Paper Crafter's Library

Hello, my name is Iwona Palamountain, but I’m also known in the blogland by my nickname Chupa. I live near Melbourne, Australia but I’m a born & bred Pole. I’ve got a loving and supportive husband, a beautiful 3yo daughter and I’m expecting another girl in April!

I’ve been paper crafting actively since I got pregnant with my first girl and although my hobby keeps me busy, I never looked back since. I love experimenting with many styles, and enjoy the versatility that both stamps and patterned papers give me. I dabble mostly in card-making, with an occasional 3-D project or scrapbooking layout. I aim to continuously learn and evolve as a paper crafter, and bring my readers a constant reason to keep coming back for more 🙂

I’m thrilled to be the Featured Designer here in Paper Crafters Library, and I hope you’ll enjoy what I prepared for you today.

My blog: http://ipalamountain.blogspot.com/

My Pinterest: http://pinterest.com/chupa/

CASE Study challenge blog: http://casestudychallenge.blogspot.com/

Today I’d like to talk about inspiration – how you can find it anywhere and everywhere, and how it can give your next project a kick-start.

I’m sure many of you can account for at least a few moments of creative stupor. I’m talking about the times when we look down at our supplies, with the nagging feeling that there’s absolutely nothing you can think of doing with them. Some of us rely on their favourite blogs or craft magazines, in giving a shot of inspiration needed to get started, but the real fun begins when we learn to see it everywhere around us. Think magazines about decorating, commercials, store fronts, stationery,  clothing. There are patterns, colour combinations and much more that can stir our imagination and lead to great projects.

I often peruse Pinterest (surely we ALL heard of it, right??), and that’s where I find plenty of images – craft related or not – that help me find my lost mojo. I would like to show you how, on a few examples from my personal pin boards.

 How ’bout this gorgeous, shabby chic bedding?

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I love the monochromatic palette & the way the different patterns compliment each other. I used Glitz Design papers, Kaisercraft die cuts and more to mimic the look, on the card below. I’ve got stripes, toile, scallops, feminine touches… can you see how much can be transformed into a card design?

One of my favourite past-times is looking at photos of beautiful interiors. It’s a shame I can’t recreate the look of every one of them, but I sure can transform some of the goodness into paper craft! Let’s take a look at this lovely & calming living room, all in cream, sage & silver.

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 Once again I took the colours and patterns from the photo, plus I let the beautiful botanical images, determine the theme of my card. An addition of fabrics channels the coziness, and a touch of embossing links to the textures found in the room. Also, notice the pearls and how they stand for the metal elements – picture frames and coffee table.

Finally, let’s think fashion. I dare say it’s one of the most ‘readable’ inspiration, since the designs found on the fabrics are easily found in the patterned paper assortment, or easy enough to recreate with stamps. I picked this stunning wedding dress, for the lush colour & texture of the damask, and let it guide me in creating the card below.

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 I die cut the damasks from glitter cardstock, which gives them required texture & substance, as well as the lush look appropriate for the occasion. I used a negative die-cutting technique, to give the card more depth. I chose to stamp & emboss the sentiment on vellum, which in turn is a nod towards the transparency of the tulle.

So, what do you say?? It’s more fun than you might have thought! I hope I encouraged you to look around you, next time mojo fails you 🙂

 Supply list:

Live Your Dreams card

Cardstock: Fine Linen (Papertrey Ink)

Paper: Stripe from Beautiful Dreamer collection, Pretty Ink Pink paper pad (Glitz Design)

Stamps: Chantilly Trim (Wplus9), with coordinating die

Ink: VersaMark (Tsukineko)

Embellishments: Flora Delight Collectables (Kaisercraft), lace trim, grosgrain ribbon, button twine, button

Tools: white embossing powder (Hero Arts), sewing machine, Nautical Wheeler Doily die (Cheery Lynn)

Seed Packet card

Cardstock: Ocean Tides (Papertrey Ink), Sahara Sand (Stampin’ Up!), aqua, white

Paper: Memories paper pad (Teresa Collins)

Stamps: Vintage Garden – Seed Packet, Vintage Garden Flowers (Waltzingmouse), with coordinating Silhouette cut file

Ink: Versafine Onyx Black (Tsukineko), Ocean Tides (Papertrey Ink)

Embellishments: twill ribbon, metallic pearls (AnnaBelle Stamps), Tiny Text stickers (Cosmo Cricket)

Tools: Book Print embossing plate (Papertrey Ink), Copic markers, thread

Mr & Mrs card

Cardstock: Glitter Silk (Core’dinations), vellum (Papertrey Ink), cream

Sstamps: Big & Bold Wishes (Papertrey Ink)

Ink: VersaMark, Memento Teal Zeal (Tsukineko)

Tools: Damask Motifs Shapeabilities die (Spellbinders)