Each month the Art With Heart team that I belong to has a creative showcase with a different theme. 

This month it is Patterned Paper and to celebrate this month's patterned paper special we're sharing ideas for how to make use of your collection. 

I just love love love using all our pretty colour coordinating patterns in my cards so enjoyed creating for this showcase. 

I've got the link to the showcase host at the bottom of this post - head on over there to see lots more DSP card ideas from the crew. 

Tips for making this card at home:  I've used the Snowflake Splendor DSP with a Whisper White thick base.  Love the blues and purples in this paper and the gorgeous snowflakes.  I cut an extra panel of the white cardstock that is 14.3cm x 10cm and glued the strips and ribbon to this.  I cut my DSP to 14.3cm then the middle panel is about 7cm wide. I overlaid it with the side panels which are 2.5cm wide.  I trimmed it down a little once I had it all stuck down.  Don't forget to add your ribbon trim before you adhere this part to the card base.  The snowflake splendor ribbon is a lovely addition with the iridescent shine and some metallic thread woven through it.  

Snowflakes are cut with the Snowflake Wishes bundle from Balmy Blue glimmer paper, with of course a blue adhesive backed gem for a finishing touch.  The greeting is from that same bundle, stamped in Night of Navy ink.  The frame is from Painted Labels dies. 

When I find a design I like I love to make it again in different colours.  For this next one I followed the same measurements but I used World Of Good paper.  Great one for masculine cards. 

Greeting is from Happiest of Birthdays stamp set embossed in white on black cardstock. Some twine and copper stars to finish. 

Head on over to our showcase host Rachel and she's got the full list of participant links at the bottom of her post.  Then we'll have lots of inspiration and can get stuck into those patterned papers - chop chop chop.  :-)

Click here: Showcase Host Rachel

Happy creating!

Cheers, Sue

Do you love your patterned paper?  We've got a great bunch of patterned papers on sale this month including all my favourites.   They're 15% off during October.   Here are a few of my favourites.  

Head to my store to browse all the papers in the sale and pop some in your cart.   Sue's Store

Peony Garden DSP

Coordinating colours are: Basic Gray, Gray Granite, Petal Pink, Whisper White

In Good Taste DSP (LOVE!) 

Coordinating Colours: Basic Gray, Early Espresso, Gray Granite, Night Of Navy, Petal Pink, Rococo Rose, Smoky Slate, Very Vanilla, Whisper White

Snowflake Splendour DSP

Coordinating Colours: Balmy Blue, Coastal Cabana, Highland Heather, Misty Moonlight, Night Of Navy, Pacific Point, Pool Party, Whisper White

Heartwarming Hugs DSP

Coordinating Colours: Mossy Meadow, Pear Pizzazz, Real Red, Whisper White

And there are a bunch more.  Which papers are your favourites from our sale range?  

For some handy measurements for using patterned paper on your cards I've got a couple of my most used measurements here:

New host code for October if you're ordering online is:  FYQ74CT6

If you are after some tips for ordering online, using the host code or earning free products head to this tips page I put together. 

Happy creating!  

Cheers, Sue

This patterned paper (In Good Taste DSP) is so gorgeous that you can make a lovely card just by popping it on a coordinating cardstock base and adding a greeting.  Or you can step it up a little with a few extra layers. 

In this video I run through some handy measurements I use all the time when I'm making cards featuring patterned paper.  (This is for cardmaking in Australia with A4 cardstock - you can adapt the idea for other countries with different dimension cardstock.)  

Adding just a narrow border and an extra layer on the greeting makes the paper really pop.  

Have a fab weekend and happy creating.  Chilly one coming up here in Melbourne so I'm parking myself in my craft room for a bit of inky fun.  Jack just got a new Nintendo Switch game so he's busy with that and Hannah is knee deep in studying (with a bit of Netflix thrown in I think!)  John's spending a bit of time on the indoor bike.  We are all happy to see those Vic numbers coming down and are looking forward to seeing family and friends (and my hairdresser!) again soon.  Not long to go now.  

Take care, Sue

Another nice easy patterned paper card design for you today that is quick and easy to whip up.  Let's make our way through those patterned paper piles.  

These ones feature the striking Peaceful Poppies DSP - love the colours in this one.  I've used Poppy Parade, Rich Razzleberry, Blackberry Bliss and some Mossy Meadow cardstock and inks.  I've used my hello stamp from Accented Blooms again (because despite the fact that I'm not doing a lot at the moment, I seem to always feel tired and was too lazy to go and get another stamp set out....... because it is a favourite. Wink.) 

Tips:  I've cut a coordinating colour of cardstock 4cm x 14.3cm.  Run this through your favourite embossing folder for some added texture.  The DSP panel is 6cm x 14.3cm.  I actually often cut it at 7cm wide then overlap it with the cardstock so I don't need to worry about any irritating gaps if I cut a bit wonky.  Another tip is to just double check both pieces are the same height after you've embossed the cardstock -sometimes that make this panel a smidge shorter.  Check before you glue it down.    Your April newsletter has a handy cutting guide for all of this series of patterned paper designs in pdf form.  

Have a fabulous week and I hope you get some time to relax and create.  Our brains are a bit of a whirl these days aren't they - nice to switch off and get stuck into a papercraft project, preferably with a favourite song playing in the background.  Doesn't music lift the mood.  

Take care, Sue xx

Back again with another option for those patterned papers.  This is a great one for cutting a bunch of coordinating papers then mixing and matching to make a big batch of cards.   Class regulars might remember this design from one of our classes last year.  

(Card design based on this Carolina Evans creation.)  

Tips: For this one cut your patterned paper 3 1/2" x 5 3/8".   Now cut a 1" strip off one long side.  With the wider section cut at 2" and another piece 3  1/4".  You'll have a little thin piece to discard.  (Or to use on another project if you don't mind little fiddly bits!)    Keep an eye out for your April newsletter with a handy measurement/cutting guide pdf for these cards.  

You can go with portrait or landscape orientation as shown below.  

Once again I've used the Ornate Garden DSP for these ones.   Coordinating ribbon is handy if you happen to glue anything a bit wonky - wink!  

Hope you're having a lovely weekend.

Take care, Sue xx

Products Used In These Cards:  Click to see more detail or to pop them in your shopping cart

Ornate Garden Specialty Designer Series Paper [152488] $26.00	Accented Blooms Cling-Mount Stamp Set [151336] $35.00	Tailored Tag Punch [145667] $31.00	Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $7.00	Paper Trimmer [152392] $44.00
Varied Vases Photopolymer Stamp Set [146644] $45.00	Terracotta Tile A4 Cardstock [150890] $15.25	Terracotta Tile Classic Stampin’ Pad [150086] $13.00	Ornate Layers Dies [152726] $64.00	Ornate Garden Ribbon Combo Pack [152479] $12.25

Back again with another design to help you transform those patterned paper piles into pretty cards all set to mail to someone you care about.  This one also is a 3 panels design - but this time with a wider border. 

Need some measurement hints for this one?  The card base is an A5 folded in half - so 10.5 x 14.8 is the folded size. 

The cardstock matting layer is 8.5 x 12.8cm.   The panels of DSP are 2.5 x 12.3cm   (or 1" x 12.3cm if you don't mind a mix of inches and cm.  I tend to flick between both.)  

Tip:  Glue the outside two panels on first then you can even things up with the middle one.  Liquid glue is very handy as you get that little bit of wiggle time if your initial aim is as crooked as mine!   

The featured DSP in these cards is the brand new Ornate Garden patterned paper.  The greeting is from Accented Blooms - love that Hello stamp and the coordinating punch. 

I hope you're keeping well.

We've finished our first week (well - half week) of learning from home with my two.  So far so good here. The school have done a great job of planning for this over the last few weeks.   Jack (Yr 9) is really enjoying this style of doing things.  He can zip through at his own pace and intersperse his music, games and what not in between activities.   Hannah (Yr 12) is missing her friends and that daily interaction over recess and lunch.  I feel sad for her and the other year 12s that have that regular final year stress with all these other complications.   The teachers are working really hard to make the best of this situation.  I'm grateful my kids are older and at a more independent stage.  Sending a virtual hug to anyone finding it tough this week.  

Nice to be Friday and a restful weekend ahead for all.  Hope things are going smoothly at your place.  The days blend in a bit with each other don't they! 

Take care and hope some creative time is helping the mood this weekend.

If you're looking for something to do, did you know that each weekend on YouTube a different musical is released for 48 hours only - find them at The Shows Must Go On.  This weekend it is one of my favourites - Phantom Of The Opera. 

I can't wait.  Here's the link to the channel.  So far they've had Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, and Jesus Christ Superstar.  Have you got any favourites you're hoping will be on the list.  A good friend sent me a novel about the life of Eric from the Phantom.  I just finished reading it so this is perfect timing.  

Love Sue xx 

Product List:  Click the link for a closer look at any of these supplies or to shop online. 

Ornate Garden Specialty Designer Series Paper [152488] $26.00

Accented Blooms Cling-Mount Stamp Set [151336] $35.00

Tailored Tag Punch [145667] $31.00

Multipurpose Liquid Glue [110755] $7.00

Paper Trimmer [152392] $44.00