Hello! I’m popping in with a little mid-week stamping today. Are you like me and have more designer paper than you know what to do with? Maybe not. But if you are one whose designer paper is likely to outlive her (or him), then maybe this will help use it up. This applies to 12 x 12 double-sided designer paper. I have reams of it, mostly from buying Stampin’ Up! collections in the past. And, of course, I can’t resist looking at ALL the stacks of 12 x 12 designer paper every time I visit the local paper crafts store. Need I tell you that some of those sheets come home with me every time? I thought not. And, gee, there’re all those 6 x 6 pads which are what I generally reach for when I’m stamping. It goes on and on.
So I decided to make the whole card from double-sided designer paper. With layers on the front and a cardstock liner on the inside message area it’s as sturdy as it could possibly need to be. Pretty inside and out, front and back. It’s rather a treat to have the back of the card all prettied up, too. I’ve done this before with heavier paper, and maybe you have, too, but now I’m on a mission. Today’s card uses some retired Stampin’ Up! DS DP.
The flower basket stamp is an old favorite which I’ve colored many times. It’s an Anna Griffin design for All Night Media, but otherwise has no name on it. The large mat nearly covers the card front, and I added a border strip from the flip side of the paper. The gold trim across the front is self-adhesive metallic peel-off strips. I think these are from Flower Soft, but not sure. I do like how they add that little bit of somethin’ somethin’ without adding weight or bulk, and you know how I’m always striving for a layered, textured look in a no-extra-postage-required card.
I colored the edge of the mat with an E81 Copic marker to help frame the image area without adding another mat. The flower basket was stamped in Memento Toffee Crunch and colored with these markers:
And then there’s the inside. It’s already half done and prettier than plain cardstock. I fully lined the writing area and added a border along the top edge. The image mat and the border on the front and inside were all cut with Spellbinders Curved Rectangles Nestabilities die set, one of my very first die sets. Gosh, I just realized how far back I was reaching in the making of this card. Oh, well, if it doesn’t look trendy it won’t matter to the lady for whom I made it. She has requested an endless supply of cards, particularly sympathy and get well, and I think she’ll like this just fine.
I’m glad you could stop in today. I sincerely appreciate the time you’ve taken to visit, and I hope you’ll come back soon!
Stamps: All Night Media flower basket (unnamed and old), Words to the Rescue Sympathy set Paper: Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, retired Stampin’ Up! designer paper Ink: Memento Toffee Crunch, Close to Cocoa (sentiment), Copic markers as pictured above Accessories: Gold sticker trim, Spellbinders Curved Rectangle Nestabilities
beautiful! I have very little patterned paper. One of the few things in my life that is under control.
Posted by: Joan B | 09/23/2015 at 01:52 AM
Love your card. I have quite a bit of double sided and speciality papers that I bought just cause I thought it was pretty. Now it's just sitting there collecting dust. I'm a true Hoarder for sure!
Posted by: Glenda | 09/23/2015 at 04:08 AM
Way to use up that paper! Oh course we all have pounds of paper that will outlive us! Hahahahah. This is a very pretty card and is perfect for a sympathy card.
Posted by: Kim | 09/23/2015 at 05:18 AM
Yup I need to use up the tons of DS DP I own and never seem to use...
Lovely card and good use of your DP. Have a great day
Posted by: Yogi | 09/23/2015 at 07:36 AM
WOW I think this is just fabulous! I love the design and the way you off set the inside sentiment is unique/beautiful! Great job ... I have no doubt your lady friend will be thrilled!
Posted by: Darlene Pavlick | 09/23/2015 at 08:14 AM
Really! I'll have to try and find some paper on my Studio (lol) and give this a try! Lovely basket of flowers a keeper for sure!
Posted by: Patti Willey | 09/23/2015 at 09:20 AM
You & I have the same problem! If my house ever caught fire, between the "rubber" and the paper, it would burn for a month! What a gorgeous way to use up that paper! I LOVE that flower basket! Of course, that's because you color so brilliantly!
Posted by: Sherri Dean | 09/23/2015 at 09:21 AM
This is so beautiful, your coloring is fantastic - as usual!
Posted by: Lenoria | 09/23/2015 at 02:11 PM
The basket of flowers is beautifully colored and looks so pretty with the designer papers. Great card, lovely results!
Posted by: Tammy Hair | 09/23/2015 at 03:47 PM
What a beautiful card, Leslie, and a great way to use up some patterned paper. My cards are usually white with a little bit of colored cardstock - no patterned paper. Yet, I have more patterned paper than anyone could use up in ten lifetimes!! Silly me:) How cool that you have someone to make cards for. I have so many cards sitting around that I have to figure out what to do with.
Posted by: Lynette | 09/23/2015 at 04:45 PM
It's gorgeous as usual. I need to try this layout since I'm like you with TONS of DP. I just love all the pretty designs. I don't think I have this pattern though. Love the cute little basket and the sentiment inside. Hugs.
Posted by: Margaret Schoener | 09/23/2015 at 07:22 PM
Oh my that is just lovely, such a pretty basket and lovely bouquet, she will just love this, so perfect for the occasion. I have only used this kind of paper once for a card, but it is a great way to use it have a lovely inside too without bulk. I think some papers are just classic they are great no matter how old they are!
Posted by: Conniecrafter | 09/24/2015 at 05:36 AM
So pretty! Delicate colors, delicate shapes... I collect 6x6 pads of designer papers! I have a terrible time resisting any of them. That means I try to use the papers for my cards, but I'm not terribly creative.
Posted by: Evelyn in Oregon | 09/24/2015 at 11:18 PM
What a beautiful and creative way to use your beautiful DSP Leslie. TFS my friend.
Posted by: nancy littrell | 09/25/2015 at 07:42 AM
Oh, Leslie, I too have far more DP than I will ever use, and I've actually made a few cards (years ago) with DP for the card base. This is gorgeous, and I love how you've colored this vintage image from Anna Griffin. Somehow I think I may have had this stamp but given it away. It's a classic and makes a beautiful card with the older SU DP...I recognize it and probably still have some of it - haha!! Hugs!
Posted by: CherylQuilts | 09/25/2015 at 11:22 AM
Wow...you know this is a great idea, as I have lots of 12 x 12 with patterns that a bit too big of a pattern for my card fronts, but to use them this way, very clever!! When I first saw this card I thought right away the image looked like needlepoint..beautiful!!!
Posted by: Diane H | 09/27/2015 at 04:34 AM
Oh, goodness, yes, I've often thought my patterned paper collection will outlive me!!! Glad to know I am not alone in that. :-)
This Anna Griffin image is really pretty, Leslie. It reminds me of one from long-ago Stampin' Up!....Memory of the Heart. I need to ink that again!
I am going to take your idea of using patterned paper as a card base, and make sets of greeting cards as gifts. Now THAT should help me put a dent in it! Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Colleen Dietrich | 09/30/2015 at 09:26 AM
Beautiful... Well I tend to buy the paper and never know how to use it quite right. Your love of paper comes through on cards and we can tell you enjoy all kinds. ;-) This is very soothing and beautiful.
Posted by: Stacy Morgan | 10/02/2015 at 03:47 PM
Love your card, Leslie! It's classically beautiful! I have enough designer paper to last me a lifetime. I buy with a project in mind but then get busy and don't start that project. But there I am buying more! I tease my best crafty friend and tell her that if anything were to ever happen to me, she needs to run over to my house and clean out all of my stamps and paper so that my husband never realized the full extent of my stash!
Posted by: Linda E | 10/18/2015 at 06:22 AM