I’m so happy to be the Guest Designer for today’s Creating Kindness Blog Hop – this hop will take you all around the world! The Design Team is comprised of some super-talented friends, and I’m thrilled to hop with them today. What fun!
The theme of today’s hop is “Inspiration.” What inspires you? What gets your creative juices flowing? There are so many things that inspire me, but I focused on three for today’s project. My card features a sweet image, a fun sentiment and a gorgeous color combination. Here’s my card:
How cute is that little fox? This is where I normally share tips and tricks for making gorgeous cards. Since this blog hop is fueled by inspiration, I’m going to share three things that inspired me to make this card.
Three Things That Inspire Me
- Colors. If I had to pick ONE thing that inspires me with every card I make, I’d have to admit that I’m always excited about fresh, fun color combinations. I pay attention to colors and often pull great color pairings from art, fashion and the world around me. I also pull color combinations from Designer Series Papers and card samples (I love when Stampin’ Up! has done the work for us). I remember how much I loved the combination of Pool Party, Tangerine Tango and Smoky Slate in A Little Foxy Designer Series Paper Stack (that retired last year), so I reached for these colors today as the foundation of this card. If you love this combination as much as I do, please save this:
- Unique Pairings. I love that Stampin’ Up! combines stamps in sets that often give us a sentiment and image (and sometimes a full suite of coordinating papers and accessories). I love the coordination. I have to confess, though, that I also love to find unique pairings of sentiments and images, combining multiple sets in one card. I spend a lot of time running my finger over the spines of my stamp sets, studying the contents of the sets and “locking away” the contents. How cute is this combination of fox with the “you’re a fox” sentiment?
I used Stampin’ Write Markers to paint the sentiment on this sentiment stamp from Truly Tailored and punched it with the Tailored Tag punch. I created my peek-a-boo fox with the Foxy Friends stamp set and coordinating Fox Builder punch. He’s just hanging out and owning this fun sentiment. - Open Space & Layering. I’m inspired by mid-century modern designs and crisp, clean precision in architecture. I love a big, open, clutter-free room. The apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree when it comes to my cards – that’s why almost all of my cards feature lots of bold, open space and lots of layers of cardstock. I’m not afraid to keep cutting away at cardstock until I have the exact layers (and frames for those layers) I want. Even though this card is quite simple, there are technically 7 levels of cardstock here. 🙂 Here are the measurements for the layers on this simple card (starting with the base and moving up):
- Tangerine Tango – 4-1/4″ x 8-1/2″ (scored at 4-1/4″
- Whisper White – 3-3/4″ x 3-3/4″
- Smoky Slate -3-1/4″ X 3-1/4″
- Pool Party – 3-1/8″ x 3-1/8″
- Thick Whisper White – punches with Fox Builder & Tailored Tag punches
Bundles: Truly Tailored Bundle Stamp Sets: Foxy Friends, Truly Tailored Papers: Tangerine Tango, Smoky Slate, Pool Party, Whisper White, Thick Whisper White Inks: Tangerine Tango, Archival Basic Black, Stampin’ Write Markers (Basic Black, Tangerine Tango) Accessories: Fox Builder Punch, Tailored Tag Punch, Stampin’ Dimensionals
I hope you like my sweet project today, and I hope you’ll hop to the next blog in this Blog Hop – Jerim Dickens has a wonderful project to share!
Thanks for stopping by today!
Brian
If you get lost along the hop, you can always find the full list here:
Brian, so special to have you hopping with us. I love that your cards are so well put together, much like yourself! Shameless sucking up here! 😉 No seriously, this little fox is adorable peaking out over his foxy banner. And I think I could spot that special touch of Brian layering anywhere! xx
Thanks so much for your sweet comments, Cheryll. I’m so happy to be hopping with you and the crew today – such an honor! I’m so glad you like the card. I had loads of fun with it. <3
My three things I love about this card: Color Combo. I have never seen Tangerine Tango looking so stately! That crazy little border of grey grounds the whole card. Size: What can I say? I’m a sucker for square cards. “Cross-dressing”: (that’s what I call using two different sets on one card. My upline hates when I do it, but I can’t help myself) And this time–it’s the PERFECT combo! Well done you! LOVE!!!! So adorable! I will be CASEing this immediately!
Wow! Thanks so much for the thoughtful and kind comments, Annie! I’m so thrilled that you like the card and appreciate your take on the mixing of stamps from different sets. Ha! Thanks!
Such a fun card, LOVE the colors!
Thanks so much, Amy! <3
three cheers for “open space” (and your three things that inspire you)! i love this little guy peeking over the sentiment.
Thanks so much, Mary! It was a struggle to leave it “as-is” – I tried stamping the background panels and adding other elements before deciding that this is just what I wanted. <3
Brian,
Your “foxy” little card is not only adorable, it shows how you can coordinate cardstock, a sentiment, and an image (fussy-cut, punched out, or die cut) and violà … a super card! Stampin’ Up! products help so much with their great coordination of products. Thank you, again, Brian, for sharing your great design “eye”!
Thanks so much for your comments, Suzie! So glad you like the card. I appreciate you.
This card is put together so well, I just love it! The fox peeking over the tag is my favourite! ? Thanks for joining our blog hop, it was great having you with us! xx
Thanks so much for the kind comments, Sacha! I’m so glad you like the card and am happy to be able to hop with you and the team. What fun! <3
This card made me laugh right out loud…such a fun card Brian! Looking forward to this hop.
Yay! Thanks so much, Dawn! I love to entertain. 🙂
Love your hiding fox! Such a cute card! Happy National Peanut Butter Lover’s Day! I think I will get some Resse’s peanut butter eggs on way home today and think of you as I eat too many!
I had no idea! Perhaps I’ll enjoy a serving spoon of peanut butter when I get home. <3 Thanks, Windy! So glad you like the card.
I love your foxy card, it is so clean and cute! Thank you so much for hopping with us today, I have been a huge fan of your work for years and to have you hop along with us today is fantastic!! Marcy xo
Thanks so much, Marcy! I’m thrilled that you like the card and am so happy to be invited to hop with your team. Thanks for the offer and comments.
I had forgotten how much I loved that color combo from the Foxy DSP. So cool. I’m always in awe of how you pull elements from different stamp set. You rule!
Thanks, Dianne! I have a couple of “old DSP combos” in the back of my head that just need to come out. 🙂 Thanks for your sweet comments. <3
Great color combinations today Brian! Loved the sweet size of your card too! Thanks for reminding me that smaller cards are just as fun!
Thanks so much, Sharon! I love playing with small cards every once in a while – there’s still lots of space left over when playing with a small image. 🙂
One of the Best way to inspire is by saying they are a FOX ?
I’ve not tried this size card before, must give it a go. Very cute!
Yay! Thanks, Katrina! Flattery is always important. 🙂 This size card is quite fun – it still fits in a medium envelope. 🙂
Everything you do is an inspiration to me Brian. I love the puny saying paired with that cure fox image! Great to be hopping with you again, my friend xxx
Thanks so much, Paula! I’m glad you like it – had loads of fun with it. So glad I could hop with your group yesterday! <3
Love this. I’m a huge fan of solid color card stock (not that I don’t love DSP) and this card is steeped in it. Love the way you created the layers.
Thanks, Candy! I agree. I particularly enjoy panels of Pool Party and Crumb Cake – those seem to have a texture of their own. So glad you like the card! <3
Adorable card Brian. I really like the colors that you chose.
Thanks, Robbye! I’m always “filing away” great color combinations.
So cute! Love that sweet foxy face peeking out!
Thanks, Linda! He’s a cutie, right?! Glad you like it!
Oh I love that peek-a-boo fox. I loved reading about your inspiration Brian – great to get inside your mind! I love the restraint and elegant design of this card. Great to hop with you.
Thanks so much for the thoughtful comments, Lou! So glad you like the card. I’m happy I could hop with y’all, too!
What an adorable card Brian! I love hearing about where your inspiration comes from! These sets do combine perfectly together! Having products that coordinate so well together is a big reason why I am such a big fan of Stampin’ Up!? Your silly card is perfect! Thanks so much for hopping with the Creating Kindness team!
Thanks so much, Carolynn! This was a fun theme on a great hop. So happy to be invited to hop with your group. Thanks! <3
Brian I have not seen any of your previous projects before, but one thing that stood out fir me as a fairly new crafter is that you don’t just use one stamp set/die etc you mix and match. This is so refreshing as I a building up my craft stash and using different stamps together definitely extends my stash. I also like to find different uses for my stamps and dies that they weren’t originally made for, giving them extended life for me as a crafter. Thank you for sharing your project with us crafters. :O)
Thanks so much for your amazing comments, Lorraine! I’m so happy to share and love to hear that it helps to inspire you. Thanks for that! I LOVE to mix-and-match to find new uses for fun stamps. I hope you’ll subscribe to follow me so you don’t miss my future posts. All the best to you!
Brian, I have not seen any of your previous projects before, but one thing that stood out fir me as a fairly new crafter is that you don’t just use one stamp set/die etc you mix and match. This is so refreshing as I a building up my craft stash and using different stamps together definitely extends my stash. I also like to find different uses for my stamps and dies that they weren’t originally made for, giving them extended life for me as a crafter. Thank you for sharing your project with us crafters. :O)
You crafty little fox, you! This is such a cute pairing & colour combo. Love your clean layout. Thanks for hopping with us this month! It’s been fun! xx
Awwww…thanks so much, Jessie! I appreciate your comment! <3 It was great to hop with your group.
Wonderful card Brian, great product pairing and colours. Thanks so much for joining the Creating Kindness blog hop this month
Thanks, Jay! I loved these colors the first time I ever saw them together. Glad you like the card. So happy to hop with you and your group! <3
What a fabulous card Brian! I loved reading your inspiration points and can easily see them reflected in your cards. I love the combo of the sentiment and the fox-Fantastic! So honored that we had the chance to hop together again!
Thanks so much for your kind words, Maria! I’m so happy you like the card. It was such a pleasure for me to hop with your group. <3