i {heart} papers DT Challenge: Pile it on, Use it up

***If you're here for my Clear and Simple Stamps group post, scroll down to the post below or click HERE.***

The theme for this month’s i {heart} papers design team challenge is "pile it on, use it up."  We’re focusing on using up our stash to make room for the new stuff that’s on the way. The summer Craft and Hobby Association (CHA) trade show, where your favorite manufacturers reveal their latest and greatest must-have product lines, is going on right now and Kate’s placing orders for lots of new goodies that will begin to arrive in the store over the upcoming months.

I used the cardstock sticker sheet from an older Echo Park collection kit for this clean and simple card based on the current Retro Sketches sketch challenge, flipped over on its side. I peeled two bird stickers from the Country Drive Collection Kit sticker sheet and lightly tapped the adhesive side with my embossing buddy to lessen the sticky stuff, then used dimensional dots to attach them to a blue chevron patterned panel. A small heart sticker from the same sticker sheet is set between the birds to make them a pair of “lovebirds.”

So that the birds didn’t look like they were floating in space, I made a branch (okay, maybe more like a tree trunk . . .) for them to sit on from a piece of kraft cardstock stamped with the Woodgrain Background stamp from Market Street Stamps. I used my new favorite kraft colored ink—Memento’s Toffee Crunch for the woodgrain pattern, then rubbed the stamped piece with some distress ink for a more faded look. For a feminine touch, I added a little ruffled trim along the bottom of the branch/trunk. To finish it off, I used another new Memento color, Love Letter, to stamp the word “love” from the Paper Smooches Smoocheroos stamp set alongside the chevron panel.

Check out what the rest of the design team’s done with the goodies left in their stash—then stop by IHP to take advantage of Kate’s pre-CHA clearance sale. Use the code CHA2012DT for 25% off of your order of $50 or more. The code’s good through July 21 and includes everything in the store. Here's where to find everyone: 

• Carolyn
• Deb
• Gretchen
• Loretta
• Lori--you're here!
• Tracy
• Kate

Materials Used:
from i {heart} papers: Market Street Stamps Woodgrain Background stamp, Paper Smooches Smoocheroos stamp set, Tsukineko Memento Toffee Crunch and Love Letter inks, Echo Park Country Drive Collection Kit and Sweet Day 6x6 paper pad, Maya Road golden yellow ruffle edge elastic trim, Sticky Thumb dimensional dots

Other: Aqua Mist cardstock (Papertrey Ink); Crumb Cake cardstock (Stampin’ Up!); Tea Dye distress ink (Ranger)