Paper Players Challenge # 34 – Color Challenge

Hi Everyone.  Happy Sunday night.

I finally got to make my challenge card this morning.  I was very late!  We have a great color challenge for you across at the Paper Players this week.  It was my turn to host and it was a color challenge.  I chose the following colors:

It's such a wonderful rich color combination and I can't wait for you to see the amazing work of our design team members.  More importantly, we can't wait to see the amazing creations YOU make using this combo.

Take a look at the wonderful cards from our design team by visiting our challenge blog thepaperplayers. 

You can also visit each of the design team cards on their blogs:

• LeAnne – Weeinklings
• Stephanie – Stampin with Suzee
• Kerin – Stamps, Paper, Glitter
• Nance – Canopy Crafts
• Ann – The Stampin Shach

The hardest challenges for me are color challenges.  However, they are often the ones that I enjoy the most – once I get over the initial shock.  Color challenges really force you out of your comfort zone.  The key to doing color challenges is to let the colors choose a stamp set for you.  I find that if I decide on a stamp set and then try to work with the colors, often, it just doesn't work. 

For me, I look at the colors and think…mmm.. are these nature colors?  Are the rich, regal colors?  Are the bold and bright?  Are the boy colors?  Girl colors?  etc.  I then choose a theme.  Once I have chosen a theme, I then go look for the right stamps.

In today's card.  I loved the Cherry and Cajun together.  They are both very rich colors and actually play off of each other.  The pop of Whisper White crispens up the entire color scheme, but allows you to tone it down with the Crumb Cake. 

I know that this week's challenge scared a couple of our design team, but… you have to check out what they made.  They took the challenge in hand, beat it – and really rocked it!

Here's what I came up with.

I decided bold colors needed a bold background.  I also decided that I wanted to play with my Elegant Trio Stencil set again.  I LOVE this stencil set.  It's also a great way to get two colors to blend for you.  I used Cajun Craze in the center of the flower, blended the Cajun and Cobbler in the middle ring, and then went all Cherry Cobbler on the outside.

I stamped the Thanks, I love being spoiled sentiment onto Vellum and then put that over the background.  I decided it was also time to pull out the two ribbon technique that I stole… err I mean borrowed… from the wonderful Rach.  The two ribbons, allow me to bring out two of the colors from the color scheme.  I also took the Cajun and Cobbler and carried them both into the sentiment.

I was really happy with the card.  I think the only thing that it is missing is a pearl at the end of the second line of the sentiment.  However, I couldn't push myself to put a button and a pearl on the same card!  Isn't it odd how we all have different things we can and can't do on cards?

I think the Cajun and Cobbler look great together.  What do you think?

Card recipe – all ingredients Stampin' Up!

• Card Stock:  Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Crumb Cake
• Inks:  Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler
• Stamps:  Afterthoughts – Hostess Level 1
• Stencils:  Elegant Trio Stencil Set
• Accessories:  Cherry Cobbler and Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon, Rich Regals buttons, linen thread, vellum

Tips:

• If you want to see how I use my stencils on cards – click the pic below to visit my technique video

• If your background image feels brighter than you want, soften it by adding vellum over the top.  One or two layers of vellum can be added to soften the background
• When stamping onto Vellum, don't try using it for about 10 minutes after you have stamped if you are using inks that are not fast drying like StazOn.  If you use them before they are dry, you run the risk of smudging them.
• Cover up the glue you use to adhere your vellum with a layer of ribbon

On a personal note:

I was at regionals and it was a great day.  Filled with lots of stamping, oohing and aahing at some fabulous demonstrations and a chance to meet and swap with fellow demos.  Over the next couple of weeks I will be showcasing some of the swaps that I received as well as some of the demonstration projects that we got to see.  It was a fun day.  Lou took the opportunity to go do some shopping and other errands that he needed to do.  We met up for lunch and then I went back to the seminar and Lou sat at a cafe, had a couple of cupcakes and some tea and caught up on some work.  It was a great day.  Lou also bought me a couple of other things for my stamping space.  In fact, some of them tie into the PIMP MY PLACE competition I will be unveiling later this week.

Now, I am off to make a Valentine's card for Lou.  I seem to be way behind on all my crafting this weekend.  I also need to make some cards for this coming week.

Prayers tonight for Rose, Adelle, Jan A, Germaine.  For those still being affected by the floods and fires in Australia.  The fires came within a couple of miles of Lou's parents house.  A very close call for them.

Have a fabulous Sunday everyone and I hope you have a great start to the week

Hugs

Jaydee