Here's a little something to get you in the mood for today's theme... I couldn't resist! When I think of retro, I think of the 70's, which always makes me think of that song!!! If you've just watched the above video with your morning coffee, then you should definitely now be awake and energized to seize the day!!!
Today's stamp set, Background Basics: Retro, was designed by the talented Melissa Bickford. I already worked this set into a few of my projects from the last few days of the countdown because, honestly, I couldn't resist! Melissa has been demonstrating on her blog just how quick and easy it is to use it. It functions very similar to our popular Polka Dot Basics set, which we know you already love! Today I wanted to touch a bit on just how incredibly versatile this background building set is. One might here the word "retro" and stereotype it as only being geared towards one specific look, but in reality the set can fit almost any style in the spectrum.
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My first project uses a *repetitive* theme you've probably seen around these parts lately, a rainbow color scheme. I have to interject here one of the reasons I like that look so much, besides the fact that its a happy cheerful combo, is something Hannah said earlier this year. While at school one day filling out an "All About Me" worksheet, her teacher asked her what her favorite color was.
Hannah's reply was "Rainbow!".
I'll be holding that little nugget of her innocence & honesty close to my heart 'til the day I die!
Onto the card (sorry, I digress!)... I knew I wanted to create some rainbow striped paper with this basic stripe stamp that is included in this new set. The idea of all the inking and cleaning was NOT sitting well with me! SO I opted to stamp the images separately, trim them into strips and then adhere them together onto a piece of cardstock. This took less cleaning in between colors because I was able to do all my red strips at once, all my yellows at once, etc.
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After I had my rainbow strips assembled and trimmed into a block, I was ready to create my card! I love how the various colors of stripes work together (and I don't think you can even tell that it was pieced together, rather than stamping it together on one sheet!!! That'll be our little secret!)
The sentiment is a combination of "Friend" from the new Friends 'Til the End set and Michelle Wooderson's "You make life fun!" sentiment, from the Design Team compiled Handwritten Notes, with both sets being released February 15th.I love the way that the two of these layered together and look forward to combining other sentiments from Handwritten Notes with other Papertrey Classics.
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For a distinct change in pace, I decided to create a vintage look with the same stripe image from the new background set. I stamped the group of stripes every 3/4"-inch or so down the length of a Classic Kraft cardstock using Vintage Cream ink. I think this really exemplifies how you can play around with the spacing of nearly ALL the images in this set, and get completely different looks.
The sentiment used here is from our very own Melissa Phillips, which is one of her contributions to the new Handwritten Notes set. It's so fun to see how each designer's handwriting reflects their personality and style! And one more note, I used our Vintage Cream satin ribbon backside up. I do this quite often if I want a softer, less shiny look. I think I love the backside of this ribbon just as much as the sheen of the front! It's like having two ribbons in one!
The next piece of Background Basics: Retro that I decided to play around with was a staggered dot & stripe. Melissa used a similar pattern in her Merry & Bright set from this past holiday season. I loved it in that format and love it even more as a background element! I had an idea for a super clean
& simple card that required stamping the image just once as a border with Fresh Snow ink onto Ocean Tides cardstock.
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I adhered two different sizes of rhinestones to the dots of the border. Large rhinestones to large dots, small rhinestones to small dots. The finished Ocean Tides block is adhered to a white card base with foam tape, giving it a bit of definition. I love this card! It only took about ten minutes and I think it would look great in several of our other colors too, depending on the recipient!
I added the sentiment directly under the border. "Simply amazing" is one of my additions to Handwritten Notes. It's so surreal to stamp with something that is created from your own handwriting!
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After using the dots & stripes image as a border, I decided to play around with actually using it as it was intended, as a background. I stamped down the length of Raspberry Fizz cardstock with the image repeatedly, using Versamark ink. It was so easy to work across the page since everything is clear and you can see exactly what you're doing!
The floral block was created by stamping the floral images from friends 'til the end in Raspberry Fizz ink. The sentiment is created by Dawn McVey's very own hand on behalf of Handwritten Notes, and suffice to say, it is also a phrase that says *all* the time (insert me waving to Dawn! Hi, Chickie!) It is stamped in True Black ink directly on top of the floral pattern. I used a black pen to draw a partial border around the block to help unify the True Black Grosgrain ribbon tab and sentiment.
Lastly today, I wanted to show you the versatility of this fun ethnic print. It reminds me a bit of designs that can be found in India and surrounding areas. You probably remember this project from a few days ago, highlighting Becky Oehler's sentiment from Handwritten Notes. I stamped the background image repeatedly in Vintage Cream ink onto Melon Berry cardstock. I think that this card has a very modern look & feel to it.
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I showed that project to you again so that you could directly see the contrast it has in stylings when compared to this earthy project. The background was stamped on Dark Chocolate cardstock using Versamark ink. I also used an additional background from the set to create the Summer Sunrise border in the center. I just LOVE the combination of the two since one is a large scale and one smaller scale. Besides the color scheme the addition of inking around the edges of the pieces helps to add the *earthy* feel to the overall project.
The stem & flowers are images from With Sympathy. I inked them with Summer Sunrise and rolled the edges of the petals in Pure Poppy. I used a brown marker to dot the centers. The "Inspire Me!" sentiment is another creation from Michelle Wooderson on behalf of Handwritten Notes. I think it will be a fun one to use on projects for my paper crafting friends, don't you?
I hope you have enjoyed the array of styles I have highlighted today with this set. I have thoroughly enjoyed playing with it and know you will too when you add it to your very own collection! Stop by Melissa's blog today, and not one, but FOUR of you will get this set as a freebie!!!
Melissa's BIG Giveaway!
Test your knowledge of all things *retro* and you could be one of the four winners!
DO NOT post here for a chance to win big, just visit Melissa's blog to enter!
You have until midnight EST tonight (Feb. 12th) to post your guess. The winner will be listed on our special Anniversary Prize Page after 12 noon EST, February 13th. You can always access this list through the Anniversary Quick Link list to the upper left sidebar here. A copy of the list will also be updated daily in our customer forum.
Before I sign off, I just wanted to say how much I appreciate all of you stopping by today! I would love to hear feedback from you as to which of today's projects appeal to your style the most. It helps me to gauge where trends are going and make decisions about future stamp sets and other products. I also hope that I've possibly inspired you to do some stamping of your own! I challenge you to make time to play today!
Lisa Johnson is showcasing a fun resist technique using Background Basics: Retro!
Melissa Bickford has some additional projects using this AWESOME background set!
You'll love Dawn McVey's new projects using her new set, Damask Designs!
Heather Nichols has yet another project using her new set too!
And we can't forget the reveal Lauren Meader has of her second Timeless Template for February!
"Fun Friend" card
Stamps: Background Basics: Retro, Friends 'Til the End & Handwritten Notes (available Feb. 15th)
Ink: ripe avocado, lemon tart, summer sunrise, pure poppy, true black
Paper: pure poppy, stamper's select white, summer sunrise
Other: ripe avocado vintage button, 1-1/4" circle punch (EK Success), yellow polka dot brad (Paper Studio), clear star (Heidi Swapp), foam dimensionals, sewing machine
Finished Size: 4.25 x 5.5"
"Enjoy Everyday" card
Stamps: Background Basics: Retro, Damask Designs & Handwritten Notes (available Feb. 15th)
Ink: vitnage cream, versamark (tsukineko), frayed burlap distress (Ranger)
Paper: classic kraft, sweet blush, vintage cream
Other: vintage cream satin ribbon, vintage cream button, corner rounder punch (with guard removed) for scalloped border (EK Success), scalloped scissors (Paper Studio), flower (Making Memories), foam dimensionals, sewing machine
Finished Size: 4.25 x 6"
"Simply Amazing" card
Stamps: Background Basics: Retro & Handwritten Notes (available Feb. 15th)
Ink: fresh snow
Paper: ocean tides, stamper's select white
Other: rhinestones (Paper Studio), foam dimensionals
Finished Size: 3.5 x 4.5"
"Thanks, Chickie" card
Stamps: Background Basics: Retro, Friends 'Til the End & Handwritten Notes (available Feb. 15th)
Ink: raspberry fizz, versamark (tsukineko)
Paper: true black, raspberry fizz, stamper's select white
Other: true black grosgrain ribbon, black pen (American Crafts), flower (Doodlebug), white brad (Making Memories), foam dimensionals
Finished Size: 4.25 x 5.5"
"Coffee & Cardstock" card
(complete supply list can be found HERE on this previous post)
"Inspire Me" card
Stamps: Background Basics: Retro & Handwritten Notes (available Feb. 15th) With Sympathy
Ink: summer sunrise, pure poppy, ripe avocado, dark chocolate, versamark (tsukineko), frayed burlap distress (Ranger)
Paper: vintage cream, dark chocolate, summer sunrise, ripe avocado
Other: pure poppy grosgrain, vintage cream button, twine, brown marker (Copic), scalloped scissors (Paper Studio), sewing machine
Finished Size: 3.75 x 6"
