Today's card started out as my entry for this week's challenge over at Create with Connie and Mary; once I'd decided on my design, I also remembered the inspiration photo over at The Card Concept so used this as my colour scheme:

Here is my finished card:

I decided to use the sunglasses (minus the sentiment) from the Spring catalogue hostess set 'To the Point' as the focal point for my card and stamped them onto a circle of Whisper White as I wanted to be able to create the cut out image on the layer behind. I created a patterned layer using punched 3/4" circles on a black square to echo the spot pattern on the sunglasses, and cut out the starburst shape and mat for the circle using my Starburst Framelits. I stamped the retired single stamp 'Spectacular' and my marker pens to create my own DSP background panel, using my stamp-a-ma-jig to enable easy alignment and pattern repeat, and rounded the corners with my Envelope Punch Board. Lastly, I stamped my sentiment onto a flag of Smoky Slate; the sentiment on the original stamp was too small to work here, so I substituted with 'Awesome' from the Cool kid stamp set in the current Spring catalogue (only available until the end of the month).

I had already made a card for the challenge over at The Card Concept, which is scheduled to post later in the week and couldn't be more different to this one, however having chosen my design I couldn't help but think that sunglasses were the only thing missing from the inspiration photo, so I decided to roll with it! My card definitely fits the 'clean and layered' style; the question is, does it really have specs appeal? I'd love to know what you think - feel free to leave me a comment below! I am also linking this card up over at SUO Challenges, where the theme is to create your own background DSP, as I've done here with my 'Spectacular' stamp.

That's all from me today; back tomorrow with another card and news of this week's Wednesday Weekly Deals; until then, happy stampin'!

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Making A Point - Clear-Mount Stamp	Cool Kid	Stamp-A-Ma-Jig	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Starburst Framelits Dies
Big Shot Die-Cut Machine	Magnetic Platform	3/4 Inch Circle Punch	2-1/2 Inch Circle Punch	Daffodil Delight Stampin Write Marker
Neutrals Stampin' Write Markers	Daffodil Delight A4 Card Stock	Basic Gray A4 Card Stock	Card Stock A4 Smoky Slate	Basic Black A4 Card Stock

It's so nice to have an extra day added onto the weekend; a bonus day of family time and today with the added extra of a visit to some friends to see some of the cutest tiny black Labrador puppies EVER (no we didn't bring one home, although I think Rebecca was tempted to smuggle one out in her pocket!)

Today's card was initially inspired by the unusual sketch over at CAS(E) This Sketch this week:

I played about with a few ideas for this sketch and eventually settled on the following card:

I decided to make the swirl into a path of colour from my pencil, which is one of the stamps in the 'Making a Point' hostess set. I created a mask then sponged three blended shades of purple (Wisteria Wonder, Elegant Eggplant and Perfect Plum) to create my swathe of variegated colour. I then stamped the sentiment only from the pencil stamp directly onto the card base and stamped the pencil onto a separate piece of Whisper White cardstock, coloured with the same shades of purple and a blender pen, and cut out with my paper snips and mounted at an angle on dimensionals.

I'm also linking my 'Clean and Simple' card up with the challenge over at Less is More this week where the challenge is to use either three colours or three shades of one colour and The Card Concept where the challenge is to use monochromatic purple on your card.

Back tomorrow with another card; until then, happy stampin'.

Stampin' Up! Supplies Used:

Making A Point - Clear-Mount Stamp	Whisper White A4 Card Stock	Elegant Eggplant A4 Card Stock	Elegant Eggplant Classic Stampin' Pad	Perfect Plum Classic Stampin' Pad
Wisteria Wonder Classic Stampin' Pad	Jet Black Stazon Pad	Blender Pens	3/16 Inch Corner Punch