Did that title catch your attention? I thought it might! You laugh, but my stampin' friends have termed this pattern "the ugly paper" and they mock it to no end when we've used the other side of it in class. One of them challenged me to come up with a single card she liked using "the ugly paper." well, I have never been one to back down from a challenge, so I sat myself down yesterday and came up with--a few! Hopefully Michelle will find one of them passable! : )
And you can hopefully pick up some layouts or tips for working with "strongly" patterned papers!
This particular "ugly paper" comes from the Sale A Bration 2014 freebie pack called Sweet Sorbet. It's available free with any $50 order between now and midnight on March 31st, 2014. And I promise, this is the only sheet that you might find difficult to work with. The other patterns are adorable.
The stamp set is called Perfect Pennants and I got two colors of ink on the same stamped image by inking it with my Stampin' Markers instead of an ink pad.
Once I got started using "the ugly paper" I actually began to like it. It has some great colors worked into the pattern, and the black makes it really pop. It helped that my Sweet Sorbet Accessories pack came with twine in three coordinating colors, and the In Color Boutique Details also match. The other embellishments I used were the Essentials Wooden Elements from the spring catalog.
So what do you say, Michelle--did I sway your opinion? How about the rest of you?
Wow, Lyssa, you really rocked the ugly paper! lol I don't necessarily think the paper is ugly, it's just not as pretty as the rest of the sheets in the pack! I think it looks WAY better in person than in the catalog though, so your cards must look really great in person! I love all three of your cards and might just have to use that side for once now. Thanks for all that beautiful inspiration!
Posted by: Shana Gaff | 03/26/2014 at 05:31 PM
That's so funny -- this pattern is the only one in the pack that I like!
Posted by: Renee | 03/27/2014 at 09:07 AM
Lyssa, not sure if you swayed Michelle or not, but you did give me some ideas. I too have hesitated to use this pattern but will give it a second chance due to your great ideas. Thanks for accepting the "challenge".
Posted by: Gladys | 03/27/2014 at 09:52 AM
Funny! I've been struggling with that paper too. It is just so bold that it is hard to work with. Great job taking on your challenge!
Posted by: Jennifer H | 03/27/2014 at 12:45 PM
I have to laugh at the "ugly paper" comment. I must have weird taste, because I really like it. (But then, I also like Summer Starfruit.) I made a card with this paper as the background, and then cut a solid colour of card stock with the beehive die to place on top; that way, the patterned paper just peeks out of the hexagon holes. I really like your samples; I hope your stampin' friends now look at that pattern with different eyes. It's all in how it's used. :-)
Posted by: Doris | 03/27/2014 at 02:43 PM
It's ok in VERY SMALL doses.
Posted by: Sharon Madsen | 03/27/2014 at 05:41 PM
Lyssa, I knew EXACTLY what paper you were referring to!
You did a great job working with that paper. I wouldn't call it ugly as much as dizzying. It makes my eyeballs spin! LOL
The last card you did with the Pistachio Pudding really toned it down a lot. I think the lines being vertical instead of horizontal helps too!
Posted by: Donna | 03/27/2014 at 05:51 PM
So not ugly! Terrific use of the one unattractive sheet in the Sweet Sorbet DSP pack!
Posted by: Shannean Moncrieff | 03/27/2014 at 05:58 PM
This paper is interesting. I didn't get this pack so I don't really know what it looks like up close and personal but I think I am really enjoying these cards you made. I think the black cardstock seems to ground it maybe? I think I like the pattern vertical rather than horizontal. Now I want to see more cards made with this paper to see how they did! Maybe I can bribe some people to send me their snippits of this paper so I can play! Anyway, I had to comment since you went to all that work to make some very interesting cards. Love how all the embellishments work. Great job as always!
Posted by: Chris R. from Iowa | 03/27/2014 at 07:21 PM
OMG. That is so funny. I am also a demonstrator and I knew EXACTLY which paper you were talking about. That is the ugliest paper I have ever seen! I won't use that side of the paper. I will throw it away first.
Posted by: Elizabeth Mims | 03/27/2014 at 08:00 PM
You did pretty good with this tough challenge Lyssa. I personally don't like this patterned paper set at all -- I love the pretty spring pastels but not with the black. Bleh!
Posted by: Mary Ann C. | 03/27/2014 at 08:15 PM
I take your challenge! I actually like that particular piece of DSP, but it's certainly not like the others in that group.
I used the "ugly paper" for a card I made for an online challenge--and gave you a shout out on my blog for the inspiration!
Posted by: Kathy Kartak | 03/27/2014 at 10:08 PM
I think you did a great job with this paper. I, too, think it is ugly, but I do think a teen would like it, and I had thought perhaps a masculine type card would be suited to this paper. It is so strong that it needs to be used in small amounts, and I think you handled it very well.
Posted by: Karen | 03/27/2014 at 11:07 PM
hello everyone. Well, I guess I'm different because this is my MOST favorite paper in the whole pack! I like it so much I choose the pack of SAB DSP a second time just to get more of it. Don't like it, send it to me.. LOL I wish I could buy it as a separate design.
Posted by: Madeleine Menke | 03/28/2014 at 11:08 AM
the colors work with so many of the soild colors and the pattern is busy enough that it sets the other paper and makes it pop. you did a wonderful job in promoting this paper and giving new life to creating.
job well done
Posted by: pat | 03/31/2014 at 10:14 PM
I wish I could buy a pack of just this design. It's my favorite of the pack!!
Posted by: Holly S | 04/06/2014 at 12:12 PM