You Octopi My Thoughts for CTS224

While I’ve been waist-deep in cardstock and ribbon this weekend (prepping my product shares to be sent out next week), I didn’t have a lot of time to play with all of the amazing, new products that arrived on Friday.  The blog has to keep going, though, so I made time to create a super-sweet card with a cute set from the new catalog.  For inspiration for this layout, I turned to the CAS(E) This Sketch site.  This week’s CAS(E) This Sketch challenge offers a sweet-and-simple collage.  Here’s my card:

Message in a Bottle, Touches of Texture, Pieces & Patterns, Foxy Friends, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, CTS224

And here’s the banner for Hannelie’s CTS challenge that inspired my card:

CTS224

Tips, Tricks and Reminders

  • Message in a Bottle.  How sweet is this octopus – and how adorable is the sentiment that pairs with the eight-armed mollusk?  This playful stamp set is a perfect Valentine’s Day set – nautical themes with puns that say “I like you.”  This set is perfect for a card to an old friend or to a grandchild.  The images are cute.  I love the octopus – and the the boat, whale, and mermaid are equally as adorable.  Here’s a quick look at this set

Message in a Bottle, Stampin’ Up!

and here’s an adorable card made by Stampin’ Up! designers with the same stamps I used:

  • Create-a-Collage.  I admire those who can make beautiful designs in a collage style.  I find a “random layering of elements” difficult but had a lot of fun with it here.  I stamped the splattering of dots from Touches of Texture with a second generation of Marina Mist ink (I stamped it off once on scrap paper before stamping it here.  I then stamped a series of small circles from Pieces & Patterns in a full inking of Marina Mist.  That created a great, watery base for my sweet octopus.  The cherry on top was the word bubble of hearts from Foxy Friends, which I inked up with Stampin’ Write Markers and snipped out.  How fun is that?!
  • Color Combination.  I don’t often reach for Marina Mist – but when I do, I”m almost always happy I did.  I paired Marina Mist with Fresh Fig (perfect for the octopus) and added a piece of Eastern Palace Specialty Designer Series Paper for a little movement and another pop of Fresh Fig.  I added a tiny touch of Berry Burst with a Stampin’ Write Marker on the hearts in word bubble.  If you like this combination of colors, please save this:Stampin' Up! Color Inspiration,: Marina Mist, Fresh Fig, Berry Burst

Stamp Sets:  Message in a Bottle, Foxy Friends, Touches of Texture, Pieces & Patterns  Papers:  Marina Mist, Whisper White, Thick Whisper White, Eastern Palace Specialty Designer Series Paper  Inks:  Marina Mist, Fresh Fig, Archival Basic Black, Stampin’ Write Markers (Berry Burst, Basic Black)  Accessories:  Stampin’ Dimensionals

Message in a Bottle, Touches of Texture, Pieces & Patterns, Foxy Friends, Stampin' Up!, Brian King, CTS224

I hope you’ll pop over to the CAS(E) This Sketch site to see the cards by the design team members and to play along with this week’s challenge.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Brian

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18 Comments

  1. Robbye Hamilton

    Never thought that I would call an octopus cute, but this one is stinkin’ cute. I really like the color combination and how you interpreted the sketch. Super cute

  2. Great card! I love the layout, the mini collage, and the octopus. And he was not at all on my radar!

  3. I adore the bubbly background (just a hint of the ocean) and sweet “heart” message.

  4. Fun!! I love your collage so much!! Especially how you created the water.

  5. Love the bubble effect. You just validated my purchase of this fun stamp set. The images are too stinkin cute.

  6. Really cute card, Brian. I like the color combo you chose and all the elements work great with the sweet sentiment. Thanks for taking time from your product share project, which is very time consuming. Enjoy your day!

  7. Great job using the sketch for your inspiration! Your card made me smile! 🙂

  8. This card is just plain wicked cute! Somehow you manage to make even a collage card come out neat and clean looking and your color combo is fabulous. The layering is your signature. I’m not a collage person but I love this card Brian. You are just soooooo amazingly talented.

  9. Jennifer Spiller

    Adorable!!! Love the octopus and his message. Tge bubbles are just perfect!

  10. Cute cute cute ! I like the bubbles ! Plus I am with you on using Marina Mist . I forgot about it until I made my swap cards this month and I used a dsp that had it in there . It really is a pretty color that I plan to use more . Wondering what “sleeper” color will emerge in this new set of dsp series ? Getting excited about my DSP Shares to see all the new offerings !!
    Happy Sunday !!

  11. Thank you for sharing all your inspiration. As many times as I have uses the got friends, I never really noticed the “heart bubble”. I love your cards.

  12. Cindie McDuffee

    Love it

  13. What a fun stamp set and cards!

  14. I love it my FRIEND ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️
    Hugs Frenchie

  15. The first time I saw this set I was giddy with delight! That little octopus really said HELLO to me and it’s on my list. (Must be because I’m a water sign) 🙂 I love what you’ve done here, Brian. Just a hint of ocean bubbles, with those adorable little hearts, a perfect card! Love it! Hugs…

  16. SO CUTE! This set was at the very top of my wish list. I can’t wait until my FedEx guy arrives so I can play with it too! Thanks for the inspiration to “tide” me over!

  17. Me. Brian!!!
    I just live the octopus! He is adorable, thanks for sharing. I also want you to know how much I enjoy seeing what you’ve dreamed up & look forward to the next post. I shared your post using the decorated ribbon from Patty’s new set, my stampers want to do one ‘just like yours.’ (Tell your mom, she’ll be so proud.)

    Thank you for your posts, they are day brighteners. Have a great week.

  18. Great take on the sketch, and I love that punny sentiment!

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