Inspiration

I would never have thought of using wallpaper or curtains as inspiration for card making, but there is a paper crafting challenge on the SplitCoast Stampers site that directed participants to the Johnny-Tapete website to find ideas for cards.  What an eye-opener, as I browsed the site with an inspiration-seeking viewpoint.  I have only begun to mine the creativity starters here, but I found this curtain material that I decided to use for inspiration for this card that I entered in the challenge.

The layout that I used is from another challenge from Sweet Sunday Challenge #154:

I used the colour palette of Basic Grey, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery.  The grey panel was embossed with the Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and the card base was embossed using the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder. I edged the vertical green panel with the Scalloped Trim border punch.

The front panel was stamped in basic grey using the stamps from the Creative Elements set, then I coloured in the flower using Stampin' Pastels.  I was happy because I don't usually have a ton of success with the pastels, but I used a smaller applicator and it turned out really well, and it has a vintage feel to it.  I added some Basic Rhinestones to the stamped edge design, which are a little hard to spot in this photo. 

I am going now to create some baby shower invites and if I finish them in time, there might be another post today....or maybe I should save it for Sunday!

The Charm of the Irish

Well, tomorrow is St. Paddy's Day, and I needed to create a card to honour the Irish.  After all, they saved civilization, during the time of the barbarian invasion of much of Europe, the Dark Ages.  This is according to a book called, "How the Irish Saved Civilization" by Thomas Cahill.  I have to admit that I did not read this book myself, but my husband did and provided me with lots of the details as we discussed the topic.  Quite fascinating, and I'm going to have to read it for myself, if I can ever get to the bottom of the pile of books people have lent to me!!

My mother used to tell us quite proudly that she was 1/4 Irish.  By deduction then, we children concluded that we were 1/8 Irish, and every St. Patrick's Day, we were proud to take part in "the wearin' of the green" legitimately, if not a little watered down!

So to honour my roots (some of them, anyway), here is a card I made to celebrate the day tomorrow:

Without a St. Patrick's stamp to my name ( for shame!), I used the SU Heart Punch to create a shamrock and cut the base out myself.  The Sweet Stitches brad goes so well with the theme, as does the new Twitterpated Designer Series paper.  I added a little trim using the Eyelet Border punch and some Designer Series buttons in 3 different shades of green. 

There, now I can go to bed happy tonight that I haven't ignored the Irish in me!  Happy St. Paddy's Day tomorrow, and wear something green!

Supplies used (all from Stampin' Up):

Paper:  Old Olive, Always Artichoke card stock, Twitterpated Designer Series Paper                                                      Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes 

Ink: Old Olive                                                                                                                                                                 Punches:  Full Heart, Eyelet Border, Large Oval, Scalloped Oval

Accessories:  Designer Series Buttons in Pear Pizazz, Garden Green and Wild Wasabi, Linen thread