Papertrey Ink Blog Hop – Inspirational Photo Series #1

***This is my second post for the day. Scroll down for today’s issue of Style Watch and for the link in the CSS Style Watch Challenge!***

In college, it was nothing for me to pump out a 25-page paper by pulling just one all-nighter.

Now, I am not nearly as productive in the wee hours of the night.

You see, I waited until 2am to sit down and make something for the PTI Blog Hop! Before that I was busying myself with the mundane tasks of life, like laundry, dishes and trying to find somewhere to house the stacks of unopened stamp sets that have recently taken up residence in my entryway.

By 2am all of that was done…and that’s exactly when the real work started.

With the inspiration image below, I had to come up with something…anything so that I could play along in the Blog Hop! (I am bound and determined to be one of the randomly selected winners who gets a free stamp set! I’ve got it picked out and everything!!!)

One thing is for sure…when you’re creating at 2am, you gotta go with whatcha know. None of that fancy stuff. No time to make plantable paper!

Well, I know I love gradient color schemes, so that was my angle! I’d use the watercolor gradient effect from the photo as inspiration….but what stamps to use? It was late (or early, I guess), and I had no interest in digging for the perfect image.

Modern Basics. It’s my go-to. I can usually come up with something fun to do with it and the possibilities are endless!

Well, three botched cards later (two of which wereΒ  destroyed by smudging the cardbase with my inky fingers – I’m really good at doing that) I had something! And I’m pretty happy with it!

I made a few modern tulips with the stamp set and colored them in with watercolor markers. I even got a little brave and added some green gradient grass using the Background Basics: Retro Set along with a dragonfly from Wishing You!

Β 
Thanks for stopping by and happy hopping!
Β 
Supplies:
Stamps: PTI (Modern Basics, Wishing You, Background Basics: Retro, Mega Mixed Messages)
Ink: Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Stampin Up Wild Wasabi, Vivid Dye Ink Olive Green, Clear and Simple stamps Green with Envy
Paper: PTI Stamper’s Select, 90lb watercolor paper
Other: Tombow watercolor markers

Keep on crafting with these other posts

About the Blog

Hey, I’m Amber Kemp-Gerstel - the crafty brain behind Damask Love, where creativity, color, and a little chaos come together. I’m a suburban mom of two, known for turning up the volume on everyday DIYs and showing up like your colorful, crafty BFF. Over the years, I’ve gone from psychologist to full-time content creator, TV host, and brand partner, with appearances on Making It, Today, and HGTV. When I’m not making stuff or on set, I’m chasing around my two boys, Markus and Maxwell, and laughing my way through the mess.

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180 Comments

  1. 6.25.11
    Kara said:

    pretty!

  2. 6.25.11
    Elena said:

    I really need to play with that set more! I just don’t have your imagination, I’m thinking – LOVE your tulips πŸ™‚

  3. 6.25.11

    Love this, the color and the white, grin.

  4. 6.25.11
    Lisa H. said:

    really, really pretty! love the popped up flowers!

  5. 6.25.11
    Banu said:

    Stunning card !!!! WOW

  6. 6.25.11
    Suzanne said:

    Beautiful coloring! I love how you used the background stamp for grass too!

  7. 6.25.11

    Wow, your gradient grass and flowers are AMAZING. πŸ˜‰

  8. 6.25.11
    Desw2331 said:

    Love the slight color variation on the bottom border. The flowers are super cute too!

  9. 6.25.11

    What a fabulous way to use all of the colors!

  10. 6.25.11
    Linda said:

    The “grass” is amazing! Love your use of the colors.

  11. 6.25.11
    Gayatri said:

    BEAUTIFUL!

  12. 6.25.11
    Brenda said:

    Stunning and awesomely creative!

  13. 6.25.11

    pretty! love the watercoloring!

  14. 6.25.11
    Scrapthat said:

    Very pretty watercolor work! TFS!

  15. 6.25.11

    Stunning! You are so creative.
    Hugs
    Carol x

  16. 6.25.11
    Keva said:

    Ooh, I like this! I really love the use of the Retro BB at the bottom. That looks brilliant!

  17. 6.25.11
    Audrey said:

    You are a creative genious! I love that little dragonfly! πŸ™‚

  18. 6.25.11

    Your all-nighter worked well. I love this! Pretty design.

  19. 6.25.11
    Dana said:

    Wow!! So beautiful!!!

  20. 6.25.11
    Susie said:

    Oh my goodness I love your work. This is so wonderful.

  21. 6.25.11
    Karen C. said:

    Well, Amber, your 2 a.m. creation is very unique and creative. The tulips are so clean and simple and the addition of the dragonfly is very sweet. The ‘grass’ stamping is a great finishing touch.

  22. 6.25.11
    Deanna said:

    Gasp… stunning!

  23. 6.25.11
    Karen said:

    Absolutely gorgeous card, and wonderful design!

  24. 6.25.11

    Love your take on the inspiration. Got to try this design sometime!

  25. 6.25.11
    Terri said:

    Very nice, Great use for that background stamp it does make great grass!

  26. 6.25.11
    Charlene said:

    Very cool modern take on the challenge! I was one of the random winners a couple of months ago on a Make it Monday, so if it could happen to me, it can happen to you! Good luck!!

  27. 6.25.11

    This is so cool, Amber. I love how you used Modern Basics to make tulip style flowers. I have Modern Basics but I’m ashamed to say I haven’t used it yet. Going to try making flowers just like yours today. Thanks!

  28. 6.25.11

    Gorgeous card, Amber!

  29. 6.25.11

    This card is beautiful. I can’t believe you could make something like that at 2 am. It usually takes me days to make something decent.

  30. 6.25.11
    Melissa said:

    Very pretty! I love your modern tuilips!

  31. 6.25.11
    Lisa said:

    Amber this is so fun…I like it!!!

  32. 6.25.11
    Jenny said:

    Love the whimsy flowers Amber, gorgeous colours πŸ™‚
    Jenny x

  33. 6.25.11

    The dreaded inky fingers!! This is a super fun card! Love the tulips you created with MB πŸ™‚

  34. 6.25.11

    Sooo pretty!! Gosh, the colors are truly gorgeous!! Love the scenery you created, love, love, love it!!!
    Hugs, Wendy

  35. 6.25.11
    Cassandra said:

    Great idea Amber! All that lovely white space with those vibrant colours.

  36. 6.25.11

    Beautiful!
    + great take on the challenge picture! Love it!

  37. 6.25.11
    Ravengirl said:

    This is really cute! I love that you were creating at 2 am! I was thinking about it then πŸ˜‰ Love those fabby tulips!

  38. 6.25.11
    Laura B. said:

    wow, blog hop gorgeousness, so creative using modern basics!!!

  39. 6.25.11
    Suzstamps said:

    I love this card AND the post about plantable paper. You deserve to win! I did last time, it’s a great feeling!I’ll keep my fingers crossed for you!

  40. 6.25.11
    Anne said:

    Beautiful card! LOVE what you did with the watercolor markers!!

  41. 6.25.11

    Pretty card!!

  42. 6.25.11
    Kathy said:

    Wow! Awesome card! I love all of it:)

  43. 6.25.11
    Gina said:

    You did that at 2a.m.?! Get. Out!!! It’s fabulous. πŸ™‚ Dying to know what stamp set you have picked out for when you’re the winner winner chicken dinner. Hope you’re one of the three and I’m one of the other ones. tee-hee

  44. 6.25.11
    Lisa said:

    Such a creative way to use this particular stamp, Amber- awesome!

  45. 6.25.11
    Laurie said:

    Super cute Amber D! I love the little dragonlfly!

  46. 6.25.11
    Jen W. said:

    Love the way you’ve been rocking the Modern Basics and your grass is so cool!

  47. 6.25.11

    What a beauty!

  48. 6.25.11

    ACK! So pretty! Love those flowers, and the scene you created here…beautiful!

  49. 6.26.11

    Very beautiful card!

  50. 6.26.11

    Love, love, love! I may need to try that 2am burst of creativity.