Inspired by Challenges

Nothing like a good challenge blog to get the creative juices flowing in the ole craft corner ... and this week has been full of a few ... I combined the Stamping 411 Color challenge of Island Indigo, Pool Party, Coral Calypso and Lucky Limeade with the Friday Mash Up use Pastels on a Birthday themed challenge and finished it up with the Just Us Girls layout sketch challenge to come up with the following offering!

 

The Inspired by Nature stamp is so fun to use the pastel chalks on ... the cone flowers just pop right off the page!

The new stamp set Take it to Heart has a little ribbon stamp that I just LOVE as a sentiment accent for a card. I can see myself using this on a scrapbooking layout too! 

The Loving Thoughts stamp set in the Occasions mini was designed to fit perfectly inside this which is awesome! However the other great thing about Stampin' Up is our coordinating products - cause it fits so many of our other sentiments neatly inside it as well so if you do not have the Loving Thoughts stamp set yet - not worries ... I used the Wish Big sentiment from Short and Sweet stamp set and added some pearl accents to balance it off.

The paper piercer is also a marvelous tool - my card felt a little 'lopsided' to me so I added some subtle paper piercings up in the corner - which helped to balance it out for my anal mind!

I am just loving this color palette of the Sale-abration Everyday Enchanted paper .... if you love it too you can earn it FREE with a $60 order as of January 24th or you can book a workshop during Sale-abration and you can earn hostess dollars AND free Sale-abration products ... win win! 

In the mean time hop on over to the following blogs and check out the wonderful offerings other card designers have come up with using these challenge inspirations!

The Friday Mashup

 Just us Girls

Stamping 411

Happy Stampin'
Margaret

Pretty Postage Wisteria Duo

These are another card sample from Stamp a Stack - showcasing one layout but two different looks! Also wanted to show off the pairing of Wisteria Wonder and Concord Crush along with the Pretty Postage from the Summer Mini and the gorgeous new 'ruffled ribbon!

The first card the background layer is stamped with the French Filigree background stamp in the Concord Crush and the Thanks from the Pretty Postage stamp set and some Butterflies from the Butterfly Wings sizzlit!

The second card is really hard to see in the photo but instead of using the Concord Crush we opted for the subtle but elegant clear embossing of the French Filigree for the background layer which allowed for the butterflies and Happy Birthday to pop a little more on this variation!

Thanks for stopping by!
Happy Stampin'

Pretty Postage

Just a reminder that the Summer Mini Catalogue is now live - if you have not received yours in the mail and are wanting a peek click on the link on the right hand side of my blog and it will take you to the Summer Mini catalogue for you.

If you want to see some of the products in use I have my Summer Mini Stamp a Stack kick off being held on Friday May 13th from 6:30 - 9ish where we will be making 10 cards with 5 card different card designs.

If you are looking to earn free products and would like to host a workshop party in your home or mine just drop me a line I have a few spaces open on my calendar.

On to the card sharing .... this little set is so cute .... just love the simple elegance it can create ... this was a less than 5 minute card featuring the new Pretty Postage Stamp set and the Postage Stamp punch with the Small square punch done up in Night of Navy, Marina Mist and Bashful Blue inks and cardstock....the camera did not pick it up but there is scoring up the right side and on either side of the ribbon for some subtle texture.

Thanks for stopping by and sharing your encouraging comments :)

Happy Stampin'
Margaret