Go Ahead, Challenge Me

As you may recall, I started the year with some blogging goals, and one of those was to play in online challenges.  Well, now that it's August, I'm finally getting around to that--it's about time!  Today's card is for the challenge over at Pals Paper Arts, to make a masculine KISS (Keep It Simple, Sweetie) card.  Since I'm keeping it simple, I hopped on over to Clean & Simple Stamping for a nice layout, and found it in this week's offering, FTL102.  I follow both of these blogs and their challenges regularly, but this is the first time I've been able to create a suitable card in the week it's due.  What do you think?

In keeping both with the KISS challenge and with the clean and simple layout, this is a one-layer card that was quick and easy to put together, and hopefully is a gender neutral way to express my thanks.  I went with the brown and blue combination (in Early Espresso and Marina Mist) both because I love these new colors, and because I think this combo is appropriate for anyone.  In fact, it's one of the main color schemes in my apartment, so clearly I'm a fan.

I did use the Stamp-a-majig in my attempt to keep everything balanced, but even with help that can be hard.  My advice?  Just keep trying!  It really is true that practice makes perfect.  The finishing touch on this card is that line of paper piercing to tie together the circles and the sentiment that otherwise was floating at the bottom.

What do you think?  Is this challenge worthy?

Cheers!

~Melanie

Stamps: Circle Circus, Thank You Kindly

Ink: Marina Mist, Early Espresso

Paper: Whisper White

Extras: Stamp-a-majig, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack

Crazy Circle Circus

Ok, so maybe it isn't crazy, but I have a serious love-hate relationship with this stamp set.  I really liked it when I first got it, and had so many ideas for those different circles and whimsical cards.  But then I never quite liked how the cards turned out.

I've come back around to liking this set, and I think the right color combination makes all the difference.  Give it up once again for Summer Sun and Basic Grey!  (Note: apparently this color combo is HOT right now.  I don't think I could ever wear it, so it's strictly card colors for me.)  The beauty of a card like this is that you really can't go wrong, just stamp away and overlap the images and have fun.

To get a lighter shade of grey for the sentiment, I stamped it on scrap paper once before putting it on the card stock.  The little dots of solid grey and yellow are left over daisy centers from yesterday's card.  It's that easy!

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Circle Circus, Thank You Kindly
Ink: Basic Grey, Summer Sun
Paper: Very Vanilla, Basic Grey, Summer Sun

More Circles and Squares

Inspired by my earlier card, I decided to leave room for a sentiment this time. I chose another of the Circle Circus circles--this one would punch perfectly with the scallop circle (if you had it on hand, which I didn't). Again, stamped in bright colors, but I decided less is more, and went with fewer layers this time. My circles in squares were mounted on Glorious Green and then onto a Lovely Lilac card base (this combination is one of my personal favorites).

To make sure that my sentiment was crisp and perfect, I went with rub-ons instead of a stamp. I know I have a lot of favorites, but rub-ons really are the greatest thing ever! You get tremendous bang for your buck (this set, Chit Chat, includes sentiments for every occasion, and enough for you to do well over 200 cards!), and they always look sharp.

When you get your rub-ons, choose the sentiment you'd like and cut it out. Make sure you keep the backing paper with the rub on until you get it to your card. Then, once you've decided where the perfect placement is, removing the backing paper and literally rub on your sentiment with a popsicle stick (included with the rub-ons) or your bone folder. Gently peel away the clear paper--if any didn't transfer, put it back in place and rub some more. Then voila! Once the rub on is on your card, it won't come off, and it is the perfect touch.

This makes me want to use my rub-ons now. And for those of you who are more interested in decorating than card-making, you should check out Stampin' Up!'s Definitely Decorative line--they're rub ons for your walls, and oh so fun! I hope to put up some pictures of those soon, so stay tuned.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Circle Circus
Paper: Lovely Lilac, Glorious Green, Whisper White
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Brilliant Blue, Pink Passion, Glorious Green
Extras: Chit Chat Rub-ons

Bright and Cheery!

Time for something new. Although I made this card months ago, it's new and different here. And very simple.

I started off with those circles, and knew I wanted to do some sort of repeating pattern, but I wasn't sure what. Oddly enough, it was squares to the rescue! *Note: this would have been easier to do with square punches, but I didn't have any at the time, so it was all cutting and measuring. I started by stamping my circle of choice in bright colors on Whisper White, then cutting those out by trial and error. Centering? Pure luck (and third attempts!) Once I had even squares, I measured and then added 1/16" to cut out a second set of squares from my bright paper, then another 1/16" for the last set.

Why 1/16"? Because I love that perfectly thin border it gives you.

With that done, I played around with my colors. Should I put the green galore on green galore, or mix it up? Clearly I decided for the latter. Then I got out my mat pack and piercing tool, to give this a little extra touch, and pierced one corner of each piece. Next, I matted it on a contrasting color and then put all the pieces together on my 4.25x4.25" card base.

Cheers!
~Melanie

Stamps: Circle Circus
Paper: Pacific Point (retired), Pink Passion, Orchid Opulence, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise, Whisper White
Ink: Pink Passion, Orchid Opulence, Green Galore, Tempting Turquoise
Extras: Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Tool