THREE FLOWERS . . . THREE DOTS

I think the frigid weather we have been experiencing these past weeks has given me <creative> brain freeze. And, to  be honest, it's really bothering me. 

Sure, I've been doing my regular pinning on Pinterest, as well as perusing others' blogs, but nothing lately has thrilled me too much. At least, not enough that I had the urge to do my own take on anything in particular.

Until I saw this week's sketch challenge from the Paper Players! After looking through the samples the design team had created, I was positively EMPOWERED to do one of my own:

The colors, even though the photos don't show it accurately, are Sahara Sand, Soft Suede and Island Indigo, with the centers of the flowers being a bit darker by using an Early Espresso Stampin' Write Marker to give them a bit more definition.

Although I love the card "closed" as shown above, the sentiment on the little pull-out tag is really cute too.

Did you notice the row of three paper dots above the flowers? Well, I wanted to echo the dot look by adding one to the tag too:

I love how the dimension and texture show up so well on this photo:

Paper Players Sketch Challenge #180

Thanks, Paper Players, for giving me a much-needed kick in the pants!

Smiles.

SOLVE THIS MYSTERY

A few days ago, I experienced something of a creative breakthrough. And I'm so glad I did! 

Totally out of the blue, I had this glorious idea. The timing wasn't great, however. I was scheduled to work some long days, and was unable to get down to my Creation Station to give my great idea a try until several days after the initial breakthrough. 

When I finally got the chance to bring this little seedling of an idea to fruition, I had a blast! Following are eight samples of the backgrounds I created:

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

What do you think? Do you like them?

Now, here is where you come in. I'd like you to solve a mystery: 

HOW ARE THESE BACKGROUNDS MADE? 

WHAT MATERIALS ARE USED?

I'd like to make this a little contest. Important: DO NOT GUESS IN THE COMMENTS SECTION! If the guesses show up as comments, everyone (who reads the comments) will see the answers. Instead, email me your guess at lidna52@gmail.com. 

You will have until midnight CST on Friday, January 31, to get your guess to me via email (lidna52@gmail.com). 

Put "Background Guess" as your subject line.

On Saturday, February 1, I will gather all the correct guesses and choose a random winner. 

Along with your guess, also include which of the backgrounds is your favorite. 

The prize for the winner will be a card I created especially for you from your chosen background and a few other surprises.

I will announce the winner in my blog post that will be published Sunday, February 2. Also in this blog post, I will give you the correct answer, and will have a card created from MY favorite to show you.

Put your creative thinking caps on, and send me your guess: lidna52@gmail.com. I hope I hear from lots of you! Of course, I would love to get comments on this post also, but not guesses. OK? 

Oh, and one more thing: I would LOVE to have you follow Paper Seedlings in either Bloglovin' or with Google Friend Connect. Both buttons are on the right side bar of my blog. If you would like to get updates whenever I have a new post, usually twice a week, please sign up in "Follow by Email".

Seedling

Smiles.

MARISSA'S CAR

My Goddaughter, Marissa, turns 16 today AND takes her driver's test. A definite milestone day!

To honor this special time in Marissa's life, I decided to combine these two themes in her birthday card.

MDS to the rescue!

I wanted a jaunty-looking car for the focal point of the card. I found this cutie in the On the Go stamp brush set. The traffic signs were also part of that set. How perfect, huh? The wheels became extra fancy with the addition of the oversize star brads, retired from Stampin' Up!. I also cut out the car on a second print I made of the card background, and popped it up with Stampin' Dimensionals.

I added strings from the balloons from the Cake and Ice Cream set to all the traffic signs. See them? To make it really festive and BIRTHDAY, I added some of the balloons and their strings from the same set. I finished the composition with a happy neutral DSP for the background.

At my Creation Station downstairs, I completed the card. A black mat surrounding the image, then mounted to a bright yellow card base was the route I took. Route. Get it? Driving? 

A little happy birthday from the Bitty Banners set cut out with the matching Framelits and edged in bright yellow completed the birthday theme. 

Good Luck and Happy Birthday to you, my Marissa! 

I hope it's a 16th birthday you will always remember fondly.

Birthday

Smiles.

SANDED EMBOSSING ON . . . GUESS!

I am a true proponent of using nontraditional, unconventional materials in my artwork.

A few years ago, someone online had mentioned the pretty tissue boxes that were presently on the market. I thought, "really?" I went and checked out the boxes I'd had on hand. Omigosh, I had been throwing away beautiful art supplies for years!

For my next Stamp-In workshop, I decided to take advantage of this "free paper". I cut up a tissue box once it was empty, and proceeded to see how it would work if used on a card. Huh. It looked like a tissue box used on a card.

I looked over at my Big Shot, sitting there all innocent, wanting so badly to help me in my dilemma. So, I opted to take Mr. Big up on his kind offer, grabbed a Stampin' Up! embossing folder, stuck my piece of tissue box inside, and ran 'er through. Hmmm. Now, it was an embossed tissue box. And it still looked like a tissue box used on a card.

My sanding block raised its grainy little hand, and cried, "I can help!" I laid the piece of embossed tissue box on my work space, and lightly sanded across it. And I had struck pay dirt!

Obviously, how the end result looks varies depending on which Embossing Folder you use, which tissue box design, and how much sanding you do.

The next time you use that last tissue, confiscate the box, cut it apart, and give it a try! I love the look!

I must admit that I have quite the collection of cut-apart tissue boxes, just waiting their turn at being recycled into something new and beautiful!

Recycled

Smiles.

FREE MARKERS!

Have you heard yet of Stampin' Up!'s monthly subscription service, Paper Pumpkin? It is truly Happiness in a RED BOX!

created in MDS

Each month's Paper Pumpkin comes complete with all product, except glue, needed to create the featured project(s). Paper Pumpkin is a 30-minute creative escape. Just enough time to get away from the daily grind and enjoy the gentle satisfaction of creating something wondrous. Really: SMILES GUARANTEED!

And., you ALWAYS have something left over for future projects: for example, the Stampin' Spot and 2-4 stamps that come with each kit. 

I've been a member of Paper Pumpkin for several months now. And, I can tell you, once I get the email that my Paper Pumpkin is on its way, I am practically stalking the Post Office until my red box finally arrives!

Check out this post, this post, this one, and finally, here, to check out what I've had to say about Paper Pumpkin in my blog. 

Anyway, NOW would be a particularly GOOD time to jump 

on the Paper Pumpkin bandwagon to experience 

just what all the hoopla is about. 

BECAUSE, from now through February 20, 

each NEW SUBSCRIBER will receive 

a free set of 2012-2014 In Color Stampin' Write Markers ($14.95) with your Welcome Kit.

Head on over to My Paper Pumpkin to get yourself subscribed. A N D, DON'T FORGET TO NAME ME, LINDA KILSDONK, AS YOUR DEMONSTRATOR. Tell them Linda sent you! :>)

Paper

Pumpkin

Smiles.