DCBD Challenge #156

The challenge this week over at Diva Coffee Break Designs is a color challenge: Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Basic Grey, and Whisper White. Piece of cake!


Stamp sets: Patterned Pines, Holiday Collection
Colors: Melon Mambo, Bermuda Bay, Basic Grey, Whisper White
Punch: Jumbo Snowflake
Big Shot: Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder
And: Stampin' Write Markers, gemstones

More Patterned Pines

It's been a long, hard couple days, and I find myself seriously evaluating my place in the stamping community... in the Yahoo groups to which I belong, and even in the Stampin' Up! community. I've been working too hard; and while I don't expect any great rewards, I guess my expectation was to not get kicked in the teeth for the work I've done, much less for who I am and what I believe. Apparently my expectations are too high, as I find myself the victim of some hating, ignorance, and just plain stupidity as of late. I'm just weary of it all.

But you didn't come here to hear me whine, did you? Here's my cards for the day...






Stamps: Patterned Pines, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Colors: Taken with Teal, Sahara Sand, Whisper White
DSP: Holiday Lounge
And: Word Window punch, Modern Label punch, White Taffeta ribbon

A Couple Holiday Cards

I took a break today from the not-so-fun (personal business) stuff I've been doing to make two cards.

Stamps: Patterned Pines
Colors: Taken with Teal, Sahara Sand
DSP: Holiday Lounge
And: Gold brads, Stampin' Dimensionals, Circle punches




* * * * * * * * * *
Personal Update:
I've been in business mode the last few days, going through papers and making phone calls and doing what needs to be done to try and keep my housing and mental health care assistance. Tomorrow I meet with my case manager and some of the powers that be. I hope the outcome is positive, as I'm not dealing with the stress very well.

A Bermuda Bay Sort of Day

What do today's two cards have in common? Bermuda Bay, handpainted papers, and embossed backgrounds created using my Big Shot!

I used the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder on this first card. I knew it would be pretty, but when it rolled out of my Big Shot, I couldn't help myself -- I squealed with delight! I especially love how it looks on the watercolored handpainted paper. I confess, I did futz with the ribbon a bit, trying to figure out the best way to add it without distracting from the embossing, until I had a V8 moment and just used a little strip of it. The "Thank You" sentiment is from the Oval All set, and it's layered with Stampin' Dimensionals inside a punched Scallop Oval. Once again, I'm astonished with how little it takes (sometimes) to make a WOW! card.


I especially like this holiday card created with the Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder from the Holiday Mini catalog. I kept this card simple, too, and just stamped an image from the Patterned Pines set on Whisper White, framed it, and mounted it on the handpainted paper background. Pretty cool, eh?


I wonder if I'm boring you to death with all these cards made with the Handpainted Paper technique. Tell you what, I'll make these two cards my last ones for awhile. I'm itching to start using some of Stampin' Up!'s fabulous Designer Series Paper, anyway!