Hello I’m back!  I’ve been AWOL for a while.  Work has kept me from too much stamping!  But when I saw this weeks Global Design Project Sketch Challenge, I knew it was the perfect design to showcase some DSP!  The question was, which DSP? For me, the fun of doing a card is going through my DSP to see what will spark an idea. I knew I wanted to do something holiday and when my eyes landed on this great plaid from the Warmth & Cheer DSP Stack, I knew I had a favorite that work perfect for a fall themed card!  While this is in a Christmas DSP Stack, I think this plaid would work for Thanksgiving or even Halloween.  And I love this paper!  Definitely my favorite in the entire stack.

This week’s challenge is so easy to follow, I encourage you to try it!  And please take a look at what everyone else is doing by clicking on #GDP041 or the image below.

I settled on doing a fall design.  We actually went down in into the 50’s this morning.  I had to reach for a blanket last night as the temperatures dipped!  So, we had a little taste of the crisp weather to come! So, warmth and fall designs were definitely on my mind!

The fact that the challenge this week is a sketch made the design process so easy!  I just had to find a sentiment and come up with a decorative element.  The Grateful Bunch set had just the sentiment in just the right font.  I only had to mask off part of the image.  And of course, what isn’t there to love about the Thoughtful Branches set? The fall leaves in this set were just the right scale.  I had pulled out the Vintage Leaves first, but no, way too large. Although, with the right card design the Vintage Leave would love beautiful with this paper.

In the spirit of full disclosure, the DSP is actually in shades of Basic Black, Crumb Cake and Delightful Dijon.  But all the images are stamped using Early Espresso. I thought it looked much better and you have to believe me it matches well!

Recipe

Papers: Warmth & Cheer DSP Stack, Delightful Dijon, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso
Stamps: Thoughful Branches, Grateful Bunch
Tools: Grateful Bunch Framelits, Big Shot

I was playing around with some of the papers in the Love & Affection DSP to see what I could do with color.  I loved the green and yellow design on Crumb Cake in this particular paper.  I has it sitting on my desk, just waiting.  Then as I was cleaning up, I found the Pineapple stamp stuck inside my MISTI.  And it hit me, this is the perfect stamp to use with that paper! I have done a Pineapple card a few weeks ago, but you can always use more!

The MISTI, while admittedly not a Stampin’ Up item,  is a huge help in getting this Pineapple stamp to work.  Thank goodness for the MISTI and a big shoutout to Andrea for telling me about it.  In fact,  on a lot of designs where I want to make sure I get enough ink coverage I always use the MISTI.  The exact positioning allows you to “re-stamp” a design with much greater accuracy than a Stamp-a-ma-jig.  This is particularly good when you have a large area such as this Pineapple stamp or a really large sentiment.  I almost always do these kinds of cards using the MISTI.

Having said all that, I simply could not get the 2 colors to work using the MISTI on this particular card this time.  It was really me. I would mask off the green and ice up the Crumb Cake only to stamp down without removing the scrap paper and tape I had used to mask off the stem and vice versa! I must have done that 5 times.  I guess it just wasn’t my day to mask. So, I simply fussy cut 2 pieces I had not destroyed and adhered to the card. I covered up the space with a knotted piece of burlap ribbon.  And actually, I am glad I kept screwing up! The cut out pineapple gives the card more dimension. I will repeat my mantra from yesterday, your cheapest commodities in stamping are paper, ink and patience!

I did leave the Pineapple stamp stuck in the MISTI. The next time I bring it out, I want to remind myself to take off the masking paper before I stamp down!  The Pineapple stamp stuck in there will be a good reminder to do that.  🙂

Recipe

Papers: Love & Affection Specialty DSP, Crumb Cake, Cucumber Crush, Daffodil Delight
Stamps: Pineapple, Thoughtful Banners
Embellishments: 5/8″ Burlap Ribbon
Tools: Banner Duo Punch, Patience, A Sharp Pair of Paper Snips!

This weeks Global Design Project challenge is ” CASE the designer” Tanja Kolar.  Since we have a pretty liberal requirement on this challenge, what I chose is her grouping of objects as a focal point. Tanja uses balloons. I am using flowers.  And because I really love how Watermelon Wonder plays off Crumb Cake, I made that the color story for my “CASE” of Tanja’s card.

My card isn’t the only one CASEd from Tanja’s.  Check out the others for this challenge at #GDP048 by clicking here! Or on the icon below.

This card design is for someone who doesn’t mind the challenge of stamping and cutting out a total of 10 die cuts! Intricate designs using dies cuts isn’t for everyone. But for me, I really love stamping & cutting out more pieces than I need and then “arranging” them much like a floral designer would in a vase. I have done quite a few cards using this technique and blogged about doing flowers like this before. I always say that your cheapest commodities in good stamping are paper, ink and patience! And don’t be afraid to use all 3 when designing a multi layer card.

Well, that is my take on this week’s challenge.  An you should try it too!  This is a fabulous challenge with stampers from all over the world.

Recipe

Papers: Affectionately Yours Specialty DSP, Crumb Cake, Watermelon Wonder, Sahara Sand
Stamps: Jar of Love, Thoughtful Branches
Embellishments: Watermelon Wonder 5/8″ Mini Stripe Ribbon
Tools: Every Day Jars Framelits, Layering Squares Framelits, Big Shot