  I was happy with these three colors.  When I tried to attach these shapes to a 6″x6″ card base, I realized I was limited on the colors I have in 12″x12″.  Pool Party is the only color that came close to fitting this color scheme (Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake were my other options).  I really liked it here, so I embraced the Pool Party and added it in other areas, as well.

Stamp sets:  From My Heart, Dude You’re Welcome  Papers:  Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Pool Party, Pool Party Core’dinations  Inks:  Tempting Turquoise, Pumpkin Pie  Accessories:  3″ Circle Originals, Stampin’ Dimensionals 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  Please go to The Paper Players to check out the other inspiration cards.

Brian

20 Comments

  1. Talk about thinking out of the box. You threw the box away! Great job.

  2. Brian, this is a great use of this sentiment! Love your card and love staycations, too! 🙂

  3. I’d call this card a zinger! I expected to see a fabulous card and instead I saw a phenomenal card! A sunshiny card for a sunshiny day. Zowie (used to say this in the 70’s) Brian, this card is one beautiful baby all right!

  4. Awesome card, Brian! I’m with you on the staycations.

  5. a brian king classic. so crisp and clean!

  6. A staycation sounds perfect to me! This is so bright and summery – love it!

  7. Anyone would be happy to receive this card. So happy and cheery.

  8. A few rays of sunshine! Love the way you made this card, Brian. TFS!

  9. This card is an advertiement for summer ! A great card for many events ….all full of sunshine !

  10. This card presents a real dilemma–do I like the sunshine design the best? Or is it the perfect use of that sentiment (one of my favorites in the catalog)? Or is it that color combo? I think the addition of Pool Party out of necessity, ended up being a big win here–giving the overall look a more laid-back summer vibe. Excellent. And I can’t wait to see your tips on making Mr. Sun! –Terri O

  11. Very clever use of underutilized pieces!

  12. When you do it, Brian, you do it up right, big time! I am so loving that sunshine and the sentiment! And staycations are my favorite! {plus, they don’t cost as much, which makes me even happier!} Way to go, our King!! ;D

  13. This is so fun! I noticed this sentiment just the other day as well! And I am with you…staycations are the best sometimes!

  14. Love this Brian!!! So fun and bright!! Reminds me very much of summer!! I have been eyeballing that set and I love that saying….I guess I know what will be on my next order!!!

  15. Maria Rodriguez.

    What a bright and cheerful card!! the colors speak Summer!!! How did you make those rays of sunshine so perfectly? Choosing Pool Party instead of your other choices was brilliant, I think the other colors wouldn’t have looked so good for this great Summer card, in my very humble opinion.

  16. Awesome card, Brian! So unique! I love the summery colors!

  17. Love the Partridge Family vibe, Brian!

  18. How I’d love to come and chill out in your fungeon and bring my pal Lorraine ***sigh**

  19. Great card! So graphic and such great colors! Your fussy cutting is quite impressive too! 🙂

  20. Brian, trust you to take a vintage sentiment and rock it on a CAS card! Love the sunburst and I think the sentiment is perfect for a summer themed card!
    love it
    jaydee

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