Gretchen Barron

Today's Featured Designer Series Paper -- Sweet & Sour Specialty

Good morning, everyone and Happy Tuesday to you! I promised that the next featured Designer Series Paper would be Sweet & Sour Specialty so here you go!

The colors in this paper collection are just gorgeous together -- PumpKin Pie, Rose Red and Very Vanilla. I am in love! One side of each of the six different double-sided patterns (12 patterns in all) has a glossy embossed image on it -- making for some wonderful design and texture options.

For this first card, I used the new Elegant Lines Impressions Folder and the Big Shot to create those beautiful swirls and flourishes. I sponged just a little Rose Red Ink over the top to bring them out even more although this image is deeply cut on the Impressions Folder. In fact, you probably don't want to use any tabs on your multi-purpose platform when you use this folder. I've also used the new 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Extra Large Punch, the 1 3/4" Circle Punch and the Two-Step Bird Extra Large Punch. I stamped the bird image with the Level 1 Hostess Set, Punch Potpourri. The sentiment is from the fabulous new Word Play Stamp set (love those large images). I applied ink directly on the rubber using Stampin' Write Markers. The ribbon is 5/8" Satin in Pumpkin Pie.

  This next card you may have already seen.

It's my Stamping 411 Inspiration card for this week.

You can read the details about this card HERE.

And finally, I have one last item for you -- a 3-D gift bag using the Fancy Favors and Beautiful Butterflies Dies and the Big Shot!

I layered the butterflies, using Stampin' Dimensionals! in-between them for a little extra lift and tied on some of the new 1/8" Taffeta ribbon for the body and antennae (love how this works so well).

what a quick and easy little gift bag and who wouldn't love to receive some goodies inside this little gem?

I hope you've enjoyed a look at the Sweet & Sour Specialty Designer Series Paper today. Do come back because there is so much more to show you!

If you're loving all this new DSP as much as I am, but don't want to invest a fortune in purchasing all the new packs of paper, you might want to try one of my samplers. New Sampler's are now available for Designer Series Paper, Simply Scrappin' Kits, Ribbons and Embellishments. Click HERE for all the details and to place an order! It's a great way to get it all ... only in smaller quantities! My DSP samplers give you a BIG 6x12" sample of each of the new papers so you get plenty to do either cards or scrapbook layouts! The sampler's are a great way to get all the beautiful, new products without purchasing the entire packages of paper and ribbons.

And yes, a pattern will be coming soon for these fabulous paper birds that are featured in the catalog! I'm working on it and hope to have it ready for you later this week. Keep watching ... I told you there are great things to come!

Today's Featured Designer Series Paper -- Lap of Luxury!

Hello everyone! Guess who came to my house yesterday? Mr. Brown (aka, the UPS man), bringing with him all kinds of wonderful new goodies from the 2010-2011 Idea Book & Catalog! So, it's time to bring back my Designer Series Paper feature. Keep checking back because I will feature new Designer Series Paper several times each week until I've shown them all!

Today's featured DSP is Lap of Luxury. It's beautiful and elegant and coordinates with Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, Concord Crush and Very Vanilla cardstocks and embellishments. As with all standard Stampin' Up! Designer Series Papers, there are 12 sheets of double-sided paper in each pack, giving you 12 different coordinating designs (2 sheets of each double-sided design).

For this first card, I used a cardbase of Concord Crush and layered it with Pretty in Pink. I stamped the flower image from the Level One Hostess Set, Because I Care, on Whisper White cardstock with Old Olive ink and then stamped it again with Concord Crush on a scrap of cardstock. (e-mail me to find out how you can earn this stamp set and more for FREE). I added tiny dots to the center of each flower with a Daffodil Delight Marker and coated the entire thing with the new Smooch Pearlized Accent Ink in Moonlight. Think of it as finger nail polish for your paper crafting projects - LOL. I just painted it on over the stamped image and then cut it out and layered it onto the previously stamped image. The Pearlized Ink dried very quickly and adds a beautiful luster and a bit of texture as well. Click on the detail photo on the left to see the sheen it gives to the flower.

I used the Scallop Border Punch on the bottom of the inside Concord Crush layer and the applied the new self-adhesive Basic Pearls. I applied them with tweezers to each scallop along the bottom -- just beautiful! The perfect finishing touch is a bit of the new Concord Crush 1/2" Stitched Poly-Ribbon. Since purple is my favorite color, I am loving all these new purple papers and embellishments!

My second card featuring this new Lap of Luxury DSP uses the pinks and grays from the collection.

I started with a cardbase of Basic Gray, layered with Pretty in Pink. The stamp set is Elements of Style. The scallop Circle was punched with the new 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch (love it) and layered with the 1 3/4" Circle Punch.

The scallop circle and hummingbird are popped-up with Stampin' Dimensionals. I tied it off with a bit of 5/8" Pretty in Pink Satin ribbon for a quick and simple, yet beautiful, card!

Okay, I"ve got one more card for you today using the Lap of Luxury DSP.

This final card pairs the multi-colored stripe with Very Very Vanilla and Concord Crush. I embossed both the DSP and Very Vanilla using the Big Shot and the Vintage Wallpaper Impressions Folder.

The stamp set is Watercolor Trio, simply stamped and stamped-off with Concord Crush Ink. The sentiment is punched out with the Large Oval Punch and layered with the Scalloped Oval Punch, popped-up with Stampin' Dimensionals. More of the fabulous Concord Crush 1/2" Stitched Poly-Ribbon provides the perfect finishing touch!

I just love this card. It reminds me of an old-fashioned quilt that I want to cuddle up with.

I hope you've enjoyed a look at the Lap of Luxury Designer Series Paper today. Do come back because there is so much more to show you! Tomorrow's projects will feature the new Sweet & Sour Specialty Designer Series Paper -- so much fun!

If you're loving all this new DSP as much as I am, but don't want to invest a fortune in purchasing all the new packs of paper, you might want to try one of my samplers. New Sampler's are now available for Designer Series Paper, Simply Scrappin' Kits, Ribbons and Embellishments. Click HEREfor all the details and to place an order! It's a great way to get it all ... only in smaller quantities! My DSP samplers give you a BIG 6x12" sample of each of the new papers so you get plenty to do either cards or scrapbook layouts! The sampler's are a great way to get all the beautiful, new products without purchasing the entire packages of paper and ribbons.

And yes, a pattern will be coming soon for these fabulous paper birds that are featured in the catalog! Keep watching ... I told you there are great things to come!

One More Thing -- this evening I'll be listing a HUGE assortment of retired stamp sets, ribbons, papers and embellishments! Everything will be marked down 20-50% off retail. I've priced them to sell and want everything to go! Stop back later because everything is first come, first serve!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Come back soon for more inspiration from the new Idea Book & Catalog!