Very Simply Susan

I don’t think I am exaggerating when I say the In Good Taste Suite seems to be on everyone’s radar now that the 2020-2021 Stampin’ Up! Catalog has hit!  I mean, what’s not to like? A stamp set with beautiful sentiments, artsy elements and a huge Designer Series Paper set that has so many fabulous natural designs.

I know I have been going through this set since I got it. Today’s card was inspired by the paper. And I think it is the Designer Papers that will inspire a lot of cards in this suite. I love the neutral tones. And it seems Early Espresso works with almost all of them to add a bit of punch!

I used a combination of Gray Granite and Early Espresso with this. I went many different ways before deciding to go with a very neutral color story and punch it up with the rich brown of the Early Espresso Faux Suede Ribbon. The In Good Taste Wood Elements are just a surprise that adds more texture and makes the card interesting.

What I Used To Make This Card

Paper Pumping For July Is A Sure Fire Winner For Summer!

Did your summers ever include catching fireflies or as we called them, lightning bugs? I am sure fireworks enter into your memories for July 4th! And with most of us staying close to home this summer, wouldn’t it be nice to create something to that captures those wonderful summer nights? The July 2020 Paper Pumpkin is designed to do just that!

Honestly, if you have never tried Paper Pumpkin and I am amazed you haven’t, July is your month!  With some darling laser cut luminaries and postcards to send to those who can’t be with you this holiday, this Paper Pumpkin is a box of front porch summer fun!

And what if you ONLY like to make cards? No problem. This month’s Paper Pumpkin will have some “add-ons” that go on sale July 1st to match the set and make full sized cards. There will be enough embellishments and a stamp set to allow you to not only make the kit, but some beautiful cards that capture the night sky perfectly. Here’s a sneak peek! You have the looks of a summer sky during the day, at sunset and the night! I can’t wait to see the stamp set and embellishments to make these.

I have green, green and more green for you today! Looking for a background I could use the new gold hoops on, I spied this wonderful paper in the Forever Greenery DSP. I love the color combination! I thought it looked more Granny Apple Green than Pear Pizzaz, so that is where I took this bold, graphic design. And I love how it turned out.

This card is my entry for theGlobal Design Project  #GDP244 Case The Designer challenge this week. To see more fabulous designs for this challenge, click on the image below.

For this challenge, I really wanted to use a Gold Hoop as the circle shape focal point. These new embellishments are simply elegant in their simplicity. And while I used them pretty typically for the Forever Greenery Suite, I think they have lots of design possibilities and I hope to try more soon!

Because the DSP pattern is so bold, I decided to stay simple and play off the dark Pretty Peacock color as contrast. I did that by using a narrow frame around the DSP and using it to frame the sentiment and the “greenery” created with die cuts from Forever Flourishing dies.

To play up the gold in the hoop, I die cut Gold Foil Paper using the Sunflower dies. They have 2 long sprigs in this die set that work perfect with Forever Greenery.  The “greenery” was bundled together using Gold Metallic-Edge ribbon re-colored with a Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blend. And finally,  a sprinkle of Gilded Gems finished the card.

Stampin’ Tip: The Mini Glue Dots (Item 103863) are perfect for adhering the Gold Hoops. The Mini Glue Dots secure the hoop well and you can hide them behind the greenery. I used 2 mini glue dots and the hoop is very secure.

Another favorite Stampin’ Tip is to use Stampin’ Blends to re-color ribbon. Use a Stampin’ Blend on any neutral or light color ribbon. I start with the light color and add another coat if needed. That usually provides the perfect color match. I used a Granny Apple Green Stampin’ Blend(Item 14724) in the light blend for this card.

What I Used To Make This Card

Today, June 10, 2020 is the last day to subscribe to get the June kit!

Are these colors fabulous! They are some of the New In Colors for 2020-2022. I think they are some of the happiest new colors I’ve seen! So, it was a  natural to use the Timeless Tropical set and use these brand new colors.

Using a carryover set with some new In Color Designer Series paper is a great way to transition into the new catalog, which is live now! If you are on my mailing list, you should have your copy any day. Until then, you can see a digital version of the catalog by clicking on the catalog on the right.

This card features an all new Designer Series Paper stack with all new patterns. I was a little sad the old patterns retired, but after using the new patterns in this card, I love them! So, new is good! Here’s a little peek at what you new patterns in the new 2020-2022 In Colors!

One of the many things I love about the Timess Tropical suite, is the matching die cut set. The sizes are just perfect for card making with a tropical flair. I die cut using the DSP to give the leaves a textured look. And using a subtle pattern DSP for die cuts softens the look quite a bit. I added more texture by fraying some Braided Linen trim and added a few Bumble Bee enamel dots. I love these colors together and I thought they looked perfect for a tropical themed card. But they also look great for a floral card. My design earlier this week featured the same colors with the Sunflower Celebrations set. You can see that card HERE!

What I Used To Make This Card