confetti by lexi

SAF 2015: make it work challenge

what a day! it's hard to believe that papertrey ink stamp-a-faire is almost over. time really does fly when you're having fun and here we are with the last challenge before the red carpet finale. just like on project runway, it's time to make it work...

Be sure to save all of your partial cards and rejected creations from throughout the day to use in this challenge. Tim Gunn is famous for his "Make it work." phrase and now you will get to apply it to your own paper crafting creation. Take apart one of your rejects or alter it to "make it work," just as Tim always says.

so above, is my reject. it started off as one of my cards for yesterday's fashion sense showcase, but i was having a hard time creating a leopard print that matched my vision. i actually forgot to photograph it before i added a couple more layers of color, so you won't see much difference in the leopard print below. even so, while the card is okay, i found it a bit boring and lacking pizazz. i certainly wasn't believing in myself as yves saint laurent's quote dictates!

so i put it aside and moved on to other projects. i kept fiddling with it in between, stamping a new layer of brown circles over the first round of lighter ones, doodling more varied weight on the black circles i'd drawn, and adding in a layer of gold wink of stella all over. and when all was said and done, i decided to try again on the layout and "make it work," tim gunn style! i added a polka dot vellum panel (which had been an option before i added the scallop frame) and created a collage style layout on top - an mm: spiral notebook die cut of pencil me in patterned paper with instructions from tim, a gold paperclip, brass washers leftover from the unconventional challenge (bangles, maybe?!), and of course the leopard print gown. like on my card pattern, i like to have a few of the elements extending off of the base layer for added interest. while i still basically like the simplicity of the first card and i want to give the leopard print a fresh try another day, i think this one definitely has more pizazz. and that's a wrap from me! i can't believe it's almost over. a few more team ideas to see and all of your linky additions too - new eye candy is my favorite...

nichole | ashley | dawn | laurie | melissa

sleep well!!
:) lexi

SAF 2015: runway inspired challenge

hello again! stamp-a-faire day has turned into stamp-a-faire night and i'm back for another paper fashion extravaganza challenge share - the runway inspired challenge...

The team will share some inspiring runway looks and showcase projects that derived from the colors and styles found within those inspiration pieces. Printable inspiration cards will be shared as a free download so you can use the same inspiration to create a project of your own!

this challenge is a no-brainer with a theme of project runway, right? so i decided to take it even one step further and choose my runway inspiration straight from a recently aired episode of project runway itself! now, this happened to be the winning look. i was kind of torn on who should win between this and the greece look that had the only "safe" score - it was totally a top three! i think the pants here needed a little more work (they never have enough time!) and a different shoe, but i what i really liked was the mix of color and floral pattern with black and white stripes. 

as soon as i saw it in the episode, i thought of this challenge! i knew i had the perfect "faded red" paper in my studio stash to pair with the black and white stripes from betsy's mood mix patterned paper collection included in the saf kit. as a nod to the floral cape, i decided to use a little bouquet that's been sitting on my desk since last year's stamp-a-faire (good things come from saf!!) on top of a yellow block of color (another free paint sample!!). the floral on the look is a mix of bold colors and the red, green, and yellow, represented in my bouquet and yellow block, all jumped out at me, especially in the sketch of the look above that i spied on my instagram feed and saved right away. i love the end result - i'm a big fan of bold and bright and color blocking is a fun way to mix and match colors and patterns and not have too thick of a layered card. of course, the irony here is that this one has a big embellishment in the bouquet and will need a box to mail or give. but the really cool feature is that i adhered it to the card with a pair of basic grey magnetic disks, so the recipient can remove it and put it on her file cabinet or fridge - a card with a gift!! so i tend to go pretty literal when i play inspiration challenges like this. i can't wait to see the looks and inspired projects from the rest of the team - and then from you! off to the runway to check 'em out...

nichole | ashley | betsy | danielle | dawn | laurie | lizzie | melissa

how literal do you play it?
:) lexi

SAF 2015: unconventional materials challenge

long time, no see! i hope your stamp-a-faire day of stamping is progressing nicely. by now, your work space might be a little or a lot messy, but push most of those "real" stamping supplies aside and get your hardware store haul ready. it's time for the unconventional materials challenge!!

Just like the popular television show, you will be challenged to incorporate unconventional materials into a card. Visit your local hardware store and purchase unconventional materials with a $10 budget. Get really creative and try to make it "difficult" for people to tell that the unconventional materials were even used on your project! Be sure to take a photo of your receipt next to your new supplies to add to your blog post before you dig in to start creating!  You may integrate any basic paper crafting supplies or tools as well.

do you spy my hardware store finds? in fact, the only "true" stamping supplies on the card are the fine linen card base and the stamped sentiment, along with cover plate: stripes diagonal and beautiful blooms II #3 dies used to emboss and cut...

i spent $9.34 and a little over an hour in the hardware aisles of home depot. i tried so hard to find one more thing to get me just a little closer to $10, but there was nothing cheap enough. my time probably breaks tim gunn's usual constraints, but luckily nichole didn't specify that! i'm sure the "real" customers were wondering what i was doing as i studied this little thing and that over and over, lol! but it was so much fun to search and plan. i ended up with foil tape [embossed layer detail], reflective safety tape [white flowers], and two types of little washers [flower centers]. i will definitely use the rest of these supplies on other cards as opportunities present themselves. the washers are especially fun. and self adhesive foil tape - self adhesive + foil - enough said. clearly, i love the polish and shine of metal! so, what about the teal and red flowers, you ask...

well, any good card maker who finds herself near paint swatches knows to grab a few handfuls! free, colorful card stock? yes, please! so after i chose my hardware, i headed over a few aisles and spent even more time on color. i love paint cards like this for a specific project. not only do they offer fun color combos, they give you proportions of the color to try in how they lay out the card. this was just the inspiration and direction i needed to transform my hardware haul. big flower in teal, small in red, leaves (a small flower cut apart) in lime - easy peasy!! i can't wait to see what everyone else found and transformed...

nichole | ashley | dawn | laurie | lizzie | melissa

#sofun!!
:) lexi 

SAF 2015: patterns challenge

 it's time for challenge two, the patterns challenge. are you ready?! 

As part of the exclusive Stamp-a-faire Kit (purchase not required), customers will receive a packet of patterns like you would use for making clothing, only these are designed as a unique version of card sketches.  Similar graphics will be provided on the blog along with this challenge post.  You are challenged to create a card using one of the card patterns to help you warm up for the day.

for this challenge, i contributed a card pattern (translated above) based on this card from a recent release...

when a set has fun die cuts, i like to group them together and make a collage of sorts. i think my first layout like this came about because i had so many extra die cuts on my desk and didn't want to toss them! anyway, the smaller background panel helps to ground and group the images while still being small enough to have the die cuts extend over the edge for a little added interest. as mentioned on the pattern, the rule of threes is a good thing to remember and incorporate in your groupings. while i was using four die cuts, i paired and overlapped two of them, which makes them read as one, creating a visual grouping of three.

so, how about two new examples? here i used comfort food along with a soundburst and word die from zappy birthday. the sentiment portion of the layout lends itself well to soundbursts or speech bubbles, although they're not necessary. a word die cut or even a die cut that is not a word (with a standalone sentiment to the left) would be worthy alternatives. i scream, you scream, we all scream wow!

here, i used love potion, again paired with a soundburst and word die from zappy birthday. i was planning on something else, but this just came together and i loved it! we've got great chemistry - bam! on both cards, you'll notice that i chose bold patterned papers to set the stage as the pattern card suggests, sticking with more simple stamped images that pop on top. there are lots of great stamp sets that are perfect for this card pattern - i know it will show up again around here. are you ready to stamp again? pick a pattern or two or seven and get busy...

nichole | amy | ashley | betsy | danielle | dawn | heather | laurie | lizzie | maile | melissa

see you soon...
:) lexi

SAF 2015: bridal challenge

good morning! today is the day! papertrey ink stamp-a-faire has arrived and it's time to jump right in with the first challenge of the morning, the bridal challenge...

Here's comes the bride, all dressed in white.  Except in this case, it's a wedding card that you will be presenting using nothing but white supplies.  The only exception to the rule is that you are allowed to use a neutral ink color (black, gray, brown, etc...) to add a stamped sentiment to the card.

i typically use a lot of white on white, but with pops of color, so i was really excited to play along and work more with texture in the absence of color. i decided to use cover plate: modern cross quilt to create a stencil for a pearlescent embossing paste background. in person, it looks like mother of pearl adhered to the card - so cool and so tactile! once it dried, i added two polka dot vellum butterflies from life is beautiful die collection. i stuck only the bodies down, so i could lift of the wings a bit for added depth. a few rainstones finish them off nicely and help detract from the glue below. and finally i added a sentiment in smokey shadow on a strip of card stock adhered right over a full row of crosses. challenge complete! now it's your turn - enjoy the team's bridal runway and then break out your wedding whites...

nichole | ashley | betsy | danielle | dawn | heather | laurie | lizzie | maile | melissa

happy stamping!
:) lexi

SAF free exclusive set!

good morning! papertrey ink stamp-a-faire weekend has arrived!! while the official day of tutorials and challenges is tomorrow, the design team is kicking things off today with a look at the exclusive, limited edition stamp-a-faire set, fashion sense, and i'm so excited to be playing along. first, a few details from nichole:

fashion sense will ONLY be available on stamp-a-faire day to customers who make a qualifying $100 purchase. all orders made between 7am est and 11:30pm est on stamp-a-faire day (August 29, 2015) that total $100 (before shipping) will receive the set for FREE!

as you can see, fashion sense includes quotes from leading fashion industry icons, along with a fashion sketch and various elements to add color and pattern to the gown - you get to take on the role of fashion designer and "make it work!" which is exactly what i did...

as soon as i saw the fashion sketch image, i knew that my first card would involve watercolors. i embossed the sketch and using kuretake gansai tambis, i blended pinks and purples for an ombre effect. while it was still a little wet, i stamped in a few dots in pink for a bit of added interest, followed by a wash of silver for a silky shimmer. i really wanted the dress to take center stage, so i kept the rest of the card simple - one of the sentiments - a fabulous quote from coco chanel - plus a couple of strips of coordinating washi tape and voilá! i see more watercolor gowns in my future.

next up, i wanted to step up my textile game with the mini florals. the skirt is so fun and full - i just love filling in little spaces like this. first i stamped the solid skirt fill in image in soft stone for a base color. then i started my stamped pattern with one of the two step flower clusters, and filled in with leaves, followed by the tiny single flower, and finally, the single mini dot to finish it off. it's good to start with the biggest image and then fill with the smaller ones as you go. you'll start to see where you need more and it's fine to overlap here and there - i think it adds to the movement and fullness of the skirt. for even more movement, i stamped the sketch image on the panel, colored in the bodice with silver wink of stella (i always love a little bling!) and fussy cut and layered the floral skirt over it, bending up the edges here and there. so much fun! i have many more textile ideas, and at least one that will show up later in the day tomorrow, so stay tuned! speaking of tomorrow, do you have your supplies ready to go?! i'm playing along with several challenges, so i'll see you there - and definitely at the welcome party tonight on nichole's blog. but first, enjoy the rest of the fashion sense fashion show...

nichole | amy | ashley | betsy | danielle | dawn | heather | laurie | lizzie | maile | melissa

happy stamp-a-faire!
:) lexi

too cool for school!

august is here and that means the beginning of school is fast approaching. but i refuse to call it quits yet, so i decided to have a little sunday funday stamping sesh to create a summer inspired card that's been floating around in my head for a few days. it started with the idea of using a clean color marker to paint the lenses of the wayfarers from my 1980s stamp-a-faire kit from last summer, and ended with two fun card layouts.

i embossed the glasses with clear embossing powder over black pigment ink, colored the top half of the lens with a clean color marker in blue-gray, and spread it over the rest of the lens with a wet watercolor brush. the embossing stops the water from spreading outside of the image for super quick and easy painting. i love the gradient look for the lenses and the transparency of watercolor adds a realistic touch. after searching through my studio stash to find a "cool" sentiment, i added washi tape and an impressed background to one card, and a little paint splatter and paper confetti stars to the other. i think the second is more "me" - off center and a pop of color and all - but i really like them both. sunday funday was a success...

so totally cool!
:) lexi