This week’s challenge for the Global Design Project is “Nature Inspired”. And the operative word phrase is “Nature Inspired, not “Natural”!  While I really love the monochromatic and bold color scheme of this card, I know this is not a natural scene, but with the lush beautiful die cuts from the Botanicals Framelets, it certainly is nature inspired.  And oddly enough, I have three cards that would fit into this theme.  They are either projects I managed to finish recently or cards I was making for swaps at On Stage.  But this is the card I chose to enter the challenge.  I liked the bold look.

My first step was to come up with something to use the Black/Melon Mambo Baker’s Twine with.  And as a part of that, I really wanted to do the botanicals on a black ground.  By choosing the twine, all the other elements just came together. Enjoy!  And if you have time, click on the Icon below and take a look at all the other designs in this week’s challenge.

Recipe

Papers: Melon Mambo, Basic Black
Stamps: Botanical Blooms, Good Greetings,Endless Thanks
Ink: Melon Mambo
Tools: Botanical Framelts
Embellishments: Melon Mambo/Black Backer’s Twine, It’s My Party Enamel Dots

Today’s card – Follow Your Heart – is my entry for this week’s Global Design Project Challenge.  This week was a color challenge and a difficult one at that!  I love Bermuda Bay and Tangelo Twist together, but it was a little hard finding a way to get in the Early Espresso and still look cute. The white polka dots on the Early Espresso ground from the Neutrals DSP Stack was perfect for that!  And I also wanted to use the stamp set “You’re Sublime” because IF(and that is a big IF) I make swaps for On Stage, I will use this set because of its simplicity.  There are lots of great ideas with this color challenge, so please take a look at what everyone else is doing in this week’s #GDP029 Color Challenge. And if you don’t already, sign up to follow this great challenge!

And giving credit where credit is due, I got this idea on Pinterest from a card I saw from Debra Burgin.  You can see her card here!  Her card is a real cutie and gave me the inspiration to figure out how to pop the stamped image on the Early Espresso dot background.  Because the design was centered all around the stamp, I knew it was going to be cut out with a circle framlet.  You could punch it if you wanted. The stamp will just about fit using a 2.5″ circle punch, but I really wanted more air around the design.  The image was colored in using a blender pen.  I tore the edges on some strips of DSP to pop the design and liked how the white on the torn edges tied everything together.  I finished it up with white ribbon, because I just like to have a bow! Like the card says, “Follow your Heart!”

Recipe

Papers: Whisper White, Bermuda Bay, Tangelo Twist, Neutrals DSP Stack, Sweet Lil’ Things DSP, Bohemian DSP
Stamps: You’re Sublime
Inks: Early Espresso, Bermuda Bay, Tangelo Twist
Embellishments: White 1/4″ Cotton Ribbon
Tools: Circle Framelets, Big Shot

This card was designed so I could use the sentiment stamp.  I love the saying that “Little Moments Matter” and I had not had a chance to use this in a card.  I also love the Pretty Petals DSP. It reminds me of the Anna Bond designs for Rifle Paper Co.  I love the floral designs she does and the bright bold colors used.  And it is a company located right in Winter Park, Florida!

I decided since the paper was all butterflies, why not the design elements as well?  It was easy to pick up the colors in the paper by layering the Butterfly Thinlet cutouts over the Bold Butterfly cutouts. And even though all the butterflies in the paper are the same size, it made since to me to use 2 sizes for the card front.

Recipe

Papers: Pretty Petals DSP Stack, Calypso Coral DSP, Mint Macaron
Stamps: Watercolor Wings
Embellishments: 1/2″ Calypso Coral Seam Binding, Basic Rhinestones
Ink: Basic Black
Tools: Bold Butterfly Framelets, Butterfly Thinlets, Big Shot