Stampin' Sunshine-Bringing Sunshine to Every Day

If It's Thursday, it must be PPA!!

For today's challenge at Pals Paper Arts, we have an inspiration challenge.  The great thing about this challenge is that it's meant to be just that--an inspiration.  What do you see when you look at this picture?  Let the colors, design, content, or anything else about the picture inspire you.  I'm looking forward to seeing YOUR creations of inspiration!!

Isn't this picture gorgeous?!!  There are so many different elements from which to draw inspiration.  I chose a combination of color and design. 

Green is my favorite color, so I used Old Olive Card Stock for the base, and added in touches of color with card stock and accessories.  Stampin' Up! Pastels in Summer Sun added just the right color to the little birdie, while a combination of Ruby Red Card Stock and Ruby Red Designer Series Paper created the second bird.  A sentiment, some leaves and some buttons tied it all together.  Tip:  A fabulous tip that I learned from my upline Mary Fish at Stampin' Pretty:  Add a bit of coordinating card stock to create the "thread" for your buttons.  A fun way to add just a little extra pizazz. 

Stamp:  Garden from the Heart

Paper:  Old Olive  Summer Sun, and Ruby Red Card Stock, Ruby Red and Cottage Wall Designer Series Papers

Ink:  Stazon Jet Black

Tools:  Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Little Leaves Sizzlet, Big Shot, Stamp-a-Majig, Stampin' Dimensionals, Stampin' Pastels, Mini Glue Dots

Fun:  Fresh Favorites II Buttons in Rose Red

 

PPA30-KISS (Keep it Simple, Sweetie)

For today's Pals Paper Arts, we have a KISS challenge.  And who doesn't like a KISS?!

What a great way to showcase just how simple it can be to create a card in just a few minutes, and with a few key items.  Card stock, Designer Series Paper, and punches make this card a breeze. (The hardest thing about this card was keeping Levi, my wonder kitty, away from it as I was creating it, and out of the pictures when I was photographing it!!)

I wanted to do something very spring-y today.  We've been blessed with unseasonably lovely weather here in the Northeast lately, and I'm thankful for that.  I'm sure we have a few more snowstorms in our future, but for now I'm celebrating all things Spring!!

I started with a base of Apricot Appeal, and added some Tea Party Designer Paper.  One of the many great things about Stampin' Up! products is that everything coordinates.  For a quick card, find a Designers Series Paper that you like, and use one or more coordinating  card stock/ink/ embellishments.  I chose to accentuate the Certainly Celery, because green is my favorite color.  

Use coordinating punches to add interest and dimension to your card, while still keeping it simple.  I used the Large Oval, Small Oval, and Scallop Oval punches.  Adding a sentiment from the     stamp set, and a piece of Certainly Celery ribbon, you have a KISS card that is cheerful and springy, and takes less than 5 minutes to make.  It doesn't get any more KISS-able than that!!

Stamps:

Paper:  Apricot Appeal Card Stock, Certainly Celery Card Stock, Tea Party Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Certainly Celery Classic Ink

Tools:  Large Oval, Small Oval, and Scallop Oval Punches

Fun:  Certainly Celery 5/8" Grosgrain Ribbon

PPA29 - Simple Sketch Challenge, and Blog Candy!!

And you know how much I love candy!!  Play along with Pals Paper Arts, and you could win the yummy blog candy shown here.

Today's inspiration comes from a sketch by the fabulous Margaret Moody, who always does amazing job, and comes up with the neatest sketches. 

I used Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper for the base of the card, as well as the layers.  Designer Paper gives you double sided sheets, and a variety of different patterns within each set.  This helps to create a coordinated look.

The stamp is from the Love You Much stamp set.  I used the Slit Punch to create two slits, which was perfect to run the ribbon through to create the bow. 

A piece of coordinating paper on the flap of the envelope ties it all together, and adds just a little bit extra to your presentation.

I look forward to seeing what you create, and who knows, YOU could be the winner of the yummy blog candy!!

Stamps:  Love You Much

Paper:  Thoroughly Modern Designer Series Paper, Whisper White Card Stock

Ink:  Bermuda Bay Classic Ink

Tools:  Slit Punch, Ticket Corner Punch,

Fun:  White Ribbon (from my stash)

Welcome to the Hop

 

 

 

 

Welcome to the February PALS HOP!  If you've arrived from Margaret Moody's fabulous blog Margaret Moody, I'm stop number 4 on the hop!  Hop along with me and my fellow Pals as we direct you through the entire hop of wonderful papercrafted creations!  Should you become lost along the way, see the entire Pals Hop Line-Up at the end of my post.  

 

For today's hop, I wanted to highlight items from both the Sale-a-Bration Catalog (SAB) and the Occasions Mini Catalog.  The sentiment on the front, from the Three Little Words stamp set, is in both the Sale-a-Bration Catalog, and the 2009-2010 Idea Book & Catalog. Sale-a-Bration has been expanded this year to include several stamp sets from the Idea Book & Catalog. 

The Extra Large Two Step Bird Punch is in the Occasions Mini Catalog, and is in the fabulous new punch style that Stampin' Up will be using for new punches.  It's all around easier, especially for storage.  I also used the Scallop Trim Border Punch to make a lovely decorative border.  This punch is in the SAB catalog, and is also in the new punch style. 

I stamped the leaves on the Orchid Opulence card base in Rich Razzleberry Ink, using a leaf stamp from the Good Neighbors stamp set, found in the Sale-a-Bration catalog.  This is a fun,versatile set that coordinates with the Welcome Neighbors Designer Series Paper, also from the SAB catalog.

By using items from the SAB catalog, Occasions Mini Catalog, and the Idea Book & Catalog, I wanted to show how well all Stampin' Up merchandise coordinates, no matter which catalog it's found in.  I hope you'll have as much fun playing with all of the different products that Stampin' Up! has to offer as I did. 

Stamps:  Three Little Words, Good Neighbors

Paper:  Orchid Opulence Card Stock, Whisper White Card Stock, Cottage Wall Designer Series Paper

Ink:  Rich Razzleberry Classic Ink

Tools:  Extra Large Two Step Bird Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Stampin' Dimensionals

Fun:  Sweet Pea Stitched Felt (Occasions Mini)

The Pals Hop continues with the next stop at Carla Bazhenow's wonderful blog.  Hop on over and see what exciting creations Carla has to share!  Enjoy the hop.  We look forward to your feedback, please be sure to leave comments on the blogs along the way. 

1.   Kalshelia Lloyd -- www.stampinfabulousity.com   Stampin' Fabulousity

2.   Ann Schach -- www.stampinchic.com   The Stampin' Schach

3.   Margaret Moody -- www.margaretmoody.typepad.com  Margaret Moody

4.   Debbie Pierce -- www.stampinsunshine.com   Stampin' Sunshine

5.   Carla Bazhenow -- www.carlas-scraps.com   Carla's Scraps

6.   Mary Fish -- www.stampinpretty.com   Stampin' Pretty

7.   Kim Lampone -- www.kjskorner.blogspot.com  Stamp, scrap, get kreative

8.   Gina Shaw -- www.cardsbyginashaw.com   Cards by Gina

9.   Regina Mangum -- www.thestampinbean.blogspot.com  The Stampin' Bean

10. Lourdes Torres -- www.cozycraftycorner.blogspot.com   Cozy Crafty Corner

11. Kris Kilcoyne -- www.kweenbee.typepad.com   Kween Bee Kreations

12. Liz Hughes -- www.diypapercreations.com   DIY Paper Creations

13. Melanie Collins -- www.oopsadaisy.typepad.com   Oops a Daisy

14. Mike Funke -- www.stampin-style.com   Stampin-Style

15. Anne Beale Yancey -- www.mukibug.com   Mukibug

16. Martha Stewart -- www.SeasonsOfStamping.com  Seasons of Stamping

17. Jason Casper -- www.stampindad.blogspot.com   Jason's Stampin' Pad

18. Barbara Furlong -- www.theloveofstamping.com   The Love of Stamping

19. Tricia Gillam -- www.soulstamper.com   Soul Stamper

PPA28-Color Challenge

For today's Pals Paper Arts Challenge, we have a color challenge.  And what better theme to pair these colors with than Valentine's Day?  I know what you're saying, you're saying "Debbie, are you crazy?  Black isn't a Valentine's color."  Well, for this challenge it is!!  It actually makes quite a striking contrast to the other two colors in the challenge.  I think you'll agree that black really does go with anything!!

Stamps:  I {Heart} Hearts, Love You Much

Paper:  Pretty in Pink, Basic Black, and Melon Mambo card stock, Sending Love Designer Specialty Paper

Ink:  Melon Mambo and Pretty in Pink Classic Inks

Tools:  Scallop Circle Punch, Full Heart Punch, Heart to Heart Punch, Small Heart Punch, 3/16" Corner Rounder Punch, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack, Sticky Strip

Fun:  Pretty in Pink Brads

A Blog Hop Coming Soon to a Blog Near You

A group of talented Stampin' Up! Demonstrators are ready to show off their paper crafting skills with inspirational ideas showcasing Sale-A-Bration products from Stampin' Up!'s most popular promotion of the year! 

Join us on Tuesday, February 9, 2010 at 5:00 AM CST for another Pals Holiday Hop as we show you all that Stampin' Up! has to offer - from rubber stamps, designer paper, embellishments, and much more!  Mark your calendar now!  You don't want to miss out!