Funky Hello for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  Today we have a new color challenge at the Paper Players.  The amazing Jan is hosting and has chosen a wonderful fall palette.

Paper Players

Because this is the first outing for the die set I used for this card, I'll be sending my card to Darnell's NBUS challenge as well.

NBUS

It took me a while to decide what kind of fall/autumn card I wanted to create, but then I remembered my Tim Holtz Funky Foliage that was still waiting to be used after quite a while sitting in my NBUS bin, and it turned out to be perfect for this challenge!

I'll just say up front this card took quite a while to make, but I love how it turned out.  The next time I use the die set, I will start with colored cardstock rather than white to save some time.  I colored each die cut component using my Copic markers, which I'd chosen to closely represent the challenge colors.  The photos do make the "cajun" colors a bit more orange than rust-ish, but IRL they look much closer.

Next I took a background panel of Kraft cardstock, embossed it with the Tim Holtz Cracked folder, then blended dark brown ink over it for more visible texture.  The arch is black and was die cut three times and layered together before adding to the card front.  

I then added all the elements going up the left side, some with glue and others with foam squares, leaving room for the sentiment.  I actually didn't have one in mind, but a search yielded the Hello that had already been stamped and die cut.  Adding that finished things off.  I'm really happy with this funky/grungy look!

What are you inspired to create with these four colors?  I hope you'll share with us this week, we'd love to see your card in the gallery.  In the meantime, I encourage you to visit the challenge blog where my talented teammates are sharing how they used these colors.  The challenge will stay open until 3pm EST on Friday November 14th.

Thanks for visiting!

Stef

• Tim Holtz/Sizzix Funky Foliage dies
• TH/S Cracked embossing folder
• Simon Says Stamped Nested Domed Arch die
• Copics - Cajun-YR07, 18, E19; Early Espresso-E49, 47, 44, 43; Mossy Meadow-G99, 94, 82; Old Olive-YG99, 97, 95, 93; Grays-W5, 3, 1

Holiday Cheer for Time Out Challenges

Hello friends!  I'm so thrilled to share that I am the guest designer for Time Out Challenges for the next fortnight!  My card here was chosen as the winner of TOC #296.

For this challenge, we are to create a card for our favorite holiday to celebrate.  I chose Christmas because I think I'm still a kid at heart, loving all sparkle, decorations and family gatherings.  

We look forward to seeing which holiday your favorite is to celebrate!

Time Out Challenges

Challenge #301 is sponsored by  Angie Blom Digital Designs.  The challenge winner as chosen by the Design Team will receive a $25.00 store credit. The winner will also receive an invitation to join them as Guest Designer for a future challenge.

ETA:  I saw that my friends at Just Us Girls are celebrating their 800th (!) challenge and wanted to join in during their special week.  And it's easy since the theme is Anything Goes.  Be sure to go check it out - the DT cards are amazing and there are even prizes to be won!

JUGS #800

I once again decided to use one of the sweet Bundle Girl images from Stamping Bella for my card.  This time she's sending correspondence to Santa.  I wonder, what could it be?

I started with a panel of white that had been cut with a Postage Edge die.  Next the image was stamped on the panel, then stamped again on a piece of Gina K Masking Magic.  From different piece of masking paper I cut a small hillside to mask off the horizon line while I ink blended the sky.  

With the ink blending done, the masks came off and I used Copic markers to color everything.  White polka dots were added to her scarf, then I went over them in the shaded areas with my mid-tone red marker.  The sentiment was then stamped on the card panel. 

The last step was to use Glossy Accents for adding dots to the sky and squiggles to the snow, then cover them with Distress Clear Rock Candy Glitter.  I know it doesn't usually snow on a clear day, but I did create a few clouds in the sky. Plus, I've been skiing many a time when we'd get a little light snow shower in the midst of an otherwise nice day on the slopes. So that's what I imagined for this scene, plus it was a fun excuse to add more glitter! 

As I was writing this post, I realized I forgot to add "snow" to the mailbox.  That will be remedied before sending.

Thanks for taking time to stop by!  I hope you'll take time to play along with the lovely crew at Time Out Challenge - share what you love to celebrate!

Take care!

Stef

• Stamping Bella Bundle Girl Sending a Letter to Santa
• Poppystamps Christmas Sparkle Stamp set
• Simon Says Stamp Postage Edge rectangle die
• Distress Clear Rock Candy Glitter
• Copics - R39, 37, 35, E47, 44, 43, 04, 21, 00, B02, 00, 000, T4, 2, 0

Cosmos Thank You for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  The Flower Challenge is back for November and our theme this month is Thanks.

The Flower Challenge

Such an appropriate theme for November in the US, when we celebrate Thanksgiving. However, your floral thanks card needn't be related to that holiday, as you can see by my card.

I started out by die cutting all the flower petals and leaves from Altenew's Garden Cosmos die set.  I knew I wanted to create a teal background, so I thought orange tips on the flowers would go well with it.  While the inking dried, the panel was embossed with the Textured Tiles folder then trimmed down to 4 " x 5.25".  I used a couple of dark teal inks around the edges and over certain parts of the raised background, then adhered it to the white card base.

The sentiment was created from a very old Pinkfresh Studios die set. I used the orange ink pad direct to paper to keep things "matchy-matchy" then with the sentiment.  It was adhered to the card front with thin foam square, then I added the flowers to arch around it, using the same foam squares behind the flowers and the bud.  No gems this time.

Thanks for visiting!  My teammates have some gorgeous inspiration for you on the challenge blog, so I encourage you to take a peek before heading off to your crafty space!  We'd love to have you join us with your floral thanks card this month!  The challenge will be open until Tuesday, November 25th.

Take care!

Stef

• Altenew Garden Cosmos dies
• Altenew Textured Tiles 3D ef
• Pinkfresh Studios Scripted Thank You dies
• Altenew Mardarin Burst, Red Jasper, Teal Tempest, Honeydew Glow, and Galactic Stream inks

Thankful Wreath for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  Wow, we're sure moving quickly towards the holidays.  Are you ready?  I'm not yet.  At the Paper Players this week, the lovely LeAnne has chosen a wonderful theme that is definitely appropriate for this time of year.  

Paper Players

In the fall of 2024, I attended the Altenew Cozy Comfort retreat, where we made many very beautiful fall and Christmas themed cards.  But one class, with the amazing Jacee Gaspar, was a wee bit early for me, so I opted to watch recording of the class.  Fast forward to 2025, I finally did that, finished the card, and I decided to share his beautiful design for this challenge.

We began by cutting a number of leaves with four different dies from three shades of cardstock, then doing a gradient of ink blending from the bottom to near the top.  Those were arranged in five groupings that we used to create the wreath on the Burnt Orange panel.

Next is where I varied from the class instruction.  Rather than stamping the pumpkins, I chose to gold heat emboss just three, colored them with the coordinating stencils according to the class instruction, then fussy cut them.  They were mounted on the wreath, with the die cut sentiment layered across the top.  Jaycee had the class add splatter, but I opted not to do that. I really like the wreath as is and felt the gold embossing and die cut sentiment added enough extra interest.

Thank you so much for stopping by and I encourage you to check out the bounty of beauty and thankfulness my teammates have created over at the challenge.  It will run until Friday, November 7th at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll join us!

Stef

• Altenew Mixed Foliage, Pistachios, Hazelnut Branch and Stylish Greetings dies
• Altenew One-Go: Sweet Pumpkins stamp and stencils
• Altenew Green Onyx, Sagestone, Red Jasper, Mandarin Burst and Raw Amber inks

Birthday Wishes for Color Hues

Hello friends!  Here we are on the first day of a new month and it's time for a new Color Hues Challenge.  I'm rather shocked how quickly October flew by and the holidays are looming just around the corner.

But, in the meantime, we can have some fun with Sheri's new color duo - orange and brown.  💕 Love these colors (okay, to be fair, I love all fall colors!).

Color Hues

I actually made two cards for this challenge, but I just wasn't happy with the first one.  I found something better in my NBUS - a beautiful stencil and die set that was long neglected, plus a newer sentiment set.

The stencil is Altenew's Strong Oak and it is just magnificent!  It has eight stencils and I used seven, three for the leaves, three for the trunk and branches and one for the ground.  My Distress Inks worked beautifully, although the camera and editing gave the leaves more of a yellow hue than IRL, especially in the photo below.  Trust me, they were all oranges!!  

The image was stenciled on a 6x6" panel, then cut down with an A2 rectangle die.  The sentiment was stamped, the twine wrapped around the panel, then it was added to a card base with very thin foam tape.  I debated on adding some enamel dots but decided the twine was enough.

What are you inspired to create with this color combination?  We would love to see your card in the gallery.  Before heading off to your crafty space, I encourage you to visit the challenge blog linked above and see all the gorgeous creations by my wonderful teammates and our Guest Designer Valerie.  The challenge will remain open until 9 am EST Friday, November 14th.  I hope you'll join us!

Thanks for stopping by.

Stef

• Altenew Stencil Art:  Strong Oak 
• Concord & 9th/Kristinia Werner Sending Trio Stamps
• Lawn Fawn Hemp Twine
• Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge, Cracklin' Campfire, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain and Scorched Timber Distress Inks
• SSS Latte ink

Peace for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge at the Paper Players.  Since it's the fourth Sunday of the month, that means a sketch challenge, and this time the fabulous Joanne is hosting and given us this great sketch to work with.

Paper Players

I did take some liberties with the sketch, using a landscape format and using metallic cord rather than horizontal strips, so I hope you'll be okay with what I came up with, Joanne!!

This card was actually created during an online class with Tim Holtz using Simon Says Stamp collaboration products, designed by Tim.  Afterwards, I was looking at the card I made, and it reminded me of Joanne's sketch, so I decided to use it for this challenge.

We created many flowers and different types of foliage, going direct to the stamps with Distress Watercolor pencils after misting with water, then stamping on watercolor paper.  It's not a new technique to me, but one I haven't used in at least two years and some of the images turned out fine and some went into recycling lol! I selected a small poinsettia and two branches for the card, all of which were decorated with a bit of glitter on the edges.

The white panel was sprayed with Hickory Smoke Distress Spritz, which looks more silver the gray IRL, dried it and die cut the Peace shadow die from it.   The panel was backed with acetate to create a shaker card.  I used silver sequins and chunky Rock Candy glitter for the interior.  After completing the shaker portion, the silver die cut Peace was adhered to the front along with the flower and branches, and the panel wrapped with silver cord.  It was matted with a panel of silver metallic cardstock then added to a Sea Glass card base.  

This card was not my typical style, but I was happy to step out of my comfort zone and just have fun creating!

So what are you inspired to make with Joanne's fabulous sketch? Take a moment to stop by the challenge blog (linked above) to see a wonderful variety of cards by my talented teammates, then please join us this week!  The challenge will remain open until 3pm EDT Friday October 31st.

Thanks for visiting!

Stef

• SSS/TH Festive Watercolor Stamps and dies
• SSS/TH Festive Words dies 
• Distress Watercolor pencils
• SSS Starshine Confetti
• Tim Holtz Rock Candy and Chunky Rock Candy Glitter
• Hickory Smoke Distress Spritz
• SSS Silver Cording

Autumn Leaves for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's time for our monthly CAS Challenge at the Paper Players and this time the amazing Jaydee is hosting and is asking us to use foliage on our cards.

Paper Players

And of course, what a perfect time of year to create cards with leaves.  Just remember to keep it CAS, with minimal layers and embellishments, along with plenty of "white" space.

My card has both die cut and embossed foliage on it.

As with many, autumn is my favorite time of year and creating fall foliage is just so fun.  For the acorns and leaves, they were die cut from Distress watercolor paper, then I watercolored them using Distress inks.  

While those dried, the background was embossed and the sentiment die cut from gold, white and vellum papers.  Because I was going to adhere the sentiment to a textured background, the words were layered on top of the vellum with gold on white, then a second layer of white was added to the underside of the vellum, which seemed to give it more stability and not appear lumpy when adhered.  I saw Amy R. from Prairie Paper and Ink use that little trick and thought it was a great idea.

After the card front was assembled and added to the card base, it was finished off with three gold sequins.

Okay now, assemble those leaves and share your beautiful creation with us this week!  For more inspiration, I encourage you to visit the challenge blog (linked above) to see all the gorgeous cards created by my talented teammates.  The challenge will remain open until Friday October 24th at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll join us!

Thanks for visiting!

Stef

• SSS Acorn Bundle dies
• SSS Happy Autumn dies
• Spellbinders Autumn Splendor 3D embossing folder
• Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge, Cracklin' Campfire, Peeled Paint, Walnut Stain, Ground Espresso and Scorched Timber Distress inks
• Altenew Antique Gold sequins