Merry Christmas with Mary Fish

It’s a wonderful day!  Today I’m so excited to be the Guest Stamper on Mary Fish’s Stampin’ Pretty blog.  What a real honor!  In preparation for this day, I played around with lots of fun ideas and different styles – flashy, solemn, silly.  In the end, though, I decided to create and share a project that best exemplifies my style as a card designer – tailored layers of beautiful card stock in a very clean style.  Here’s my project:

Merry Everything, Stampin' Up!, Brian King Tips, Tricks and Reminders

  • Perfect Layers and Balance.  I love a well-matted card with gorgeous layers of card stock –  so tailored, so clean.  Behind each of these panels of card stock, I positioned a piece of Whisper White card stock, just 1/8″ longer on both sides.  The Pear Pizzazz panel is balanced perfectly between two rows of trees and extends just beyond the outermost frame.  I achieved additional balance by adding three Cherry Cobbler circles punched from the Cupcake Builder punch.  These circles are smaller than a candy dot and don’t scream for attention like those rhinestones and pearls.
  • Note Card.  The only layer on this card that isn’t matted is the Whisper White sentiment that I cropped with Ovals Collection Framelits.  I needed that big pop of white as a focal point on this card.  Regular Whisper White card stock is not as sturdy as colored card stock and might bend a bit if popped up with Stampin’ Dimensionals and not supported by an additional layer of card stock.  To compensate, I stamped my sentiment on a Whisper White note card – much sturdier and just as beautiful.
  • Color Combination.  It’s so easy to create some really great color combinations at Christmas time.  All of Stampin’ Up!’s green, red and brown colors work beautifully together.  I paired the rich Early Espresso with the regal Cherry Cobbler.  To soften things up a bit, I chose the somewhat-muted Pear Pizzazz to round out my color palette.  If you like these three colors together, feel free to save this:Color Inspiration, Stampin' Up!, Brian King

Stamp Sets:  Merry Everything  Papers:  Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White, Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Stack, Whisper White Note Card  Inks:  Cherry Cobbler  Accessories:  Cupcake Builder punch, Ovals Collection Framelits, Stampin’ Dimensionals

Merry Everything, Stampin' Up!, Brian King

Thank you for stopping by today!

Brian

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2014 Designer Series Swatch Books, Brian KingSwatch Books.  I use my Designer Series Paper Swatch Books every day – they are a great reference tool for card designers and a wonderful sales tool for demonstrators to share these beautiful papers with their customers.  The pages are staggered for easy flipping, and all the colors are conveniently listed on the back.  To order or for more information, please click here.

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25 Comments

  1. Great card. . . love the colors and super layers. Love it. Happy to see you on Mary’s site too.
    🙂

  2. Well Brian, I just came from Mary’s blog and I told her that it was exactly this way, being her guest stamper, that I met you more than 2 years ago and let me tell you my dear that, it has been one heck of an experience. I love your style and your sense of humor, your fabulous paper crafting skills and your incredible drive. You have come a long way Brian and I’m sure you will keep growing and going even farther. I thank you for sharing your creativity with us every day, your fabulous style and charming sense of humor, every day when I open your post, I know in advance that I will be totally amazed.
    So thank you again Brian, for all you do every day for all of us, coming here is one of the best ways to start the day.
    This card you made for Mary is a perfect example of what an amazing paper crafter you truly are, it’s beautiful and stylish, beautifully layered and elegant.
    Thank you so much for sharing.

    • There’s nothing left for me to say – Maria said it all as though she were reading my thoughts! We, the members of the Brian King Fan Club, just love you to pieces.

    • Marie , you said all !!!
      That’s why he’s our KING !!!!!!
      Tfs hugs Maria
      Frenchie ,

    • Maria, Thank you so much! What a super-sweet bundle of words you’ve shared – I love them all. I am so lucky to have such wonderful people check-in with me every day. I love that so many of you also have such kind things to say every day, too – it really means a lot to me and inspires me to give it my all every day. Thanks so much!

  3. Wow! Look at those rich colors ! I would not have put that brown in there …..but look at the color impact ! Great card …..and as you said it is tailored ! I like that description . Looking good on Mary`s blog !

  4. Love , love your card Brian , those colors were the best !!!!!
    Tfs,
    Hugs frenchie ,

  5. Classic King!

  6. Love the crisp we layers. They really brighten the card against the reds and greens. Beautiful.

  7. Love this card, Brian. Clean, classic, totally perfect! I enjoy your posts and tips and always learn something.

  8. Beautiful, rich colors, Brian! I love your clean and sassy (oh, was that supposed to be simple?) style. I tend to be CAS too, and learn so much from you. Thanks for sharing your thoughts behind each step of your cards.

  9. First of all, THANK YOU SO MUCH, BRIAN, for reminding me that I could make “tinnier” simulated Candy Dots with the cupcake punch! I could have really used this hint the other day when I didn’t want to use pearls or rhinestones and there were no Candy Dots in the color I was using … plus no small enough punch.
    The color palette reminds me of woolen blankets in guest rooms at “way up north” lodges. The Early Espresso and Cherry Cobbler are pretty dark and the Pear Pizzazz isn’t light enough on its own to balance out the others, but YOU did such a great job with using the Whisper White matting to accomplish that balance! Another home run card, Brian!!!

  10. Maria did say it all!!! Well done, the King of Layers at his Best !!!
    I LOVE the Color Combo that you used so rich and elegant!!
    You are amazing Brian!! Thank you for sharing your awesome talents with us !!

  11. Really like your card esp. the layout..thanks for sharing!

  12. Awesome card and great color combo! I can’t wait to get my swatch books from you!! I use them all the time!

  13. WOW< LOVE how your fungeon looks, see you copied Mary's style, Just slightly.Awesome card

  14. Awesome card Brian. I love how you think outside the box for your color choices. You always create cards with such depth and balance.

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  16. What a fantastic tailored and warm card! Love it and awesome tip about the little dots.

  17. As always a beautiful card Brian! I love the colors and your layers! I too appreciate your hint for smaller candy dots. Thank you!

  18. Brian, what is the size of this beautiful card?

  19. I’m a fan of square cards too! 🙂

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