Birthday Blooms

Hi there and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Pam is hosting this week and she has chosen the combination of Daffodil Delight, Pear Pizzazz and White, with a dessert option to add rhinestones.  For my card I've combined the Color Challenge along with the current SCS Sketch Challenge.

I decided to use one of my favorite Stamping Up stamps, Birthday Blooms, coloring the stamped image with Copic markers in colors similar to the Challenge Colors.  White gel pen was added to the flower stamen, then it was fussy cut and added to a white die cut circle.  For the background, two yellow Distress Inks were blended in an ombre fashion, splattered with water, pearl acrylic paint and white gouache, then when it was dry, die cut with a stitched rectangle die.  I used a border die from the Flourish Thinlits to represent the diagonal piece in the sketch.  It wasn't long enough to reach from corner to corner, so I strategically cut it where it knew it would be covered by the circle then adhered it to the background.  The circle was added along with a sentiment, then the rhinestones were added to finish things off.

I'm so glad you visited!  I've added a link to SCS above where the challenges can be accessed, so I hope you'll check them both out!

Stef


Stamps:  Birthday Blooms (SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Squeezed Lemonade and Fossilized Amber Distress Ink
Other:  Ranger Pearl Metallic Acrylic paint, Winsor & Newton white gouache, Flourish Thinlit and Stitched Shapes Framelits (SU), A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax die (MFT), Basic Rhinestones (SU), Sakura White Gelly pen
Copics:  V01, Y08,06,02,11, YG03,17,67,91
 

Wild Flower Birthday

Hi there and welcome back!  The current monthly Flower Challenge has drawn me in, with it's theme to use out latest stamps or dies. 

The Flower Challenge #29
 

Well, I recently spied the lovely Wild Flower stamp set from Mama Elephant, and somehow it made it's way into my shopping cart and now in my craft room!  One of my lovely sister-in-laws is celebrating a birthday next week so I used it to make her a card.

The floral image was stamped on Neenah Solar White and colored with Copic Markers.  Lots of little images so it was a bit time consuming but what a delight to color!  I die cut it with the matching die then set it aside to create an ink blended background.  I started with Bristol paper to make blending easy, then chose three Distress inks that would complement the floral image.  After splattering with water drops and completely drying, the panel was die cut and adhered to a white card base.  The floral image was popped up on the card with foam tape, then a die cut sentiment was added above, along with a few sequins.  You can't really see it in the photos, but the final touch was to use an Aqua Shimmer pen to add sparkle to the sentiment and the flowers.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!!  I've added a link to the challenge above, so be sure to head over there and check it out!

Stef


Stamps:  Wild Meadow (Mama Elephant)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam; Seedless Preserves, Worn Lipstick, Tattered Rose Distress Inks
Other:  Happy Birthday Script and Stitched Rectangle die (Simon Says Stamp), Wild Meadow Matching die, Lucy's Iridescent Jewels, Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Tonic Nuvo Simply White Crystal Drops (used to dot the "i") and Aqua Shimmer Pen, Copic Markers, Sakura White Gelly Roll pen (dots on flower)
 

Woodgrain Deer

Hello and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Barbara is hosting this week and has chosen the Balmy Blue, Peekaboo Peach, and Early Espresso with a dessert option to add butterflies.  No dessert for me this week, frankly because I forgot until I was editing my card for upload tonight!

I'm also joining the current challenge at Just Us Girls, where we are to add "wood" to our card. 

Just Us Girls #474

I kept envisioning the peach and blue as a background and then when I saw the JUGs challenge I knew how I wanted to proceed.

Starting with a panel of Bristol paper, I ink blended a few Distress Inks similar to the SU peach and blue challenge colors.  The deer oval die was used to cut the image from dark woodgrain paper, then I traced around it on the ink blended panel, cut it out just slightly smaller than the die cut image, then adhered the two together.  I used a treeline stencil and Versamark ink to create the subtle background on a Desert Storm panel, then adhered a strip of burlap ribbon before adhering to the card base and adding the oval with foam tape.  I was going to add a sentiment but I didn't like how it looked, plus this gives me options to use it for a birthday or another occasion.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added links to both challenges above, so be sure to check them out!

Stef


Product details
Paper:  Desert Storm, Strathmore Bristol, Brown Woodgrain (Simon Says Stamp), Peekaboo Peach (SU)
Ink:  Versamark; Dried Marigold, Spiced Marmalade, Tumbled Glass, Broken China (Distress Ink)
Other:  Deer Grove Oval (Memory Box), Forest Scenes stencil (Hero Arts), Burlap Ribbon (ret. SU), Stitched Rectangle die (SSS)
 

Colorful Bouquet

Welcome back, friends!  Today's card is another to be included in a series of note cards I will be giving to a dear friend for her birthday next month.  I've used the wonderful challenge at Color Throwdown for my inspiration plus I am also adding it to Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Coloring Challenge.

CTD 529

30 Day Coloring Challenge

With the three colors from the CTD challenge in mind, I chose to use one of my more well loved stamp sets from Altenew with multiple flower images.  It was stamped on white card stock then colored with Copic markers.  I used neutrals in warm grays and light to medium brown colors for the foliage, which I totally loved and made me think I might have to color this beautiful bouquet with brown monochromatic colors next time around!

After coloring, the panel was die cut with a stitched rectangle die, wrapped with some linen thread and adhered to the light gray panel.  I kept it flat and simple so my friend could easily mail it and use it for any occasion.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always appreciated!  I've added links above to both challenges, so I hope you'll check them out.

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Blooming Bouquet (Altenew)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Fog (SSS)
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam
Other:  Stitched Rectangle dies (SSS), Linen Thread (SU)

Copic Markers
Yellow Flower:  V01, Y08, 06, 11
Red Flowers:  R39, 37, 35
Orange Flowers:  YR7, 15, 12
Leave:  W5, 3, 1; E77, 74, 71, 33, 31, 30, N4
 

Garden Silhouette

Hello again and welcome back!  Today I enjoyed working with a small stamp from Impression Obsession that I believe is a newer release (bought last week at my LSS), but nevertheless is new to me.  My card was inspired by the current challenge at Color Throwdown to use the colors red, orange and yellow. I'm also joining the current Seize the Birthday challenge with their Anything Goes theme, and of course Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Coloring Challenge.

CTD 529

STB 158

30 Day Coloring Challenge

Because the stamp is a silhouette, I decided to stamp it with Versafine Onyx Black on Bristol paper, heat set it with clear embossing powder, then use Distress Inks to blend the sky behind it.  Using Bristol paper for the embossed panel made the ink blending a breeze.  I started at the bottom with Squeezed Lemonade, then added Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door and Fired Brick as I moved up the panel.  After the ink blending was complete, I used a shimmer spray to cover the entire panel, then sprayed a light mist of water from my Distress sprayer to create a bit more texture in the inked background, as Distress Inks are water reactive.

Once the panel was dry, I trimmed it down then added it to the scallop die cut layer, which was the popped up on Fun Foam and adhered to the card base.  I found an unused sentiment strip in my stash, trimmed it down a bit then added it to the panel with foam tape, and that completes my card!

Sorry about some of the harsher shadows in the photos, but I decided to shoot this photo in the bright natural afternoon sunlight in order to capture the amazing sparkle from the shimmer spray.  IRL this background sparkle just jumps off the page!!

Thanks for visiting today, it's always so appreciated!  Above I've added a link to all the challenges, so be sure to check them out!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Garden Silhouette (Impression Obsession), Brush Stroke Messages (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Versamark, VOB, Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Carved Pumpkin, Spiced Marmalade, Barn Door, Fired Brick
Other:  SSS Ultra Fine Clear embossing powder, Tsukinedo Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spritz, SugarPea Designs Card Front Builder Elements die (scallop panel)
 

Love You!

Hello friends!  I'm sharing a card made for the current challenges at The Paper Players and Just Us Girls.  Both have a theme of "Love" which was perfect for the CAS card I wanted to make for my husband.

PP 427

Just Us Girls 473

I started by embossing the largest Folk Heart die from Ellen Hutson on a panel of light gray card stock, cut a mask covering the embossed heart, then used white pigment ink around the edges.  While that ink dried, I die cut the letters for the word love three times with lower case alphabet dies, ink blending the top layer with Mermaid Lagoon ink in kind of an ombre fashion.  I glued and stacked them, then they were added to the embossed panel in a layered fashion.   

The word "you" was stamped on white card stock in red ink, then with Versamark, and heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I used my scissors to trim it down then added it to the die cut letters.  Metallic enamel hearts were added around the die cut sentiment, one of which I colored with red Copic markers.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added links above to both challenges, so be sure to check them out.

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Label Love (Altenew)
Paper:  Island Blue, Fog (Simon Says Stamp), Neenah Solar White
Ink:  Unicorn White (Hero Arts), Real Red (Stampin' Up), Mermaid Lagoon Distress Oxide, Versamark
Other:  Bold Alphabet dies (Altenew), Folk Heart die (Ellen Hutson), Metallic Enamel shapes (SU)
 

Hello

Hi there and welcome back!  I have a quick post tonight, sharing a card made for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Anything Goes.  I'm also using it to join Day 5 of Kathy Racoosin's 30 Day Coloring Challenge.

SSS Wednesday Challenge

The 30 Day Coloring Challenge

I watched a video by Kristina Werner last week, making a "smooshed" ink blended background with Distress Oxide Inks, then heat embossing a background stamp over a portion of the panel, so I decided to channel my "inner Kristina" and incorporate those design elements into my card .  The colors I used were Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick and Faded Jeans, although the Tattered Rose isn't very evident in the final piece.

I smooshed the inks on a craft sheet, sprayed them with water and laid a piece of watercolor paper into the ink, lifting and letting the colors meld, dabbing off any pools of water and ink, then drying with my heat tool.  I repeated this process three times then let it completely dry before heat embossing the Star Flower background stamp, then die cutting with a Wonky Stitched Rectangle die.  After mounting on an Ivory card base, the die cut sentiment and iridescent jewels were added to the card.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated.  Be sure to check out both challenges, I've added links above.

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Star Flower Background
Paper:  Ivory, Gold Mirror (Tonic), Canson XL watercolor
Ink:  Versamark, Faded Jeans, Tattered Rose, Worn Lipstick Distress Oxide Ink
Other:  Wonky Stitched Rectangle and Handlettered Greetings dies, Altenew Antique Gold Embossing Powder, Lucy's Little Things Iridescent Jewels
 

Blush Birthday

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  I'm hosting this week and have chosen the combination of Blushing Bride, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla and a metallic of your choice, with a dessert option to use a punched or die cut element.

CC725

I'm also joining Mojo Monday, using Julee's fabulous sketch, and the Simons Says Wednesday Challenge, where the theme this week is Anything Goes. 

MOJO 508

SSS Wednesday Challenge

I chose this color scheme primarily because I have been hoarding saving some beautiful patterened paper that was part of a Simon Says Stamp monthly card kit from over a year ago.  The Mojo sketch was PERFECT to add several layers. 

I just love the mix of the copper/rosegold metallic mixed with the pink and blue, plus there are flowers!  And polka dots!  The card came together very quickly; choosing the paper patterns took the longest!  The sentiment was heat set with copper embossing powder, die cut with a stitched oval and added to the card with foam tape (as was the polka dot layer).

That's it for my card, pretty easy peasy!  Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added links to all the challenges, so be sure to check them out!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Happy Birthday Gorgeous (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Ivory (SSS), Blush patterned paper (My Mind's Eye)
Ink:  Versamark
Other:  Stitched Shapes Oval framelit, Copper embossing powder (SU)
 

Bundle of Love

Hello again!  I hope your week has gone well, and now it's almost the weekend, and Superbowl weekend as well!  Are you watching?  I will be along with my husband; we usually have a fun time with all the commercials and we both do like football.

But hey, that's not why you're here.  My card today is for the current sketch challenge at The Paper Players.  I kept my card very CAS, maybe a little too CAS but I really wanted to have the focus be on the cutie patootie penguin!

PP 426

I began with coloring the penguin with Copic markers, then die cut the image with a stitched circle die.  A white gel pen was used to add polka dots and little highlights on the hearts. The sentiment was then stamped and heat set with clear embossing powder, then cut out with a sentiment die.  

For the white card base, I added a couple of score lines to ground the die cut, but it still looked rather plain.  So I used an ink blending brush to lightly add Picked Raspberry Distress Ink, radiating out from the right side just above the score lines.  While a bit faint in the photos, the pink adds some good yet subtle contrast after the main image was added with foam tape.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link to the challenge above, so be sure to head over and check it out!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Penguin Bundle of Love (Conie Fung-Etsy), Really Like You (sentiments/Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam, Versafine Onyx Black, Picked Raspberry Distress Ink
Other:  Stitched Shapes Circle Framelit (SU), Sentiment Labels die (SSS), Score board, ClarityStamp Ink Blending brush, Clear embossing powder (SSS), Sakura Whitel Gelly Roll pen,

Copics
Penguin:  BV29, 25, 23, C1, 00, R20, 00, Y35, YR14, 18

Sweater:  V09, 06, 05, 01
Ground:  W3, 1, 0
 

Happy Birthday

Hi there and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Karen is hosting this week and has chosen the classic combination of Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive and Crumb Cake, with a dessert option to use lace, which I passed on this week. 

For my card sample, I used another of Suzy's Watercolor Prints (I incorrectly called them "Paintable Prints" last week), this time of a floral image.  I'm unsure of the type of flower with that unusual cone-like center; my Google search found no images similar to it.  Regardless, I loved coloring it.

Keeping things simple, after the coloring was complete the panel was die cut with a stitched rectangle, adhered it to a Desert Storm card base, then added some clear dew drops.

Thanks so much for visiting!  I've added a link above to SCS, so I hope you'll pop over and check out this week's Color Challenge!

Stef


Product details
Paper:  Neenah Desert Storm, Suzy's Floral Sentiments Watercolor Prints
Other:  Clear Dew Drops, Stitched Rectangle die (Simon Says Stamp), Copic Markers:
Petals:  R35, 37, 39; Center:  E53, 35, 37; Stem: E25, 27, 29; Leaves:YG03, 93, 95, 99
 

String of Hearts

Hello again, crafty friends!  I'm back late tonight with a second post, with a sweet Valentine's card for the current challenges at the MFT Wednesday Sketch Challenge along with the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is "Have A Heart".

MFTWSC 421

SSS Wednesday Challenge

I severely culled my very old and small collection of Valentine's Day stamp sets the last two years, so I was in search of something cute to send to my 4 year old great granddaughter.  I went to Etsy and found two darling images by Conie Fong and chose to use this one for my card.

Okay, is she not totally adorable????  I love this happy dancing penguin, in a sweater LOL, holding a string of hearts!  Easy, peasy to color with Copics (listed below) then die cut with a Stitched Circle die.  A white gel pen was used to add polka dots to a couple sections of her sweater and also as highlights to the string of hearts. 

For the base, a curved heart border was used to cut the red card stock, which was then adhered to the white card base.  Our sweet penguin circle was mounted on top of that with a slightly smaller circle of Fun Foam, then the heat embossed sentiment strip added just below. Doodlebug heart shaped sprinkles colored with red Copic markers were also popped on the front.

Thank you so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  Do be sure to check out both challenges with the links added above.

Have a great week!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  String of Hearts (Conie Fong on Etsy), Birdie Brown Greetings Galore (MFT)
Paper:  Neenah Solar Whtie, Real Red, Basic Black (SU)
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam, Versamark
Other:  Stitched Shapes circle framelit (SU), Stitched Heart Curve Border die (poppystamps), Sentiment Labels die (Simon Says Stamp), Wow white embossing powder, Doodlebug Heart Shaped Sprinkles, Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen, Copics:  R39, 29, 24, 22 (hearts) R20 (cheeks), BV29, 25, 23 (penguin), 13, 02, 000, 0000 (sweater), Y17, 35, YR 18 (beak and feet), W3, 1 , 0 (face and ground)
 

Best Wishes, Walt!

Hi there and welcome back!  I'm sharing a card made for one of my SCS friends whose husband is recovering from knee replacement surgery.  This week's Teapot Tuesday challenge at SCS is to send sunny thoughts to Walt, so I found a cute ocean/nautical stamp colored it up and sent it off to him.  Along with the SCS challenge, I'm also joining the current challenge at Just Us Girls, where the photo inspiration is a nautical theme.  I also used the sketch from the prior Sunday Stamps challenge.  I missed the challenge deadline but still added a link so you can check out the DT inspiration.

Just Us Girls 472

SSC 196

I stamped the scene and colored it with Copic Markers, making dots with the tip of the markers to get the look of "sand" after laying down the base layer of light brown.  The ocean colors were primarily blue greens that turned out to be a great match with the Bermuda Bay card base.  When the coloring was complete, I added a little white gel pen along the "waves", mounted onto a panel of Desert Storm card stock, then popped up on the card base with Fun Foam.    

Due to the orientation of the ship, I flipped the sketch, adding the sentiment and cute little sea star to the upper left corner.  Hard to see in the photo, but the vertical strip of Early Espresso was embossed with a woodgrain texture fade.

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  Be sure to use the links to Just Us Girls and Teapot Tuesday to check out both challenges!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Salty Kisses (Waffle Flower), Petite Pairs (ret. SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White and Desert Storm, Bermuda Bay, Early Espresso (SU)
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam, Versafine Onyx Black (sentiment)
Other:  Tim Holtz Lumber 3D Texture Fade, Hero Arts Nested Infinity Circle dies, Salty Kisses matching die (sea star), Sakura White Gelly Roll pen
Copics:  E49, 47 (ship), 50, 53, 55, 57 (sand), B000, 0000 (sky), BG49, 45, 23, 15, 10 (ocean), C1, 00 (clouds, sail)
 

Chilly Weather

Hi there and welcome back!  I have a card to share made for the current challenge at The Paper Players where the theme is CAS Snowy Day. 

PP 425

Lots of options for this fun challenge, but in the end I chose to use one of Suzy's Watercolor Prints from Simon Says Stamps.  While printed on Tim Holtz watercolor paper, a number of coloring mediums can be used with them and I chose to use Copic Markers. 

The trees were colored first, with shading around them on the snow.  As I worked on the sky, I started with the darkest color lower in the sky and went lighter as I got closer to the moon.  It was a bit of a challenge to make sure to color around the snowflakes, but my handy colorless blender helped push any misapplied color out of the little circles.  After coloring the snowman, including his hat and scarf, I used a white gel pen to add polka dots to the hat and a check pattern to the scarf.  A light gray marker was used to add back shadows when the gel pen was dry.  After finishing the moon and cute little bird, the panel was die cut with a stitched rectangle die, mounted on foam and added to a white card base.  The last touch was to use the white gel pen to color in all the snowflakes to ensure the white really popped.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always appreciated!  Be sure to use the link above to head over to the challenge!

Stef


Product details
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Suzy's Winter Warmth Watercolor Prints
Other:  MFT A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax die, Copic Multiliner pen, Sakura White Gelly Roll pen
Copics:  
Sky:  B39, 37, 14, 12
Moon:  Y26, 08, 00
Snowman:  C5, 3, 1, 00; W3, 1, 0; V09, 06, 05, 01; YR16, 18; R20
Trees:  E79, 75, 71, 70
Bird:  E29, 35, 33, 31
 

Mitten Power

Hi there and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Jeanne is hosting this week and she has chosen Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Coastal Cabana, with a dessert option to add a metallic.

All of us have times when we struggle with color combinations and this week is mine!  However, I pulled out one of the Suzy's Paintable Prints from Simon Says Stamp and found a way to use this color trio.

I totally love these cute mittens and thought the coral color was perfect for the flowers on these mittens!  The Copic color did come out darker than Calypso Coral but I think you could achieve the same intensity with watercoloring with reinkers.  I used dark blue greens (Coastal Cabana) for the leaves and stitched wrist band, and lighter aqua colors (Pool Party) for the rest of the mittens.  A shadow was created around the sentiment and mittens with light gray, but I decided to cover it with a light blue green.  After die cutting the panel with a stitched rectangle die and layering on a Coastal Cabana card base, I added some cute snowflakes topped with silver metallic enamel dots, plus used a silver gel pen to color the centers of the flowers along with the dots and tittles (the dots above the i's) around the sentiment. 

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link to SCS and I hope you'll pop over and join the challenge this week!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  None
Paper:  Suzy's Paintable Prints (SSS), Coastal Cabana, white (card interior)
Ink:  None
Other:  Retired Snowflakes and Metallic Elements (SU), Sakura Metallic Silver Gelly Roll pen, Copic Multiliner pen, Copics:  B37, 35, 32; BG 09, 15, 13, 11, 05, 01, 000; B000, C2
 

Love Always

Hello, crafty friends!  I hope you're having a good weekend!  I have a card to share with you that I made for the pink and gray color challenge at The Flower Challenge, the CAS challenge at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge and finally I used the current sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.

The Flower Challenge #28

SSS Wed Challenge

FMS 371

For starters I stamped the flower and leaf images on white card stock, colored with pink and gray Copic markers and die cut with the matching dies.  The flower centers were colored with gray but a lot of the definition was lost, so I decided to use a metallic silver gelly roll pan to add some dots. 

I followed the sketch by creating a square card, layering a 5 x 5" square of white woodgrain card stock on a base of the same size.  I had been mulling over what to use for the smaller square layer because I wanted the woodgrain to show and landed on the idea of using vellum rather than patterned paper.  The embossing still obscures the woodgrain underneath but the white on white look seems to allow the woodgrain pattern to shine.  

For the horizontal piece I found a scrap unused from a prior project.  It had been embossed with leaf images, which I thought worked perfectly with the rest of the card.  I used a scallop border punch to add scallops to the bottom.  The flowers and leaves were then layered on a white scallop circle and the small sentiment popped up with foam tape.  After everything was adhered I decided the card needed a final touch of a few sequins and I was pleased to find some pink and gray ones in my stash.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always appreciated.  Be sure to use the links above to check out all three challenges!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Perfectly Perfect (Altenew), Small Phrases (Verve)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White #110 and #80, Woodgrain (Ellen Hutson), Slate (SSS), vellum
Ink:  Gina K Amalgam, Basic Gray (SU)
Other:  Perfectly Perfect matching dies, Layering Circles die (SU), Leaves and Polka Dot embossing folders (SU), Vintage Chic sequins (SSS), Sakura Silver Metallic Gelly Roll pen
Copics:  RV 25, 23, 21, 00; N 6, 4, 2, 0