Art Impressions make some of the best people stamps, and this one called Retirement is no exception. While it includes some great retirement sentiments, it also have some great birthday sentiments which I chose to use on this card. Where to start? How about the background… I used a Gingham Cover a Card background from Impression Obsession in red. Then for the images, I stamped and colored them with Prismacolors, then fussy cut them out. I paper pieced the man’s shorts and the dog’s shirt in a gingham patterned paper from my stash. I love how that turned out!!! Now for die cutting… I stamped the inside and outside sentiments, then die cut the outside sentiment with a Quote Bubble die from Cutter Bee. I also cut 2 circles with Spellbinders Circle dies, 1 in white and 1 kraft to coordinate with the coloring. I used blender brushes to ink blend the white circle with Distress Oxide inks to represent grass and sky. After some fiddling I decided on a layout for the images. For finishing touches, I added Nuvo Glaze to the camper windows, man’s eyeglasses and glass. (Why, in this time of technology, is it so hard to capture shiny stuff in a picture?!?) I added black Sakura glaze pen to the eye and nose of the dog and white gel pen to the camper wheels. But that’s not allllll……
I colored up another image from the same set also with the combo of Prismas and paper piecing. I gotta tell you, skin tones are hard. I’m hoping it looks like the people have a little sunburn going on from sitting outside all day drinking lemonade! Anywhoo, she got the same treatment of Nuvo Glaze and that was it! Hard I as tried, I could not find an embellishment that looked right for this card. I have plenty of time before I have to mail it, so maybe I’ll find something. Leave me a comment and tell me what you would try!!!!! Oh, and my inspiration for this card was from a birthday card from my bestie, which also using Art Impressions images. Here is the card I received (Cute, right?!?):
12/07/19 Edited to add: This card was a winner at Gem of a Challenge!!! 
I’m submitting this card to the following challenges:
- Art Impressions – #271 – Anything Goes
- Crazy 4 Challenges: #512 – Use a Card You Received as Inspiration (see above)- JFF
- Brown Sugar Challenge – #295 – Anything Goes
- Colour Crazy Challenge – #46 – Anything Goes
- Creative Fingers Challenge – #175 – Anything Goes
- Seize the Birthday – #179 – Birthday w/opt Touch of Red
- Time Out Challenges – #149 – Celebrations
- Creative Moments – #181 – Anything Goes
- Jan’s Digi Stamps – #2 – Anything Goes
- LTSCB – #127 – Anything Goes
- Your Scrapbook Place – November – Anything Goes
- Crafty Catz – #484 – Anything Goes
- Gem of a Challenge – #23 – Anything Goes – WINNER
- Your Next Stamp – #127 – Mad For Plaid
- Lil Patch of Crafty Friends – #118 Anything Goes
- Get Creative Challenges – #86 – Anything Goes
- Digi Choosday – #48 – Anything Goes
Misplaced Mojo 
FANTASTIC paper piecing, Karen, and a darling card!
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I can’t remember the last time I paper pieced an image. I have a list of techniques that I refer to sometimes when I feel like I’m in a rut and keep making the same card over and over. Do you ever have to do that or does the mojo flow without any prodding?
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Karen, I adore your card! Fab paper piecing and your coloring is great. Good use of the skin tones and she does look a little bit sun kissed. 😀 The gingham plaid paper is wonderful and just perfect for a camping out theme. Putting on a couple of DT hats while I’m here – Thanks so much for playing along and supporting our Anything Goes challenges at both Brown Sugar and at Jan’s Digi Stamps. Good luck in both.
NanaConnie DT
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It took me forever to get a decent blend on the skin tones with the assortment of colors I own! I’m glad she looks sunkissed and not orange fake tan, which was what I got on my first attempt coloring these images!!! I’m hoping Santa brings more Prismacolors this year so I don’t have to get so creative with the color mixing 😄
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Very cute card! I think I like looking at campers on a card better than staying in a camper lol! Thanks for joining us and good luck with with your entry!
Hugs, Joy
Joyfully Stamps
Lil Patch of Crafty Friends, Owner/Coordinator
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LOL Joy! I’m with you there!!! Though I have to say a camper is MUCH better than tent camping. I tried tent camping a few years back, complete with sleeping bags, and I found out just how old I am and that I am WAY too old for tent camping!!!
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Karen, LOL! It looks like Florida during Snowbird season! A sight to behold for sure!
Great coloring and paper piecing! So glad you decided to share it with us at Jan’s Digi Blog Challenge! Stop in and Play often. Happy Thanksgiving!
Hugs,
Jan
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LOL, Jan you are so right! I grew up in the St. Petersburg area of Florida so I know this sight *very* well! I managed to escape to Georgia about 16 years ago and my only regret was not being able to bring my bestie with me! So fess up… are you a snowbird or resident??? What area of Florida do you call home? Most of my time there was in Largo/Clearwater, but I had 5 years in Brandon, east of Tampa.
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such a fun card and super colouring. Love that added gloss to the drink-I’ll one please! Thanks for joining Time Out
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Great card what fun images, Thanks for joining us at Crafty Catz this week x
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Wonderful card! The gingham is so perfect to fit the caravanning scene and the paper-piecing is a brilliant finishing touch!
Thank you for joining us at Polkadoodles Digi Choosday! Jane S (DT) Paper, Pencils & Pretty Things xxx
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Aw, shucks! Thank you for the kind words!!!
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Thanks for sharing your gorgeous project with us in the Love To Scrap Challenge Blog’s November “Anything Goes” challenge and we hope to see you again next month!
Hugs,
Leslie, LTSCB DT
Love To Scrap 2
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Brilliant – and your sunburn is great.
Thanks for sharing with us at Creative Moments,
Hugz Tinz
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Thank you Tina!!! Sometimes it’s just the little things that make us satisfied with how a card turned out, and that was the thing for me😄 It’s even better when someone else appreciates those little things. So thanks again!!!
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Love your card!!!! Your coloring is amazing!!! I don’t usually leave messages on your blog as I forget when I have time but I love your posts. Also, very nice of you to send a shout out to your Bestie!!
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Aw, shucks!!! It made my day to see your comment 😁 You know, my bestie used to be quite the card maker. Her mom isn’t the only one who misses getting a card from her. I sometimes have to pull out the ones I received a couple years ago to remember she could actually craft. I miss our crafty chats too and asking/offering advice from each other. I sure wish she would make some time for herself to be creative 😉😉😉😋
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Love this card. Love that it continues on to the inside. Love the paper piecing as well. I am not sure it needs any other embellishments, it looks lovely just the way it is. Thank you so much for entering our challenge this week at Colour Crazy Hope to see you again soon.
Hugs Dawn xx
Colour Crazy Challenge DT
Cards for all Occasions {My Blog}
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Aw, thanks Dawn! The more I look at it, the more content I am in not adding embellishments. I get caught up in the “it needs *something*” mode so often, and subsequently ruin a card by adding too much or trying something that doesn’t loo good in the end. I’m going to quit while I’m ahead with this one! 😁 I almost always decorate the inside to match… I just don’t always show it as I’m too quit to write in them before I get pictures taken! LOL
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So much fun…just love your sweet older peeps!!! Such a fabulous card. Thank you so much for playing along with us at Time Out!
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Such a fun card! I especially love the paper piecing. The plaid is perfect for this couple! Thank you for joining us at Time Out!
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Fab cards and sentiments – I love those images!
Thanks for joining us at the Colour Crazy Challenge.
Helen x
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Lovely cards. Thank you for joining in the Anything Goes Challenge at Lil Patch Of Crafty Friends and apologies for the late comment.
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