Before I share today’s card, I want to thank Colleen Begley, a Design Team Member for The Paper Players, for selecting my “You’re My Anchor” card as A Cut Above in last week’s Paper Players Challenge. If you missed that card, you can see it here. I love playing along with these challenges, and it’s always a thrill to be recognized. Thanks, Colleen!
This week’s Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge was designed for this time of year – soft and sweet colors as we head into Easter weekend. Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride and So Saffron – Michelle Gleeson, this week’s Featured Artist, chose these amazing colors, and I couldn’t be happier. It gave me a chance to crack open Helping Me Grow, a photopolymer stamp set in this year’s Occasions Catalog. I’m also adding my card to Jaydee’s “Clean and Simple Spring” Theme at The Paper Players – these colors worked perfectly with that theme. Here’s my card for this week’s challenge:
And here are the banners for the challenges that inspired my card:
Tips, Tricks and Reminders
- Helping Me Grow. I don’t make a lot of “flower” cards, so Helping Me Grow was not initially at the top of my list. As I started making my list, though, I started to see the merits in these oversized flowers (they can easily cover the front of a card) and border images. I’ve really begun to appreciate the many ways I can use this set. I guess you could say, it’s helping me grow. Do you see what I did there? 🙂 Here’s a look at this set – check out how many great images and sentiments are included – no reason why I should have passed it up in the first place.
Helping Me Grow, Stampin’ Up!
- Background Texture. To give the flowers some life, I painted So Saffron ink onto each one with my Stampin’ Write Marker. When I was done snipping my flowers, I realized my background needed a little “umph”. I reached for the background dots from Number of Years and found they were SO EASY to line up perfectly to create a subtle backdrop of dots. What a great find and a much-needed texture behind these sweet flowers.
- Framing the Frame. The sentiment on this card is my favorite part – and how I framed it. I stamped the sentiment (from Grateful Bunch) inside the frame (from Rose Wonder) and cropped it with the Rose Garden Thinlits. I then used my Blushing Bride Stampin’ Write Marker to paint around the edges (between the black frame and the cropped edge). Such a sweet detail that made all the different (and allowed me to add my required amount of pink to the card.
Stamp Sets: Helping Me Grow, Number of Years, Grateful Bunch, Rose Wonder Papers: Crumb Cake, So Saffron, Whisper White, Thick Whisper White Inks: Archival Basic Black, Stampin’ Write Markers (So Saffron, Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron) Accessories: Rose Garden Thinlits Dies, Stampin’ Dimensionals
I hope you’ll pop over to the Pals Paper Arts site and the Paper Players site to see the other cards by the design team members and to play along with Michelle’s fun color challenge.
Thanks for stopping by today!
Brian
That was brilliant what you did with the sentiment, Brian! Thank you for sharing the technique.
Thanks, Carolyn. I’m so glad you like it. I was happy that it gave me the right amount of pink. 🙂
Have you ever wanted a stamp set just for one or two of the stamps ? I really like the little corner stamps in this Helping Me Grow set ,but I have a jillion sets with flowers so have been hesitant to get it . Now I want it again !! You made a sweet and pretty card with these giant flowers . I especially like the pink accent around the sentiment . Mine would not turn out that good I am sure (giggle) So I doubt I will try that technique ,but I like it on yours !
Sonny – do you know me? I have many stamp sets just for one or two images. This one gets better and better the more I sit with it, though. 🙂 My next goal – to make the giant flowers feel less giant. <3
Sonny- you so need this set! Those little corners are amazing!!! You will love them
That’s right, Jennifer. 🙂 You tell her. <3
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Brian- this card is so happy and pretty! Perfect for the colors you are using. I adore this stamp so much. It is one of my favorite from the occasions catalog. Yet, I have not made a card with it….guess I will be doing that today!!!
Thanks so much, Jennifer. Get to work on that – and share what you make. Can’t wait to see!
Pretty card, Brian. I like how you used the dots, the big flowers work well and the pink on the sentiment is perfect. Great take on the challenge colors.
Thanks so much, HJ. Glad you like it.
Such lovely coloring and a simple way to share these stamp images!
Thanks, Mary! Always lovely to hear from you.
What a terrific card Brian and that touch of Blushing Bride is just the perfect amount. I love floral stamp sets. Each one has it’s “special” stamps that seem to fit a specific type of card. Since I’m not good at growing flowers in the garden (but thank goodness the hubs is) I have my garden of floral stamps here at my finger tips all the time.
The modem on my computer decided to die on Monday afternoon. Now I’m back on line but I have to play catch up again. Geez! Glad it happened this week and not next week.
Glad you are back, Grace! 🙂 I don’t have a green thumb, either. These flowers will never wilt, either. <3
Beautiful card Brian. I love those large flowers taking center stage, and the soft colors for this challenge worked so beautifully.
Thanks, Lynn. Glad you liked it.
Great coloring and background…loving this sentiment..using it a lot myself! But perfect for you…because you are totally awesome!
Awww…thanks, Windy! This sentiment is beautiful (both font and thought).
Great idea in coloring the edge of the sentiment! AND, the the faint dots in the background adds a nice touch! Nice job!
Thanks, Katrina! Glad you like those elements. They were fun to pull together.
Lovely card Brian and fabulous tip to use a marker to go around the edge of the sentiment die cut piece! Excellent way to create a border when there isn’t a die a step larger to crop a piece of colored cardstock.
Glad you like it – I think I’ll be using this one a bit more.
Beautiful! Brian, you really need to play with your flower stamps more. You do a great job. Do I spy a little fussy cutting too? Thank you for the great inspiration.
Rae – you caught me. I can barely get through a card without a little bit of fussy cutting. Thanks!
Love how you worked that sentiment…would love to see a video on the technique…you are The Master of Snipping!
I think I’ll make one this weekend, Sandra! <3
I love the way you colored the sentiment panel and how you colored your flowers in. Beautiful! I just put this set on my list.
Yay! Glad you liked it, Michelle! It’s a fun set to work with.
I totally thought the pink on the sentiment was a layer of paper and kept trying to figure out how you did that. Must try this technique.
Thanks Brian
Thanks, Lynn! While I COULD HAVE snipped the frame and added a cropped layer, the painted edge is, by far, easiest. Glad you like it. 🙂
One Word my friend
Beautiful!!
Tfs
Hugs Frenchie
Thanks, Frenchie! <3
Oh these colors are lovely together and you’ve used them beautifully! Love the pop of pink…so glad you joined us at The Paper Players!
Thanks, Nance! Great challenge.
You used the colors in such a beautiful way to create this lovely Spring card!
Thanks for sharing at the Paper Players!
Thanks, Hannelie! I appreciate your kind words.
Brian
Love this card! It would be a great card for a monthly club. Each month you use one of the several stamp sets for a club. Then at the end of the club, you make this card with all the previous month’s stamp sets and finish it off with the rose wonder bundle. I would also encourage the numbers set bundle in one of the months. This could be a spring/summer club!
Good idea, Nancy! <3
I love what you did to the frame!!!
Thanks, Kelly! 🙂
Brian, your card is a perfect reflection of your exquisite taste for elegant simplicity. Absolutely adore this card! Well done…
Thanks, Katy! Glad you like it.
Very nice, Brian. You’re right, those flowers are perfect for this color challenge, but that sentiment is perfect for you!
Awww…thanks, Shawn! I really appreciate that.
LOVE!!! This is a masterpiece. x
<3 You are so good to me, Louise.
Wow, Brian, this card is so beautiful! So happy to see you using flowers, you do excellent work with them. Now I have seen two with this set. I missed this in my moving. And today’s lilacs, also gorgeous.
On this card – excellent coloring around label! Love it!