After a dusting of snow this past week, we had a beautiful, shorts-weather weekend here in Atlanta. Regardless of the whether it feels just around the corner or light years away, I think we are all yearning for Spring. The soft, quiet colors and the gentle burst of life that always happens after a long Winter. Spring inspired my long, slender card today – along with a little help from Freshly Made Sketches and The Paper Players. Here’s my card:
Here’s Cindy Hall’s sketch that inspired my creation:
And here’s Anne Marie’s color challenge for The Paper Players:
Tips, Tricks and Reminders
- Paper Piecing. I’ve been paper piecing (no “r” in that last word) since I started stamping, but I’m starting to accept that I really, really love it. I already accept my fascination with snipping bitty pieces of paper. Because I also love bold images, I guess it makes sense that I want to fill those images with fun patterns. Not only were the vases paper pieced with a piece of polka dot paper from the Neutrals Background Designer Series Paper Stack, but the flowers were also stamped with different Designer Series Papers. What fun! If you want to learn more about paper piecing, check out my video here.
- Cotton Twine. To create the Wild Wasabi strand and bow, I used Painted Blooms Cotton Twine. While the thickness of this twine is somewhere between Baker’s Twine and Thick Baker’s Twine, the softness of it is unbelievable. It’s so easy to use and tie. The Painted Blooms Cotton Twine comes with three spools of ribbon in three colors: Wild Wasabi, Soft Sky and Whisper White.
- Workaround. After I stamped down the three vases and was ready to add my twine, I realized the middle flower extended almost to the top of the card panel. Doh! I still hadn’t added the twine element. Rather than place the twine over the flower, I decided to glue the snipped flower over the twine. Why not? It was already snipped – no skin off my back. 🙂
Stamp Sets: Vivid Vases, Simply Wonderful (Sale-a-Bration stamp set) Papers: Crumb Cake, Crisp Cantaloupe, Whisper White, Neutrals Background Designer Series Paper Stack (Crumb Cake), Subtles Background Designer Series Paper Stack (So Saffron), Painted Blooms Designer Series Paper Inks: Tuxedo Black Memento Accessories: Painted Blooms Cotton Twine, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals
I hope you’ll pop over to see the cards by the design team members and to play along with this week’s challenges (you can click on the above challenge badges to go directly to the challenges).
Thanks for stopping by today!
Brian
Join during Sale-a-Bration. During Sale-a-Bration, customers earn free product, hosts can earn free product and you can earn free product when you join my team. You can choose between two Sale-a-Bration items or one of the kits in the Occasions Catalog when you buy the Starter Kit ($125 of your choice of product for just $99) during Sale-a-Bration. If you’ve EVER wanted to earn a discount on Stampin’ Up! products, here’s your chance. Please reach out to me at [email protected] if you’d like to discuss further with me – I’d LOVE to talk with you. To buy the Starter Kit, please CLICK HERE.
Beautiful–love it!! Must CASE! Thank you, Brian!
Glad you clarified that paper “piecing” vs. paper “piercing. ” I’m so easily confused! Nice card, as always, Brian.
You are a master at wrangling tiny pieces of paper! This is sweet!
Great job of making this a Spring card ! The flowers (master–“pieces” ) and that pretty soft twine (on the list for next order) really make this card sing .
BTW….how did you get snow and we didn`t because if Atlanta gets snow then Charlotte does! Glad we didn`t ! Also glad you didn`t lose any skin off your back ! (giggle)
Glad your skin is intact, LOL….your card is quite cute
Great looking card, Brian. I love elongated cards and this is a keeper. Really like the challenge colors together too. Happy to hear Spring is finally making it your way!
Funny – I had to re-read my own post to see what all these “back skin” references were about. I wrote the post last night and don’t remember writing that – but I wrote it. 🙂
Oh so “springy”, oh so pretty, oh so perfect! Love it!
I love this! I haven’t done any paper piecing in so long. I have this stamp set and haven’t really made anything I liked using it. I’m going to try this! Thank you!
I love it Brian. The polka dots add a touch of whimsy that just works for me. As much as the idea of snipping makes my palms sweat and my pulse go off the chart I’m going to actually try paper piecing.
Robbye – Love that you are willing to try. Start with something large and oversized, and work your way down to these bitty bits. 🙂
I love how the flowers ended up over the twine! So wonderful how those little “problems” make the card better!
Ah, so lovely and clean, Brian. I so enjoy your artistic aesthetic. 😉
Love this pretty vases with this little flowers, you are a master at paper snipping, oh wow!! and the tall pink cutie over the twine, great detail, even if it was a “mistake”, good thing you didn’t loose any skin off your back 😉
You are so funny, even when you don’t intend to be.
Beautiful colors, beautiful flowers and a great design! Thanks for playing along with us at Freshly Made Sketches!
Brain, I am a new demonstrator as of mid-February and I have been following your site for a while now. I just love your sense of style! Vivid Vases was one of my first stamps and remains a favorite. It’s so versatile as you’ve shown with this great card using paper piecing or “fussy cutting” as I’ve also heard. I love it and I will CASE it at one of my classes in the future. My first workshop is tomorrow night and I am sooo excited! Just had to share! Wish me luck!
Ok I have to say this – I’ve never paper pierced! I love the look but never think to do it! You’ve now inspired me to give it a go (soon-ish). I love the softness of these colour – you’ve created a lovely calming card. Thanks for joining us at FMS this week!
Love the paper piercing! Great job with both challenges. That’s a fun sketch, I love the elongated card. Thanks for playing along with us at The Paper Players this week!
Love the long, skinny card, Brian! Those paper pieced vases are too cute. You have a lot of patience to cut those itty bitties out, that’s for sure. 🙂 Thanks so much for joining us this week at The Paper Players!