Pretty Poppy Moments

Hi Friends!  Happy April!  I guess spring is truly on its way.  Have you ever had one of those days where you see an idea and it just makes you happy?  So of course, you have to sit right down and try making it, right?   That's what happened this morning.  I saw a card designed by Peggy Noe that just made me smile as soon as I saw it.  And I owned everything that she used to design her card too.  Woo Hoo!  The card uses the Poppy Moments Dies for the focal image. The only stamping on this card is the sentiment.  Oh, did I mention I made a few changes as I went along?  Let's get started.

This card starts with a Thick Basic White cardstock piece cut at 11" x 4 1/4" that's scored at 5 1/2" and folded in half.  I guess that's my first change - she cut her cardstock differently, so the fold was along the side.  The pretty striped layer is from the Pattern Party DSP that is a Host Reward.  This paper pack has so many different prints in both black & white and colors that you can find something to fit almost any occasion.  For this card, I chose a Calypso Coral and white stripe.  It's cut at 5 1/4" x 4" and attached to the white base just using adhesive.  The black & white print is from the same paper pack.  This was cut 4" x 3" and layered onto the stripes with adhesive. 

The poppy base was die-cut with the Poppy Moments dies and cut from Calypso Coral cardstock.  The open-work layer was die-cut from Flirty Flamingo cardstock. They are attached together with several Mini Dimensionals under the flower's center. 

The die set has two different full flower centers that are die-cut from Daffodil Delight cardstock.  Holding them in my palm, I used the Take-a-Pick Tool with the cover on to make the centers curve up a little.  They are layered together using Mini Glue Dots.  Another Mini Glue Dot was used to add this to the poppy's center.  Don't they all look great layered up together?

I changed things a little here.  She added several loops of black & white baker's twine and attached this under the poppy.  I preferred to use some die-cut Old Olive leaves to frame up the poppy instead. 

The sentiment layer was die-cut using the Stitched So Sweetly dies.  It's cut from Daffodil Delight cardstock using the 2nd smallest rectangle die.  I will greatly miss this set of dies as it is retiring.  I seem to grab it all the time.  Guess I'll have to find a new go-to die set.  

The sentiment comes from the Biggest Wish stamp set.  This is one of my favorite sets if I'm looking for bigger words to make a statement on the card front.  The hello was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  After stamping, it was attached to the card front with adhesive. 

The last touch was the addition of some Matte Black Dots.  A large one went on the flower center.  A couple of the small ones were added to the sentiment - she only used one.  Then I thought I'd try a few more changes and make another card or two.  Since everything was out on my table, why not?

As you can see on this card, I did a major change in the orientation.  

The layer of black & white DSP is smaller - only 1 3/4" wide instead of 3". 

I still added the leaves, but fewer.  This time the leaves were cut from Pear Pizzazz cardstock.  

Only one of the Matte Black Dots was added to the card.

This one has even more changes to it.  The card base was changed to Poppy Parade.  

The black & white DSP is a different print from the same Pattern Party pack, but back to 3" wide.

The base of the poppies is die-cut from Poppy Parade cardstock. The open-work layer is cut from Calypso Coral cardstock.  I added one of the smaller poppies to fill in, and a few more leaves.

Oh my goodness!  How much fun was that to take Peggy's card idea and play around with it to make it my own.  I forgot how much fun those poppy dies are to play with!!  They all look different but similar.  Each one was sort of a springboard to the next one.

I hope you use my card ideas in the same way.  I know I often look at cards on Pinterest to get the creative ideas flowing and then go to my stamp room and play.  Sometimes what I come up with is fairly similar, but sometimes it takes a few twists and turns and comes out looking nothing like the original.  And either way is good.  Somedays, the ideas just aren't there so copying others is fine.  The important part is to actually find the time to get creative.  If you don't try, it will never happen.  

Ok, that's my lecture, or pep talk (or whatever this is) for the day.  Thanks for stopping in to see what's happening here.  Just a quick reminder that the new catalog will be starting in May and is being sent out to you.  But with a new catalog, that means the old one is retiring.  Lots of items are on sale, but not all of them.  When you are ordering, please use the Host Code on the upper right corner on the blog page.  It's much appreciated!  And hurry to pick up what you want before they are sold out!  

Love you guys! 

Sharon