Stamp Happy: Stamp Simply #131

(Please see my Fabulous Friday challenge project here!)

Hooray for Friday! It's the end of the work week, it's the day before my 3-day weekend, and it's time for another Stamp Simply challenge! That makes it a pretty darn good day in my book!

For today's Stamp Simply challenge, we're adding texture to our creations, but still keeping a clean-and-simple design. There are many ways to add texture... you can emboss, do some distressing, add embellishments, flocking, Flower Soft.... there are endless possibilities, but don't get carried away. We still want to see clean-and-simple!

For my card, I decided to try a technique that I've wanted to do for awhile and never seem to get around to. I had the pleasure of meeting the very sweet Peggy Cain a few years ago, and saw her again last year when we took Copic certification. Peggy has an incredibly creative mind, and teaches stamping classes around the Cincinnati-area. Back in September, she posted a "Tapestry Cuttlebug" technique on her blog that was quite intriguing, so that's what I did today. To do this technique, you'll need a piece of window screen fabric. And believe me, when I say fabric, I mean fabric! DON'T use a piece of metal screen like I did! I think I almost broke my Cuttlebug and the embossing folder I used now has permanent screen marks in it! LOL So, choose your embossing folder and ink the indented side with dye ink. On the opposite side, lay a piece of cardstock, then cover it with the screen. Close the folder and run it through your Cuttlebug. Take the folder out and carefully remove the screen, being careful not to move the cardstock, and run it through the Cuttlebug again. And ta-dah! It leaves a beautiful tapestry-effect to your cardstock! (Click on the picture for a close-up!) I finished mine off my spritzing it with the new Pssst! Shimmer Spray in Sparkle, but because I'm not a decent photographer, you can't see it in the photo. But it's gorgeous... trust me!

I simply finished off my card by using stamps from the JustRite Seeds of Kindness set, and layered my die-cut circle onto an oval then punched slots in each side for the ribbon. My fabulous friend Barbara Anders did something similar to this on her blog last week and I loved it so much I had to copy it! I was really up in the air as to what colors to use for my card today, so I went searching for a color challenge and decided to finally play along with the Curtain Call Color Challenge, Act #21 on Stacey Schafer's blog. Stacey's color combinations are always so pretty, so I'm glad to have finally had a chance to give her challenge a try!

Sharon Johnson, our fabulous Stamp Simply leader has a sweet sample for you on her blog, along with all the challenge details! After you've paid her a visit, be sure and see what my Stamp Simply sisters have created, too!

Barbara Anders

Jennifer Buck

Janine Orchard

AJ Otto

Deb Saaranen

Deb Neerman

Jenny Gropp

Barb Schram (is under the weather and sitting out for this challenge)

Marlene Bender, March Guest Designer

I hope you find some time to play along today! Thanks for stopping by!