Woo hoo! I was so happy last night to play around with my Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper. I absolutely love the patterns and colors in this paper. Love. Love. Love. I also love a good sketch from Freshly Made Sketches. I always look forward to the sketch and designs from this talented design team. Here’s my card for this week’s challenge:
And here’s the Cindy Lovell’s sketch that inspired my card (this is Cindy’s very first sketch – a really fun one if anyone asks my opinion):
Tips, Tricks and Reminders
- Pattern Matching. This card combines two coordinating patterns of Retro Fresh Designer Series Paper. I could have made one of the panels solid, but I decided to go for it. When combining patterns like this, I think it’s important to balance large patterns with petite patterns. The Tangerine Tango paper at the base has tiny images and is mostly soldi, while the paper with the arrows is filled with large, bold images. That’s why (in my estimation) these two pieces work well together. Balance. You have to have some level of balance with patterns.
- A Banner Tip Tip. Want a perfect tip on your banner? Here’s a tip – please hold for just a moment while I try to stop laughing at myself – nope, still laughing. Gosh, I’m pretty hysterical, huh? OK, get it together, Brian. Want a perfect tip on your banner? There are several options available to you – Banner Framelits, the tip of the Full Heart punch, a Square punch. For this banner, I used the edge of my Hexagon punch. I love the look of a banner tip made with the Hexagon punch.
- Keep it Simple. My style is very clean-and-simple. I like simplicity in designs, but sometimes I make work for myself by trying to make things too difficult. I knew what I wanted with all the elements of this card except for the contents of the circle to the left of the sentiment. I had a ton of things lined up (layers and layers of hearts, arrows, wooden elements) to fill the space there. I tried combinations of every shape and color. In the end, the heart cropped from the same base pattern paper was simple and beautiful. Did you see that the pattern matches the direction of the base pattern?
Stamp Sets: Geometrical Papers: Retro Fresh, Baked Brown Sugar, Coastal Cabana, Very Vanilla Inks: Tangerine Tango Accessories: Circles Collection Framelits, 1-3/4″ Circle punch, Hearts a Flutter Framelits, Stampin’ Dimensionals, Neutrals Candy Dots (Very Vanilla)
Thanks for stopping by my blog today! I enjoyed our time together.
Brian
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I love layering banners and usually have to eyeball it… GENIOYS to use the hexagon punch! Thanks mucho!!!!
Great pattern mix and I like the repeat with your cute little heart . This sketch is very different and a definite challenge . Instead of opting out with solids you added visual pizzaz with the dsp mix . I like your choices . Happy Friday !
What a fun choice using the heart! And I did not notice how you lined up the background paper with the heart’s paper … my eyes aren’t open enough yet or perhaps I haven’t had enough coffee. Love that you did that! And thank you for the reminder about all the ways to make the perfect banner tip! Have a great weekend!
Wow! Fab card with that wonderful paper! Super sweet heart and sentiment…love it!
This is striking! The colors and patterns are so fun! The heart and the banner were the perfect touch.
If you wanted a softer edged banner tip you could possibly use the envelope punch? I might have to try it and see.
I really really really like this card: the patterns work wonderfully together, and I love how you used the colors throughout all the card stock choices.
Brilliant as always Brian. 🙂
Oh so cute! Love it! Have a Fab Friday! 🙂
Super, duper cool card Brian. I really liked the sketch but what you did with it was very enriching. Bright and colorful yet soothing. That is one combo I don’t seem to produce too often. Fab job Brian.
Such a cute card! I’ve tried to use the hex punch to make a banner, but I can’t quite get it. Can you post a picture or a video of how to do that? Or at least some tips? Thanks!
Rebecca, Here’s a link to Mary Fish’s video on using the Hexagon punch to make banner tips. Works like a charm! http://www.stampinpretty.com/2-tricks-for-the-hexagon-punch-1-minute-to-wow.html
Rebecca, thanks for asking Brian about the hexagon punch help!
And thanks, Brian, for your speedy response.
love it Brian! Crisp and clean and so retro!
Love your card, Brian…again! This is probably a silly question, but I’m wondering how you cut the angle of the card stock with the arrows. Thanks and I also laughed (along with you) at your little ‘tip’ joke!
Thanks for asking. That took a lot of brain energy and planning. 🙂 By the time I was done making the card, I didn’t have the energy to explain it. Ha! Here’s a quick summary – I cropped the Tangerine Tango DSP (it’s just a rectangle), laid down the Coastal Cabana where I wanted it (the border of the overlay), flipped it over, traced the back of the Coastal Cabana piece with the back of the DSP and then cut the Coastal Cabana. Next, I fitted and glued the overlay DSP on the Coastal Cabana and then trimmed the edges (again on the backside). I glued that down to the Tangerine Tango DSP piece, making sure the edges were all aligned. It’s THAT easy! 🙂
Thanks for the explanation, Brian! I ‘think’ I get it but I may have to fly to Atlanta and have you show me in person! LOL! You’re the best!
Sandy
Bring some friends with you. 🙂
Love it…love, love, love it! Perfect use of the sketch. Glad to see you this week, as always! Oh, and the new triangle punch mades a really pointy banner tip…tip. 😉
Another stunning card Brian – you always rock our challenges! Thanks for joining us at Freshly Made Sketches this week!
Every time I see this DSP I fall a little bit more in love with it! And I think you’ve used it perfectly with this sketch. Big pattern, small pattern – great advice that! So glad to see you at Freshly Made Sketches!
Brian,your card is stunning!! I just love these papers,the colors are amazing! And i love the sentiment and the heart!! Perfect!
Thank you so much for joining us at Freshly Made Sketches!!
What a lovely and trendy CAS card…such a great use of that sketch!