Spread Your Wings

Hello friends!  I'm back with a card I made for the current challenge at The Paper Players, where Laurie has given us a great sketch to work with this week!  I'm also joining the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where this week's theme is anything goes.

PP399

 

SSS Wed Challenge "Anything Goes"

I recently bought some Penny Black stamp sets, including a mini set with lovely flowing branches, which I used to stamp around the edges of my white card base in the new Stampin' Up ink Soft Sea Foam.  I decided at that point to use the Spoken Bird stamp set and when I settled on the sentiment I knew how I was going to put the rest of the card together.

The center panel was created with a cloud stencil and some Tumbled Glass ink, and I discovered to my delight that the new SU color Balmy Blue is almost a near match to Tumbled Glass so I could create a slightly larger blue layer.  I used the Layered Leaves embossing folder for the small green panel, mounting both it and the center panel with a bit of Fun Foam.  The bird was stamped in Balmy Blue and die cut with a companion die, adhered to the sentiment circle then added to the card with foam tape.  Another happy coincidence is that I found a pack of sequins that were also a great match with both the blue and green.  I love how this turned out...I think I have a new favorite color combination!!

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've included links to both challenges above, so be sure to head over there and check out all the beautiful inspiration!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Spoken Bird (My Monthly Hero Feb 2018), Serene (Penny Black)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Balmy Blue, Soft Sea Foam, Koh-I-Noor Smooth Bristol
Ink:  Tumbled Glass Distress Ink, Balmy Blue, Soft Sea Foam, Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Spoken Bird companion die (HA), Stitched Shape Circle Framelit (SU), Layered Leaves 3D embossing folder (SU), Spring Meadow Mix Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), retired SU heart button, Linen Thread
 

It's Time to Party and Enjoy a Peaceful Sunrise!

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers and this week Jeannie is debuting as hostess!  She has chosen the lovely combination of Bermuda Bay, Flirty Flamingo and So Saffron with a dessert option of balloons.  I ended up making two cards for this challenge, entering one in the CAS and Free For All challenges at SCS (linked below). 

For my first card I used a new-to-me stamp set from Penny Black with these cute, cute critters.  I colored them with Copic markers and fussy cut them.  I ink blended the background with Distress Inks on Bristol paper, then popped everything up with foam tape.  In order to have the kitty floating down to the waiting dog, I made this an oversized card and will make a custom envelope when I send it.  The balloons were painted with a shimmer pen then covered with Crystal Glaze to make them nice and shiny.

Here's a close up that captures some of the shimmer on the balloon.

For this next card, it came together pretty quickly this afternoon.  I'd stamped the image a few days ago and decided to try some blending of reinkers, challenging myself to develop a variety of greens and in the end, the rust color for the tree leaves.  I started by using a light wash of color for the sky, first pink, then yellow and finally the turquoise, blending with clear water on my paint brush.  Next I began color mixing on a palette with a drop each of the yellow and turquoise, then kept adding yellow as I went along to get different green colors.

I waited to watercolor the leaves of the large deciduous tree until the last, first coloring with yellow, then mixing the pink and yellow to create the rust color.  I had so much fun doing this!  The only bit that I'm not fond of is the color of the stream, which is only Bermuda Bay ink because mixing yellow would make it green and mixing pink would make, well, mud.  However, my husband said he has been on streams nearly that color in some remote places in the Rockies, so I decided I was okay with it.  When dry I added white ripples in the stream with a Gelly Roll pen.

I kept the card pretty simple, adding the corrugated white die cut frame to a Flirty Flamingo card base, then added the die cut water colored panel with Fun Foam.  I didn't think any embellies were necessary and may add a sentiment if appropriate when I send the card.

 

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated! Below are links to the challenges at SCS.

CC 693

Free For All "Just Over the Holler"

CAS "Water Works"



Stef


Product detail
Card #1
Stamps:  Time to Celebrate (Penny Black)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Audrey Blue (Simon Says Stamp), Koh-I-Noor Smooth Bristol
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Inks:  Frayed Burlap, Peacock Feathers
Other:  Cloud Stencil (MFT), Hillside Border die (Lawn Fawn), Paper Snips, Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen and Crystal Glaze, Sparkling Clear Sequins (PPP), Copic:  W1, 3, 5; R20, 22, 30, 43; Y11, 02, 08; BG11, 13, 15

Card #2
Stamps:  Peaceful Places (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Canson XL, Flirty Framingo, White Corrugated
Ink:  Stazon Timber Brown, Flirty Flamingo, Bermuda Bay, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Hickory Smoke Distress Ink
Other:  Stitched Rectangle Frame (MFT), Hero Arts Nested Infinity Rectangle die, White Gelly Roll pen
 

Gardenia Birthday

Hello, friends!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers.  Karen is hosting this week and she has chosen the soft combination of Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron and Very Vanilla, with a dessert option of vintage. Be sure to use the link above to check out the challenge and hopefully play along with us this week!

I'm also joining the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where this week's theme is "Frame It". 

SSS Wed Challenge "Frame It"

I like using frames, most of the time as a way to ground my image and sentiment rather than actually frame anything, because it still acts to bring the eye to the center of the card.

The Gardenia is a layering stamp from Altenew and since I was only using Blushing Bride for the flower, I had to make sure I had enough contrast between layers.  So I skipped the solid base layer and stamped the first shading layer but using 2nd generation stamping so I had a very light color for the petals.  Then, when I added the next shading layer, I stamped it 2-3 times full strength.  I then stamped the outline stamp to pull it all together.  I used a similar process to stamp the leaves.  I do know that I'm stretching my artistic license with this flower since most Gardenias are white, and those few that are a very light pink are not this same shade.  But hey, it's card making not fine art, right?

With the soft challenge colors I knew I needed more contrast to the base, so I chose a neutral, using Desert Storm card stock, then layered on a piece of vanilla card stock die cut with the Marilyn cover die.  I dithered between Mint and Blushing Bride for the frame, but in the end the pink looked so much better with the craft card base.  After adhering the frame, flower and leaves, and sentiment, I added some clear sequins and iridescent jewels for a bit of bling.  I also used a shimmer pen on the flower but my photos don't pick up how sparkly it is IRL.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I hope you'll use the links above and head over to both challenges!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Build-A-Flower: Gardenia (Altenew), Watercolor Trio (ret. SU)
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride, Desert Storm
Ink:  Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron, Soft Suede
Other:  Marilyn Cover Die (SSS), Stitched Rectangle Scallop Edge Frame (MFT), Stitched Shapes Oval Framelit (SU), Gardenia companion dies, Lucy's Little Things Iridescent Jewels, Sparkling Clear Sequins (PPP), Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen
 

Flower Cluster

Hi there friends!  Today I'm pleased to share with you a card made for reminder post for The Flower Challenge, where I am honored to be a guest designer this month! Be sure to use the link below to check out all the beautiful inspiration by the Design Team.

The Flower Challenge #21

This month the challenge is to use any previous challenge, so for my reminder card I chose to use Challenge #14, which was to create a CAS card.  Over the years I have found myself creating more CAS type cards, without too many design elements.  For my card today, I used the Flower Cluster die, and inlaid leaf and petal pieces colored with Zig markers.

 
I die cut the image 3 times, once from white card stock and twice from Bristol paper, which I find works best for blending Zigs.  I adhered the white card die cut onto a white panel, colored the flower center pieces with a yellow marker, and then, after the Bristol colored pieces were dry, I transferred them into the main panel.  The remainder of the card construction is pretty self-explanatory, and the finishing touch was to add some iridescent jewels.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I hope you'll be able to join The Flower Challenge this month, it's fun to be able to choose your own challenge.

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Watercolor Trio (long retired SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Black, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Flower Cluster die (Simon Says Stamp), Stitched Shapes Oval Framelit (SU), Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers, Lucy's Cards Clear Iridescent Mix jewels, score board
 

Just For You

Hi there friends!  Today I'm pleased to share with you a card made for The Flower Challenge, where I am honored to be a guest designer for the month of June!  We will be posting again mid-month, so I hope you'll check in to catch the latest inspiration from the wonderful design team.

The Flower Challenge

This month the challenge is to use any previous challenge, so I decided on Challenge #13, which was to use your favorite flower.  My current favorite flower stamp set is Beautiful Day from Altenew.  I love all the images and they are wonderful to color regardless of medium.  I am learning to use Copic markers after years of mainly using watercolor with paints or inks, so I'm not an expert by any means.  But I'm learning as I go, and enjoyed coloring these images with them.

Using Neenah Solar White, the images were initially stamped with Copic friendly Memento Tuxedo Black, then restamped with Versafine Onyx Black after the coloring was complete to enhance the black outlines.  When dry, I used the companion dies to cut the images.  I put together the card, adding a layer of white card stock die cut the beautiful Marilyn cover die before adhering the flowers, leaves and sentiments.  Ebony Black Nuvo drops were added to the flower centers and Crystal Glaze to the ends of the stamen.  In retrospect, I wish I would have done the center a different way, it just makes the images more stylized than realistic.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link the The Flower Challenge above, so I hope you'll head over there and join us this month!

Stef


Product details
Stamps:  Beautiful Day, Label Love (both Altenew)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Onyx Black
Other:  Marilyn Full Card Cover die (Simon Says Stamp), Beautiful Day Coordinating dies, Sparkling Clear Sequins (PPP), Tonic Nuvo Ebony Black Crystal Drops and Crystal Glaze, Copics:  R24, 37, 46, 59, 81, 85; YG01, 03, 07, 17; G14,17,28