Happy Holidays for Christmas Craft Creations

Hello and Happy Holidays, friends!  I'm very excited to announce that I have been asked to join the wonderful design team at Christmas Craft Creations!  If you're not familiar with the challenge, it is monthly beginning on the 2nd Wednesday each month, with a reminder on the 4th Wednesday. 

This month the theme is gnomes and you have until 6 pm GMT on Tuesday January 10th to join the fun and get a head start on building your Christmas card stash for 2023!

Christmas Craft Creations

I created a little snowy scene for my Christmas gnome.

Isn't he fun?  I've had this gnome die from Simon Says Stamp for three years, when I used it for a large number of Christmas cards, but haven't used it since then. His outfit was die cut from a scrap of patterned paper and red cardstock.  His nose and beard and the base layer were all cut from white, then I used my Copic markers for coloring.  

I used Marine and Cadette SSS Pawsitively Saturated inks for the background sky, then hand cut the snowy hills to layer on the bottom of the panel.  The trees where die cut from white, colored with Copic markers and added to the panel along with the gnome.  I used white acrylic paint for the snow and while that dried, red heat embossed and die cut the sentiment.  When everything was dry, the panel added to the white card base, the sentiment adhered with thin foam squares and lastly I added a cute white pom-pom to the gnome's hat.

Thanks so much for stopping by, I appreciate it!  Please do use the link above to see all the super cute gnome cards by the other DT members and hopefully join in the fun this month!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  The sentiment is from an older My Monthly Hero card kit that's no longer available

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Stampin' Up Real Red, patterned paper from my stash

Ink:  Marine & Cadette, Versamark

Other:  SSS Lil Gnome water dies, Poppystamps Iced Pine Trees dies, MFT Essential Stitched Sentiment Label die, white pom-pom, Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White paint, Gina K Red Hot embossing powder

Copics:  E13, 11, 00, R59, 46, W3, 1, 0, C2, 1, 0

Landscape Christmas for Sunday Stamps

Happy Holidays, friends!  It's Christmas day and also the beginning of a new challenge over at Sunday Stamps.  This time we have a beautiful color combination to inspire you.

Sunday Stamps

 

I used navy, purple and coral with a bit of metallic gold for the sentiment and star. One of my final Christmas cards for 2022 (come back Wednesday to see my last one).

This card was so easy to make.  I started by die cutting the snowy hill from white cardstock, then used that to determine where to being ink blending.  Using an A2 sized panel of Bristol paper, I first added some Abandoned Coral Distress Ink nearest to where the horizon line would be, then added Chipped Sapphire and a bit of Black Soot to the top, then filled in the middle with Villainous Potion, trying not to overlap the coral.  Once the ink dried, the die cut panel was adhered.

Next, the sentiment and star were die cut from matte gold cardstock, then adhered to the card front.  The final steps were to use a white gel pen to create stars in the sky and add the panel to a white card base!  This could be a design I use to make multiple cards next year - I love the colors and, of course, how quickly it came together.

Thanks for taking time to stop by!  You'll want to be sure to use the link above to see the gorgeous cards by the other DT members and hopefully be inspired to join us for our last challenge of 2022!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol, Simon Says Stamp Matte Gold

Ink:  Chipped Sapphire, Black Soot, Villainous Potion and Abandoned Coral Distress

Other:  Memory Box Country Landscape and Star of Wonder dies, SSS Flourished Christmas die, Sakura White Gelly Roll pen

The Most Wonderful Time of the Year for Sunday Stamps

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps and this week we have a fabulous sketch from Heidi!  

Sunday Stamps

I am also joining the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, where the theme is Holiday Cheer, and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, with a theme of Add Sparkle.

I made a series of snowflake cards using a similar design before I even saw Heidi's sketch, (you can see another example here) so I was very happy that another one worked perfectly for this challenge. Plus the color of the background is one of my favorites.

I started by embossing a panel of Concord & 9th Peacock card stock with the Simon Says Stamp Snowflake visions, then used my finger to rub Tonic Nuvo Almond Embossing Mousse lightly over the panel, then when applied a heavier amount around the edges.  

Next I used the SSS Glistening Snowflakes detail die to cut snowflakes from SSS White and Silver Glitter paper and the SSS Dainty Snowflake die to cut a smaller silver glitter snowflake.  Once the snowflake panel was dry, I adhered the snowflakes in layers, then added the sentiment with foam squares just towards the middle of the snowflakes.  The sentiment is from the Pinkfresh Studio Foiled Sentiments 4 holiday pack - super handy and a quick way to finish off my card!

Thanks for visiting!  Please be sure to use the link above to see the beautiful cards by the other DT members and hopefully join us - the challenge will be open until December 23rd.

Take care and enjoy the holidays!  

Stef

Nice List for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Hello again!  It's time for a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge and this week Jeanne has created a very fun board that is applicable for many occasions.  I used the top row for my card - snow/ice, layers, celebration.

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

 

I'm also joining the current challenge at The Paper Players where LeAnne asks us to use Santa on our card.

PP620

I have another card using the darling Jingle All the Way from MFT (I created one for Sunday Stamps here).  For this one, I started by stamping and Copic coloring Santa, Rudolph, the tree and the packages, then die cut them with the companion dies.  An Altenew Gold Gel pen was used to color Santa's belt buckle, the bells on Rudolph's color, the star and the ribbon and I used a Sakura White Gelly Roll pen to create the "fluff" on Santa's hat.

Next I ink blended Tumbled Glass and Mermaid Lagoon Distress Ink on a panel of Bristol then splattered it with Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof white paint to create the snow effect.  I also die cut some snowflakes from SSS White Glitter cardstock using the Hero Arts Snowflake Confetti Fancy die.  It cuts a bunch, so the rest are in my stash for future use.  I also hand cut a glitter panel for some snow and layered that on the now dry ink blended panel, trimmed that down and mounted onto an A2 white cardbase.

The sentiment was red heat embossed and die cut with the MFT Fishtail Foundations die, then added to the panel with foam tape along with all the die cut images, including the sparkly little snowflakes and I was done!

Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.  I've added a link above so you can easily pop over to the challenge to check out the fabulous cards by the other DT members and hopefully play along with us this week!

This will be my final challenge as part of the TTT design team.  It has been a really fun 2 1/2 years as part of this group, as the other DT members are all amazing people and I wish them every success going forward!

Take care and Happy Holidays!

Stef

Other supplies:  Gina K Red Hot embossing powder, Memento Tuxedo Black and Versamark inks.

Copics:  R59, 46, 27,05, 20 YG67, 17, 03, E29, 37, 35, 33, 31, 30, 21, 11, 00, C9, 6, 3, 1, 00, T2, 0 W3, 1, 0, B02, 00, 000

 

Peace for The Flower Challenge

Welcome friends!  It's time for the final challenge of 2022 at The Flower Challenge.  Appropriately, the theme this time is Christmas.  

The Flower Challenge

**Please note, our challenge will close on the 15th of December and the design team will be off until our next challenge on February 4, 2023.

For my card, I decided to change things up and watercolor rather than use Copic markers.  Now, I say watercolor, but it's very basic as this is definitely a medium for which I need further practice!  So all of you that watercolor proficiently, please be kind when viewing my card lol!

I used a new to me stamp set from Penny Black and heat embossed with Altenew Rose Gold this lovely poinsettia image on watercolor paper.  I primarily used the wet-on-wet technique, adding a second layer to get a bit of shading on the petals, then used a lovely shade of green around the image and some purple mixed with the pink to achieve a kind of plum color for the berries.  

Next the panel was splattered with gold shimmer spray and white acrylic paint.  When dry the panel and a piece of Altenew Brushed Rose card stock were die cut and layered directly onto the plum card base.  The sentiment was heat embossed and die cut, then popped up on foam tape for a little dimension and I was done!  A note about the "at Christmas" part of the sentiment.  It was actually part of a "missing you at Christmas" sentiment, but I just used my Misti and some Scotch tape to cover up the part I didn't want to use, inked it up then removed the tape and stamped.  After it was heat embossed, I used the matching die then just trimmed off the bit where the first part of the sentiment would go. 

The link above will take you to the challenge where you can see all the gorgeous cards by the other DT members and hopefully join us by the 15th!

Happy Holidays to everyone celebrating this month! 

Stef

Stamps:  Penny Black Scarlet, Simon Says Stamp Christmas Blessings

Paper:  Hero Arts Plum, Altenew Brushed Rose, Arches 140lb watercolor

Ink:  Versamark

Other:  Christmas Blessings dies, Altenew Rose Gold embossing powder, Altenew 24 pan watercolor set, Imaginecrafts Gold Shimmer Spray, Dr. Ph Martin's Bleed Proof White paint

Jingle All the Way for Sunday Stamps

It's time for a new color challenge at Sunday Stamps and this one is very timely for those of us still working on making our Christmas cards!

Sunday Stamps

I'm also slipping in at the last minute to the current Color Hues challenge, which is still open until tomorrow morning for anyone that might care to join!

TCH #53

For my card, I stayed very clean and simple. 

The background panel was created using a retired Stampin' Up embossing folder called Softly Falling, die cut with one of the Altenew Mix & Match Frames dies (love that deckled edge), then adhered directly to the white card base.

Santa, Rudolph and the tree (from MFT's Jingle All the Way stamp set) were all stamped, colored with Copic markers, and then cut out with the coordinating dies.  I used an Altenew gold gel pen to color Santa's belt buckle, the bells on Rudolph's collar and the star on the tree.  A Sakura White Gelly Roll pen was used to create the "fluff" on Santa's hat.  The sentiment, which is from the same stamp set was red heat embossed on white then die cut with MFT's Fishtail Foundation sentiment dies.  All the elements were added with foam tape, then I used a light gray Copic marker to create shadows and I was done!  This was a great card to reproduce in multiples once all the coloring was complete.

Thanks so much for visiting, I appreciate it.  The link above will take you to the blog post with all the DT member's fabulous cards.  I hope you'll join us for this challenge!

Take care!

Stef

Inks:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark

Embossing Powder:  Gina K Red Hot

Copics: R59, 46, 27, 05, 20, E29, 39, 37, 35, 33, 31, 30, 21, 11, 00, YG67, 17, 03, C9, 6, 3, 1, 00, W1, 0

Christmas sELFies for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Hello friends!  It's time for a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge and this week Carol has created a fabulous board with loads of holiday card-making inspiration.

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

 

For my card I went across the bottom row - patterned paper, stamped image, sparkle/shiny.

I was doing some Copic coloring mass production for Christmas cards and the MFT Christmas sELFies stamp set is absolutely perfect for quick and fun holiday cards.  

The stamped images were colored with Copic markers and I also used a light green Copic marker for the background.  Next, a piece of MFT Color Collab patterned paper was die cut with the Selfie Square die, as was the colored image. The paper was trimmed down then two layers of white cardstock were adhered for stability, then the stamped and die cut image popped into place.

The entire piece was added to a Shaded Spruce panel then adhered to a white cardbase.  The sentiment was stamped, die cut and added with foam tape, then then I used a white gel pen to add some texture to the white bands around the hats and the elf's sleeve.  The sparkle came by using an aqua shimmer pen on both hats and Rudoph's red nose.  The last step was to add a few little snowflake embellies.

Thanks for visiting and I hope you'll use the link above to take a peek at the fabulous cards by the other DT members.  We'd love it if you'd come join us this week!

Take care and Happy Thanksgiving to all those in the US celebrating today!

Stef

Stamps:  Christmas sELFies (MFT)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Shaded Spruce (SU), Cool Colab 6x6 paper pack (MFT)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark Clair Nocturne

Other:  Selfie Square and Fishtail Foundations dies (MFT), Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen, Trinity Stamps Vanilla Sugar Snowflake embellishments, Sakura White Gelly Roll pen

Copics:  Santa hat and Rudolph's nose:  R39, 37, 35; Elf hat and shirt:  G28, 17, 03; White trim C3, 1, 00; Santa's beard and brows: T2, 0; Skin: E11, 21, 00, R20; Elf hair: E29, 19, 35, YR18, 14; Rudolph: E29, 37, 35, 33, 31; Background: G000

Merry & Bright

Hello friends!  I'm back with a card to share that I made for the challenges at Just Us Girls and The Paper Players.

JUGS 659

PP618

I actually made my card about 4 weeks ago when I was in a foiling frenzy but never used it for a challenge or DT assignment, so when I saw these two challenges, I thought it would work well.

This card was super easy to put together since I had previously foiled the sentiment and background.  The background was created by foiling Gold Glimmer foil onto a panel of white using Spellbinders Plaid Tidings plate.  The large sentiment was foiled with Sparkle Red Glimmer foil then die cut with the coordinating die.  The foliage was created using the Pinkfresh Festive Leaves Background stencils and dies.

With all the components complete, it was just a matter of adhering everything to the card.  The leaves were glued directly to the card front, then I die cut the sentiment twice more and layered them together with the foiled sentiment on top, then added to the card.  The last step was to use an R59 Copic marker to darken the berries, then cover them with Glossy Accents for some nice shine. 

Thanks for taking time to stop by.  Have a great week and if you're in the US, have a wonderful Thanksgiving!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Hammermill, Neenah Solar White

Ink:  Simon Says Stamp Sage and Pine, Altenew Lime, Fresh Leaf, Green Opal, Fayed Leaf, Forest Glades and Evergreen, Pinkfresh Studio Berryliscious and Candy Apple

Other:  Pinkfresh Studio Merry & Bright Foil Plate and die, PS Festive Leaves Background Stencils and dies, Spellbinders Plaid Tidings Background Hot Foil Plate, Spellbinders Sparkle Red and Gold Glimmer Hot Foil, Glossy Accents, R59 Copic marker

Happy Thanksgiving

Hello and welcome!  My card today is one I made for the current challenge at Just Us Girls, where we are to create a matching envelope.  I'm also joining the Anything Goes challenge at Four Seasons Challenge and the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge, where this week's theme is Thanks/Thanksgiving.

JUGS #658

Four Seasons November Challenge

I was just completing the very few Thanksgiving cards that my husband and I send out when I saw the challenge at Just Us Girls, so I created a rather simple matching envelope with gold heat embossing on the front.

I started by stamping the SSS Full of Thanks stamps set on white cardstock, then coloring with Copic markers.  I put a pale halo around the image using my lightest BG marker then put the panel back in my Misti and gold heat embossed it along with the sentiment.  Next, the panel was die cut with a mini slim rectangle die then I applied gold metallic paint around the edges.  Once that dried, the panel was adhered directly to an Early Espresso die cut panel, which was then adhered to the white card base and finishing by adding the die cut sentiment with thin foam squares.

I made five of these cards but had only four pre-made envelopes, so I used an old Memory Keepers Envelope punch board to create an envelope that would fit with the 6"x 3" card.  I popped that into my Misti so I could stamp more than once for good inking, then heat embossed it with Antique Gold embossing powder.  I only embossed part of the image on the envelope so that I'd have plenty of room to add the recipient's address.

Thanks for taking time to stop by, I appreciate it!  Take care and have a wonderful Thanksgiving next week if you celebrate!

Stef

Stamps:  Full of Thanks (SSS)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Early Espresso (SU), CutCardStock Super Smooth White (AMZ/used for the envelope)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark

Other:  Pinkfresh Studio Mini Slimline Essential Bundle dies, Waffle Flower Designer Template 1 sentiment label die, Altenew Metallic Gold paint and Antique Gold embossing powder, WR Memory Keepers Envelope Punch board

Copics:  Corn Husk: YG67, 17, 03; Sunflower Greens:  G28, YG45, G21; Corn: Y28, 18, 06, 02; Sunflowers:  YR27, 24, 15, 11, E59, 57, 55; Pumpkin:  E09, YR18, 07, 16, Y17, E29, 37, 33; Leaves #1: YR18, 07, 16, Y17, E33; Apple and Leaves #2: R39, 37, 35; Halo BG000 and 0000; for the grapes I used Sketchmarker Brush Pro markers in V61, 62, 54

Congratulations for The Flower Challenge

Hello and welcome!  It's mid-month, which means I'm sharing a reminder card for The Flower Challenge.  This month we're asking participants to use embellishments, along with their beautiful floral creations, which couldn't be a much easier challenge!  There's still plenty of time to join us - you have until the 25th of the month.

The Flower Challenge

 

Recently I attended the Altenew Spec-Tech-ular Florals 2022 Craft Your Life Retreat (and btw the classes were wonderful!), and as part of that retreat, the participants received two new stamp sets (plus related products) that Altenew won't be releasing until later this year.  I was thrilled to receive permission to use some of the products for my DT card today.

I started by stamping one of the two very large, gorgeous florals from the Ambridge Rose stamp set,  coloring it with Copic markers, then die cutting with the coordination die.  From the same stamp set I used the sentiment that was gold embossed on dark green cardstock then die cut with a label die.

For the background and the sentiment, I decided to use the beautiful Concord and 9th Evergreen cardstock.  The A2 background panel was embossed with the Simon Says Stamp Mandala Plate Cover die before adhering it directly to the card base.  Next, a frame was die cut from Brushed Gold cardstock along with two additional layers of black cardstock.  They were adhered together and added to the card front (the frame is part of the Lotus Frame stamp and die set, the second set from the retreat).  The flower was adhered directly to the frame, using foam squares for the parts that were hanging outside of it.  The sentiment was added along with the gold sparkle crystals to finish things off.  

Thanks so much for stopping by and I do hope you'll use the link above to check out the beautiful cards by the other DT members and hopefully join us by the 25th!

Take care!

Stef

All products were from Altenew except as noted above.  The Copic markers used were RV69, 66, 55, 52, G28, 17, 14 and 03.

Be Merry for Sunday Stamps

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps, with a sketch by the amazing Lisa!  

Sunday Stamps

I'm also joining the current Anything Goes challenge at the Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge.

POECC #27

Lisa gave use such a great sketch with so many possibilities!  For my card, I decided to substitute the middle circle with a large die cut sentiment.

This was a fun card to make with the cute reindeer and the clever die cut sentiment.  Even my husband, who is not prone to liking "cute", really liked it! ;-)  I started with the background, die cutting a piece of Hero Arts Mist cardstock with the Slim Lacy Layers die, then taping off around the scallop edge.  I used Ink on 3 Shark Tooth White pigment ink over Simon Says Stamps' Peace Joy Hope Love stencil, moving it once to fill the entire panel.  When done I removed the tape and set it aside to work on the rest of the card component.

The reindeer from MFT's Reindeer Love stamp set were stamped, colored with Copic markers then die cut with the matching dies.  I used green Copics for the scarf and bow, then used a white Gelly Roll pen for add polka dots to the bow.  The Be Merry sentiment, also from MFT, was die cut twice from white cardstock and once with a piece from the SSS Glitter Assortment Pack, using a color that was between red and pink for something different. The layers were adhered together, then the sentiment and reindeer added to the card front.  I thought the card needed just a little something more, so a few Vanilla Sugar Snowflakes from Trinity Stamps were added and that finished it off!

Thanks for visiting, I always appreciate it.  Be sure to use the link above to check out the wonderful cards by the other DT members and hopefully be inspired to join us at Sunday Stamps!

Take care!

Stef

Copics:  E29, 37, 35, 33, 31, 30, G28, 17, 03, R20, W7, 5, 3

Snowflake Visions for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Hello friends!  It's time for a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge and this week I am the featured designer.  Oh my gosh, can you believe how quickly Christmas is approaching?  If you still have Christmas cards to make for this year, I hope my board inspires you! 

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

 

For my card I went down the middle column - snow, free, blue.

This card was so easy to put together after spending an afternoon playing with pastes, embellishment mousse and embossing folders!  I shared some other creations using this same process last week - use this link if you haven't already seen that post.

Anyway, for the background I used a 3D embossing folder with a panel of Midnight card stock, then applied some Simon Hurley Clear Skies Lunar Paste using a Ranger ink blending foam and handle, making sure to leave a bit of the dark cardstock showing around the snowflakes for some contrast. The paste dries quickly so I was able to trim down the panel, adhere it to a larger panel of silver then add to a white card base.

Next I added a large snowflake die cut from silver glitter cardstock, topped it with another snowflake die cut from matte silver cardstock, then layered the sentiment across the middle.  Making things even simpler was that the sentiment was from a package of pre-foiled and die cut sentiments.  Super quick to make with nearly all the components made ahead of time.

Thanks for visiting, I really appreciate it!  Be sure to use the link above to check out the beautiful cards from the other DT members and hopefully be inspired to join us this week!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Concord and 9th Midnight, Simon Says Stamp Matte Silver and Silver Glitter, Pinkfresh Studio Foiled Sentiments 4 holiday

Other:  Simon Says Stamp Dainty Snowflake die, Filigree Snowflake Emboss & Cutting die, Snowflake Visions 3D embossing folder, Simon Hurley Clear Skies Lunar Paste