Peace CASE

Welcome back!  I have a quick post with a card CASE (Copy and Share Everything) of a lovely card created by Valentyna for a recent CAS(e) This Sketch challenge.  I was in desperate need of a simple yet pretty card to mass produce, and hers was perfection.  Here's the link to her blog post:  (Flourishtina) and the original CTS challenge (CTS #148).  Here's my version:

A base of thick Whisper White card stock was layered with a panel of regular weight Whisper White embossed with the Softly Falling TIEF.  The tag was made using an image from Peaceful Wishes, a long retired but still loved Christmas stamp set.  The sentiment is from the current stamp set Happy Wishes.  The Ornate Tag Topper punch created the pretty top of the tag and a strand of Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine finished it off.

To color the branch I used markers in Soft Suede, Cherry Cobbler and Mossy Meadow.  After coloring I huffed on the stamp to moisten the ink before applying to the tag.  Coloring was the most time consuming part of this card, allowing me to whip out 10 cards for my co-workers pretty quickly.

Thanks for the visit today!  I hope you're having a great weekend!  I should be back tomorrow with another post to share, so come on back and see what else I've been up to this weekend.

Hugs,

Stef

Christmas Joy

Hello!  How was your Thanksgiving?  Ours was pretty quiet, since most of our family lives out of town.  Phone calls, Facebook and texts help bridge the distance however.  My husband is the chef in the family and he made for dinner what I think was one of his best turkeys ever!

Well, I know you came by to look at a card today, so I'll get down to it.  I played along with this week's awesome challenge at the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge, using a really pretty stamp set from the Holiday Catalogue from two or three years ago.

Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge

With the exception of a little extra work to fussy cut the poinsettia, this card was very easy to put together.  It started with a card base of textured Real Red card stock, then layering on the horizontal piece of Gold Fancy Foil Designer Vellum and the banner cut from Gold Glimmer paper.  The large Whisper White Circle was cut with a Circles Collection framelit then embossed with the Pretty Print embossing folder to give it some texture.  The sentiment from Endless Wishes was stamped in Real Red ink, punched with a 1" circle punch and layered on 1 1/4" Scallop Circle punched from retired Brushed Gold card stock.

The flower was created by stamping the poinsettia from Joyful Christmas in Versamark ink on vellum card stock, then heat embossing it with Gold Stampin' Emboss powder.  I made two flowers and cut the interior part of the flower to layer on top of the larger piece, using a couple of glue dots.  A Real Red marker was used to color the berries in the center of the flower.

Thanks for taking a look today.  As always, your visit and comments are so appreciated!  I've included a link above to the challenge blog, do be sure to use it to enjoy all the wonderful inspiration.

Hugs,

Stef

Corner Noel

Welcome back!  It's been fun to be on vacation this week and able to spend time making cards for various challenges I don't always have time to join in on.  Today my card was made for this week's Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers, using Tip Top Taupe, Watermelon Wonder and Chocolate Chip, and as part of Throwback Thursday at WPlus9.  I also used this week's tutorial at Splitcoaststampers to make a really cool Decorative Corner Card - here's a link to the tutorial (http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/decorativecornercard/).

WPlus9 Throwback Thursday #9

SCS CC558

I only have one WPlus9 stamp set, the beautiful Iconic Christmas that I purchased 3 years ago before I joined Stampin' Up as a demonstrator.  It has been long neglected so when I saw the WPlus9 challenge to use an older stamp set, I decided to dust it off and use it.  The Decorative Corner Card was fun and easy to make, thanks to the really nice tutorial.  To make it you use a regular A2 size piece of card stock, score at even distances and adhere together to make a tall skinny box, which you then decorate with smaller panels.  The focal point is added with a hinge or two (see the tutorial, it's super easy), and the cool thing is that it lays flat and fits into a regular A2 envelope.

The tree was stamped in Tip Top Taupe and the girl in Watermelon Wonder, then both were cut with matching dies.  The "stars" stamp was also inked in Tip Top Taupe, but stamped off to lighten the color before applying randomly to the Very Vanilla oval.  I decided to add Silver Foil stars to the tree that were punched with the Confetti Stars punch, and also added to the ornament the girl is about to hand on the tree.

The designer series paper used to cover the Tip Top Taupe panel is from the long retired Christmas Cocoa Specialty dsp, in fact some of my last pieces of that particular design.  I was so surprised to see how it matched the current In Color, but it looks perfect with it, even under bright light.

Thanks for dropping by and taking a look today.  As always, your visit and comments mean so much!  Please be sure to use the links above and check out the challenges and the tutorial - lots of wonderful inspiration to be had!

Tomorrow is Thanksgiving and I am so grateful for my family and friends, and all that is good in this world, especially in these difficult times.  Take care and God bless.

Hugs,

Stef

Cobbler Christmas

Hello again!  This afternoon I'm joining in the challenge at The Paper Players.  This week it's to make a card using this great sketch.  Of course, added bonus, it has a tag on it!  Love tags!

Still on my Christmas card mission this week, I went to my stash of retired Under the Tree designer series paper for this card.  The base is Kraft card stock.  It is such warm color, it looks fabulous with Cherry Cobbler.  After layering on a piece of the dsp, a banner of retired textured Cherry Cobbler.

The rectangle and tag were both created using different patterns from the dsp.  The tag was cut with the Note Tag punch, a perfect size for this card.  It was then topped with a Snowflake Element that has been decorated with a Gold Basic Metal Button and Gold Cording.  The sentiment from Petite Pairs was stamped in Cherry Cobbler on a scrap of Very Vanilla, which I then cut banner ends with my Paper Snips.  Gold Metallic sequins were the final touch.

Thanks for the visit!  Be sure to use the link above and head on over to The Paper Players blog for all the amazing inspiration.

Hugs,

Stef

Ornament Greetings

The Pals Paper Arts team has a great sketch this week, so many possibilities with it.  I've added a link below, so be sure to pop over and check out all the delightful inspiration!

Pals Paper Arts

For my card, I decided to go pretty simple and flat for an easy to mail Christmas card.  Starting with a base of Thick Whisper White, I rounded the corners and added a piece of retired Snow Festival designer series paper.  I chose the design with Christmas ornaments to go along with the big ornament made from Red Foil card stock.  You may recognize that shape...it's the Balloon framelit turned upside down!  I love the color of the Red Foil card stock.  While it's more of a true red, it goes surprisingly well with designer paper that uses Cherry Cobbler.

Really, the thing that took the longest to make on this card was having to remake the sentiment.  It was heat embossed with Pewter Stampin' Emboss powder, but I accidentally smeared it with my finger after embossing because it had not fully cooled down. Redo!

Thanks for coming by and taking a look!

Hugs,

Stef


Product details:
Stamps:  Greetings of the Season
Paper:  Thick Whisper White, Red Foil, Snow Festival dsp
Ink:  Versamark
Other:  Balloon framelit, Silver Cording, Pewter Stampin' Emboss powder, Iced Rhinestones, Corner Rounder punch

Winter Peace

Hello again!  Another Christmas card to share, this time a much more CAS one, using the current sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  I've added a link below so you can visit the blog and enjoy all the beautiful inspiration.

Freshly Made Sketches

Watercolor wash has been a popular technique this year, and using it with heat embossed images also very common.  I decided to use it with the big snowflake from Holly Jolly Greetings.  I cut a small panel of watercolor paper, stamped the snowflake with Versamark ink and used White Stampin' Emboss powder to create the image.  Next an Aqua Painter was used to get the paper nice and wet where I wanted the ink to spread before applying it in the middle of the snowflake, gently spreading it out towards the edges with less and less ink to make it very subtle where then ink ended.

Next I added some silver glitter to randomly applied tiny drops of glue.  I saw Amy O'Neil use this with great effect here (http://amyoneillblog.com/2015/11/15/mondaymontage56/) and decided to give it a try.  Next a few sequins were placed around the panel.  Finally, the sentiment was cut with a Christmas Greetings Thinlit from Silver Foil paper, then added to the bottom of the panel.

Thanks for taking a look today, your visit and comments are always so appreciated!  For those in the US, have a wonderful Thanksgiving and safe travels!

Hugs,

Stef


Product details:
Stamps:  Holly Jolly Greetings
Paper:  Pool Party, Watercolor, Winter Frost designer series paper
Ink:  Pool Party, Versamark
Other:  White Stampin' Emboss powder, Frosted Sequins, Silver Stampin' Glitter, Aqua Painter, Christmas Greetings Thinlit

Snow Festive

Welcome back!  I've got a quick post tonight with my card for Mojo Monday.  I'm running up against the deadline, so I'll keep things brief.

Mojo Monday

This one has lots of layers.  I pulled out some scraps of retired Snow Festival designer series paper for some of those layers.

Yup, I know, it's a busy little number!  As I was adding the layers, I seemed to be missing that finishing touch, until I added the Snowflake Element with a Silver Cording bow.

Thanks for taking time to visit today, I really appreciate it.  I hope you have a great week ahead!  I'll be back with more posts this week with more Christmas cards to share.

Hugs,

Stef


Product details:
Stamps:  Happy Scenes, Petite Pairs
Paper:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Baja Breeze, Garden Green, Snow Festival dsp
Ink:  Garden Green, Soft Sky, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler
Other:  Snowflake Element, Silver Cording, Cherry Cobbler Linen Ribbon, Small Oval and Corner Rounder punches, Metallic Foil doily, Softly Falling Textured Impression Embossing Folder, Dazzling Details

Floral Thoughts

Hi there and welcome back!  Tonight the card I am sharing was made for the current challenge at CAS(E) this Sketch!  I've included a link below and would encourage you to visit to enjoy all the beautiful inspiration.

CAS(E) this Sketch!  

I started out stamping one of the flowers from Remarkable You on watercolor paper, leaving room to stamp the sentiment to the right of it.  Using an Aqua Painter and reinkers, I watercolored the flower, then masked it and stamped the Watercolor Wash background stamp over the top.  And I hated it!  It was too big, busy and the ink was too intense, so I took the Aqua Painter and just spread the ink over the entire background.

After the ink dried, I added the tiny stars on each side of the main image in Silver Encore ink.  When I received my container of Metallic Sequins, I didn't think I'd ever use the black sequins but I think they look great on this card, with all the white space around the main image.

As always, your visit and comments are so appreciated, and especially on this post, where I am celebrating a milestone of sorts, with this being my 400th post.  I started this blog nearly 3 years ago and appreciate everyone who has taken the time to come by and take a look!

Hugs,

Stef


Product details:
Stamps:  Remarkable You, Holly Jolly Greetings
Paper:  Watercolor
Ink:  Archival Basic Black, Old Olive, Blackberry Bliss, Soft Sky, Silver Encore
Other:  Metallic Sequins, Aqua Painter

Wondrous Joy

Hi there.  Tonight a brief post with a card made for Fab Friday, where the current challenge is this great sketch:

Back in Christmas card mode, the Wondrous Wreath stamp set came to mind.  I decided to make a card that was a bit rustic with Kraft and Corrugated card stock, but with some sparkly, shiny things.

The Kraft card base was first covered with a piece of the retired Under the Table designer series paper, then followed by a horizontal piece of Corrugated paper sprayed with shimmer spray.  The sentiment, wreath and bow were cut with the matching Wondrous Wreath framelits  Before attaching the wreath with dimensionals, Gold Cording was added underneath.

Thanks for the visit, as always it's so appreciated.  Be sure to use the link above and enjoy all the wonderful inspiration!

Hugs,

Stef

Product details:

Stamps:  Wondrous Wreath

Paper:  Very Vanilla, Kraft, Corrugated card stock, Under the Table dsp, Gold Glimmer, Red Foil

Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler

Other:  Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details, Wondrous Wreath framelits, Gold Cording, Very Vanilla Shimmer Smooch

Kinda Eleanor

Hello and welcome back! Today I'm sharing a very clean and simple (CAS) card made for the challenges at Freshly Made Sketches and ColourQ.  I've included links below so you can visit the respective blogs and enjoy all the wonderful inspiration.

Freshly Made Sketches

ColourQ

I like the colors in the ColourQ challenge but wasn't quite sure how I was going to pull them together.  Using a good sketch with lots of white space helped.

The flower was stamped in Archival Basic Black on watercolor paper, then colored with an Aqua Painter and reinker. I gave most of my retired In Colors to my granddaughter so I substituted Cherry Cobbler for Raspberry Ripple.  The leaves, from Kinda Eclectic stamp set, were stamped in Always Artichoke and after fussy cutting them, along with the flower, they were layered over the Island Indigo circle.

For final touches, I used the Curvy Trio Corner punch in one corner and added both Frosted and Metallic Collection sequins.

Thanks for looking today.  As always your visit and comments are so appreciated!

Hugs,

Stef

Corner Color Crush

Hello again!  Tonight I want to share a card I made for the beautiful inspiration challenge this week at Just Add Ink. Because I love the colors sooo much, I had to put my Christmas card making aside in order to join this challenge.

Just Add Ink

Arent' those purples, pinks, greens and yellows incredibly beautiful?  I was temped to use leaves to mimic the left panel, but then I thought about coloring glossy white paper with a sponge dauber and decided to go in a completely opposite direction.

Yes, I went back to Spring to use these colors.  Maybe it was the unending hard rain this Fall day that made me long for sunnier and warmer Spring days!  The Corner Garden stamp was inked with Versamark, stamped on a piece of glossy white card stock, then heat embossed with Clear Stampin' Emboss powder.  To begin, I started with Cucumber Crush on the leafy parts, and the center of the daisy on the left, then added Crushed Curry, Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry and Calypso Coral, just swirling the daubers over the flowers and overlapping in places, trying not to muddy the colors.  I used a paper towel to remove the excess ink after sponging each different color.

When the coloring was complete, I trimmed the sides with my paper cutter, fussy cut the interior, then adhered it to a 4.25" x 5.5" piece of Whisper White card stock.  The sentiment, from the Circle of Spring stamp set, was stamped in Melon Mambo and after cutting the corner with the Curvy Corner Trio punch, was popped up on dimensionals atop a 4.5" x 5.75" Melon Mambo card base.  The Rhinestone Basic Jewel was added after coloring with a Rich Razzleberry Blendability marker. I used a slightly larger card size because I thought having an edge of Melon Mambo would make the main image really pop.

Thanks for looking today.  I'd love to hear from you if you have a moment to leave a comment!  Also, don't forget to use the link above to see all the wonderful inspiration at JAI.

I hope the rest of your weekend is wonderful, regardless of the weather!

Hugs,

Stef

Spirits Bright

Hello again and happy Thursday (only one more day until the weekend!).  The Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge provided a great sketch this week, which I used to create another Christmas card.  Be sure to use the link below to visit and enjoy all the wonderful inspiration!

http://www.sweetsundaysketch.blogspot.com/

I started with a Soft Sky base, stamping snowflakes from the Among the Branches stamp set in the same color at the corners.  The next layer is a rectangle of Real Red card stock.  It was topped with a rectangle of Whisper White embossed with the Woodland embossing folder.  That folder had been brayered with Soft Sky ink prior to embossing to create the background color.  The same snowflake stamp was used to stamp between the trees in Versamark ink, then heat embossed with White Stampin' Emboss powder.

The sentiment from the same set was stamped in Real Red and punched with a 2" punch, then mounted on a larger circle cut with a Circles Collection framelit in Silver Glimmer paper.  I couldn't decide what to use for the small horizontal piece, since I already had a sentiment, then I pulled out some long retired (I mean really long!) White Organdy ribbon.  It worked better than expected because it is so sheer, it doesn't take away from the stamped and embossed pieces, plus it almost has a bit of sparkle to it.  Because of the size of the circle, I had to move the rectangle from the middle as shown in the sketch, over to the right side of the card.

The finishing touch was adding Rhinestone Basic Jewels to the sentiment and in the middle of the embossed snowflakes. 

Thanks for your visit and I hope you have a great Friday!

Hugs,

Stef

Christmas Cards in Blue

Welcome back!  I was busy in my craft room this afternoon and was able to make a couple more Christmas cards.  The Friday Mashup has a challenge this week with a great sketch.  The mash up is to use leaves but since I am focused on Christmas cards and I mostly only have weekends to make them, I decided not to do the mash up.  Do be sure to use the link below to visit FM and enjoy all the wonderful inspiration!

Friday Mashup

My first card is more on the CAS side, using the lovely snowflake from Holly Jolly Greetings.  It was stamped in Versamark then heat embossed on Bermuda Bay card stock with Whisper White Stampin' Emboss Powder to which I've added some Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  A Circle Collections framelit was used to cut it out.  The panel that it was adhered to was first run through the Big Shot with the Softly Falling textured impression embossing folder then sprayed with Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz for some nice sparkle.  It's a bit hard to see in the photos of this card, but I used the same panel and spray on the next card, where it's a bit more evident in the pics.

Finishing touches included Silver Metallic Thread under the snowflake, an Iced Rhinestone and the sentiment cut from Silver Glimmer paper with a Christmas Greetings Thinlit.

For my next card I kind of stretched the sketch to accommodate a horizontal piece with the main image.  I actually started with a large panel that I was planning on having as the main rectangle, but the embossing didn't turn out as clean as I'd hoped so I had to trim it down and pop it up over the Bermuda Bay rectangle.

The trees, sentiment and snowflakes from the Wonderland stamp set were all stamped in Versamark on Whisper White card stock then heat embossed with Clear Stampin' Emboss Powder.  Next, I sponged a bit of So Saffron behind the trees, adding Soft Sky, Bermuda Bay, Island Indigo and Night of Navy in the sky.  I like how the sponging turned out.  This is such a lovely stamp set, and I have been inspired by the wide variety of wonderful cards I've seen made with it.  After popping up the top panel over the Bermuda Bay piece, a Snowflake Element decorated with Silver Cording Trim and an Iced Rhinestone was attached to the bottom corner (strategic placement to hide another badly embossed snowflake ;-)

So glad you decided to come by today.  As always your visit and comments are so appreciated!  I hope you have a great week ahead.

Hugs,

Stef

Merry Best

It's Tall & Skinny week at Mojo Monday and I used this week's sketch to make a Christmas card.  Be sure to use the link below to visit and enjoy all the great inspiration!

When I made two different Christmas cards on Friday (http://stefperry.blogspot.com/2015/10/season-of-cheer.html) I had a left over snowman, which ended up being perfect for this sketch.

Mojo Monday

My real red card base was cut to 3.5" x 5.5" and then layered with a piece of Under the Table designer series paper, with the Whisper White pattern on the up side.  Next was the panel of Soft Sky that was embossed with the Softly Falling TIEF layered under a piece of Real Red Grosgrain ribbon, then the main image layered on Soft Sky and Real Red circles.

Everything came together so quickly and easily, but then I realized I hadn't planned for a sentiment.  Not to worry!  The wonderful Christmas Greetings Thinlits to the rescue, with the word "Merry" cut from Red Glimmer paper.  The final touch was to add snowflakes from Frosted Sequins topped with Rhinestone Basic Jewels.

Thanks for taking a look today!  Enjoy the remainder of your weekend!

Hugs,

Stef