A Cheerful, Happy Hi!

I'm thrilled to be the Pals Paper Arts Featured Artist this week and excited to be able to share with you the card I created for the first PPA sketch challenge, known as PPA2!  I'm also excited to tell you that I designed the sketch for this week's challenge!  I hope my sketch will inspire you to play along with me and my fellow Pals!  I love bright colors and pretty flowers!  This card delivers both, along with a cheerful message to the recipient!  I think the flowers look like a summer bouquet of happy zinnias!

All supplies used for this card are Stampin' Up!, unless noted otherwise:

• I started with a standard size card base in Tempting Turquoise.  A layer of Real Red receives the "faux stitching" treatment, courtesy of a White uni-ball Signo Gel Pen.  My ribbon collection provided a perfect match in a cheerful polka dot, tied neatly across the width of the red layer in a simple bow. Whisper White matted with Summer Sun makes a perfect "planting spot" for my pretty flowers! 

• I used the Scallop Circle punch to punch out one circle each in Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Pink Passion cardstock to make the base layer for each flower.  Paper Snips were used to make each petal by cutting between each scallop toward the center (be careful to not cut all the way to the center). Next, I stamped the flower image from the Best Wishes & More set (one of my absolute favorite current sets) onto Whisper White card stock in Pumpkin Pie, Real Red, and Pink Passion classic ink. Each image was cut out with Paper Snips and added atop each matching scallop circle with a Pop-Up Glue Dot to make it pop!  Two circles for each flower center were punched from Summer Sun card stock using a 3/8" circle punch. One circle was glued directly onto the center of each stamped flower.  A second circle, sprinkled with random dots made with a Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write marker, was popped on top of the first circle with a Stampin' Dimensional to complete the flower.  The flowers were attached using Stampin' Dimensionals.  More dimension was added to each flower by simply pulling (or slightly bending) every other "petal" foward on each flower base (the scallop circle). The final result is a flower that really "blooms"!

• Making leaves was quick and easy with the 5-Petal Flower punch, Paper Snips, and a paper Crimper!  Two flowers were punched from Certainly Celery card stock and each flower was cut into 5 equal pieces, cutting between each petal towards the center (imagine cutting a five-pointed star into equal pieces).  Each petal was transformed into a pretty leaf by folding it in half lengthwise and running it through a paper Crimper at an angle.  Each "new leaf" was unfolded and the edges and center rib (center fold line) were shaded using the brush tip end of a Certainly Celery Stampin' Write marker.  Leaves were tucked carefully under the flowers and held in place with Mini Glue Dots. Quick and easy!

• The friendly greeting was achieved by inking up the sentiment from the Fundamental Phrases set with Jet Black StazOn ink and stamping onto Whisper White card stock. The message was quickly punched out with the Word Window punch and added with Mini Glue Dots.
  

Stamp Sets:  Best Wishes & More (111602), Fundamental Phrases (114968) 
Paper/Cardstock:  Tempting Turquoise (102067), Pumpkin Pie (105117), Real Red (102482), Pink Passion (102762), Whisper White (100730), Summer Sun (103124), Certainly Celery (105125)
Ink:  Pumpkin Pie classic (105216), Real Red (103133), Pink Passion (101212), Jet Black StazOn (101406), Stampin' Write markers - Pumpkin Pie (105115), Certainly Celery (105106)
Tools:  Scallop Circle punch (109043), 5-Petal Flower punch (109041), Word Window punch (105090), 3/8" circle punch (EK Success), White uni-ball Signo Gel Pen (105021), Paper Snips (103579), Crimper (101618)
Adhesives:  Mini Glue Dots (103683), Pop-Up Glue Dots (104183), Stampin' Dimensionals (104430), 2-Way Glue Pen (100425)
Extras:  Ribbon/Orange Polka Dot (ribbon fX) 

What are you waiting for?!!!  Now it's your turn to play along and create a card for PPA2 and join in the fun!  Post your creation to your blog or a public gallery.  When uploading your project to an online gallery, make sure you use the keyword:  PPA2.  The sketch challenge officially closes at Noon (CST) Tuesday, August 11th.  I can't wait to see how the sketch inspires you!  Thanks for stopping by!

Comments

[Kalshelia]

I love the bright colors on this. Excellent job. I have to make those flowers one day!!

[Linda Callahan]

Wow Margaret - bold, bright and gorgeous! Think I have to get me one of those gel pens - it really adds to the flowers. The sketch is super - thanks for all of your hard work and artistic talent!

[Lynn Bettes]

I love the card as well! The stamp set was on a maybe's list but it may now have just been bumped up to a must have set. Thanks for the challenge and the card, I will be checking on you and your ideas more often.

[Patti MacLeith]

Margaret! What a great card. How did you do the scallops on the Real Red? Did I miss something in your description? Also, there is a challenge somewhere on Splitcoast where you have to use stitching-real or faux- and your card would be welcome to post on there! Check it out. Great, great card!

[Melissa Young]

Good Lord! I didn't know you had a blog!!! I thought I had subsribed to all the Pals!!

Geez!

What a great card! I esp love the bright! Thanks for a great sketch!

[Gina Shaw]

Your card is sensational! The colors, the flowers, the leaves, and you're amazing with your white signo gel pen. I love, love, love this card and the sketch for the challenge was terrific. I loved playing. Can't wait for more!

[Jason Casper]

Margaret,
Thank you so much for a wonderful sketch to use for the challenge!
I love, love, LOVE your card!! The beauty and vibrance of it is just stunning! The detail is FABULOUS from the leaves all the way down to the white faux stitching! Excellent!

[Nance Leedy]

WOW! Your card is gorgeous Margaret--it sings right off the page. The flowers, the faux stitching and those leaves...it's all beautiful! Thanks for a great sketch...can't wait to play at PPA!

[Sharon]

This card is beautiful! I never would have thought to make the leaves like that and use the scallop punch as another layer for a flower. Thanks for the inspiration!

[Melanie]

I love the colors Margaret! I also really like the faux stitching you did - I've never done that technique before and am now very curious to try it out! Excellent job!

[Jennifer Chiles]

This card is so awesome. What a creative mind you have. I've never seen anything like this!
Wow, do more, post more!

[Jill Cornell]

I loved the card. Just looking at it makes a person happy. I love the bright colors. Please do more!

[Kathy W]

What a wonderful card; I love the bold, bright colors...perfect for a birthday or a RAK. Thanks for your detailed instructions, especially how you made the leaves.

[Lisa Hjulberg]

Gorgeous card! I saw it on the PPA blog and had to click over to see what you used to make those awesome flowers. What a beautiful color combination... very eye catching!

[Mary Fish]

This card absolutely jumps off the page. Love the faux stitching and the colors bright and delightful. Congrats on your new blog, too! Hugs, Mary

[Katou]

This is such a beautifull card,I love the colors full of vitamines.

[Rosemarie Diehl]

What a gorgeous card!

[Kim]

So bright and cheery Margaret! Love it! Thanks for the fun sketch too!!

[Carla Bazhenow]

I love your card, so bright and cheery!!! Super fab. Hugs,

[Martha Stewart]

Beautiful card Margaret. You did an awesome job on the flowers and their color combos. Loved the sketch too!

[Nancy Chambers]

ABSOLUTELY STUNNING! Creative and fun for fall. I love the colors and layout. Great card for loss of pet, also. Subtle and touching. You are a TRUE ARTIST!