Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #115 - Gail's Clean & Simple "Spring Theme" Challenge

It's time once again for the Watercooler Wednesday challenge, and this time around the talented Gail Allen is hosting.  It's the WWC115 - Clean and Simple Challenge and the theme is "Spring". 

I'll be attending a Spring wedding later this month and these two "love birds" have chosen plum and minty green for their theme colours. With this in mind, it wasn't difficult to come up with a card design.

Here's My Card:

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Builder Birdcage #142891, Oh So Succulent #142992 and Timeless Love #138772
Card Stock:  Elegant Eggplant, Mint Macaroon and Whisper White 
Ink:  Tuxedo Black, Elegant Eggplant, Mint Macaroon and Wisteria Wonder 
Accessories:  Dimensionals, Big Shot Machine, Paper Trimmer, Tom Bow Glue, Happy Heart Embossing Folder and Misti.

Ten Step Assembly:
1.  The card base is a standard 8 1/2 x 5 1/2" card stock scored at 4 1/4".  It is a side fold card.  The front half of the card was embossed with the Happy Heart Embossing Folder.

2.  1st layer:  3 1/4" x 4 3/4" Mint Macaroon card stock.

3.  2nd layer: 3 1/8" x 4 5/8" Elegant Eggplant card stock adhere to 1st layer.

4.  3rd. layer: 3" x 4 1/2" Whisper White card stock.  

5.  Starting with the Builder Birdcage stamp set, stamp the pedestal base of the bird cage in Tuxedo Black ink, then layer and stamp the birdcage center and top in Elegant Eggplant.  Have fun with this one, because you can make any combination of bird cage you want with this delightful set.

This 16 piece Photopolymer set is on the Retired List and is currently going for $16.30. What a great value and savings!

6.  Next, stamp the bird images in Wisteria Wonder.

7.  Finally, stamp two solid image air plants from the Oh So Succulent stamp set in Mint Macaroon.  I chose to put one in the top of the cage and the other on the opposite side on the bottom.  

The amazing Oh So Succulent 30 piece Photopolymer Stamp set is on sale for 30% off the catalogue price at $19.50, while the matching Succulent Framelit Dies are on for 40% off at $22.00.  That's quite the savings.

8.  Adhere the Whisper White layer to the first two layers and then adhere these panels to the left hand side of the card base with Dimensionals. 

9.   Stamp the sentiment "The best Love story is the one you write together" from the Oh So Succulent Stamp set in Elegant Eggplant ink on a 3/4" x 2" strip of Whisper White card stock.  I also stamped a small flower from the same stamp set in the background of the saying making sure I stamped off the ink first.  I glued the sentiment strip to a 1" x 2 1/8" piece of Elegant Eggplant card stock and attached this with Dimensionals on an angle across the bird cage pedestal.

10.  Finish the inside with a 4" x 5 1/4" panel of Mint Macaroon and a 3 3/4" x 5" panel of Whisper White.  Stamp "Congratulations" from the Timeless Love stamp set in Elegant Eggplant in the center of the Whisper White panel and add a chain  in Mint Macaroon ink below it.  The chain is from the Builder Birdcage set.

The Timeless Love Set is retiring May 31st but it is not at a reduced price. 

This card came together in all of a few minutes.  Because this is a Clean and Simple challenge I didn't feel the need to add rhinestones or other embellishments and I think it turned out beautifully. 

Regrettably all of the stamps and embossing folder used in this card are now part of the Retiring List that Stampin' Up has published.  That means they are only available while supplies last or until May 31st whichever comes first.

If you liked this card and it's bold colour combination please let me know because I really appreciate your feedback.  It gives me confidence to try different stamping techniques and card designs.  

Before you go don't forget to check out the other design team artist's creations this week at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #115 - Gail's Clean & Simple "Spring Theme" challenge, by clicking on this link.   

And, if you like this challenge by all means please join us by linking up your own creation.  The design team would really like to see your take on the Spring Challenge.  The link is open until Monday April 24th at 5pm Mountain Time.  Hope you'll play along! 

Click here for Online Store Access:

April Hostess Code - G6EFBVU4

USE THIS CODE FOR ALL ON LINE ORDERS IN APRIL AND YOU COULD WIN A PORTION OF THE HOSTESS REWARDS - SEE HOSTESS TAB FOR DETAILS.  

 

Click here to see the Retiring Products:

Happy Stamping! 
Penny Tokens Stampin' Spot

WWC102 - Libby's Clean and Simple Challenge

Hi Stampers!  Christmas is over and the month of January is zipping by.  If you're like me you're thinking of making some Valentine's cards in time for this next big occasion, but haven't quite started. 

If so,  Libby's Clean and Simple Challenge WWC102 at Watercooler Wednesday may give you some added inspiration and fire up your creative juices. Her clean and simple theme is LOVE in Red and White.

Here's how to play along with the Watercooler Wednesday Clean & Simple Challenge. Our rules have just been updated, but they're simple to follow.

• Show lots of open space
• Use minimal layers
• Use minimal die cuts
• Use minimal embellishments.  
• If you're not sure what to make, look at the samples created by the Watercooler Artists, they're sure to give you some clues and inspiration. Make sure you link your card or project up by Monday January 23rd, 5:00pm Mountain Time.   And, above all else, have fun stamping and creating!

Here's My Card:
Initially when I pulled out my Cherry Cobbler and Whisper White card stocks I was planning to make a Valentine's Day card for this challenge.  However,  I also needed an anniversary card for a wonderful couple who were married on Valentine's day so changed up my plans and instead created an Anniversary   card:

Instead of using heart images for this card I decided to incorporate the flowers from the Oh So Succulent Stamp set, and I think this was a good choice.  The flower shapes are beautiful and look good as single stamped images instead of two-stepped stamping.  All in all I'm happy with how this card turned out. Here's a view of the inside of the card:

Supplies:
Stamp Sets:  Oh So Succulent, Jar of Love
Ink: Cherry Cobbler
Card Stock: Whisper White and Cherry Cobbler
Accessories: Trimmer, Corner Rounder punch, Basic Rhinestones, Dimensionals, Adhesive

#142992 Oh So Succulent Stamp set

I really like how these flowers turned out.  Sometimes  you really have to look at the stamps in a set and think of other ways of using them.  In this case I liked the large flower images and can visualize them in different colours, not just in the colours of succulents.  

I also really like the Jar of Love stamp set, which is where this "love" sentiment comes from.  The bold script captures your attention right away and ties in with the more delicate flowers.  

#141587 Jar of Love 37 Photopolymer stamps

Just a thought, but an alternative way of creating this card front, if you wanted to step it up would be to stamp the panel of flowers on vellum instead of the Whisper White card stock.  You could also  add more of a pop of colour by using a sponge dauber to colour in the flowers on the reverse of the vellum, and then adhering the floral panel to the card front. 

Thanks for dropping by.  I'd love to hear what you think of this anniversary card and how I've used the Oh So Succulent stamp set.  Remember there are lots of ideas on the WWC102 - Libby's Clean and Simple Color Challenge for even more inspiration. 

Happy Stamping!
Penny Tokens Stampin Spot