A New Challenge...

... and I'm on the Design Team. That's right! Little 'ol me. I'm so excited! The challenge is called Sunday Stamps and Holly at Holly Beary Creations started it. We'll be alternating between sketch challenges and color challenges and this week we did a sketch challenge.

Isn't this a great sketch? I love it when they're not too busy and still allow some room for creativity! I decided to combine the Sunday Stamps sketch with the Dynamic Duos Color Challenge. This week, we were challenged to use Melon Mambo and Basic Black on our card.

I know I used these Labels Framelits in my last card (hubby's birthday card) but after I decided what I was stamping, I had to use them again ;) I wanted to use the En Francais background stamp and what goes better with that than the Eiffel Tower from Artisitic Etchings? Then I reached into my French Teeny Tiny Wishes and pulled out 'je pense a toi' (thinking of you) and this card was born. I love it all on the Whisper White background - it tones down the darkness of the black and brightness of the melon.

Tips & Tricks:

*I didn't just stamp the En Francais stamp on the Melon Mambo... I heat embossed it with Clear Embossing Powder. I love the extra texture and sheen it gives it. Makes it look like a DSP.
*I love the large scallop edge from the Bigz XL Tasteful Trim die, but something here was missing. I added a few inexpensive Rhinestone 'bedazzlers' and it fixed my 'problem'.
*To make my Eiffel Tower and sentiment really 'pop', I embossed them in Black Embossing Powder. I love the extra gloss and texture heat embossing gives my images - and it costs next to nothing!
*Don't have the Artistic Etchings stamp set yet? Add it to your stash! It is my 'go-to' set for feminine, masculine, birthday, thank you - basically everything cards!
*I again free-handed the notches in the card stock I stamped my greeting on with my Paper Snips. I could have used the Modern Label Punch but with the round look of the Framelits I wanted something a bit more angular.

I usually have a plan for my cards, who's going to get it. But this time, I just let my creativity guide me. I don't really have any upcoming birthdays or other occasions! Whoever it will be I hope they love it. The Melon is so bold, but the Eiffel Tower classic.

'Til next time, keep letting stamps bring out your creativity!