This week’s Global Design Project #GDP149 is a color challenge with the fantastic trio of Bermuda Bay, Lovely Lipstick and Night of Navy.  It was a little bit of a challenge as my “go to” for a color challenge is DSP! And, after a run through of my sample books of DSP, I concluded there was nothing to work for this color trio.  Then, I remembered DSP Color Collections! These handy collections of 4 patterns of Designer Series Paper(DSP) in 4 Designs each color is available in all of the colors Stamping’ Up! makes!  It is the perfect thing to have on hand and be able to complete any project.

I loved the bright palette of Lovely Lipstick and Bermuda Bay anchored by Night of Navy, which acts as the neutral color.  There are so many possibilities. See what the Global Design Project Design Team and challenge entries chose to do by clicking the image below. 

So, try this cheery color combination sometime! I can see it in everything from graphic cards to florals, nautical looks and much, more.  And most of all, just have fun with color! Stamping’ Up’s! color coordinated array of inks, paper and embellishments is what drew me to Stamping’ Up!  This excellent coordination of “everything” allows you to sit down anytime you are ready to create and make something beautiful with supplies you have on hand!  Before I found Stamping’ Up!, I never had what I needed on hand to start or finish a project.  This wasted a lot of time and money as I did not start or finish much.  Stamping’ Up! really organized my crafting life by making things so much easier and so much more fun!

Whoo hoo! This card won a “Special Mention” in this week’s challenge! I am always so happy when one of my cards gets an award. Click HERE  to see all the winners!

Products Used In This Card

I know everyone is buzzing about the new Holiday Occasions Catalog!  And so they should be.  Demonstrators have had a sneak peek and it is worth talking about. You will love it!  But my mind is on what I can do for holiday right now and not in December!

This card got its inspiration from the Twinkle, Twinkle DSP.  Now, this is a paper set meant to make cards for babies. But the paper with the starry background was just what I needed for an idea I had had percolating in the back of my mind for a while.  I wanted a “starry night” background for the Hometown Greetings.  And I was going to do it using a resist and some whisper white ink.  But using this paper makes this card so much easier and prettier!

The paper needed no embellishment, despite my use to use some of the star shaped Twinkle Adhesive Backed sequins! One another car, they would be perfect.  On this one, they were just overkill. So, the card stayed simple with Shimmery White and Silver Foil paper die cuts. Then, a little silver edged ribbon, mini sequin trim and a silver brad to hold it all together!  Doesn’t Stampin’ Up! have just the best ribbons and embellishments? They are so perfect for so many uses!

If you are a customer of mine or on my mailing list, you will get the new Holiday Catalog sometime at the end of August. And let me tell you it is a show stopper! When you see it in the mail, just relax, find a comfortable chair, get a nice cup of tea and enjoy!

But if you need to get some  holiday done now, there are lots of goodies in the main catalog I am having the most fun with now! And I feel so great getting holiday started early!

Products Used To Make This Card

I usually don’t show retired Stampin’ Up! products, but I just had to share a service project with you using some retired products….and some new!  Above are some door hangers we made in a class I took.  I volunteered to do an art project as part of one of the classes.  So, I decided to use the retired DSP, Just Add Color.  I had leftovers in certain designs and this was a good use for it.

There was not enough class time to actually color in this paper.  So, I took select stamps from the Work of Art Stamp set and created swaths of color. You just stamp all over the black & white images and suddenly,  you have a quick and easy project!

The verses and sayings were printed using a scrapbook software and  a couple of Framelit sets to die cut them out.  Most of the shapes from the Stitched Labels Framelits were die cut in various colors to create pieces to collage behind the sayings.  And there is a die cut feather from an old Paper Pumpkin kit as well!

Then, the paper was glued to coaster board, holes punched and some retired ribbon added as the hanger!  So simple. The class had a great time making up their own looks.  I wish I had taken pictures!  The samples you see above were the ones I made for the class.

I had a lot of leftover pieces so, this morning I made some cards that will be sent out by a church’s service organization I donate cards to.  In this service project, nothing went to waste! Because service projects are important to most of us in Stampin’ Up!, I thought I would share this idea for using retired products.  And I wish I had thought of the coloring technique last year for cards!

Products Used To Make These Cards