Monday, January 27, 2020

Cosmo Birthday

Hello friends!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Jeanne is hosting this week and has chosen Flirty Flamingo, Poppy Parade and Bermuda Bay with a dessert option to use a stencil.  I'm also joining the current challenge at Seize the Birthday, where the toppings option this week is stencils.


I decided to use a technique I first saw used by Jennifer McGuire here, which she calls Faux Stained Glass. I found it rather ironic, and in full disclosure, when I went to link up her blog post tonight, I realized she used colors for one of her cards similar to those of our Color Challenge, so my card kinda, sorta looks similar to hers.  Trust me, it was not a conscious effort on my part, LOL!! So I guess I'll call this an unintended CASE!



To start, I used the Cosmo Flower Frame die, cutting it 5 times from white card stock. I adhered one to a panel of white card stock the same size as the die and colored it with Copic markers in colors similar to those of the challenge.  Next, I layered on 3 more of the die cuts then proceeded to cover all the open spaces with Tonic Nuvo Crystal Glaze, which creates the shiny clear appearance like a stained glass window.  However, this is where the process got incredibly frustrating interesting as my needle nose applicator got pretty much plugged then I couldn't get the applicator off.  Hmmm. So I ended up finishing the process with Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops in Morning Dew which, thank heavens, dry clear.  I let that dry overnight and unfortunately it cracked a little, which can happen.  It's much more apparent in the photo than in real life.  Finally, the last floral frame die cut, heat embossed with Ranger Platinum embossing powder, was adhered to the top and made it all look so pretty!


To prep the white card base I used distress ink and a stencil to add a design that would be at opposing corners of the focal point, then adhered it to the base.  Finally I created the sentiment with some embossing of each piece and adhered to the panel.  Phew!  Glad that project was complete!

Thanks for visiting, it's so appreciated!  

Stef


Stamps:  Tiny Words (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Black
Ink:  Versamark, Evergreen Bough Distress
Other:  Cosmo Flower Frame die (Simon Says Stamp), Happy die (both Simon Says Stamp), Alabaster (Brutus Monroe) and Platinum (Ranger) embossing powders, Bubble Stencil (Tim Holtz), Tonic Nuvo Crystal Glaze and Morning Dew Crystal Drops
Copics:  BG09, 15, 11, R46, 24, 43, 32, 20

Sunday, January 26, 2020

Cup of Joy for The Paper Players!

Hello again and welcome!  It's Sunday, which means it's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players!  The lovely Joanne is hosting this week and has given us a great sketch!


I had loads of fun coming up with different ideas for this sketch, since any shape could be used, but a chance purchase of a die on sale settled me on the idea of using circles.  I also used one of my favorite retired Hero Arts kits to make a fun card.


Don't you think that will make a great Starbucks gift card holder?  All I'll need to do is add a pouch on the inside before I send it off, I just ran out of time this week.  Anyway, I started with the Repeating Circles die from Simon Says Stamp that created six perfectly spaced circles on the woodgrain panel.  On two separate panels of white card stock I inked up the sentiments and coffee cups.  The sentiments were then die cut with a circle die slightly smaller in diameter than the openings in the A2 sized woodgrain panel.


The coffee cups were colored with Copic Markers then die cut with matching dies.  Next the woodgrain panel was adhered with foam tape to a same size panel of white card stock, and then I did the same with the sentiments and coffee cups.  I really didn't have room for a horizontal banner as shown on the sketch, so I wrapped the entire piece with Early Espresso Baker's Twine then adhered it all to the card base.  As a final touch I added a bit of crystal glaze to the heart on the cup and used a white gel pen to add cream or foam remnants (?) to the other cups.


That wraps up my card for this week!  Thank you so much for visiting, I really appreciate it!  I've added a link to the challenge above so I hope you'll join us with your own creative take on sketch!

Stef


Stamps:  Hero Arts My Monthly Hero August 2018
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Lawn Fawn Neutrals Woodgrain cardstock
Ink:  Gina K Chocolate Truffle Amalgam 
Other:  Repeating Circles die (SSS), Layering Circles framelit (SU), Coordinating dies from the HAMMH, Early Espresso Baker's Twine, Sakura White Gelly Roll pen, Nuvo Crystal Glaze.
Copic Markers:  RV69, 66, 55, 52, BG09, 15, 11, E31, 30

Monday, January 20, 2020

Winter Anemone Birthday

Hello friends!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Mary is hosting this week and has chosen the lovely combination of Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather and Mint Macaron, with a dessert option of winter.  I had many ideas to use those colors for a winter scene but ended up with a floral (go figure!).  I'm also joining the current sketch challenge at SCS.


For my card I used one of the stamps from the Winter Anemone stamp set from Honey Bee.  I am in love with this set and used it to make another card here earlier this week.  I used Copic markers similar to the Color Challenge (plus a neutral gray) to color the floral bouquet, then die cut it with companion dies.  Because I covered the stamen of the largest flower during coloring, I used a white gel pen to add them back. 


A scallop rectangle was die cut from white card stock and the flowers adhered to it with thin foam squares.  I was mulling around about how plain the card base looked when I remembered a nice background stamp I have with lots of small flowers.  I inked it up with Versamark for a subtle tone on tone look, then added the focal point to the base.  The sentiment was stamped, die cut with a circle die then layered on a slightly larger circle and adhered to the card.


Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added a link to the SCS main page above and from there you can access both challenges.  I hope you'll join us for the Color Challenge this week!

Stef


Stamps:  Winter Anemone (Honey Bee), Modern Rose Blooms Background (Simon Says Stamp), Circle of Spring (sentiment, retired Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Gorgeous Grape, Highland Heather
Ink:  Gina K Jet Black Amalgam, Versamark, Versafine Clair Nocturne (sentiment)
Other:  Scallop A2 Honey Cuts die (HB), Winter Anemone matching die (HB), Layering and Stitched Circles Framelits (SU), Sakura White Gelly Roll pen
Copics:  V17, 15, 01, 000, G17, BG34, 11, C6, 4, 2

Sunday, January 19, 2020

Fashion Fun - In Style!

This week at The Paper Players, it's time for Clean and Simple, and Laurie's challenge is Fashion Fun!


My stamp "collection" is primarily composed of flowers and outdoor images so I really thought I was in a pickle and might have to buy a new stamp (oh, darn!) but then I remembered my one stamp set that would work perfectly for this.


The Beautiful You has been around for a while but has great images and sentiments, and this chic lady with her hat and sheath look so classy.  The stamped image stops at the end of her dress but I felt like this would leave her looking like she was floating in space.  To remedy that, I used my Copic Multiliner pen and drew in legs to the bottom or the panel, then colored her up with Copic Markers.


To create my card a piece of white card stock was embossed with the polka dot embossing folder then trimmed down to accommodate the strip of black and white patterned paper, adhering both to the white card base.  The sentiment was added by stamping at the top of the main panel and adding the small banner, then the entire thing was added to the base with foam tape.  Super easy!


Thanks so much for visiting, I appreciate it!  I've added a link above, so it would be wonderful if you'd join us for this fun challenge!  In addition, links to the blog of each DT member are listed below for your convenience.

Stef



Stamps:  Beautiful You (Stampin' Up)
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Love dsp stack (SU ret.)
Ink:  Gina K Jet Black Amalgam, Versafine Clair Nocturne
Other:  Large Polka Dots embossing folder (SU ret.), Bitty Banner Framelit (SU ret.)
Copic Markers:  RV 99, 69, 17, 55, BV00, E11, 00

Saturday, January 18, 2020

Hello, Sweet Friend!

Hi friends!  I have a card to share using the Winter Anemone stamp set from Honey Bee.  I've wanted to add this set to my stamp collection for several months and when the Honey Bee birthday celebration sale rolled around in December, I hopped on it!  I inked it up yesterday and created a card using the current challenges at Color Throwdown and Freshly Made Sketches.  I'm also joining the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the challenge is to use a stencil and also the Ways To Use It challenge at Splitcoaststampers, where this week's challenge is to use white embossing.




I started by inking up one of the Winter Anemone stamps and coloring with Copic markers aligned with the color challenge. I also used the opportunity to try a couple  of the techniques from Kathy Racoosin's recent Coloring Challenge Road Trip class at Online Card Classes.  The things she ascribes to that I tried to incorporate is to leave a "sweet spot" or white area as you color and to use colored pencils to help deepen the darkness of the "nooks and crannies".  I was a bit hit or miss on the sweet spots at the ends of the petals (old habits die hard!) and I used a dark navy plus two aqua colored pencils to deepen shadows on the flowers, and I love the difference it made!  Definitely something I will look to use on future creations.


During the coloring process I chose to color over the tops of flower stamen as they were just too small to color around, so I used a white gel pen to bring them into focus after the coloring was done.  After die cutting I set the piece aside to concentrate on the background.


The next step was to cut the partial scallop circle for mounting the flowers and stamping the sentiment.  I went for a light gray neutral and because I had to flip the sketch to accommodate the size of the large bouquet, the sentiment was embossed with white embossing powder in the upper right corner of the circle.  Finally light dots were stenciled on the white card base with Fog ink, then I layered on all the pieces.  A few sequins were added to finish things off.  I love how this card turned out using the yummy challenge colors and the clever sketch design.


Big thanks for visiting my blog and taking a look at what I've created!  I appreciate it!  Have a wonderful weekend!!

Stef


Stamps:  Winter Anemone (Honey Bee)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Fog (Simon Says Stamp)
Ink:  Gina K Jet Black Amalgam, Versamark, Fog (SSS)
Other: Companion Honey Bee Honey Cuts die, Circles Collection Scallop Framelit (Stampin' Up retired), Halftone Dots stencil (Altenew), Sakura White Gelly Roll pen, Sunken Treasure sequins (SSS), Prismacolor Navy and Aqua colored pencils
Copics:  B39, 37, 34, 32, BG 09, 15, 11, YR 27, 24, Y19 15

Monday, January 13, 2020

Fly!

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Chris is hosting and has chosen a monochromatic color combo of Blueberry Bushel, Seaside Spray and White, with a dessert option to add sky to your creation.  I am also joining the current SCS Sketch Challenge.

 
I'm also joining the current challenge at Just Us Girls, where the Trend Week challenge is to create dimension.


With the dessert option of sky, I decided to lightly ink blend Faded Jeans Distress Ink to a panel of white card stock.  Using a blending brush I went around the edges of a cloud stencil up the entire panel.  The ink is pretty light (and photographing in winter natural light has been tricky!) so I had a hard time getting a good photo but I think you can see those soft, fluffy clouds.


Next I used Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide ink on an old Hero Arts stamp that hasn't seen much use, but I thought it was perfect for the cloudy background.  I let the ink dry then trimmed down the panel and added it to a slightly larger panel of Blueberry Bushel, then wrapped that with some silver thread.


As I started to assemble my card, I realized I needed to create a bit of interest with my strip of Seaside Spray card stock, so I decided to emboss it with the Stampin' Up Corrugated 3D embossing folder.  After adhering it to the card base, the smaller panel was added with fun foam for dimension.


Thanks so much for visiting, I always appreciate it!  I've added links above to both JUGs and Splitcoaststampers (where you can find both the Color and Sketch Challenge on the main page) so I hope you'll check them all out!

Stef


Stamps:  Come Fly With Me (Hero Arts)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Blueberry Bushel, Seaside Spray
Ink:  Faded Jeans Distress Ink, Blueprint Sketch Distress Oxide ink
Other:  Mini Cloud Edges stencil (MFT), Corrugated 3D embossing folder (SU)

Sunday, January 12, 2020

Tulip Birthday

Hello friends and welcome back!  It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players and this week Anne Marie has given us a Color Challenge.


These colors made me think of flowers, which isn't much of a stretch for me, since I love to color floral images.  I pulled out one of my favorites for coloring with Copic markers.


I stamped the tulip bouquet twice, coloring one in poppy-like colors, the other in those similar to Rich Razzleberry.  When complete I used the companion die to cut them out.


The tulip bunch is large, nearly 5.5 inches log, so for my design I knew I'd have to trim them down.  I decided to frame them up along with the sentiment, so I first determined my layout, stamped and clear embossed my sentiment, then layered on the tulips.  I thought it was kind of fun to have them popping up from underneath the bottom of the frame, so I first adhered just the bottom of the flowers to the Fog panel (my neutral of choice), kind of wiggled the frame onto and around the flowers, glued it down, then popped up the tops of most of the flowers with foam tape.  A few sparkly jewels to finish and my card was done!


Thanks so much for visiting it's always appreciated!  I'd love it if you'd use the link above and join us this week at The Paper Players!

Stef


Stamps:  Sketch Tulip Bouquet (Simon Says Stamp), Happy Birthday Gorgeous (Stampin' Up, ret.)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Fog (SSS)
Ink:  Gina K Jet Black Amalgam, Versafine Claire Nocturne
Other:  Stitched Rectangle Scallop Edge Frame (MFT), Tulip die, clear embossing powder, Iridescent Jewels (Lucy's Little Things), Corner Rounder punch (SU ret.)
Copics:  R59, 46, 27, 14, RV69, 66, 63, YG99, 97, 95, 93

Monday, January 6, 2020

Sunshine

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Barbara is hosting this week and has chosen Balmy Blue, So Saffron and Early Espresso with a dessert option of trees.  I've been saddled with a nasty cold since last Wednesday and with that, my mojo kind of took a vacation.  So I came up with a very simple card for this challenge with no dessert added on.


I started with a panel of Bristol paper and ink blended distress inks in blue and yellow.  I used two stamps I'd bought some time ago and had never used, although I really love both the sentiment and the stylized sun.  I thought they were perfect for this color combination, so I stamped both on the inked panel with Walnut Stain Distress Oxide inks, embossing with clear embossing powder.


The panel was die cut and wrapped with baker's twine then mounted to the Early Espresso card base with foam tape.  I thought it still needed a little something more, so I took my cue from the heart in the word "close" and added 3 wood hearts.



Thanks so much for visiting, I hope you'll use the link above and check out this week's Color Challenge!

Stef


Stamps:  Shiny Sun, Feel Sunshine (Impression Obsession)
Paper:  Early Espresso, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Distress inks:  Tumbled Glass, Squeezed Lemonade, Scattered Straw; Distress Oxide Ink:  Walnut Stain
Other:  Wonky Stitched Rectangle die (Simon Says Stamp), Early Espresso Baker's Twine, clear embossing powder, Hearts and Stars Elements (SU, retired)

Sunday, January 5, 2020

Celebrate!

Hello friends and welcome back!  In case you didn't see my last post, I was honored to be invited to be a 2020 Guest Designer for The Paper Players and today is my first post in that role.  The theme this week is to make a card with something new, a new baby, a new home, a new puppy or kitty or, as I did for my card, celebrate the New Year.


I'm also entering my card in the current SSS Wednesday Challenge where this week's theme is also something new.

I have been making cards for more than a decade and have collected (and sold or given away) a huge number of stamp sets, but did I ever own one for New Year's?  Heck no!  So, it was wonderful that MFT happened to have a nice sale in early December and I picked up a fireworks stamp set.



I started with a panel of Bristol paper, using a few Distress Inks to blend for the background.  When done, it was heavily splattered first with waterdrops then with white gouache.  I let the panel dry overnight before heat embossing all the fireworks.


The fireworks are two step or layering stamps and I admit I had a bit of trouble lining up a couple of the designs.  So, glitter stars to the rescue!!  I pulled out a retired Stampin' Up stars border punch and created a number of glitter paper stars that I strategically put in the center of some of the fireworks plus scattered them about in the rest of the sky.  Thank goodness, because I really didn't want to start over and I ended up being satisfied with how it looked.  I finished the card by die cutting the sentiment from the same white glitter paper, adhering it to a vellum strip, then wrapping it around the ink blended panel before adding to the card base.


I do have to give credit to Barbara Anders, as her card was the inspiration for my design.  Here is a link to Pinterest where I spotted her beautiful, CAS version.

Thanks so much for you visit and I hope you'll use the link above to check out this week's challenge at The Paper Players.  Additionally, links to the blog of each DT are listed below for your convenience.


The Paper Players Design Team

Stef Perry (you're here!)



Stamps:  Fireworks (MFT)
Paper: Strathmore Bristol, vellum, Glitter White (Simon Says Stamp), Neenah Solar White
Ink:  Versamark; Distress Inks:  Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot
Other:  Alabaster embossing powder (Brutus Monroe), A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax die (MFT), Celebrate sentiment die (MFT), Stars punch (SU), White Gouache

Friday, January 3, 2020

Polar Bear Birthday

Hello friends and welcome back!  I made a fun card with my new-to-me Polar Bear Pals stamp set.  I adore these images and have had a blast using them on a couple of cards.  I'm joining the current SSS Wednesday Challenge where the theme is "Something New".


For this card, I started by using a snowdrift stencil as a mask so I could ink blend the sky, then turned it around and used it to lightly shade the "snow" to create drifts behind our ice skating bear.  I used a wonky stitched rectangle die to cut out both the ink blended panel and a strip of vellum to create the "ice", which I adhered to the panel after running the strip through my Xyron sticker maker.  I found this to be one of the best ways to adhere small pieces or strips of vellum so the adhesive doesn't show.  Next, I used a star stencil and some Moonstone shimmer paste to create the swirl of stars in the sky, then set the panel aside to completely dry.


That polar bear is just too cute!! I used Copic markers to color him, then fussy cut the image.  When the shimmer paste dried, I added it to a slightly larger panel of navy cardstock then adhered that to the card base. Finally, the bear and sentiment were added to the card with thin adhesive squares.


Thanks so much for visiting!  I hope your New Year is off to a great start!

Stef


Stamps: Polar Bear Pals (MFT)
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Navy, Vellum
Ink: Gina K Jet Black Amalgam; Versamark; Distress Inks: Mermaid Lagoon, Chipped Sapphire, Shaded Lilac
Other: Alabaster embossing powder (Brutus Monroe), Snowdrift stencil (MFT), Stars stencil, Tonic Nuvo Moonstone Shimmer Paste and Aqua Shimmer pen, Wonky Stitched rectangle die (Simon Says Stamp)
Copics: C3,1,0, BV04, 02, 000, 0000, BG05, 01 B00

Thursday, January 2, 2020

Exciting News!

I can finally share that I have been invited to be a Guest Designer for 2020 for The Paper Players!  It has been one of my favorite challenge blogs for a number of years and I greatly admire the senior design team!  Plus I am joining two other guest designers whose work I greatly admire, Allisa Steinlicht and Mary Deatherage

Here's a link to the reveal post, so you can check out the other GDs.  I hope you'll join me each Sunday for The Paper Players new weekly challenge!

Stef