I wasn't quite sure about this DSP collection at first ... and then I used it! WOW -- I love these soft colors together. As you can see from the samples I made, this collection is great for a variety of different card styles -- masculine, feminine, floral, formal. The coordinating colors for Manchester DSP are Baja Breeze, Always Artichoke, Kraft and Very Vanilla. I also think that Close to Cocoa and Mellow Moss work very well with this collection. Try it out, and let me know what you think! Click on the thumbnail to view larger images of each of the 12 patterns in this DSP collection.
This first card uses one of my very favorite stamp sets of all time -- Baroque Motifs. I began with a card base of Baja Breeze, layered with Basic Black and the mini-stripe from the DSP collection. I stamped the large flourish stamp in Baja Breeze ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and layered that on Basic Black. 3 Black brads embellish the upper left corner. The sentiment from Best Yet (quickly becoming a favorite as well) is stamped in Black Stazon ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and punched with the 1 1/4" Square Punch. I rounded the corners with the Corner Rounder Punch. This is mounted on Baja Breeze cardstock, punched with the Square Scallop Punch and mounted on another layer of Basic Black, again with corners rounded. Both of the stamped mats are attached with Dimensionals. The inside mat is Very Vanilla and stamped with Baja Breeze ink.
For this second card, I combined the Baja Breeze color with a card base of Close to Cocoa. I just love this subtle, pastel diagonal plaid pattern. I tied a length of the yummy new 1" Double Stitched Baja Breeze Grosgrain Ribbon and tied a bow. The 2-step flower from Flower Fancy is stamped first with Baja Breeze and Mellow Moss on Very Vanilla and the outline stamp with Always Artichoke. The sentiment from Best Yet is stamped in Always Artichoke. I punched the corners with the Ticket Corner Punch and mounted it to a layer of Close to Cocoa before attaching to the card using Dimensionals. The inside mat is Very Vanilla and I stamped just the outline flower stamp in Mellow Moss ink.
My final card today uses the very popular Lovely As A Tree stamp set and the equally popular Sincere Salutations set. Both these sets are staples in any serious stamper's collection and I would highly recommend that you purchase both of them if you don't already have them. I began with a card base of Mellow Moss and layered on Always Artichoke and another of the soft plaid patterns from Manchester DSP. There is a length of Always Artichoke 1/4" grosgrain ribbon applied to hide the seam. The "field of Trees" image is stamped with Mellow Moss ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and layered on Always Artichoke and Mellow Moss. This is applied to the card base with SNAIL adhesive. The larger tree image is stamped on Very Vanilla with Always Artichoke ink, cut out and the edges sponged with Always Artichoke. I applied this using Dimensionals. The sentiment is stamped with Always Artichoke Ink. A Very Vanilla mat finishes the inside with the same tree stamped in Always Artichoke. This makes a lovely masculine card but also would be great for sympathy or get well or any time you want to let someone know that you care.
I'll be posting some very special Big Shot samples and information later today so come back this afternoon! Remember, the Big Shot is available for purchase beginning Tuesday, September 2nd.
If you would like to order the Designer Series Paper and Ribbon Sampler Kits, I've extended the deadline so it's not too late to order. This is a great way to get a little bit of everything without having to buy complete packages of paper or spools of ribbon. Deadline for ordering the Sampler Kits is Thursday, September 4th at 11:59 p.m. (central time). Click on the links above for more information.
Stop back this afternoon -- you won't be sorry! Blessings, Gretchen
