Although we were shocked to receive 4 inches of snow this weekend (that’s about 4 inches more than we get each year in Atlanta!), I was busy playing with some of my new stamps from Stampin’ Up!’s 2018 Occasions Catalog. Bright, cheery colors with beautiful florals – that’s what I was doing to offset the cold, strange snow. Today I’m playing along with this week’s CAS(E) This Sketch challenge. Here’s my simple card:
And here’s the banner for the super-fun challenge at CAS(E) This Sketch that inspired my card:
Tips, Tricks and Reminders
- Two New Stamp Sets. My sweet-and-simple card features two new stamp sets from Stampin’ Up!’s 2018 Occasions Catalog. These sets aren’t stylistically paired with one another – one is a beautiful floral set, and the other is a spirited birthday set. The flowers in Lovely Wishes are bold and graphic but still so very sweet. Here’s a look at this new stamp set:
Lovely Wishes, Stampin’ Up!
The Picture Perfect Birthday stamp set is one big party – not what you’d expect to pair with a floral set. BUT – the sentiments in this set are flowing and gorgeous (and are created with similar, bold lines) so they work perfectly with this set. Here’s a look at this new stamp set:
Picture Perfect Birthday, Stampin’ Up!
You’re going to want both of these sets on your wish list, right?
- Soft Coloring with Blender Pens. I stamped the sentiment and flowers with Archival Basic Gray and then colored the flowers and leaves with a Blender Pen that I pulled from the lid of my Classic Stampin’ Pads. I started by going over each with a light application of ink and followed up with a bit darker color. Blender Pens are a great way to paint a small amount of color to images – easy and fun.
Blender Pens, Stampin’ Up!
- Spring Color Combination. Sweet and soft colors with a touch of brightness are perfect for a Spring-themed project. My Calypso Coral flowers and Pear Pizzazz leaves are perfect with this bold, Basic Gray outline. I love this color combination – if you like it, too, please save this:
Stamp Sets: Lovely Wishes, Picture Perfect Birthday Papers: Calypso Coral, Basic Gray, Whisper White Inks: Archival Basic Gray, Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzazz Accessories: Blender Pens, Stampin’ Dimensionals
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
Year-End Sales Event. Stampin’ Up! has announced the list of products from the Holiday Catalog that will be retired at the end of this catalog period (or when the items are sold out – whichever comes first). Some of these items are marked down as part of the Year-end Sales Event. Click on the banner above to check out the sale.
Your Very Own Copy of the New Catalog. I’m soon mailing out Occasions Catalogs and Sale-a-Bration catalogs to all of my customers from the past year. If you haven’t purchased from me in over a year or if you’d like to be my customer, please reach out to me (CLICK HERE TO EMAIL ME) or place an order. I look forward to sharing these new products with you.
A Great Time to Join Stampin’ Up! This is a great time of year to join Stampin’ Up!, and I’d love for you to be a part of my incredible Stampin’ Up! team. We are an amazing community of stampers who enjoy our Facebook chats and monthly online meetings. The 20% discount on your purchases isn’t so bad, either. 🙂 If you have questions or would like to hear more, let’s set up a quick call (email me here). I’m more than happy to fill you in on this risk-free opportunity. I promise you won’t regret it. 🙂
Ohh!! Brian, this is lovely, fresh and beautifully framed.
It’s a long way till I see my Tulips and Daffodils peeking out of the ground so thank you for reminding me of them, sleeping soundly under a cover of mulch waiting to wake up next Spring.
XO
Maria.
What lovely imagery, Maria! After this strange snow fall, I’m ready for Spring colors and images. Might be getting a bit ahead of myself, but… thanks so much for your kind comments! <3
The very best thing about a “snow day” stuck at home is the stamping!
Love your card as usual! Just got the confetti set. Once I am finished with my Christmas cards (?) I will break out that set.
Thanks so much, Rosemarie! My stamp room is outside and downstairs, so I had to carefully make my way down the steps in the snow. Fortunately, I’m very good at walking on snow – one of my hidden talents. 🙂
This card is gorgeous. I love the crispness, and how you have placed the flowers. I keep looking at the stamp set, and at your final product, and marvel at your vision to create this. Beautiful!
Wow! Thanks so much, Linda! I’m so glad you like this card. This is a gorgeous set – it wasn’t on the top of my list, but I’m quite happy I got it. <3
When I look at this stamp set, I do not see this card. You rocked it!
🙂 Thanks so much!
I love the simplicity and your interpretation of the sketch! You rocked this!
Thanks so much, Mary! I tried to add something more, but I just couldn’t. I was happy with the simplicity of it. Glad you like it.
Celebrate the good stuff – what a fantastic phrase and I can see where I will be spending my Christmas money already! LOL Your card is beautiful and I love the clean white space. Hmmm, I forget basic gray all the time. Perhaps I should pull out a few sheets and stick them on the top of my stamping table so I remember to use it once in a while. Fabulous card as always Brian!
It’s a great saying, right?! While it’s included in a birthday set, I think it’s lovely with these flowers. So glad you like it, too. Basic Gray is a gorgeous color – you should definitely force yourself to pull it out every once in a while. 🙂
Brian I liked this set at first sight, thank you for a beautiful example, in this case less is truly MORE!
Thanks so much, Katrina! I was quite pleased with this card – I felt like it needed more but didn’t want to ruin any of what I’d done. 🙂
Very pretty take on the sketch!
Thanks, Leigh! I love the inspiration!
Sweet card today, Brian. Love the color combinations. There is something very peaceful about a snowfall……until you need to begin to clear it away. With 4” will there be shoveling involved, or will you just let it melt as the temps get back to normal?
Thanks, Sharon. We’ve never seen 4″ here before. It was snow – and not ice like the last time. The roads cleared up quickly, so we are happy for that. Hoping it will all melt away in the sun this week.
So pretty, I love your color palette. I’m going to have to get the Picture Perfect Birthday stamp set, love the sentiment.
Thanks, Robbye! It’s one of the sentiments that really stood out to me, too. It’s encouraging and beautiful. <3
Lovely card Brian! You took a set I was not gonna get and made me see all kinds of possibilities. So fresh and pretty.
Thanks so much, Andrea! This set didn’t jump out at me at first, but it was really fun to play with. Glad you like it. Thanks!