For the Birthday Girl

Hello friends, I hope you are remaining safe and healthy!  Today I have a card to share that I made for two challenges.  I received some crafty goodness in the mail Monday and immediately set about using it!

Just Us Girls #533

SSS Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Honey Bee's new release included the Farm Fresh Flowers stamp set, which is right up my alley!  I inked up the images and set about coloring with my Copic markers, using colors from the inspiration photo.

Once the coloring was complete, the images were die cut with the matching dies.  The images are large, plus I wanted to use the birthday die and stamp set that came in my order, and that die cut birthday is the width of a standard A2 card.  So, what to do?  In my background stash I found this ink blended panel that complimented the flower colors so well, I had to use it.  Fortunately it was 4.5 x 6" so I could create a custom sized card, which ended up being 5 x 6.5".

The ink blended panel was trimmed down to fit on the card base, then splattered with water and shimmer spray.  After using a paper towel to pick up the liquid, I sprayed the entire panel with shimmer spray.  When the panel dried, a frame was die cut into it and a white frame added in order to ground the vase.  The die cut sentiment was cut four times from white card and layered up, then adhered to the vellum shadow and added to the card along with the additional sentiment words that were stamped and die cut.  The final steps were to use an aqua shimmer pen on all the flowers and add a few jewels.

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always greatly appreciated!  Enjoy the rest of your week and stay safe!

Stef


Stamps:  Farm Fresh Flowers, Birthday (both HB)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol, Grafix Platinum Vellum
Ink:  Gina K Obsidian Amalgam, Versafine Claire Nocturne (sentiment), Dried Marigold, Worn Lipstick and Seedless Preserves Distress Inks
Other:  Farm Fresh Flowers Honey Cuts, Birthday Honey Cut, A2 Frames die (SSS), Tsukineko Sheer Sparkle Shimmer Spray, Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen, Bridal Mix jewels (Lucy's Cards Little Things)
Copics:  B63, 60, V15, 01, R43, 39, 37, 35, 32, 20, YR24, Y26, 19, 15, 13 YG67, 45, 17, 03 G28, 21, C7, 5, 3, 2, 1, 0, E29,27, 23

Follow Your Heart

Hello friends and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Karen is hosting this week and has chosen Poppy Parade, Mango Melody and Cajun Craze, with a dessert option to use a frame.

I decided to pull out a Stampin' Up stamp set that I've had for years and not used very often, which is too bad because the images are so cute.  I guess that's why I've held onto it all these years.  Anyway, I thought a brightly colored trailer would make a fun card. The image was colored with Copic markers with colors similar to those in the challenge, using the "Cajun" color to shade the Mango on the door and flag.  I also created green bushes in the background with colors similar to SU neutral Mossy Meadow and used neutral browns for the ground.

Initially I used gray Copics for the metal trim on the trailer but then decided to go over it with a Silver glaze pen.  A light gray marker was used to create streaks across the window, which was later covered with Crystal Effects to give it the look of glass.  Finally, little clouds were die cut and shaded with a gray marker, adhered to the panel which was then added to a slightly larger panel of Poppy.  The background striped paper is from my stash and was cut with a frame die, then a white frame inserted when the background was added to the card base.  The final touch was to add a few Doodle sprinkles.

Thanks visiting, I appreciate it so much!  I hope you'll use the link above and join us for the Color Challenge this week!

Stef


Stamps:  You're Sublime (SU ret.)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Poppy Parade, Forever My Always patterned paper (Pebbles)
Ink:  Gina K Obsidian Amalgam
Other:  Crystal Effects, Doodlebug Lilly White Sprinkles, Simple Puffy Clouds die (Lawn Fawn), A2 Thin Frames die (Simon Says Stamp)
Copics: YR18, 16, Y17, R59, 46, 24, 05, C9,7, 4, 3, 0, E44, 43, 37, 35, 33, G99, 94, 82, BG0000

Hello for The Paper Players!

Hello friends, I hope you're continuing to stay safe and healthy.  I have something that may take your mind off things momentarily.  It's Sunday and time for a new challenge at The Paper Players!  Laurie is hosting our sketch week challenge and has a wonderful sketch to spark your creativity!

The Paper Players

For my card, I decided to use the wonderful Mondo Succulent Pot from Ellen Hutson.  I love succulents and cactus, so this stamp set quickly found it's way into my shopping cart when it was released in early March.  Laurie's sketch worked really well, although the center panel had to be bigger for the large stamp.

I confess to being a little creative with my color selections, in that they may not all be true to life, but I'll claim creative license ha ha!  Copics worked perfectly to color this up, but I was left feeling like there wasn't quite enough contrast in the darker areas, so I pulled out some colored pencils to try and darken the shadows a bit.

I could have done a little deeper shading but after all the time spent coloring it with Copics, I was a bit nervous to use a medium with which I have little practice LOL!  With the coloring complete, a stitched rectangle die was used to trim down the panel, then layered on panels of Bermuda Bay and Cajun Craze.  After mounting on the Ivory card base with foam tape, the sentiment strip was added.

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  Be sure to use the link above to check out the rest of the DT and hopefully join us for this great sketch challenge!

Stef


Stamps:  Mondo Succulent Pot (EH)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Bermuda Bay, Cajun Craze (both SU), Ivory, Sentiment Strips 2 (both SSS)
Ink:  Gina K Obsidian Amalgam
Other: Stitched Rectangle die (SSS), Prismacolor Premier colored pencils
Copics:  BG34, 11, G43, 17, 20, YG67, 17, 03, E49, 37, 33, 29, 27, 23, 19, YR30, 18, 07, 04

Celebrate for Seize the Birthday!

Hello friends, I hope you are doing well, staying safe and healthy!

It's time for a new challenge at Seize the Birthday!  The toppings option is include food and/or drink to your birthday card. This is my final challenge as the Surprise Party Guest at STB and I want to thank Nancy and the rest of the DT for the warm welcome and support!  It's been wonderful to join in with this terrific group!

Seize the Birthday

For my card, I opted to go with drink toppings, since I love champagne!  Super easy card using all dies and a sentiment strip but the glitter paper makes it all so festive.

The champagne glass is a two die set, so the glass was cut from white card stock and the "champagne" cut from gold glitter paper then set aside to work on the base. (This die set is now retired but MFT does have other dies for beverage glasses)  Initially I tried to use vellum for the glass but it was too transparent when placed over the layers beneath, so white it was!  Next the fireworks die was used to cut the top of a bright pink panel, then layered over gold glitter paper on the white card base.

After adhering the champagne glasses to the pink panel, the word celebrate was also die cut from gold glitter paper, then layered over the glasses.  I deliberately gave the die cut a bit of an arch rather than adding straight across, it just seemed to look better that way.  Then, I found the perfect size sentiment strip from Simon Says Stamp to pop up on foam tape just below it.  The last thing to do was add some gold glitter "bubbles" and the card was complete!

Thanks for visiting, it's always greatly appreciated!  Be sure to use the link above to check out the DT cards and hopefully join us for this challenge!

Stef


Stamps:  None
Paper:  Doll Pink, Metallics Glitter 6x6 pack, Sentiment Strips (all SSS), Neenah Solar White
Ink:  None
Other:  Layering Champagne Glass, Celebrate and Fireworks Display dies (all MFT), Gold Sparkle Crystals (Studio Katia)

Simply the Best

Hello friends and welcome back!  I hope you're continuing to stay safe and healthy!

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Jeanne is hosting this week and has chosen the beautiful combination of Berry Burst, Powder Pink and Lemon-Lime Twist with a dessert option to make a thank you card.

I decided to use a stamp set with lots of fun butterfly images and some of my favorite sentiments with gorgeous fonts.  The butterflies and leafy branch were colored with Copics similar to challenge colors and die cut with the matching dies. After deciding on the image placements on the die cut panel, the butterfly trail and sentiments were stamped with black pigment ink. 

Before adhering the die cut panel to the card base, the butterflies and leaves were added with foam squares so the wings and bottom of the branch could be trimmed to fit.  After the panel was adhered to the base, the final touches were to use a shimmer pen on the butterflies and add some pretty clear sequins.

Thanks for visiting, I appreciate it so much!!  I hope you'll use the link above and join us this week for the SCS Color Challenge!

Stef

Stamps:  Beautiful Day (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White

Ink:  Gina K Obsidian Amalgam, Versafine Clair Nocturne

Other:  Stitched Wonky Rectangle die, Beautiful Day matching dies (both SSS), Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen, Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh)

Copics:  RV69, 17, 34, R32, 30, 00, YG23, 01, 00

Sparkle for The Paper Players!

Hello friends, and welcome back!  It's Sunday and time for a new challenge at The Paper Players!  Anne Marie is hosting our CAS challenge and has chosen this theme:

The Paper Players

If you've visited my blog you know I love to add sparkle to my cards.  However, this week I got into a time crunch to get my card done and then my mojo decided to take a little vaca without me, so there were two cards ahead of this one that ended up in the reject pile.  Finally it occurred to me to use some gorgeous glitter paper from my stash and came up with this very, very CAS card.

I dusted off a long neglected leaf cover die and used it with the glitter paper plus three additional layers of white card for some dimension.  I love the green, it is so Spring-like! I also like how quickly this card came together yet has some razzle dazzle with the sparkle covering the entire card front.

After adhering the die cut panels to the white card base, the sentiment was inked up with a nice black pigment ink, trimmed down and added to the card.  And then, of course, I added a few jewels, because there's never too much sparkle LOL!

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  Be sure to use the link above to check out the challenge and all the beautiful DT cards!

Stef


Stamps:  Mondo Succulent Pot (sentiment, Ellen Hutson)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Metallics Glitter 6x6 pack (Simon Says Stamp)
Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne
Other:  Striped Leaf Cover die (Altenew), Bridal Mix Jewels (Lucy's Cards Little Things)

Celebrating Heroes at Seize the Birthday!

Hello friends, so glad you could take time from your day to visit my blog!  I hope you are continuing to stay safe and healthy!

The team at Seize the Birthday is having an extra special challenge this week, to celebrate and thank the heroes on the front lines during the Coronavirus pandemic.  These courageous people, our doctors, nurses, first responders, grocery employees, postal employees, delivery company employees, mass transit drivers are our heroes so I hope you'll join the challenge and create a card to honor and thank them.

For my card, I used two of the four free digi stamps of Birdie Brown Nurses and Doctors (which you can find here.).  Normally I use Copic markers for coloring images, but my printer isn't Copic friendly (e.g. cheap ha ha) and the ink smears with Copics.  However, this forced me to dust off my colored pencils and put them to use for coloring these images.  It was fun to challenge myself with this medium but I could definitely use more practice!

For my first card, I printed out one of the doctor stamp sets on Neenah Solar White and after coloring her with Prismacolor pencils, I die cut the image with an oval die.  The sentiment is actually from the other doctor stamp set and fit the theme of our challenge best.

For the background panel, white pigment ink was blended through a brick wall stencil, then die cut to fit on a white A2 card.  The doc oval was added to a slightly larger oval then adhered to the base with fun foam, as was the sentiment.  Because I kept the card pretty simple, I adhered a trio of dew drops for a little bit of additional interest.

For my second card, I used one of the nurse stamp sets.  I found a color combo for red hair that I really liked and then went with aqua/turquoise scrubs.  When the coloring was done and the image die cut, I went searching through my patterned paper and found a great plaid piece from MFT.  The sentiment at the bottom is from the other nurse stamp set.  I just thought "super hero in scrubs" was fabulous, so I had to use it.  The final touch was adding some turquoise crystals.

The layout I used for both cards was based on the current sketch challenge at Fab Friday.

Fab Friday 187

Thanks for visiting, I always appreciate it so much!  Stay safe, my friends!

Stef


Stamps:  Super Hero in Scrubs, Doctor's Orders, Call the Shots, Bedside Manner (MFT digis)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Perfect Plum, Blackberry Bliss (both SU), Plaid Patterns 6x6 pad (MFT)
Ink:  Unicorn White (Hero Arts)
Other:  Layering Ovals and Stitched Shapes Framelits (ret. SU), A2 Stitched Rectangle Stax die (MFT), English Brick Wall stencil (MFT), Ocean Wave Crystals (Studio Katia), Dew Drops, Prismacolor Premier Colored Pencils

Welcome Baby!

Hello friends and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Mary is hosting this week and has chosen the beautiful combination of Petal Pink, Mint Macaron and So Saffron with a dessert option of congratulations.  I think I may have just eeked out the dessert with my card.

The Woodland Whimsy stamp set has several beautiful images that I haven't full utilized since I got it late last fall.  I love that meditative bear and all the pretty wreath branches that can work for any season of the year.  Plus the set has sentiments that fit perfectly in the curved banner.  I stamped all the leaf, flower and berry branches twice, colored them along with the banner, bear and heart with my Copic markers and die cut with companion dies.

Next, Tattered Rose and Cracked Pistachio Distress inks and blender brushes were used to lightly ink up the background panel, then it was sprayed with shimmer spray.  Once dry it was die cut with the stitched rectangle die, adhered to the Ivory card base, then I began constructing the wreath.  I began by adhering the bear, banner and heart in the center, then layered on the wreath components.  The base layer of branches were adhered to the background, then the second layer added with the tops popped up with foam squares.  Finally I used an aqua shimmer pen on all the berries and flowers.  This was definitely a bit more fiddly of a card than I normally make, but I LOVE how it turned out!

Thanks for visiting, I appreciate it so much!  I hope you'll use the link above and join us for the Color Challenge this week!

Stef


Stamps:  Woodland Whimsy (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Ivory (SSS)
Ink:  Gina K Chocolate Truffle, Cracked Pistachio and Tattered Rose DI
Other:  Stitched Rectangle and Woodland Whimsy dies, Sakura Sparkle Shimmer Spray, Tonic Nuvo Shimmer Pen
Copics: R02, 01, 00, B49, 34, G00, Y26, 15, 13, 00

Cosmos for The Paper Players!

Hello friends and welcome back!  I hope this post finds you and yours healthy and safe and able to enjoy this holiday weekend in the best way possible during these times.

It's Sunday and time for a new challenge at The Paper Players!  It's color challenge week and the delightful Jaydee has chosen these three lovely colors for us to play with.

The Paper Players

I vacillated between flowers and a masculine card, and as you can see below, flowers won out.  I used a large background stamp of Cosmos flowers, stamped it and cut it in half.  I wanted white flowers with yellow centers, so I used a blue Copic marker to color in the background first.

Next I used warm gray markers to color in the shaded areas of the flower that the artist has so kindly included in the stamp.  The panel that ended up on my card was my second try.  I tend to get too heavy handed with my markers in general and with shading in particular, and I used a lighter combination on this second panel so I could have white rather than gray flowers ha ha!  After adding the yellow centers, the panel as adhered to a slightly larger panel of gray.

A polka dot background stamp inked with Fossilized Amber distress ink created the background panel that was added to the white card base.  The sentiment is from a lovely Power Poppy stamp set and after stamping I used two scallop circle dies to cut out both the sentiment and the blue circle underneath.  I used a shimmer pen for some sparkle in he flower centers, then a bit of white Baker's Twine and some glitter crystals finished things off.

Thanks so much for visiting, I always appreciated it!  Be sure to use the link above to check out the other DT members beautiful cards and join us this week!

Stef

Stamps:  Cosmos Background (Simon Says Stamp), Itsy Bitsy Polka Dots background (MFT), Sunny Harvest (Power Poppy)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Seaside Spray (SU), Fog (SSS)
Ink:  Gina K Obsidian Amalgam, Versafine Clair Nocturne
Other:  Layering Circle Framelits (SU), Tonic Nuvo Shimmer pen, Gold Sparkle Crystals (Studio Katia), White Baker's Twine (SU)
Copics:  B91, Y26,15, 13, W3, 1, 0, E35, 33

Wildflowers for Seize the Birthday!

Hello friends, I hope you're continuing to do well and remain healthy!  It's time for a new challenge at Seize the Birthday and I am happy to say I will be staying on as the Surprise Party Guest for the month of April too!  For the new challenge, the toppings option is "Spring Fling", so of course I had to color up some flowers for that!

  Seize the Birthday

For my card, I chose to use the beautiful Mondo Wildflowers stamp from Ellen Hutson.  I love the big, bold floral images that are a dream to color with Copic markers.

The image was stamped off the edge of my white card panel and when the coloring was complete, it was trimmed down and layered on a piece of black card.  I did fiddle around with different colors of card stock and patterned papers, but in the end felt the white base with the strip of black and white stripes worked best to let the main image be the star of the show, so to speak.

The sentiment is from a retired SU stamp set that I love because of all the different sizes and fonts of the birthday sentiments.  After stamping it was die cut with a sentiment label die, then I hand cut the fish tail end before adding to the card with foam tape.  A white gel pen was used to brighten up the ends of the flowers stamen, then the final touch was to add a few gorgeous jewels for sparkle.

Thanks for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  Be sure to use the link above to head over to the challenge and check out the beautiful cards by the DT and join us for the new challenge!

Stef


Stamps: Mondo Wildflowers (EH), Happy Birthday Gorgeous (sentiment, ret. SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Black, Black and White Basics 6x6 pad (MFT)
Ink:  Gina K Obsidian Amalgam, Versafine Clair Nocturne (sentiment)
Other:  Sakura White Gelly Roll pen, Bridal Mix jewels (Lucy's Cards Little Things), Sentiment Label die (Simon Says Stamp)
Copics:  R32, 20, 30, RV69, 17, 55, 52, BV02, 0000, B000, 0000, G99, 94, 82, YG67, 25, 13, 03, 01

Thank you!

Hello friends! How are you doing?  I hope your friends and family continue to remain safe and healthy!  I am so very grateful that my close ones are doing well so far.

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Chris is hosting this week and has chosen the lovely combo of Pretty Peacock, Pool Party and Rococo Rose with a dessert option of stripes.  These colors made me think of winter, so I pulled out one of my cute Suzy's Watercolor Prints to color up with my Copic markers.

I started by adding shadows to my sweet polar bear with gray markers, then colored up the background with pool type colors, darker at the bottom and growing lighter up towards the top. The hearts and snow flakes were colored in with rose and peacock colors, then sparkle was added with a shimmer pen. 

The scarf was also colored with peacock and rose shades, plus I added a bit of rose to the ears and her mouth.  With the coloring complete, the panel was die cut with a wonky rectangle die, added to the panel of Pretty Peacock card stock, then adhered to the Rococo Rose card base with fun foam.  A super simple card that will be saved for use after next Christmas.

Thank you for visiting, I appreciate it so much!  I hope you'll be able to join us for the Color Challenge this week and stay safe!!

Stef

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Suzy's Watercolor Prints (Simon Says Stamp), Pretty Peacock, Rococo Rose

Ink:  None

Other:  Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen, Wonky Rectangle die (SSS)

Copics:  R56, RV34, 32, BG78, 49, 15, 32, 11, 10

Monkey Business for The Paper Players!

Hello and welcome back!  I hope this day finds you and your families continuing to stay safe and healthy.

It's Sunday, which means it's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players!  This week is a Theme Challenge and the fabulous LeAnne has chosen A Day at the Zoo.  Come play along with us and show us your Zoo critter!

The Paper Players

For my card I used one of the stamps from Picture Perfect.  I mean, this stamp set is way off the cuteness charts and these silly brothers look like they're up to a lot of crazy monkey business taking selfies!

First step was to color up the "photo" with Copic markers, then I cut out around the edges of the stamped image and layered on Polaroid frame with the fun sentiment.  I also put another piece of card stock underneath to give it more stability.

Next up was figuring out the card base.  I had a leafy frame die that I wanted to use but the aperture wasn't bit enough for the photo frame.  Then I remembered I had a leafy frame stencil!  Yah!  The panel is Lemon Lime Twist and Mowed Lawn Distress Ink was used to stencil on the leaf images. Both layers were popped up on foam tape and added to the white card base.  Easy peasy card!

Thanks for visiting, I always appreciate it so much!  I've added a link to the challenge above so be sure to head over there and check out the other DT cards, and hopefully join us this week!

Stef


Stamps:  Picture Perfect (MFT)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Lemon Lime Twist (SU)
Ink:  Gina K Obsidian Amalgam, Versafine Clair Nocturne (sentiment), Mowed Lawn DI
Other:  Polaroid Shaker Frame (MFT), Leave Frame Stencil (Simon Says Stamp)
Copics:  YG67, 17, 13, E29, 37, 31, 30, 11, BV000, T2, 0