Thank You for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends, I hope you're doing well! This month at The Flower Challenge the theme is Thanks, which is so appropriate for this time of year in the US, where we will be celebrating Thanksgiving on the 28th of this month.  

TFC 97

 

I'm also joining the current challenge Inkspirational, which is to layer it.

Inkspirational #328

  

My initial intention was to create a more muted color palette for my card, befitting this time of year as fall is in full swing, but then I ended up using some of my favorite markers and the coloring got much brighter lol!

At the time that I made this card, I'd recently received this big floral stamp from Simon Says Stamp and had to use it.  It was stamped in black, colored with Copic and Olo markers, then restamped with Versamark and gold heat embossed.  I always hold my breath when I put my colored image back in my stamp positioner, worrying that I'll ruin a couple hours (or longer) of coloring, but as you can see, it turned out just fine.  The sentiment, also from the same stamp set, was gold heat embossed as well, then both were cut out with their coordinating dies.

When I reached for a card base, I saw that I had one with a white die cut panel adhered to the front, which added a lovely touch of interest without detracting from the floral image.  The flowers were adhered directly to the panel, the overhanging parts trimmed off, then the sentiment was added with foam tape.

So much to be thankful for, including you stopping by my blog today!  For plenty more inspiration, use the link above and see what my talented teammates have created with this theme.  And, of course, we'd love to have you join us this month, the challenge remains open until Thanksgiving day, November 25th.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Grateful Florals stamps and dies
• Pinkfresh Studio Folk Edge Rectangle die
• Altenew Antique Gold ep
• Copic and Olo markers:  Orange - YR18, 09, 16, 21, Y17; Yellow - YR27, 24, Y19, 15; Magenta -RV69, 17, 55, 52; Small and Medium leaves - G1.8, 1.7, 1.5, 1.4; Large leaves - BG 2.7, 2.5, 2.4, 2.1, YG03 

Thankful for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  This is theme week at The Paper Players and the lovely Elizabeth has chosen an appropriate one for this time of year.

The Paper Players

 

I created a card that could be used for a number of occasions during the fall.

Three weeks ago I attended the Altenew Stay Cozy retreat and I've used some of the products from that were used to create this card, with the exception of the octagonal rectangle die.

I started by gold heat embossing the pumpkins and the sentiment.  I used the coordinating stencil to color the pumpkins and leaves, then everything was die cut with the matching dies.  It was fun to color the pumpkins in different colors - in fact I think it would be fun to used unexpected colors like pink or aqua on another card! 

The background panel was embossed with the pumpkin folder, trimmed down then I painted gold metallic ink around the edges to make it stand out a bit more before adhering to the white card base. After die cutting the white panel, I splatter it was a bit of gold paint as well before adding the pumpkins and sentiment.   

I hope you'll join us this week, it's the perfect time to create cards to send to friends and family during this month of Thanksgiving.  As always, my delightful and talented teammates have created some beautiful cards to inspire you, so I encourage you to stop by the challenge blog before heading off to your craft room!  The challenge remains open until Friday November 8th at 3pm EST.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Altenew One-Go: Sweet Pumpkins stamps, dies, stencils and 3D embossing folder (not yet released)
• Pinkfresh Studio Blanket Stitched Octagons die
• Altenew Mandarin Burst, Red Jasper, Raw Amber, Lemon Ice, Sagestone & Onyx Green
• Altenew Gold Metallic Paint and Antique Gold embossing powder

Noel for Color Hues

Hello friends!  The first of November is upon us and we have a new challenge over at Color Hues.  This time, the lovely and talented Karen has chosen red and black for her color duo.

Color Hues

 

This beautiful combination works well for so many occasions but I thought it would be an elegant look for a Christmas card.  For my card design, I used the sketch for the current challenge at The Paper Players. If you see this before 3 pm EDT today, you still have time to play along.

As I was searching my stash of patterned papers for another project, I came upon a 6x6 pad from HoneyBee Stamps that is probably about 2-3 years old but still yields some beautiful patterns for the holidays and found two pieces in red and black plaid that would work for the card front.

I could not believe my good fortune!  They didn't line up precisely but using the strip of matte gold cardstock did the trick to hide it.  I pulled out a new favorite die set from Spellbinders, the Christmas Bird Poinsettia and created a red floral image, using red Copic markers to color the white die cut.  

The poinsettia was added to the card with a foam square, then I tucked in the die cut leaves and branches, most from the same die set.  Using the matte gold for the flower center, one of the branches and the sentiment tied in with the gold horizontal strip.  The final step was to add a bit of sparkle with some pretty red gems.

Thanks for taking time to stop by and I hope you'll head over to the CH blog were my very talented teammates, along with our guest designers Colleen Begley and Izzy Scrap, have some gorgeous inspiration for you.  We'd love to have you play along; the challenge will remain open until 9 am EST November 14th.

Take care!

Stef

• Spellbinders Christmas Bird Poinsettia and Christmas Greetings die sets
• HoneyBee Stamps Lovely Layers: Winter Greenery die (the black branch)
• HBS Holiday Traditions 6x6 patterned paper
• Simon Says Stamp Matte Gold cardstock
• Picket Fence Studios Candy Cane Gem Mix

Snowflakes for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  The last Sunday of the month is upon us and that brings a new sketch challenge at The Paper Players!  This time the lovely and talented Ann has given us this wonderful sketch with lots of options.

The Paper Players

I'm also sharing my card over at Addicted to Stamps, where the theme is Any Occasion.

ATSM #479

Since I'm still working on Christmas cards, that is the direction I took.  I kept things very simple; so simple I made two cards!

I decided to pull out some patterned paper that I hoard rarely use but knew it would work perfectly with the snowflakes I created.  I love the bokeh effect and the pretty colors.  

The snowflakes were die cut from silver and white glitter cardstock using various snowflake dies, with the exception of one small snowflake that was cut from light purple glitter paper.  The same cardstocks were used for the die cut sentiment and the vertical strip.  No need for embellishments with all that sparkle and shine, plus I think they would get lost against the background paper.

What are you inspired to create with this sketch?  For more ideas and inspiration, be sure to visit the challenge blog to see what my talented teammates have come up with.  I hope to see your card in the gallery this week - the challenge remains open until Friday November 1st at 3 pm EDT.

Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Stef

• HoneyBee Stamps Lovely Layers: Snowflakes dies
• Simon Says Stamp Aidan and Sophie Snowflake dies
• SSS Handwritten Merry Christmas dies
• SSS Glitter and Matte Silver cardstock
• Whimsy Stamps Blurry Flurries 6x6 designer paper

Peaceful Holiday for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's Sunday and time for a new CAS challenge over at The Paper Players where LeAnne is asking us to add a tag.

The Paper Players

I am also sharing over at Inkspirational, where the theme is Seasonal.

Inkspirational #327

I love to make cards with tags, so I was excited to see our tag challenge.  I am in desperate need of adding more cards to my holiday card stash, so that is where I went with this challenge.

I started by die cutting the tag then stamping and clear heat embossing the tree trio on the tag.  I created a mask using the circle die that comes with the set to cover the moon while I used inks to create the night sky, then removed the mask and used the moon stamps in light and medium yellow.  I grabbed a scrap of white cardstock, hand cut the top then used the tag die to cut the bottom.  After it was adhered to the tag, I added some Star Dust Stickles to the top of the "snow"

The stag and the sentiment were also stamped and clear heat embossed, then die cut with the matching dies.  A white gel pen was used to create "stars" in the sky then the die cut pieces were added to the tag. I found a leftover bit of white sparkle ribbon and added that to the top of the tag and tied it off with some silver baker's twine.  It was then added to a card base that I found in my stash with the embossed panel already adhered.  The final step was to add some of the Star Dust Stickles to the tree branches.  It sparkles so much IRL!

What are you inspired to create with this challenge?  We'd love to have you join us this week - the challenge remains open until Friday October 25th at 3pm EDT.  In the meantime, be sure to head over to the challenge blog, where my wonderful teammates have some fantastic inspiration to share with you!

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp/Gina K Stamptember 2024 Stay Cozy collaboration stamps and dies
• SSS Snowy Pines embossing folder
• Ellen Hutson Tag Trio die
• Altenew Desert Night, Dusk, Lemonade Stand and Honeydew Glow inks
• Lawn Fawn Silver Baker's Twine
• Sakura White Gelly Roll pen

Thinking of You for Color Hues

Hello, friends!  Today brings a new challenge at Color Hues and this time the amazing Jules has chosen Mustard and Olive, a great fall combination.

Color Hues

I decided to use a set that's been waiting to be inked up for a while - Brighter Days Gerbera Daisy from Picket Fence.  I know Gerbera daisies come in a plethora of colors so I decided why not mustard yellow? 

This is a lovely, large floral image and so easy to color.  Of course, I used my Copic markers, making sure my yellows were more of a golden color.  I know mustard can be a bright yellow, I guess I was thinking Dijon? ;-)  Anyway, with the coloring complete it and the sentiment (also from the same set) where cut out with coordinating dies.

I really fiddled around to get a background that I liked.  At first the double plaid die was cut from brown cardstock and layered on white, but I didn't like that and finally settled on the white over kraft.  It's very subtle, but before the kraft panel was layered with the cover die, I stamped a text background stamp with white pigment ink, then used a blending tool to ink around the edges.  It adds just a little interest and a nice softness to the kraft.

With everything adhered to the card base, I finished things off with some yellow gems and used a white gel pen for the stamen (anthers?).

I do hope you'll join us and share what you were inspired to make with these two colors!  The challenge remains open until 9am on Tuesday October 29th.  And I encourage you to visit the challenge blog, where fabulous inspiration from my very talented teammates awaits you.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Picket Fence Brighter Days Gerbera Daisy stamps and dies
• Simon Says Stamp Double Plaid Cover Die
• SSS Friendship Text background stamp
• HoneyBee Stamps Vintage Love Gems
• Copics - YR27, 24, 23, Y15, 11, YG99, 97, 95, E37, 35, 33, 31

Just A Note for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  Here we are, mid-October - oh my, the weeks are flying by aren't they?  I won't go into how many days until Christmas yet.  Instead I'm here with my reminder card for The Flower Challenge, where we are adding a stencil to our floral card.

TFC 96R

I decided to use the embossing folder and stencil from an older Craft Your Life set from Altenew. 

These colors are nicely muted and to me, are perfect for fall.  I used the Sugarplums and Nature's Wonders color families with the stencils.  The image is so large that I went with an A7 sized card.  

The panel was trimmed down and matted on a metallic silver cardstock, from which the sentiment was also die cut.  The mat was cut with one of the Spellbinders 5x7 Matting Basics dies, which leaves an nice embossed edge. I didn't have any cardstock that matched the plum inks, so I used the Grape Agate to blend a custom background, then adhered everything to the card base.  Lastly, a white gel pen was used to make the ends of the stamen visible.

The picture below is at an odd angle because I was trying to show the embossed dimension but I'm not sure you can really tell.

Have you joined us yet this month?  If not, you have until Friday the 25th to put your beautifully stenciled card in the gallery.  The design team has a new batch of stunning cards to inspire you, which you can find by using the link above.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Stef

• Altenew CRL: Fragrant Flowers embossing folder and stencils
• Altenew Scripty Sentiments dies
• Spellbinders 5x7 Matting Basics A die
• Altenew Sugarplum and Nature's Wonders ink families
• Sakura White Gelly Roll pen