A Pretty Flowers Embossed Thank You Note

I love all the new Designer Paper Series choices that we have with the new catalog – but I keep getting stuck on the Hues of Happiness DSP.  This must be one of my favorite paper packs of all time!  I love the flowers.  I love the colors.  I love the different backgrounds that are used.  Every single sheet is beautiful.

So I am indulging myself in using this paper as the focal point of lots of cards.  Today is no exception!

This thank you card is very simple and has only a little stamping to it.  The rest is just the paper with some embossing.  Here are the cuts:

Once the cutting is done, all that’s left is the really fun stuff!  (I really do like to cut paper, though – I have to admit…)

I arranged the two embossed panels on the left and right sides of the Basic White 3-1/2” x 4-3/4” mat.  Once they were in the proper place, it was easy to center the 1” strip of DSP to complete the mat.

This white mat was then center on the Gorgeous Grape mat and I wrapped a piece of Stampin’ Up! White ¼” Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon around the mat.  This is also my favorite ribbon of all time!  It looks like silk.  It ties so easily and it may be adhered to cardstock easily because it is so thin that a little glue dot will do the trick!  Easy peasy…

Once the ribbon is on, it was easy to center the mat on the Highland Heather cardstock base.  I used the “thanks” sentiment from the Hand-penned Stamp Set (again, one of my favorites!) with Gorgeous Grape ink.  I cut the tag using one of the Stampin’ Up! Rectangle Stitched Dies. With a small seam binding bow on the left side, my card face is complete!

I do like to have an inside message panel, though, when I am using a colored cardstock card base.  It gives a finished look (I think).  So that panel is simply Basic White card stock with the thin strip of DSP to adorn the bottom and to tie the inside of the card to the card face itself.

I used a few Stampin’ Up! Pearl Basic Jewels – but the Pastel Pearls offer another alternative!  I like the Pearl Basics, though, because they may be “painted” with the Stampin’ Blends to be an exact match to any color scheme that you choose!

Of course, because the DSP offers so many alternatives, I also made this card in another color:

I paired up Stampin’ Up! Blushing Bride card stock with Polished Pink – and they highlight the beautiful pinks that are in this DSP.  I think that a version with Pool Party or with So Saffron would make a beautiful version of this same thank you note.  The Hues of Happiness DSP offers all kinds of choices for the background colors.

I decided to enter each of these cards into two challenges this time.  One of them is Creations in Pink – Challenge #46 – Anything Goes in MAINLY Pink.

And then, my original design in purples has been entered into Colorful Options Challenge Blog – Precious Purple.

Challenges like these offer all of us wonderful opportunities to get out of our own creative ruts, I think.  The great folks who do all the work to organize a challenge, monitor, judge the entries, and publish the winners is a LOT of work – and I do so appreciate them!  I need to be prompted to think outside my usual design orientation and develop my craft.  Thank you to all these great people who organize these challenges!

If you would like to know what products I used, please see my list below.  And remember that I would be delighted to be your Stampin’ Up! demonstrator…although I am equally delighted to answer any questions or brainstorm with you about design and products and techniques!