Some Babbling, White Space, and Happy Colors

First of all, let me say I got my hands on a copy of Papercrafts' special card design issue on Friday night. No, the magazine didn't send me an advance copy or anything like that, although come to think of it they should 'cause I can give (am giving) them lots of free advertising on this here blog.

But what happened is more serendipitous. George and I were out on a date night (oh total joy!) and stopped by a bookstore (because we're geeks that way), which had already placed them on the newsstand. Since the website says they don't go on sale until the 7th, this seemed a bit weird, but hey, I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth. 

The issue is awesomely useful as far as design goes, although I suspect someone totally new to the subject might be overwhelmed or confused by the sound-bite sized tips. Still, I'm loving it and will have lots to say about it in the coming weeks as I process. Oh, and Kelly Eubanks is a CAS genius. Just sayin'.

I also got my September/October issue of Papercrafts in the mail Saturday. Weird to think about Halloween already. Sad to say, but there won't be a lot of Halloween on Simplicity. I'm a Halloween Scrooge who deeply resents Halloween's explosive popularity and how it eclipses Thanksgiving, which is a much more meaningful autumn holiday that also just happens to coincide (and sometimes, like this year, falls right on) my birthday. 

And no, I don't object to Halloween on religious grounds. Dressing up like ghosts and goblins and serial killers begging for candy isn't a gateway to worshiping Satan. It's just fun for kids and a headache for us scrooges who long for the days when kids made up their own costumes from stuff they found around the house and parents weren't asked to provide $50 worth of crap for parties at school.

Bah, humbug!


I feel so much better having gotten that off my chest. Thank you for listening.

So anyway, with two amazing magazines to pore over, I'm bursting with inspiration right now yet have had so little time in my craft area to give expression to it. School starts on August 23, so in 17 days, 15 hours, and 5 minutes, both my boys will be in school buildings and not demanding that, you know, I be the mommy every blessed minute of the day.

Schools are why the insane asylums are not full of moms, and teachers are the most wonderful people on earth. (This post has already been interrupted by my youngest three times...it's a miracle I'm ever coherent enough to blog in the summer!)

Y'all wonder why I babble.

Anyway, here's the card for today (the real reason you are here), with lots of wonderful white space and some really happy colors!

The stamped panel is small and graphic (straight lines love curves, curves love straight lines, or something like that) and it needed a bit more than just a few dimensionals under it. That's why I added the white mat. Orange or green would have been too heavy, but the touch of white gives just the right frame to the mostly white stamped panel and keeps the whole card light and clean.

Pear tart (tee-hee) and Tangelo Memento inks make me happy. What are your happy colors?


Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Turning a New Leaf, Sign Language, Faux Ribbon
ink: Memento
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: dimensionals

Color, Color Everywhere

Today's card uses PTI's Modern Basics set (love it!) and a very simple layout to showcase a fun color combination that I found (of course) in 1,000 Bags, Tags and Labels. The Memento ink colors are grape jelly, cantaloupe, tangelo, and Morocco. This color combo works because you have three shades of orange combined with a very unexpected color...surprise!

I tried to stamp these four stylized petals on a one-layer card and of course stamped the fourth one crooked. Grrr. So I cut out all four petals and stuck them on a card base with dimensionals and using tweezers to get the spacing right. Much easier, and the added dimension is nice.

What is the wackiest color combo you've ever loved?

Supplies
stamps: Papertrey Modern Basics
ink: Memento
paper: PTI white
accessories: dimensionals, CutterBee scissors

Tag Card

Found a package of flat kraft bags in my stash and wondered if I could use one on a card. Here's the result:

I trimmed the top edge of the bag a bit and used a circle punch to create the notch. Then, I made the tag using some cool botanical paper in my stash, several circle punches, a verse from Everyday Blessings (?) from Papertrey, and a twine bow.

This verse was chosen specifically for a friend who's going through rough times right now.

What can you find in your stash this weekend to use on a card?


ALERT: I just got an email this morning from Papercrafts announcing their latest special issue on sale August 7th. It's called Paper Crafts Card Design Handbook. This magazine WILL be mine! If you're hesitant to spend $14.99 on a magazine, I'll give a review of it when I get my hands on it. And no, I'm not a paid spokesperson. I just love those special issues!

Supplies
stamps: Papertrey
ink: VersaMagic
paper: PTI white, botanical inclusion from art store
accessories: flat paper bag (Michael's), circle punches, scallop scissors (to round corners of tag), twine (PTI), scor-tape

Unexpected Placement

1,000 Bags, Tags, and Labels contains numerous examples of decorated rectangles butted up against an edge of a bag, tag, or label. I love this look, although it's tricky to pull off on a card. Well, it's tricky for me. Perhaps others have an easier time.

I made two cards using the same layout but different colors and stamps, and the results are startlingly different.

This layout has some exceptional practical advantages. First, it's a fun way to use those awkward thin, long scraps of card stock that pile up. Second, it's a way to use smaller stamps that might be overwhelmed on a one-layer card, because the strip idea really gives a strong focal point, especially because it's unusually placed...not where you'd expect. The unexpected placement on an edge gives the strip visual weight it might not have more traditionally centered on the card.

Which do you prefer? How could you use your stamps and scraps to make your own version of this layout?


Supplies
Holly Card
stamps: Papertrey Holly Jolly
ink: Memento
paper: SU celery, PTI white
accessories: dimensionals, rhinestones

Get Well Card
stamps: Hero Arts cloud background, PTI Sign Language sentiment
ink: Ancient Page Neptune, Memento black
paper: PTI white
accessories: dimensionals

A Happy Announcement and the One-Layer Wednesday 99 Pure Inspiration Challenge

The One-Layer Wednesday Team is happy to announce two new members: Karen Dunbrook and Ardyth Percy-Robb!  These two very talented ladies are enthusiastically dedicated to clean-and-simple stamping, and it's such an honor to have them on the OLW team.

*squeeeeee!!!!*

And now for the OLW99 challenge. (Yes, I got stuck with an odd number again. I'll just put on my big-girl panties and deal with it.)

This week's challenge is an inspiration challenge. I have a board on Pinterest titled Pure Inspiration. Take a gander at it and get inspired by something you see. Perhaps it's a color combo. Perhaps it's an embellishment. Perhaps it's a layout. Perhaps it's a texture. Perhaps it's a shape. Whatever you can find to get inspired, go for it!


Here's my card, which was inspired by the colors and (somewhat) shapes of this interesting rug.

I completed the sentiment (from PTI's Quilter's Sampler set) on the inside of the card, and stamped a hexagon under it, but forgot to take a picture. To create the flat edges on top and bottom, I simply masked the card with a large post-it note and stamped the hexagons from PTI's Happy Hexagons set. Then, I masked each line of the three-line sentiment to stamp separately.

Rules for OLW99

1. A one-layer card is defined as a single layer of card stock folded in half. No other layers allowed!

2. Find inspiration from my Pure Inspiration Board on Pinterest. Remember to keep embellishments to a minimum and NO ADDITIONAL LAYERS of card stock!

3. Post your card and the link to the specific pin that inspired you somewhere on the interwebs. Then link to it using the InLinkz button on the sidebar of Simplicity. If you link to your blog, please link to the specific post, not your blog's main page.

4. HAVE FUN!!!!

Winners

Okay, so Colorado Crafter reminded me that I hadn't announced a winner for the Saddle Up Again card.

Three people gave entertaining stories: Dee, Lucy, and Mary Hansen. I'm gonna send the card and a packet of bling to Lucy because she referenced Hopalong and Roy Rogers, but Mary and Dee will get different cards and packs of bling as well.

Just send me your snail mail address to susanraihala at woh dot rr dot com.

And thanks, Colorado Crafter, for keeping me honest!

Fun with Alphabets

Pull out an alphabet set and play!

It's fun, especially if you use clear stamps and a gridded acrylic block.

Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts Typewriter Alphabet
ink: Memento yellow, pear tart, grape jelly
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: gridded acrylic block