Every now and then I get a chance to play along with a design challenge. This week the timing was right for me to design a project for the TGIF Challenge #TGIFC206 Color Challenge. The brief was to use Bermuda Bay, Mango Melody and Granny Apple Green, all colours I love. I sat down to play with a stamp set and coordinating dies and before I knew it I’d created a card with a very abstract scene.

CARD SCRAPS TO ABSTRACT

It all began when I pulled out my card scraps in the three colours dictated by the challenge. Then I went looking for a stamp set that might work well with them. I haven’t used Lilypad Lake for ages, so I decided on that one, and of course grabbed the coordinating Lakeside Framelits while I was at it.

With everything ready on my desk I created a card base, using my Stampin’ Trimmer to cut and score some Thick Very Vanilla Card. Then I folded the card along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

Next I found a scrap of Mango Melody Card that with only a slight trim became a mat and fixed it to the card base with Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow).

Water came next when I used Bermuda Bay ink to stamp the water image onto a strip of Bermuda Bay Card. Then what?

Well I thought I’d play with the odd water / squiggly lines die from the Lakeside Framelits and my Big Shot. First I used it to cut some Bermuda Bay Card, but it didn’t really excite me. Then for some unknown reason I decided to try the die on some Granny Apple Green card instead.

Once the piece was cut I started playing with the stamped strip and this die-cut piece and before I’d really thought about it I’d woven one through the other. Suddenly that green piece reminded me of trees, or very, very long grass. An idea was beginning to form…

Going back to the Big Shot I cut a scrap of Mango Melody Card using the circle die from the Lakeside Framelits. Then with liquid glue I fixed it to a layer of Very Vanilla Card towards the top and just a little off centre.

The two interwoven pieces came next attached with more liquid glue so that the ‘sun’ was partially hidden behind the ‘trees’. Then I fixed the assembled layers to the card base.

ALMOST DONE

Just a little more stamping was needed.

Using Mango Melody ink I stamped the ‘you are the best’ sentiment from the Varied Vases Stamp Set onto a narrow strip of Very Vanilla Card. Then this was added to the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

All that was left was stamping with the ‘water’ image from Lilypad Lake.

On a layer of Very Vanilla Card and on the front of a Very Vanilla Medium Envelope I stamped up the right hand edge with Granny Apple Green ink. Then after cleaning the stamp I stamped the image along the bottom left edge with Bermuda Bay ink, overlapping the images in the corner. As I thought, the stamping sort of mimicked the woven panel on the front of the card.

Finally once I’d fixed the Very Vanilla layer inside the card base with liquid glue my accidental abstract scene card was complete.

TGIF CHALLENGE

SOME MAJOR TOOLS ARE RETIRING!

This morning I was advised that some major tools will be on the Retiring List.

First up, the Stampin’ Trimmer and accessories. Although traditionally items on the retiring list are ‘while stocks last’, Stampin’ Up! hopes to be able to continue to supply the cutting blades through to September. However this availability will depend on how quickly people buy up the existing stock and expected future deliveries. For my local customers I will be placing a consolidated order on Monday April 15th, if you wish to order the trimmer blades or anything else please let me know as soon as possible. Please note that in order to manage the stocks of trimmer blades, customers will be restricted to a maximum of 6 packs (of two) per order.

Stampin’ Up! are working to bring a new trimmer to their range but there will be a delay in that becoming available. As soon as I have more information about this I will let you know.

Also retiring is the Big Shot machine, and all platforms and plates. A new die-cutting machine is anticipated but it will not appear in the 2019/2020 Annual Catalogue. If you want or need a Big Shot, additional platforms or cutting plates etc. please order them today, or if you are local, you may wish to add them to my consolidated order on Monday (provided they have not sold out by then).

PRODUCT LIST

BUNDLE BONUS – I purchased the Lilypad Lake Stamp Set and Lakeside Framelits together using a bundle item number. This meant that I saved 10% off the cost of buying the two items separately. The Varied Vases Stamp Set can also be bought as part of a bundle with the coordinating Vases Builder Punch (not used today). You’ll find links to both bundles in my supply list in case you want to look at these in more detail. Please note that these discounted bundles will not be available after June 3rd.