I thought I'd push myself into a different color direction a few weeks ago and ordered a package of Dots and Dashes Designer paper. These designs have a fun mix of warm and cool colors with a summery, tropical feel. They recently arrived and I started playing with them as I tried out this week's Splitcoast Sketch Challenge.
If you've been following my posts over the last few months you may recall that I've mentioned my reluctance at using these papers, but I am definitely warming up to them. One of the things that I discovered as I looked at the work of other stampers is that it really helps to use a mix of coordinated papers in one design. Since the sketch challenge called for 3 panels it was a natural to check out some background papers. The tricky thing about this group of papers is that while the sample in the challenge used soft, subtle colors, these were definitely bold and busy, making for a pretty wild background. I calmed it down by using one of the palest colors in the group, Gable Green, as my base card and also as a base for my focal point and accent as defined in the sketch. I'm afraid I'm not sure whether or not the flower or the message, both from the set All the Best, is actually the focal point in this one but I liked them both and decided to leave well enough alone.
Stamps: All the Best
Paper: Dots and Dashes, Gable Green, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White
Ink: Markers - Green Galore, Glorious Green, Pumpkin Pie, Pink Passion
Accessories: square punches, Cuttlebug - dry embossing.
Here's another card with the same sketch challenge. I added a ribbon to the fill in some of the "dead" space of the Green Galore layer after taking the photo. I'll try to replace it if I can get a better shot than this one.
Stamps: All Wrapped Up, All Wrapped Up Accessories, Aida Cloth background
Paper: Dots and Dashes, Gable Green, Pixie Pink, Tempting Turquoise Whisper White
Ink: Green Galore, Glorious Green, Pumpkin Pie, Pink Passion, Pixie Pink, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories: Ket Tag punch, 3/4" circle punch Cuttlebug - dry embossing.
This is a pretty quick card to do. I covered a chipboard star (On Board Accents) with the bold circles/squares design, sanded the edges and mounted it towards the left of the card. A simple strip of another pattern on the right and a message from Just So Sayings complete the card.
Stamps: Just So Sayings
Paper: Dots and Dashes, Bashful Blue, Glorious Green
Ink: Glorious Green
Accessories: On Board Accents, sanding block
This next card took me way too long and I'm still not sure I'm happy with it. I started off thinking about trying a brighter version of a navy sketch challenge card I did a few weeks ago with Both Way Blossoms but they just didn't work so I switched to these flowers from Love Without End. I added the doodles from Doodle That to fill some space that seemed too empty - another great use for that set!
Stamps: Love Without End, Doodle That, Just So Sayings
Paper: Dots and Dashes, Whisper White
Ink: Markers - Timber Brown, Close to Cocoa,Green Galore, Glorious Green, Pumpkin Pie, Pink Passion and Pixie Pink markers
Accessories: oval punches
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