Encre, papier, ciseaux: Retiring List: Petal Pizzazz and Teahouse

I spent some time stamping in good company yesterday. Angie Tieman and I did an online stamping marathon and worked on three different challenges together. While I am used to doing color combo and sketch challenges, Angie proposed we added a time limit on it as well, which added a whole new dimension to it. Holy Batman, I can't remember the last time I stamped so fast! We had agree on 40 minutes for the first one, which was insane! I didn't have time to think, just do, but I think the card turned out pretty cute, considering how fast the cardstock was flying! I discovered that I CAN stamp quickly and that the reason it usually takes me forever to finish something is that I weight all of my options and even second-guess myself. There was no time for that yesterday and I think I managed pretty good.

The first challenge was based on the Clean & Simple sketch #145 and using retiring items. since the sketch called for a flower, I pulled out the retiring Petal Pizzazz and the Teahouse background (I'm so sad this one is leaving after only a year), two sets which I hadn't showcased yet, and I used All Holidays for the sentiment.

I pulled out my trusty idea notebook to find a color combo fast and selected Soft Suede, Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink and Certainly Celery, but decided to switch Celery for Pear Pizzazz so that I could use the retiring In Colors hostess papers. I added Melon Mambo Designer papers from the Brights paper pack and used Pretty in Pink cardstock embossed with the Elegant Lines embossing folder. I used the Kissing technique on the flowers, handcut them, stacked them up and added a Build-a-Brad in the center. Since the sketch had an additional panel and I didn't want to hide the patterned papers too much, I decided to add velum and remembered that the vellum paper is also on the retiring list (perfect!). Finally, I added the sentiment on white cardstock. I had planned on adding two pink brads on each side, but it was a tight squeeze with the sentiment, so I decided against it. I had already poked the holes and needed to hide them, so I added rhinestones. That is the one part about the card that I am not completely happy about, but when doing time challenges, you have to learn to make do!

Be sure to stop by Angie's blog to see what she created with the Puns from the Past set!

Retiring items:

Petal Pizzazz stamp set
All Holidays stamp set
Teahouse background stamp
Build-a-Brads
Vellum paper
In colors Hostess paper pack

Stampin' Up! Supplies
Stamps: Teahouse, Petal Pizzazz, Fêtes diverses (All Holidays),
Dot Dot Dot, A to Z, Solid Stripes
Cardstock: Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White, Vellum paper
Designer papers: In Colors hostess paper pack, Brights Collection
Inks: Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Pear Pizzazz, Soft Suede
Accessories: Rhinestones, Elegant Lines embossing folder,
Build-a-Brad, Stampin' Dimensionals, White envelope