Another Diva Challenge!

It's time for another Diva Coffee Break Designs challenge! You know I always love a good challenge, especially a sketch or a color challenge. So guess what- I combined this week's DCBD113 with SCS's color challenge from yesterday to use Creamy Caramel, Old Olive and Cameo Coral. I feel a certain fondness for the colors in the Earth Elements color family because they were my first choice when I signed up to be a Stampin' Up! Demonstrator in 2004! I've used them a LOT since then.

When I start designing with a sketch in mind I often hunt for a color combo to also work with. While making this card I learned a trick for making a difficult color challenge easier: Don't insist on using every color from the challenge in cardstock! It's OK to use only 2 of the 3 colors in cardstock and get the remaining color(s) in ink! Less pressure, more flexibility, you're not cheating and often the design elements are a little stronger.

For this card I stamped the Olive background with Canvas background stamp. Then sponged all the edges of the vanilla pieces with Creamy Caramel. The faux stitching I drew on with my Creamy Caramel marker. The center flower is raised on stampin' dimensionals for more depth. Did you notice that both pieces of Creamy Caramel paper is crimped? Sometimes digging in my scraps pile yields an unexpected twist like that, without my even planning it!

My sentiment label is a stamp from the retired hostess set Best Yet, which is punched with the label punch and backed with a 1 3/8" circle. The slot punch was used to thread the ribbon through the label. Speaking of ribbon, remember that Old Olive Twill from a mini last year? Ooh, love it and I still have some. I put a knot on each side of the sentiment label just because, then just glued the sides to the back of the vanilla piece. Hope you like it!

Anyway, thanks for stopping by! If you haven't already, go check out the other Diva's blogs to see their work (located on my sidebar under the coffee cup logo). Then be sure to play along and post here so we can all come and see your work! Come on, don't be shy!

~Kristin

Stampin' Up! Supplies

Stamps: Inspired by Nature, Best Yet, Canvas

Cardstock: Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Creamy Caramel, Cameo Coral

Ink: Old Olive, Creamy Caramel

Accessories: Creamy Caramel, Chocolate Chip, Cameo Coral & Ruby Red markers; lable punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, photo corner punch, crimper, sponge, Old Olive Twill, slot punch, vintage brads