Merry & Bright

Hello and welcome!  I'm working on those Christmas cards and the challenge at As You See It gave me inspiration to use less traditional colors for this one.  (This is my second post today - click here or scroll down if you want to see my card for Inspired By)

Challenge #261

I love purple and green so it was fun using those colors to create with some new goodies.

This card came together super fast.  The sprigs were stamped, colored with Copic markers and die cut with the matching dies.  The sentiment shadow was die cut from Blackberry Bliss (such a yummy color), then the sentiment was die cut twice from white cardstock and once from silver holographic cardstock, and layered together onto the shadow.  I used a cover plate die to cut out the background - it has lovely swirls that I thought looked rather festive - then it was adhered to the card base.  The sprigs were adhered to the front then the sentiment tucked in between.  Glossy Accents was used to give a nice shine to the berries on the sprigs, then the final step was to add a few silver and crystal baubles.

Thanks for visiting, I always appreciate it!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Holiday Sprigs (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Blackberry Bliss (SU), Silver Holographic (Tonic Studios)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Other:  Merry and Bright dies (SSS), Detail Swirls Plate die (SSS), Holiday Sprigs dies, Crystal Collection-Night Sky (Little Things by Lucy's Cards), Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Copics:  V09, 06, 01, YG67, 17, 25

Peace Joy Hope Love

Hello and welcome!  I have a card to share that I made for the current Inspired By Challenge, using their Christmas inspiration board.

IBC192

I'm working on my Christmas cards, as I'm sure many of you are as well, and I was inspired by the soft, muted colors of the board that I thought would work well with one of my Stamping Bella stamps.

The sweet image was stamped on a panel of white then, without masking, the background was stenciled using the Peace Joy Hope Love stencil with Polar Bear ink and using a light hand.  I also took the blending brush and lightly went over the background going around our cute little Bundle Girl and the bird, but I also wasn't too worried as I knew the Copic markers would cover up any unwanted ink. Copics are typically not muted colors but I found a salmon pink marker (RV42) I bought last summer and had never used that worked for a less saturated pink.  It also went well with the muted blue greens used on her scarf, boots and the snow as well as the inked background.

When the coloring was complete, I put the panel back in my Misti where I'd left the stamp and reinked it with black pigment ink to get a better outline.  I've seen many a YT crafter do this but I rarely remember to do it myself, so I'm glad I did here as it made a difference.

Next the panel was trimmed down to be layered on the slightly larger white scallop panel but I thought it needed a mat to make it stand out a bit more.  A white panel was cut slightly larger and colored around the edges with one of the blue green markers then all the layers were adhered together.  After adding to the card base with foam tape, Glossy Accents was used to bring a nice shine to the star and tree ornaments.  I was going to add a sentiment on the front but I didn't want to cover up the stenciled words, so I left it as is.  What do you think?  Should I add a sentiment before sending out?

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!  I'll be back later today with another post, so drop back by if you have a chance.

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Bundle Girl With A Christmas Tree and a Birdie (Stamping Bella)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White,

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Clair Nocturne, Polar Bear (Altenew)

Other:  Peace Joy Hope Love stencil (Simon Says Stamp), A2 Scallop rectangle die (Honey Bee), Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Copics:  Girl - E11, 21, 51, RV93, 42, R30, 20, E11, 21, 51; Bird - BG72, 70; Tree - BG96, 90, YG93, E44; Star and ornaments - YR23, 21, E09, R46

Jingle All the Way!

Hello and welcome! For this blog post, I'm sharing a card that I made for the challenges at Color Hues and Freshly Made Sketches.

TCH28

 

FMS 508

I love that both the colors and sketch worked perfectly for making a fun Christmas card!

This Birdie Brown stamp set had always been on my wish list and when MFT opened the vault to her stamps and dies last Spring (I think), I made sure I picked up this set!  Santa was first colored with Copic markers then die cut with an Essential Arches die, then layered on a larger die arch die cut from Desert Storm.  Next a panel of red was stamped with a Christmas text background using white pigment ink and when that panel dried, it was cut down with a rectangle die.

I took a strip of embossed Desert Storm and adhered it to a white card base.  Next the red panel was added with foam tape, then our joyous Santa panel was added with thin foam tape.  The sentiment was white heat embossed on red cardstock, then die cut and added below Santa with thin foam tape.  I thought I was done, then decided to add three white snowflakes for a little added interest.  So fun!

So glad you took time to visit!  Take care and enjoy the upcoming weekend!

Stef

Stamps:  Jingle All the Way, Christmas Background (both MFT)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Real Red (SU), Desert Storm

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Unicorn White (Hero Arts)

Other:  Magnetic 3D embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), A2 Rectangle Stax die (MFT), Essential Arches dies (Ellen Hutson), Fishtail Foundations die (MFT), Snow Flakes (ret. SU)

Copics:  E11, 21, 51, R59, 46, 27, 14, 20, T2, 0, C7, 5, 4, 3, 1, 0, Y26

Hugs and a Birthday

Hello and welcome! In this blogpost I'm sharing two different cards for two separate challenges - the CAS birthday theme at The Paper Players and color week at Just Us Girls.

I'll start with the card for The Paper Players.

PP563

I made a fun card for a young great niece and used some nice, bright colors.

I started by coloring the giraffe who is obviously having a great time at the birthday party!  I used a rainbow assortment of colors for the balloons in the background but made sure to include a bright pink one to match the card base.  Next the colored panel was trimmed down and adhered to a polaroid die cut where the sentiment was stamped.  The card base was stamped all over using Versamark ink with a balloon bundle stamp.  Lastly the main image was mounted on the card base with foam tape.  Quick and easy!

Next up is the card for Just Us Girls.

JUGS 606

This card is also very CAS although it took longer to make because I used colored pencils for the flowers rather than my usual Copics.

After the flowers were stamped, I used the stencil that accompanied the stamp set to ink on a base color for the leaves and flowers.  Then I used a yellow and two reddish browns to add some depth and contrast to the flowers and a couple of greens for the leaves.  I know I need to spend more time using my colored pencils so I can get better at adding contrast, but admittedly I am not the most patient person in the world lol!  Still I thought the soft look was fine for this type of card (comfort or sympathy).

Next I took a 3D embossed white panel and gently ink blended two shades of turquoise, trying to keep the ink just on the top images for a very subtle effect.  It was trimmed down and adhered to the white cardstock, then the die cut flowers and leaves were glued directly to the embossed panel before adding the layered sentiment.  The last touch was to add three sequins.

If you've made it this far, I appreciate it!  Thanks for taking time to visit and take care!

Stef

Card #1

Stamps:  Picture Perfect Party Animals, Balloon Bundle (both MFT)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Magenta Madness (SU)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark, Versafine Clair Black

Other:  Polaroid Shaker Frame die (MFT), Copic markers

Card#2

Stamps:  Craft Your Life Project-Rose Garden (Altenew), Perfect Sentiments (Pinkfresh Studio)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White

Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne; Warm Sunshine, Frayed Leaf, Sea Breeze and Turquoise (Altenew)

Other:  Garden Rose dies, Garden Rose 3D embossing folder, Perfect Sentiments die, Faber-Castell Polychromos colored pencils

Autumn Birthday

Hello and welcome!  For my 2nd post today, I'm sharing a card that started as an experiment and it turned out pretty well, so I am sharing it with the challenges below.  (If you're looking for my Sunday Stamps DT card, you can find it here)

STB #225

IB191

FS-Anything Goes Fall

The Four Seasons Challenge is new to me and I love the concept!  Of course it is the brainchild of Diane and Darlene from the Double D Challenge and Peace on Earth Christmas challenge and looks like it is equally as successful.  

So, on to my card.  A few weeks ago I was fortunate enough to score the Tim Holtz Halloween Distress Mica Stain Sprays trio (unfortunately it was a limited time offer - they are now sold out but the regular Distress Stain and Distress Oxide sprays are still available) and I decided to experiment with them and here's one of the results.

I began with a sheet of Stonehenge Black Watercolor paper and a leaf stencil.  I used 4 different colors of sprays and let them mix a little bit but not too much so one can see the orange, green, yellow and a little bit of the brown.  This is the first time I've used sprays through a stencil and I love the texture and kind of artsy finish.  It's really impossible to capture the sparkle from the sprays on black but it almost has a velvet look to it.  After the panel dried, I trimmed it down to fit on a mini slimline card.

Finishing the card was pretty easy.  The sentiment was die cut three times from black cardstock and once from gold matte cardstock, then layered together and adhered to the vellum shadow.  I also cut two thin strips of the same gold paper and added it to the top and bottom of the leaf panel before adhering to a black card base.  The vellum sentiment shadow had double sided adhesive on the back so it was easy to adhere to the front of the card.  The last little touch was to add some gold satin baubles.  While they are a different shade of gold than the gold cardstock, it seemed to mesh nicely with the background colors.

Thanks for taking the time to visit!  I hope you're having a good weekend.  Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Black, Matte Gold (Simon Says Stamp), Stonehenge Black Watercolor, vellum

Ink:  Jack O'Lantern, Flickering Candle, Bubling Cauldron and Crooked Broomstick Distress Mica Stain Sprays

Other:  Tim Holtz Autumn stencil, Big Happy Birthday dies (SSS), Trinity Stamps Gold Satin Baubles

Snowflake Christmas for Sunday Stamps

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps and this time Heidi has given us this great sketch to work with.

Sunday Stamps

  

I'm also playing along the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and the Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge.

WWC326

POEC #2

When I saw Heidi's sketch, I narrowed my choices to leaves or snowflakes...and snowflakes won out because I wanted to use a couple of the gorgeous new Tim Holtz Mica Stain Sprays.

For starters, I took an oversized piece of multi-media paper that could withstand water and sprays, and had a fun time creating this background.  I used two of the green blue colors (my photos pick up more of the blue shade - IRL it turned out more of a teal shade), sprayed in spots on the panel, sprayed with water to mix it, then heat set it.  I did this a couple of times then set it aside to dry overnight.  The next day, I die cut the panel with a rectangle die, splattered it with white metallic paint, which was a bit too faint, so I went to white gouache for a brighter effect.  As with many shiny applications, the beautiful shimmer of the mica sprays unfortunately isn't discernable in the photos.

For even more sparkle, the snowflakes were die cut from white glitter cardstock.  I used Liquid Platinum to heat emboss the sentiment, trimmed it down, then added more embossing around all the edges.  The sprayed panel was added to the 5" x 7" white card base with foam tape, then the snowflakes were adhered with just a touch of liquid glue at the centers so I could get some lift on the outer portions of the flakes. The sentiment was popped up with thin foam tape and the final touch was to add a few sequins.

Thanks so much for visiting, I really appreciate it!  Be sure to use the link above to check out the fabulous, clever cards by the other DT members and hopefully be inspired to join us!

Stef

Stamps:  Holiday Greetings Mix 1 (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Vicki Boutin Multimedia, White Glitter (SSS)

Ink:  Versamark

Other:  A7 Layers Rectangle die (Waffle Flower), Daphne, Lia, Kaydn & Rina Snowflake dies (SSS), Snowflurries and Frosted Juniper Mica Stain Sprays (Tim Holtz), white metallic paint (Altenew), White Gouache, Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder (Ranger), Antique Gold sequins (Altenew)

Snow Globe Deer

Hello and welcome!  Today I'm slipping in on the final hours of a new challenge - the Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge.  It's twice monthly and brought to us by the tireless (this is their 4th blog!) and oh-so-talented Diane and Darlene!  I just found out about it today (thanks Michele) and saw that I had a couple of hours left to join in.  Be sure to head over there and check it out.  From the participation, it looks like they have another hit on their hands!

Peach on Earth Christmas

I made this card a few days ago just for fun, so it was great to have on hand for the challenge. I used a cute new Stamping Bella stamp set with a snow globe and three sets of critters that can be stamped inside of it.  I decided to go with the darling little deer. 

Didn't I say they were cute?  These are very tiny images, so I did very simple Copic coloring, including the background and the base for the snow globe.  And of course, what's a snow globe with out snow? I created the snow using a white gel pen.  When the coloring was complete, I fussy out the image.

Next a panel of white was sprayed with some shimmer spray (photos don't pick that up unfortunately), embossed with a snow embossing folder, die cut with on of the Altenew Mix and Match Frames dies, then mounted on the navy card base with foam tape.  The sentiments, which are from a different stamp set, were white heat embossed on navy then trimmed out.  First the globe was added to the panel with thin foam tape, then the sentiments were added, also with thin foam tape to finish things off.

Thanks for taking time to visit, I really appreciate it!  Be sure to use the link above and check out this fun new challenge!

Stef

Stamps:  Design a Globe (SB), Santa's Sleigh Ride (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Soft Navy (SSS)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark

Other:  Softly Falling embossing folder (ret. SU), Mix and Match Frames die set (Altenew), Detail White embossing powder (SSS), Sparkle Sheer Shimmer Spray, Sakura White Gelly Roll pen

Copics:  E37, 35, 33, 31, 42, YR20, 000, R39, 37, 35, G46, 43, Y28, 15, C5, 3, 1, 0, B39, 37, 14 12

Frankie Wants Candy for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge and the fabulous Claire has created this board that is just in time for Halloween.  For my card I went diagonal from left to right - bat, orange, embossing.

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

I love making Halloween cards, and while not everyone likes scary/creeping kinds, my grandkids do so I used this kinda scary yet cute stamp for this card that will be going to one of my grandsons.

I think ol' Frankie is pretty funny - I mean you can't be too scary if you have hearts on your socks, for heavens sake! I started by stamping him on small panel of Bristol paper, then masking it off for the ink blending.  I cut a second, larger panel of Bristol and ink blended them both with Distress inks.  Then I used some painter's tape to adhere the small panel in the middle of the larger one, then stenciled on the bats with some black pigment ink so they'd pop off the background.  

With the ink blending complete, I peeled off the mask and colored Frankie with Copic markers.  The sentiment was cream heat embossed on black cardstock, then I hand trimmed it and added it to the panel with thin foam squares.  It really makes me chuckle!

Next the larger panel was cut with the Deckled Rectangle die, adhered directly to a black card base, and the smaller panel added with thin foam tape to complete my card!

Thanks for taking time to visit, I appreciate it.  Be sure to use the link above to check out the cards by the rest of the DT members and hopefully join us this week!

Stef

Stamps:  Monsters Reunion (Tim Holtz)

Paper:  Black, Strathmore Bristol

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Clair Nocturne, Versamark; Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey, Rusty Hinge and Black Soot Distress

Other:  Deckled Rectangle Frame die (Waffle Flower), Cream embossing powder (Simon Says Stamp), Layered Bats stencil (SSS), Copic markers

Coffee House Slimline

Hello and welcome!  Today I'm privileged to be guest designing for Addicted to Stamps!  The new challenge is Make Your Mark.

Addicted to Stamps

For my card I used another favorite stamp illustrated by Anita Jeram for the Colorado Craft Company. All these images were perfect to populate at slimline style card.

These mice tickle me so much!  Of course, I would never love having a mouse in my kitchen (or that of my favorite coffee house), but on paper? Just. Too. Cute!  I began by stamping everything on white cardstock, coloring all of images with Copic markers, then using the coordinating dies to cut them out.  The sentiment was stamped then die cut with a rounded rectangle and decorated with a couple of extra coffee beans.

To create the background, a panel of Bristol paper was cut to 8 3/4" x 3 5/8", ink blended with yellow and aqua distress inks, then adhered directly to the white card base measuring 9" x 4".  This is a bit larger than the standard slimline card, but I needed the extra real estate to create my scene and I have a die to make the larger size envelope.

After determining the layout of the scene, I adhered some of the images directly to the panel and others were popped up with foam tape, as was the sentiment.  A simple card in context but a bit time consuming to color and adhere everything.  But it was a labor of love and in the end I was so pleased with how it turned out - I hope you do too!

Thanks for taking time to visit, I appreciate it!  Be sure to use the link above to check out all the fabulous DT member cards and hopefully be inspired to play along with this challenge!

Take care and stay safe!

Stef

Stamps:  Coffee House (Anita Jeram for Colorado Coffee Company)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Squeezed Lemonade and Salvaged Patina Distress

Other:  Coffee House dies, Rounded Rectangle die

Copics:  Mice - T4, 2, 0, R20; Metal Parts - C5, 3, 1, 0; Bags and wood grinder base - E37, 35, 33, 31; Coffee & beans - E29, 27, 25, 23, 21; French Press - BG07, 45, 53; Cup - Y26, 08, 04, 00

Just a Hello

Hello and welcome! The card I'm sharing today was made for three challenges - Inspired By, As You See It and Color Throwdown.

IB190

As You See It #260

CTD663

I'm kind of on a kick of pairing of white and ivory/cream, so that's what I used on my card again today. Plus it worked so well with the color challenge colors. I hope you guys aren't tired of seeing it yet 😄.

I was indeed inspire by the white pumpkin photo, so I pulled out a cute fall border stamp set from Pretty Pink Posh.  I trimmed a panel of white cardstock to 3" x 4", then stamped the leafy image on the bottom and the pumpkins above, leaving room for the strip holding the sentiment.  Copic markers were used to color the images, then the gray strip layered across.  The sentiment was stamped and die cut then added to the strip with thin foam tape.

The base was made from the same gray cardstock, then an embossed panel of ivory was adhered directly to the base after adding the strip of textured Pumpkin Pie paper.  The colored panel was added with thin foam tape and I finished things up with some white enamel dots and an orange enamel heart! Quick and easy!

Thanks for visiting, I always appreciate it so much.  I hope you're having a great weekend - take care and stay safe!

Stef

Stamps:  Fall Borders (PPP), Just a Hello Floral (Pinkfresh Studio)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Ivory, Smoke (Simon Says Stamp), Textured Pumpkin Pie (ret. Stampin' Up)

Ink:  Gina K Chocolate Truffle Amalgam, Versafine Clair Pinecone

Other:  Lumber embossing folder (Tim Holtz), Lilly White Sprinkles (Doodlebug), Warm & Cozy enamel heart (Altenew), Just A Hello Floral die

Copics:  E29, 37, 35, 33, 19, YR27, 24, 23, 18, 16, 14, 21, W5, 3, 1

Spooky!

Hello and welcome!  Today I'm sharing a card that I made for Halloween to be sent to my granddaughter this year.  I'm sharing it with two challenges with Halloween themes - the Paper Players and Just Us Girls.

PP561

JUGs 604

For this card I turned to one of my favorite stamps from Stamping Bella and I decided to CASE this card I made with it last year, with a few changes and additions.

Love those crazy pumpkins!  First step was to ink up and color the pumpkins with Copic markers. I determined where the moon was going to be on the panel, stenciled the bats in black ink and clear heat embossed them, then masked the pumpkins and the moon so the background could be ink blended.

Distress Oxide inks were used to create the background, then I removed the moon mask, inked the circle up with Fossilized Amber, then used a moon stencil to create the "craters".  The sentiment was cut twice from black and once from purple glitter paper, layered up and adhered to the vellum shadow.  The vellum has been covered on the backside with a piece of double sided adhesive, so it could be securely adhered to the inky background.  After using the deckle rectangle die to cut the panel, it was adhered to a piece of fun foam then added to the orange card base.  

I debated about whether or not to splatter the panel with water drops for that cool oxidization and opted to do so, covering up the moon and the sentiment before splattering. I think I got a bit carried away lol!, but I do have to say IRL the water spots are more subtle than in the photos.

Thanks for taking time to visit, I really appreciate it!

Take care and stay safe!

Stef

Stamps:  Oddball Naughty Pumpkins (Stamping Bella)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Burnt Orange (Simon Says Stamp), Black, Frosted Glitter Paper  (Memory Box), vellum

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Clair Nocturne; Fossilized Amber, Spiced Marmalade, Crackling Campfire, Seedess Preserves, Chipped Sapphire, Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain and Black Soot DOX

Other:  Deckled Frame die (Waffle Flower), Spooky dies (SSS), Layered Bats stencil (SSS), Moon Stencil (Tim Holtz), Copic multiliner, Ultrafine Clear embossing powder.

Copics:  YR18, 09, Y38, 17, E29, 37, YG 97, 95, 93, C3, W9, 7