ColourQ #126

Good morning, ColourQ fans!  It's time for a new color challenge, and this one was inspired by this whimsical set of dishes:

I admit I wouldn't have chosen this palette on my own, but I'm amazed by the DT samples this week and really enjoyed the challenge of working with these colors.  I hope you'll give the combo a try, too.

Since these colors have a bit of a fall vibe, I reached for PTI's lovely Harvest Berries set.  I die cut and stamped the largest branch with Lucky Limeade and popped it up on foam dots.  Behind it I stamped the smaller silhouette images in Early Espresso and added a strip of stamped text to ground the design.

I die cut a double ended banner from Daffodil Delight cardstock and stamped it with a sentiment from PTI's Postmarks.  A sprinkling of orange gems and I call it done!

Cardstock:  Stampin' Up! (Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight), Papertrey Ink (White)

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink (Harvest Berries, Background Basics:  Text Style, Postmarks)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade)

Tools:  Papertrey Ink (Harvest Berries die, Double Ended Banner die)

Accessories:  Me & My Big Ideas (rhinestones)

Thanks for joining me today, friends!  I'll be back tonight at midnight EST with a new 12 Kits of Christmas post, so if you're in the mood for some cute holiday cards, I hope you'll stop by.

Have a great day!

Embellish Leaves Color Challenge

Good morning!  I finally have a card to share!  It's been a long time since I played along with an Embellish Color Challenge, but I couldn't resist this one.  

These rich fall colors are so fantastic together.  I pulled out PTI's Harvest Berries to use the beautiful ginkgo leaves.  I stamped the larger images in Ripe Avocado onto a kraft card base.  Then I added some texture with the Linen & Canvas impression plate to the entire card front and selectively debossed a strip at the bottom with the Woodgrain plate.

Two strips of Enchanted Evening cardstock ground the design and a sentiment from PTI's 2009 Autumn Tags.

I die cut the small ginkgo leaves from Rustic Cream cardstock and stamped them with Ripe Avocado, then popped them up with foam tape and tucked them behind a Scarlet Jewel button.  A few randomly stamped red berries are the finishing touch.

All supplies from Papertrey Ink unless noted

Cardstock:  Kraft, Enchanted Evening, Rustic Cream

Stamps:  Harvest Berries, 2009 Autumn Tags

Ink:  Ripe Avocado, Enchanted Evening, Chianti (Clearsnap)

Tools:  leaf dies, Linen & Canvas, Woodgrain impression plates

Accessories:  Scarlet Jewel button, rustic jute twine

Thanks so much for stopping by today!  I'm hoping to get around to your blogs this weekend to see what I've been missing.  Have a great one!

ColourQ #101

Good morning!  After the long weekend here in the U.S., I nearly forgot that today is Tuesday and time for another fabulous ColourQ challenge!

Are you loving the new SU In Colors as much as I am?  Luckily for us, Arielle has included two of them in this week's color combo, which is inspired by a delicious fabric tote.

I haven't had much time to play with my newest stamps from Papertrey Ink, so I couldn't wait to ink up the gingko leaves from Harvest Berries.  *swoon*  I thought they would be perfect for a get well card for a co-worker who is having surgery this week.  

Usually when making a card, the sentiment is one of the last things I add, and often I don't even know what type of sentiment I'll use until the card is nearly finished.  For this card, I stamped the sentiment first for two reasons.  

First, I knew it would be a get well card, so I chose a phrase from PTI's Healing Touch Sentiments that I thought was most appropriate.  

Second, I wanted the sentiment in the "sweet spot", that intersection of imaginary lines that divides a card into thirds.  This is most appealing to the eye and draws your attention to the message immediately.

Once the sentiment was stamped in Rich Razzleberry, it was fairly quick and easy to frame it with gingko leaves stamped in Pool Party.  Next I added some texture with PTI's Linen & Canvas impression plate.

For a bit of dimension and contrast, I die cut two gingko branches, stamped them in Lucky Limeade, and popped them up with foam adhesive.

To balance out the Razzleberry sentiment, I added a scattering of stamped purple berries, then adhered the panel to a lavender card base.

Cardstock:  Papertrey Ink (Lavender Moon, white)

Stamps:  Papertrey Ink (Harvest Berries, Healing Touch Sentiments)

Ink:  Stampin' Up! (Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Rich Razzleberry)

Tools:  Papertrey Ink (branch dies, Linen & Canvas impression plate)

I love the composition of this card, but if I made it again I think I would stamp off once before stamping the aqua leaves so they would be a little softer and fade more into the background, because as-is it seems a little busy.  But I adore these colors together and hope you'll find some time to take up the challenge using them this week!

Thanks for paying me a visit today!  I hope to catch up on comments and visits to your blogs very soon!