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

Sketch Manor for Color Hues

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge over at Color Hues and this time I am hosting!  The colors I've chosen are a favorite pair of mine for Halloween cards, but you could certainly use them for other styles like florals or geometrics.  Just be sure to use only the challenge colors plus neutrals.

Color Hues

 

ETA:  I saw that Inkspirational has a current challenge theme of Seasonal, so I thought I'd link up my card for the fall season.

inkspirational #352

I used a new stamp and die set along with a couple others to create my card, so I'll be sending this over to Darnell's NBUS challenge.

NBUS

Since this is one of my favorite color combos for Halloween, was there any question about what I was going to make?

I used the new Sketch Manor stamp set from Tim Holtz and the new accompanying die set made in conjunction with Simon Says Stamp.  The fun part is that the house is stamped four times, then different sections are die cut to layer on the base.  After die cutting, I used Distress inks to watercolor the layers, then set that aside to create the background.

I started by masking off the moon then ink blending two orange Distress inks around the mask, transitioned to purples, then ended with Scorched Timber and Black Soot.  The mask was removed from the moon, then I used a stencil with a light orange Distress ink to color it. The last step for the background was to stamp the tree, the limb, the bats and the fence on other side of where the house would sit.  

I die cut even more additional layers for the house in black for more dimension, then glued them together.  You can see the layers in the photo below. Yeah, I'll probably add additional postage when it gets mailed but is worth it!

The final step before adhering the house to the card front was to add the three ghosts that were die cut from vellum.  I love the one popping out of the front door!  

What are you inspired to create with these colors?  My lovely and talented teammates and our fabulous guest designer Bobby have some amazing cards to give you more design ideas, so please head over to the challenge blog (linked above) and see what they've come up with.  The challenge will remain open until 9 am EDT Wednesday October 29th.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Sketch Manor stamp set
• TH/SSS Sketch Manor dies
• TH/Sizzix Vault Fright Night dies
• Spellbinders Haunted House ghost die
• Picket Fence Haunted Moon Stencils
• Villainous Potion, Wilted Violet, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge, Spiced Marmalade, Scorched Timber and Black Soot Distress Inks

Happy Birthday for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm back with my reminder card for The Flower Challenge.  This month were adding purple to our floral cards - so easy, right?

The Flower Challenge

For this card I decided to use a technique that I've seen Jennifer McGuire use many times in videos.  It's a way to add darker ink to an embossed panel.  I ended up making three cards with different folders and two types of inks.  Here's my favorite of the three:

I started with three ink pads - a light, medium and dark.  I used a large brush and randomly inked the light and medium colors over most of a white panel, then embossed it so that the colored side is raised, making sure to use temporary adhesive on the back of the panel to keep it in place.  This is really important because you want the panel to be nice and secure.

With the embossed panel still in place, I inked up of flat side of the folder with the darkest color and ran it back through the die cut machine. It took two - three applications of ink to get good coverage.  And admittedly, I had to toss one because the panel moved while I was inking the other side of the folder.  But ultimately, I was really happy, even with purple inky fingers lol!  I just clean the folders by spraying with isopropyl alcohol.  The last step was to lightly rub the embossed images with a sanding block to get a tiny bit of white to show.

This card ended up being just shy of an A6 card size, measuring 6" x 4".  I used to thin die cut strips at the top and bottom, then added a die cut sentiment that was gold heat embossed.

Below are the other two cards (A2 sized) made in the same session.  They both have gold foiled sentiments, but the photos don't show that well.  We all know what that's like!

If you haven't yet joined the challenge, I hope you'll make time - the challenge stays open until Saturday October 25th.  In the meantime, my lovely and talented teammates of some wonderful reminder inspiration for you at the blog (linked above).  I hope to see your card in the gallery, or a second one if you're so inspired!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

One additional comment about the inks.  I first tried SSS inks with foam pads and it worked okay but I found that Altenew inks with cloth pads worked better for me.  

Card #1

• SSS Blossom Field ef
• SSS Big Scripty Greetings stamp and die
• SSS Strips die
• Altenew Lavender Fields, Deep Iris and Midnight Violet inks

Card #2

• SSS Floral Centerpiece ef
• SSS Elegantly Modern Greetings Foil Plate and die
• SSS Lilac, Orchid and Amythest inks

Card #3

• Altenew Beautiful Bergenia ef
• SSS Postage Edge Rectangle die
• SSS Elegantly Modern Greetings Foil Plate and die
• Altenew inks same as card #1

Gnome Witch for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  The Paper Players are back with a new challenge and this week the amazing Elizabeth is hosting (with an assist from Christy) our monthly color challenge.  She has chosen a fabulous fall combo of purple and green.

Paper Players

I think these colors are perfect for flowers, but for this time of year, these colors can only mean Halloween to me!

I'm also joining over at Just Us Girls.  It's Word Week and Sue has chosen "Halloween".  How could I resist?

Just Us Girls #796

Here's what I came up with this week:

The colors seemed perfect for this gnome witch and she makes more of a fun Halloween card rather than a scary one.  I colored her skin green because I was thinking of Elphaba from Wizard of Oz and that way I could give her a purple hat and cloak.  

I stamped her on a panel of white, then masked her off so I could ink blend the background with purple, green and black Distress Inks.  Once that was done, I removed the mask and colored her with Olo and Copic markers.

Next came a Gothic style Halloween background text stamp, which was stamped in black on purple cardstock, then black inked was blended around the edges.  When that dried, the panel was die cut with a mirrored arch label die, as was a panel of black with a size smaller so our witch could be framed up.  Both the "boo" letters and bats were cut from black glitter paper, then everything was added to a black card base.  The last thing I did was use a silver gel pen to color the buckle on her hat.  So fun!

How do these colors inspire you?  Remember, neutrals are welcome along with the two challenge colors.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, October 17th at 3pm EDT. I really hope we'll see your card in the gallery, but before you head off to your crafty space, be sure to check out the fabulous inspiration by my talented teammates over on the challenge blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Whimsy Stamps Gnome Witch stamp
• Simon Says Stamp Gothic Halloween Background stamp
• Spellbinders Mirrored Arch Label dies
• Tim Holtz/Sizzix Vault Coffin Box dies (letters) and Vault Wicked (bats) dies
• Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron, Villanous Potion and Black Soot Distress inks
• Olos - BV1.7, 1.4, 1.2, 1.1
• Copics - YG67, 17, 03, E47, 44, 43, 37, 35, 33, 31, C7, 5, 3

Trick or Treat for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  Today the Paper Players has a new theme challenge.  The amazing Claire is hosting and has chosen a fun one for the season - Halloween Costumes!

Paper Players

If you've followed me for any length of time you know I LOVE making Halloween cards and for this one I used a new Tim Holtz/Sizzix die set.

Isn't that a hoot?  I love the cute/creepy costumed kids with a cat and an umbrella (???)!  

I started by masking off the moon, then using a number of Distress inks to create the atmospheric setting.  I splattered it with a bit of water and when that was dry, I used a stencil to lightly color in the moon.  

All the images were die cut with black cardstock, then attached to the background.  The only thing that took time, other than making the background, was just figuring out the placement of the sentiment, limbs and bats.  Not hard to make but I like how it turned out.

I'll have a couple more Halloween cards to share in upcoming posts (one on 10/12, the other on the 16th), so please come back and take a peek if you enjoy these types of cards.  Or consider yourself forewarned if you don't lol!

What are you inspired to create using Claire's fun theme?  The other DT members have created some fabulous cards and I encourage you to visit the challenge blog and check them out.  This challenge will remain open until Friday October 10th at 3pm EDT.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Thanks for visiting and take care.

Stef

• Tim Holtz/Sizzix Trick-or-Treat and Vault Fright Night dies
• Hero Arts Nested Circle die (for moon mask)
• Villainous Potion, Wilted Violet, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen and Black Soot Distress Inks
• Picket Fence Haunted Moon Blending Stencils

Joyful Bouquet for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  The Flower Challenge is back for the month of October and this time we'd like everyone to add purple on your floral card.  Since I love purple, I didn't have to think twice about that!

I have a sweet bouquet stamp purchased during Stamptember that I decided to use.  It was a collaboration stamp between Simon Says Stamp and Altenew.  Since I keep adding to my NBUS collection, I guess I better send it over to Darnell's NBUS blog lol!

I used mainly blue violets but I did manage to add a pop of yellow along with the purple flowers.

The pretty floral spray was colored with Olo and Copic markers, then die cut with the matching die.  I love the angle of the stamp, it could fit so many ways on a card, but the placement I used seemed to make the most sense so I could add the sentiment, which also from the same stamp set.

The cover panel was die cut from SSS Lavender and adhered to the card base.  Another die from the same set was cut from white and popped up with foam tape.  After adding the spray and the sentiment I added a few Opal Dazzling gems to finish things off.

Okay all you purple and flower lovers, we'd love to see your cards in the gallery this month!  Be sure to stop by the challenge blog (linked above) to see all the gorgeous inspiration from my oh, so talented teammates.  So many beautiful cards!  The challenge will remain open until Saturday October 25th.  Please join us this month!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef  

• Altenew/SSS Joyful Bouquet stamps and dies for Stamptember 2025
• Honey Bee Stamps Spring Vine Layering Frames dies
• SSS Opal Dazzling Gems
• Olos - BV1.7, 1.4, 1.2, 1.1, BG2.7, 2.5. 2.4, 2.1, YO 2.5, Y2.3, 2.2, 1.1
• Copics - YG67, 17, 03, E37, 33, V17

Trick or Treat

Hello friends!  I'm popping in with a card to share with the lovelies over at the Time Out Challenge.  It's the "Pick 2" challenge, which is always a fun one to play along with.  This time I chose spatter and season.

TOC #298

 

I love making Halloween cards, so my season choice is fall.  I have to admit this one is a bit more on the creepy side, but I had a blast making it because I love getting inky.

I started with the background using a panel of Distress watercolor paper.  After masking off the moon, I used Distress Spray Stains to cover the panel.  It was a lot of water, spray, dry to get what I wanted. I dried, that, removed the mask then sprayed water on the moon so the spray stains around the edges would seep across the moon and create that spooky atmosphere. 

I learned out this technique from watching a video by Amy R. who credited it to Stacy Hutchinson here. I used it on a couple other Halloween cards I'll be posting in the next couple of weeks.

In the end, the background turned out much darker than I originally planned because I ink blended Black Soot on the foreground so the pumpkins looked less like they were floating in space.  They still do a little bit, ha ha - spooky floating pumpkins!

The pumpkins were colored with Copic markers, die cut, then I used gray markers to color in the white from the die cut.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set and the bats from another TH die set.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!

Stef

• Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Pumpkinhead stamps
• TH/Sizzix Vault Coffin bat dies
• Simon Says Stamp Pumpkinhead dies
• Distress Spray Stains - Black Soot, Fossilized Amber, Rusty Hinge, Cracklin' Campfire
• Distress Inks - Black Soot, Scorched Timber, Antique Linen