My regular readers will know that I like to get the most from my craft budget, and that means being creative with materials. I love taking products that have a specific theme and finding ways to make something totally different. But when I got my hands on the free Penguin Playmates 12″ x 12″ Designer Series Paper (DSP) I didn’t have to think too hard.

The Penguin Playmates DSP features a selection of cute critters enjoying time in the snow. It coordinates with the Penguin Place Stamp Set and Penguin Builder Punch from the July to December Mini Catalogue. However when I looked at the reverse of each sheet I realised that these patterns were good for any time of year. One striped design in particular shouted ‘baby card’ and so that’s what I sat down to make.

STRIPES

With the gorgeous striped design on my desk I checked the back of the paper pack for the colours used. From these colours; Misty Moonlight, Fresh Freesia, Soft Sea Foam and Just Jade, I chose Soft Sea Foam for my card base. Using my Paper Trimmer I cut and scored the card, then folded it along the scored line and sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

Next I cut a 3-7/8″ x 5-1/8″ piece of Misty Moonlight Card and a 4″ x 5-1/4″ piece of Basic White Card.

Now I was ready to cut into the DSP starting with a 2-1/4″ x 6″ piece. Using Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) I fixed it to the flap of a Basic White Medium Envelope. Then with Paper Snips I trimmed off the excess DSP using the edge of the flap as a guide,

I cut my second piece of the striped DSP at 3/4″ x 5-1/4″ and glued that down the right-hand edge of my Basic White layer. Then along the left edge of the DSP I added a 1/8″ x 5-1/4″ strip of Fresh Freesia Card. Finally using more liquid glue I fixed the assembled piece inside the card base.

My last piece of DSP was cut 3-1/4″ x 5″ and mounted onto the Misty Moonlight Card. Then I added that to the front of the card base using Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Now I was ready to start work on my penguin focal point.

PENGUIN PIECE

Staying with the Penguin Playmates DSP I found a sweet penguin image without a hat or scarf. The image was quick and easy to cut out using Paper Snips and I set it to one side.

Because the background stripes were quite busy I decided that I’d need something to make the penguin stand out a little more. Looking through my Basic White Card scraps I came across a 2-1/2″ x 2-1/2″ piece with one corner missing. I remember messing up the stamping on this piece so I chopped off the corner and added it to my scraps. Now that odd shape gave me an idea.

Using liquid glue I fixed the Basic White piece onto the striped background to create a sort of snow hill. Then with Stampin’ Dimensionals I added the penguin to the left side.

For my sentiment I chose “You made a little human!” from the One Happy Family Stamp Set. Using Misty Moonlight ink I stamped it onto a 3/8″ x 2-3/8″ strip of Basic White Card. Then I mounted it onto a 1/2″ x 2-1/2″ strip of Fresh Freesia Card with liquid glue. Finally I tucked it under the penguin and fixed it into place with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

To finish I added some Mint Macaron embellishments from the Genial Gems pack and my baby card was complete.

This is such a fun card and you’d never guess there were polar bears and foxes playing with penguins on the back of the striped piece.

PRODUCT LIST

UPDATE 2022 – The Penguin Playmates DSP was part of the Sale-A-Bration promotion and has since retired. However you can still buy the Penguin Place Stamp Set and Penguin Builder Punch. So you could stamp and fussy-cut or die-cut the penguin to create a similar card with alternate background paper if you wish.