Betsy's Blossoms for MOJO Monday and Dynamic Duos

I was looking for a stamp set to use to create a card to use for MOJO Monday Challenge #340   and Dynamic Duos Challenge #97:

I needed something that would have or fit in circles.  Since the colours for Dynamic Duos are so bright and primary, I needed something with a stylized look to it.  I decided on Betsy's Blossoms.  I haven't had that stamp set for long. When the Annual Catalogue first came out, every demo and her dog were posting cards made with Betsy's Blossoms, tags made with Betsy's Blossoms, mobiles made with Betsy's Blossoms, scrapbook pages made with .... yes, you've got it....Betsy's Blossoms!  I felt like if I saw another Betsy's Blossoms post, that I would be sick!  So I didn't order it.  Until almost a whole year went by and the Betsy's Blossoms fervor subsided.  It's really not a bad stamp set.  I really like the starburst effect of the big stamp, and the bird is really eye-pleasing, now that I don't have to look at it all the time.  So finally, the time has come and I am posting a Betsy's Blossoms card:

• The starburst and the flower images are perfect for the circular shapes needed in the MOJO Monday sketch this week, another brilliant one by Julee Tilman.  The little bird fits on a circular background as well, and these stylized designs work well with the bright colours of Tempting Turquoise and Melon Mambo from the Dynamic Duos challenge this week.
• I did some paper piecing of the bird's wings and the flower center. I stamped each image in both Tempting Turquoise and Melon Mambo and cropped the wings and the flower center by hand from the Melon Mambo images.  I then adhered them to the Tempting Turquoise images, by matching them exactly to the original part of the picture.

• I used a variety of Circle Punches and Circle Framelits to punch out and matte all the parts.  It's so nice that you can find the right sized circles among them to cut and matte almost any size circle! The flag containing the sentiment, from Gifts of Kindness, was cut using the Banners Framelits.
• The background DSP is from the Brights Designer Series Paper Stack and uses the Fancy Fan design.  With a crisp little bow that I made with a technique using a "C" clear mount block, I finished that back panel using the 3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Whisper White.  

And that's a wrap, except for the Weekly Deals, and some excitement, because tomorrow, bright and early, I'm going to register for Convention, which takes place in July in Salt Lake City!

I really enjoy the experience, the motivation, the friendships and the fun!  And here's a reminder that YOU could be going with me this year!  "How?" you ask!  Easy, peasy!  Just join my team, the Papercraft Cats, by ordering the starter kit for $125!  And this year, if you have signed up since July 2013, Stampin' Up! is paying your registration!  How cool is that???  I'd love it if you came along with me!  But you should act soon, so registration doesn't fill up before you can get in on it!  We have a blast and we share hotel costs to keep it reasonable.   Just send me an email that you're interested, or simply click on "Join My Team" on the top menu bar and you are on your way!  For $125, you get $155 of any current Stampin' Up! products plus a business pack of all that you'll need to get started earning money doing what you love!

BRIGHTS GLIMMER BRADS Price: $6.50 $4.88	GINGHAM STANDARD STAMPIN' AROUND WHEEL Price: $7.95 $5.96	ISLAND INDIGO BAKER'S TWINE Price: $3.95 $2.96	MAKE A CAKE CLEAR-MOUNT STAMP SET Price: $14.95 $11.21
PUNCH PACK Price: $22.95 $17.21	RECIPES BY DESIGN DIGITAL KIT - DIGITAL DOWNLOAD Price: $10.95 $6.57	SECRET GARDEN FRAMELITS DIES Price: $30.95 $23.21	SUMMER STARFRUIT 1-1/4" STRIPED GROSGRAIN RIBBON Price: $12.50 $9.38

Click on the links below to take you to my On-Line Store, where you can read about, look at, and purchase if you wish, the products used to make this card today!

Product List

131955	126006	130441	130444	130134	102067
100730	115320	126952	126948	130911	120906
119868	119861	109070	119247

All Good Things Must Come to an End

I got home yesterday afternoon from our Creative Escape Papercrafting Retreat.  Rockridge Canyon proved to be just as beautiful as the pictures and the food....Oooh, la la!  It was a location very nurturing to one's creativity and I got a lot done.  Here's a photo of the gang:

I got quite a few cards made, but can't show you too many now because some are top secret!  I will show them to you when they are declassified!

I will show you a couple though, because they are for some challenges.                                                                                                      

The Paper Players Challenge #169 is a sketch by Anne Marie Hile.  And Dynamic Duos has a colour challenge this week for Challenge #76

I had some glittery fun with this one:

• I think that the Silver Glimmer paper adds just the right touch with these two shakes of purple.
• I went back to an old favourite stamp set, Lacy and Lovely for the doily in the 2 1/2" circle.  The silver matte is the next biggest Circles Collection framelit.
• The sentiment is from Loving Thoughts.  With the concentric circles above it, it's almost like your being hypnotized.  Look at the middle of the circle.  You are getting sleepy!  You will go immediately to my on-line store and purchase the 25 stamp sets that are on sale now for 25% off.  When I snap my fingers, you will awaken.  You will remember nothing!

• I really like the border of Scallop Border Punched silver glimmer paper with the Delicate Details Lace Tape underneath.

One of the challenges we competed in over the weekend at the retreat was a colour challenge, that I found out later was from a Challenge Blog I'd never heard of before, ColorQ Challenges.  Here's their challenge logo:

Obviously, I've been hiding my head in the sand, because they've been around for a long time.  This is their 212th Challenge!

Here's my card:

• Since we no longer have Kiwi Kiss, I used Pear Pizzazz instead.  
• The starburst that is supposed to represent fireworks on Halloween night, is made with a stamp I don't own, but was able to use at the retreat - Betsy's Blossoms.  I will say that when it first came out last year, I grew to dislike it intensely because everyone and his dog was using it and I got pretty tired of seeing it on every blog.  Since then, I've grown to like it, especially this particular image.
• I was happy to be able to use more of my Witches' Brew DSP on this project, because it's almost Halloween and I have a heck of a lot of it left!
• The sentiment is from Seasonal Sayings, and LOOK!  I used WASHI tape, which I don't do very often, if at all!

Anyway, I'm happy to be home and back to work, brimming with lots of new ideas for you and a couple of new techniques to show you!  Have a great Monday!

Stamps:  Lacy and Lovely (w132025; c122887); Loving Thoughts (w128436; c125845)

Paper:  Subtles Designer Series Paper Stack (130135); Silver Glimmer Paper (124005); Perfect Plum (101889), Wisteria Wonder (122922) and Whisper White (100730) cardstock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pad in Perfect Plum (126963)

Accessories:  Silver Mini Brads (122941); Delicate Details Lace Tape (130966)

Tools:  2 1/2" Circle Punch (120906); Circles Collection Framelits (130911); Scallop Edge Border Punch (119882); Paper Piercing Tool (126189)

Stamps:  Betsy's Blossoms (w131955; c126006); Seasonal Sayings (w131937; c128009)

Paper:  Witches' Brew DSP (132185); Basic Black (121045), Whisper White (100730), Pear Pizzazz (131201), Wisteria Wonder (122922) cardstock

Ink:  Classic Stampin' Pads in Basic Black (126980) and Wisteria Wonder (126985)

Accessories:  Neutrals Designer Buttons (130031); Witches' Brew Designer Washi Tape (132156)

Tools: 2 1/2" Circle Punch (120906); Circles Collection Framelits (130911)

2 1/2" Circle Punch

Circles Collection Framelits

Delicate Details Lace Tape

Lacy and Lovely Stamp Set

Witches' Brew Designer Series Paper

Witches' Brew Designer Washi Tape

Betsey's Blossoms Stamp Set

Seasonal Sayings Stamp Set