My regular blog readers will know that I get my inspiration from lots of different sources.  Just recently I ordered the Love You To Pieces Stamp Set, and coordinating Puzzle Pieces Thinlits Dies from Stampin’ Up!  I was inspired as soon as I saw these in the 2017/2018 Annual Catalogue, and in many ways, too inspired.  In the end I decided to begin by channelling my ideas using a couple of design challenges.

BRIGHT COLOURS

I began with the background, using the large puzzle piece outline image from the Love You To Pieces Stamp Set.  On a layer of Whisper White Card I simply stamped the image randomly using Calypso Coral, Lemon Lime Twist and Pool Party inks.

At this point I chose the colour for my card base, it would be Pool Party.  I cut and scored the card using my Stampin’ Trimmer and folded it along the scored line.  Then I sharpened the crease with a Bone Folder.

Next I pulled out some scrap card in colours to match the inks already used.  I played a little with their lengths and layering but I wasn’t particulary excited by them.  That was until I had the idea of shaping the ends to look like puzzle pieces.

So with my Big Shot and Magnetic Platform I cut one end of each strip using the simple die from the Puzzle Pieces Thinlits.

With the ends of the strips done I used Multipurpose Liquid Glue (Tombow) to attach them to a layer of Vellum Cardstock.  Then I added liquid glue to the back of the vellum, but only where it would be hidden by the card strips.  I could now fix the vellum to the stamped background without any adhesive showing through.

Finally I could attach the assembled layers to the card base with Stampin’ Dimensionals and set it aside.

THE SENTIMENT

The ‘you are my missing piece’ sentiment also comes from the Love You To Pieces Stamp Set.  I could have stamped it in a single colour but I wanted to continue with the multi-coloured theme.

I began the process by inking up the sentiment using the Pool Party ink pad.  Then using a Blender Pen I removed some of the ink from the surface of the stamp.  First the word ‘you’ was cleaned off, followed by the flowers and leaves.  Each time I took some ink from the stamp I cleaned the Blender Pen by wiping it onto scrap paper.  I continued doing this until no more ink was being removed from the chosen areas.

Now it was time to put some alternate colours onto the stamp rubber.  I started with a Calypso Coral Stampin’ Write Marker from the Subtles collection.  Using the brush tip of the marker I carefully coloured on the ‘you’ part of the stamp, followed by the two small flowers.  Then with a Lemon Lime Twist marker from the 2017/2019 In Color collection I coloured the leaves on the stamp.

Obviously this had taken a minute or two so I breathed onto the surface of the stamp rubber to remoisten the ink.  Then I could stamp the multi-coloured image onto a piece of Thick Whisper White Card.  The result was so pretty, exactly as I’d hoped.

Now to cut it out.

EXTRA THICK PUZZLE PIECES

I used the Big Shot and Magnetic Platform to cut out the sentiment using the heart-shaped die from the Puzzle Pieces Thinlits.  This die cuts the heart into 4 puzzle pieces which is really sweet.  Unfortunately I thought that the Thick Whisper White Card wasn’t quite thick enough for what I wanted.  But that was easily solved.

I used the same die to cut out two more hearts from Thick Whisper White Card.  Then with liquid glue I layered the pieces on top of one another, with the stamped ones on the top.  That was so much better.

Of course while the puzzle pieces fit together beautifully, like most puzzles they do have a tendency to come apart.  I solved this problem by attaching a scrap of card to the back with liquid glue to hold everything together.

Once that was done I used Tear & Tape Adhesive to add a scrap of 5/8″ Burlap Ribbon and some Silver Mini Sequin Trim to the back of the sentiment.  I could then fix the whole arrangement onto the card front with Stampin’ Dimensionals.

FINISHING TOUCHES

I really liked the puzzle piece die I’d used for the card strips on the front and chose that for the inside of the card too.

Using the puzzle piece die I cut across the top right corner of a layer of Whisper White Card, and then cut across the bottom left corner.  As I removed the die I was very careful to ensure that I didn’t lose any of the small pieces as I’d need those.

Using liquid glue I fixed the die-cut layer to the inside of the card base.  Then I laid the puzzle pieces back in the holes that had been cut.  Using the puzzle pieces as a guide I could then fix the remaining small leftover die-cut bits into place.  Once the puzzle pieces had been lifted out again the card liner was complete.

All that left was the Whisper White Medium Envelope but I could hardly cut holes in that.  Instead I decided to go back to my original background design.  So with Calypso Coral, Lemon Lime Twist and Pool Party inks I stamped the puzzle piece outline a few times in the bottom right corner. My project was finally done.

I love creating projects like these when I get new stamp sets and dies.  It really gives me the opportunity to explore the products, and as I play I’ll write down ideas that come to mind.  These vague ideas may then develop into fully formed designs for future blog posts.  Or they may not.

DESIGN CHALLENGE INSPIRATION

I was inspired by two different design challenges for today’s project.

The Just Add Ink challenge JAI Colour Challenge #428, provided the colour scheme (as you might have guessed).

The combination of Pool Party, Lemon Line Twist and Calypso Coral is not one I’d have put together myself, but I’m not unhappy with the results.  I do try to step outside my comfort zone from time to time, and challenges like this are a great way to do that.

I may even revisit this colour combination in the spring, I can see lots of possibilities there.

The second challenge was the TGIF Technique Challenge TGIFC179.  The brief for this challenge was quite simple, ‘create your own background’.

That’s not a stretch for me, I love creating my own backgrounds.  On recent projects I’ve created sponged scenes, as well as inked embossing.  I’ve also embossed on Designer Series Paper, both with folders and embossing powders. So for a change today I thought I’d create a stamped background.

It coordinates with the focal point of the card, but the overlay of vellum mutes it just a little bit.  Adding a vellum layer is a good way to ensure that a busy background design doesn’t overwhelm everything else.

All in all I’m really satisfied with this, and I’ve another Valentine’s card for my stash.

WORLD CARD MAKING DAY PROMOTION

Have you taken a look at the World Card Making Day Promotion yet?  There’s 10% off selected Stampin’ Up! products from October 1st to 7th.  Click on the link in the side bar to take a look at the items included in this deal.  I feel sure that there’s something you’ll want.

BUNDLE BONUS – I purchased the Love You To Pieces Stamp Set and coordinating Puzzle Pieces Thinlits Dies using a single bundle item number.  This meant that I saved 10% off the cost of buying the same items separately.  You’ll find links to the bundles and the individual items in the product list below so you can look at the options in more detail if you are interested.

PRODUCT LIST