Monochromatic Bird

Anyone who knows me know that my favorite color is black (it's so slimming!) Actually, I like black because it goes with everything. It can be elegant (think: little black dress) and it can be grungy (think: punk). Black also enhances any color with which it is paired and really makes the color pop. After the next spring rain, take a look and see what I mean. The rain will make the tree trunks darker and the leaves will seem so much more vivid.

For this week's Paper Craft Crew Sketch challenge, I grabbed a stamp set that I love, but never know how to use: Papaya Collage. The set has so many cool elements.  I've never inked up the bird and I thought it would look great in Basic Black on Very Vanilla.  I got out the Modern Medley DSP and discovered a piece I'd never used that had birds on it! That was enough to get me going on my creation.

Here's the Paper Craft Crew Sketch (PCCS #87) for the week



And here's my card.

(Stamp Sets: Papaya Collage, Sweet Essentials; Ink: Stazon Jet Black; Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black; DSP: Modern Medley; Accessories: Ovals and Banners Framelits; Oval and Hexagon Punches; Antique Brads)

I wanted to use Basic Black to mat the main image and I knew I had a 1/4 piece laying around on my mess of a desk--when I realized I was using it for one of the layers. So I cut the Basic Black oval out of the layer since all you see is the very edge!

For the  banners, I used another sheet of Modern Medley DSP.  I thought using the Oval Punch for the sentiment would echo the Oval Framelits used for the bird image. The Antique Brads are my favorite embellishments, ever! I've been hoarding them--I can't believe I used two on this card!!!

Happy Card

My BFF bought me a stamping magazine for my birthday. It has loads of ideas on techniques and layouts. Just what I need for a little inspiration. I saw a card that was stamped onto a page from an old book. The colors were so vibrant and sweet, so I decided to create my own version of the card. I used stamps from three different stamp sets. I don't always do that...in fact, when I first started stamping, it never occurred to me to stamp outside the (stamp container) box. I never thought to use stamps from more than one set to create a card. Of course, I do that all the time now--but I think three sets might be new record for me!

(Stamp Sets: Yippee-Skippee!, Mixed Bunch, Papaya Collage; Inks: Melon Mambo, Midnight Muse, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight, Wild Wasabi; Card Stock: Blushing Bride, Midnight Muse, Melon Mambo, Very Vanilla; DSP: Modern Medley; Accessories: Bracket Label Punch, Linen Thread, Basic Pearl)

There are so many elements I like about this card. I like the "old book" sheet from the Modern Medley black and white DSP pack. I like the Midnight Muse panel paired with the Blushing Bride card base. I like the Linen Thread tied around the top. And I like all the vibrant colors in the floral "collage." I even pulled out my Melon Mambo ink pad! I used to use that color all the time, but I've switched allegiance to the 2013-2015 In Colors--at least for the time being. 

I used Yippee-Skippee! for the sentiment and punched it with the Label Bracket punch. I punched a piece of Melon Mambo with the same punch and cut it in half to back the sentiment so it didn't get lost on the page. I used the Mixed Bunch set in Melon Mambo, Pumpkin Pie, and Daffodil Delight--some stamped at full strength and some stamp as a "generation" (stamp again, without reinking). And I used the leaves from the Papaya Collage set in Wild Wasabi. Lots of elements, but easy-peasy to make, and pretty, too!