My terrific week as the Splitcoast Featured Stamper (I'm still reeling) is almost over. It have thoroughly enjoyed seeing what everyone created (and often improved 🙂 Here's the gallery, if you want to take a peek. Thanks to those stampers and readers who have participated so far!
An interesting inspiration cropped up from Cindy's (AKA Mothermark) contribution to the challenge. Cindy left quite an impression on me last year when she dropped me an email of encouragement. I think I had a Splitcoast gallery of about a dozen cards at the time. She gave me the confidence to indulge in stamping full-time. Her gorgeous card for the challenge (and which she has promised to send to me–I'm so lucky) and tin are real standouts. However, today's card is a CASE (Copy And Share with Everyone) of the dresser she so artfully staged.
I grabbed my Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder and gave it a run with some Purely Pomegranate card stock–delicious texture. I then attached it to Wild Wasabi card stock and a So Saffron card base. The Pretty Peony stamp set is so beautiful . . . I inked the smaller peonies in So Saffron, stamped off once on scratch paper and then stamped on Very Vanilla card stock. The peony stamps are 2-step (very cool results) and so I used a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (short tutorial here) to line up the overlay. The overlay peony was also inked in So Saffron (not stamped off) with the edges rolled in some Creamy Caramel for some vintage flair. Some assorted leaves are tossed about.
The main peony was dipped in So Saffron, edges rolled in Creamy Caramel and stamped off before hitting Very Vanilla. The peony overlay is inked in Purely Pomegranate (stamped off once to keep the colors more distressed looking) and snipped out. I used a Sanded Background in Creamy Caramel to enhance the aged look and applied some distressing to the edges. The large peony is resting on some Stampin' Dimensionals. The edges are distressed using the Cutter Kit (a nifty Stampin' Up Tool with a rotary cutter, perforating tool, scoring tool and a 7-sided distressing tool).
The large and small oval punches come in handy for the sentiment (Very Vanilla over Purely Pomegranate, textured). A couple dimensionals separate the two. I then added a gold snap with my Crop-A-Dile.
Hugs and Pretty Peonies . . . . Mary
Stamp Sets: Pretty Peony (111119), Warm Words (107123), Sanded Background (109294)
Paper: So Saffron (105118), Wild Wasabi (108641), Purely Pomegranate Textured (Assorted In Color, 108694) and Smooth (108644), Very Vanilla (101650)
Ink: So Saffron (105213), Wild Wasabi (109014), Purely Pomegranate (109011), Creamy Caramel (103220)
Cool Tools: Large (107305)and Small (107304) Oval Punches, Cutter Kit (106958), Crop-A-Dile (108362), Stamp-A-Ma-Jig (101049), Cuttlebug (available at Create for Less–link available in my bottom right side bar)
The Perfect Touch: Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), Non SU Gold Snap, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots Embossing Folder
Color Inspiration: Splitcoast Color Challenge CC156.
Mary,
Just wondering, what kind of paper trimmer or other tool do you use to cut out and score your cardstock bases?
Your work is absolutely beautiful!
Hi Karen:
Thanks for your sweet words on my cards. It’s very inspiring.
I use the Tabletop Paper Cutter (p. 184 of the Spring Summer Catalog, #106959). It’s $45.95 so a bit of an investment. I have used it over a year and wouldn’t consider anything else. It cuts paper very cleanly (especially noticeably with Whisper White and Very Vanilla which tend to be a bit “softer” and don’t cut as clean as other card stock). It’s also great for cutting off a sliver. No need to replace blades.
For scoring, I use my “old” paper cutter (104152, also p. 184) which has a scoring blade. I removed the cutting blade and just use it for scoring. I sometimes use a bone folder (102300) but the fold doesn’t seem as crisp (maybe I need to use it more and get a better feel).
I hope this helps.
Mary
These colors are wonderful and your card is beautiful!!!! It just pops right off the page!!!
Congratulations Mary I didn’t know you were the featured stamper, that is awesome! I have been out of tiouch with blog world. I need more time to play 🙁 I love the card that you made and the one your friend made with your name on it. It is beautiful! I am so glad I found your blog.Hi5 for you! You Rock!
OMG! Mary, what a wonderful card! It looks just like my dresser….how funny that you were inspired by it! It is so fun to see what creative minds can do! Your card is amazing…..as is your gallery and your talent…..
I am so tickled you are getting the recognition you deserve. Thank you so much for being inspired by my dresser! Giggle!
Happy Saturday!
Cindy
Gorgeous! Love the use “rolling” in the different inks! Soo much depth and interest!
Stunning — love the off-center sentiment!
Wow, this fantastic. I love how the word is mounted…it almost looks like a hole has been cut for it when really it’s mounted on top. I also like the embossed background.