A Good Friend

Hello and welcome!  I have a cute card to share with you that I made for the current CAS challenge at The Paper Players.  The lovely Ann has chosen the theme "Wild About Wildlife".

PP579

I'm also joining the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Anything Goes.

I had on my desk a sweet Anita Jeram/Colorado Craft company stamp set that I was planning to use for an upcoming DT assignment and thought this cute little guy would work perfectly for Ann's challenge.

Our little guinea pig is out and about in the yard and he's doubly lucky because he found a 4-leaf clover and made a new friend!  I started by lightly ink blending a panel of white card stock with green, then stamped the sentiment and the critters.  The panel was die cut with a arch shaped die, then I used a light hand to add blue ink for the sky with a small blending brush.  The guinea pig and dragonfly (I think that's what it is supposed to be???) were colored with Copic markers, then I added a bit of shimmer to the shamrock and the dragonfly wings.  

Next a panel of white cardstock was die cut with a leaf cover die, then adhered to the white cardbase.  I like the subtle pattern while still leaving plenty of white space.  Before adhering the main image, the accompanying sentiment "...hard to find and lucky to have!" was stamped on the inside of the card, then the die cut piece was added to the front with foam tape.  Super easy and simple!

Thanks for taking time to visit!  Take care and have a great weekend!

Stef

Stamps:  4-Leaf Clover (AJ/CCC)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White

Ink:  Gina K Chocolate Truffle Amalgam, Ocean Waves and Firefly (Altenew)

Other:  Pinpoint Leaf Plate Cover die (Memory Box), Essential Arches die (Ellen Hutson), Aqua Shimmer pen (Tonic)

Copics:  E44, 40, 33, 31, 30, 0000, R20, YG17, 05, 03, B000, 0000

Joyful Peonies

Hello and welcome!  I'm sharing a card that I made for two challenges - As You See It, where we are to use our favorite technique, and Anything Goes at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge, which sadly is the finale for this challenge blog. 

As You See It Challenge #268

 

WWC335

If you know me or have followed my blog, you know my favorite technique is coloring, specifically with Copics.  However, for my card I've combined Copic coloring with a relatively new-to-me and growing favorite technique, which is hot foiling.

I've been watching foiling take hold in the crafting industry and at first didn't think it was something I need bother with. But I've always loved metallics, and when I found out I could use my Copics with all those beautiful foiled images, plus found an excellent sale online, I went in head first!  

My card is pretty straightforward.  The Joyful Peonies image was foiled with a very sparkly foil (see photos below for a better example), then colored with Copics to achieve a pretty pinkish coral tone.  It was die cut with a matching die, then I went to work on the remainder of the card.

My go to is often white on white, so I reached for an A2 cover die, used it on a panel of white, then adhered it to the white card base.  Next, the circle was cut out with a die that left the pretty design around the outside and I used a smaller circle die to cut out the inside.  It was added to the card base using foam tape, then the floral image adhered directly to the circle plus foam tape on the bits that extended beyond the circle.  Lastly, the foiled and die cut sentiment was adhered on top.

Well friends, I appreciate you stopping by. And to the DT at Watercooler Wednesday, thanks for all the great challenges and all the best to you going forward. 

Take care and have a great week ahead!

Stef

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Hammermill

Ink:   None

Other:  Joyful Peonies Hot Foil and Die set (Pinkfresh Studio), Folk Edge Circle dies (PS), Dotted Scales Debossing Cover die (Altenew), Fancy Script Words Hot Foil and Die set (PS), Speckled Aura Glimmer Foil (Spellbinders)

Copics:  RV29, 25, 23, R22, 20, Y26, 15, 11, YG67, 17, 05, 03

Birthday Silhouettes for Sunday Stamps

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps and this time we have a beautiful color combination for you to play with!

Sunday Stamps

I'm also joining the current challenge at Addicted to Stamps, where the theme is Birthdays.

ATSC 423

I just love those yummy browns and blues together, I hope you do too!   All you need to do is use at least three colors for the challenge.  I ended up using four - dark blue, light blue, white and dark brown.

I started by blending two shades of blue ink on a panel of Koh-I-Noor bristol, which is a whiter white than Strathmore Bristol, although with this card it ended up not mattering because I covered the entire panel with ink.  I let the panel dry overnight, then worked on the remainder of the card.

I decided to use a few of the beautiful silhouette images from Gina K's Friendly Silhouettes.  I used my Misti so I could stamp the images off the bottom and side edges of the panel, using a dark brown pigment ink for really good coverage.  When that dried the panel was trimmed down and adhered to a white card base.  The sentiment was stamped in the same brown on white and die cut with the matching die.  I used the die to cut two more layers, adhered them together and added to the card front.  Lastly, I fished out those beautiful pearls from a sequin shaker mix and adhered them around the sentiment. Very simple design that could be easily replicated with any silhouette stamps.

So glad you dropped by - now use the link above and check out the beautiful cards by the other DT members, and hopefully be inspired to join us!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Friendly Silhouettes (Gina K), XL Birthday Greetings (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Koh-I-Noor Bristol

Ink:  Ocean Waves and Galactic Stream (Altenew), Versafine Clair Pinecone

Other:  XL Birthday Greetings die, Arctic Aquamarine Sequin Shaker Mix (Little Things from Lucy's Cards)

Elegant Motifs Embossing for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Hello and welcome.  It's time for a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge! This week Carol has created this fabulous board to spark your creativity!

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

I kept things pretty simple for my card design, going down the right column - dry embossing, flowers, CAS.

I'm also joining the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Slimline cards.

Using an embossing folder as the focal point really makes things easy!  I first die cut the white panel with the Slim Lacy Layers die (one of my favorites, you will see it again next month on my DT card for The Flower Challenge), then embossed it using the Elegant Motifs Slim 3D embossing folder.  Photos cannot do justice to the depth and beauty of the flowers, but I tried with the close up below.  

Next the panel was adhered to a Peacock card base then splattered with a bit of silver metallic paint - not too much, this is supposed to be CAS!  The sentiment was foiled in silver then the matching die was used to cut it out.  It was added to the card front, using thin foam squares just under the g and u as they overhung the embossed images.  Some silver baubles and this card was done!  I matched it up with a silver metallic envelope to complete the look.

Thanks so much for taking time to visit!  Please use the link above to check out the fabulous cards by the other DT members and hopefully join us this week!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps: None

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Hammermill (foiled sentiment), Peacock (Concord & 9th)

Ink:  None

Other:  Elegant Motifs Slim 3D embossing folder (Altenew), Celebrating You Hot Foil plate and matching die (Pinkfresh Studio), Slim Lacy Layers die (Waffle Flower), Finetec Pearlescent Colours Metallic silver paint, Crystal Collection - Night Sky baubles (Little Things by Lucy's Cards), Metallic Silver Slimline envelope (Simon Says Stamp)

Tri-Fold Smpathy card for The Flower Challenge

Hello and welcome!  It's time for our reminder post at The Flower Challenge for this month's theme of Occasions.  If you haven't already, I hope you'll join us - the challenge is open until the 25th of the month.

The Flower Challenge

For my card earlier this month (link is here if you care to take a peek), I made a birthday card.  This time I made a sympathy card, which I hate using, of course, but always want to have on hand.  I ended up making a tri-fold card, using some new-to-me dies from Poppy Stamps.

I started out by using my Copic markers to color a digi image from Power Poppy. After the coloring was complete, a light blue ink was blended around the background and in as close as I could get to the image without changing the color of the pussy willows or the snowdrops.  Do you usually have a design in mind when you set down to make a card?  If I'm not using a sketch, I typically wing it after I color my image.  That's probably poor planning on my part, and sometimes I do get stuck, but generally I can work something out.  That's what happened this time and then I thought I'd try out the Poppy Stamps dies.

The larger die cut the oval card front plus a half inch tab down the left side.  The tab is intended to be folded and adhered to an A2 panel to create a card.  But since I wanted a tri-fold, I made another white A2 card base, then adhered them all together (photos below give you a better idea).  The die set also comes with an smaller oval to cut out your main image, which I used on the colored panel. A separate coordinating die was used to cut out the patterned paper for each side of the oval and I added some die cut leaves for a little additional detail.  The colored image was added with foam tape, then the sentiment adhered with thin foam squares. 

The photo above shows the card opening and how the colored oval is adhered to the inside.  Below shows the card opened up for a place to write one's message.

Once the die cutting was complete, this card came together fairly quickly.

So glad you stopped by to visit!  Be sure to use the link above to see all the incredibly beautiful cards by the rest of the DT and hopefully join us for this challenge!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Winter Pick-Me-Up digi (Power Poppy), Elegant Sentiments (Waffle Flower)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Watercolor Wash 6x6 Paper Pack (MFT)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Clair Nocturne, Dew Drop (Altenew)

Other:  Oval Fold Framd and Tall Curve Background dies (Poppy Stamps), Etched Meadow Flower and Leaves die (SSS), Elegant Sentiment matching die (WF)

Copics:  RV69, 66, 55, 52, G29, 21, 40, YG45, W3, 1, 0, C1, 00, Y26, 17, 13, 00, E59, 57

Sweet Friend

Hello and welcome!  Today I have a friendship card to share with you that was made for three challenges, all with the theme of love and friendship.

PP577

 

Just Us Girls 618

FF0102

(pink, sparkle, hearts)

I have three friends back in Oregon that I have been especially close to for several years - we used to go for walks or hikes on a regular basis, plus gather for celebratory meals out and sometimes even allow our spouses to join us lol!  As a result of now living in a different state, I tend to make a lot of friend/hello cards to send.

My card is pretty straightforward.  The floral heart wreath (which I love but recently discovered Simon Says Stamp discontinued or retired it) was stamped and colored with Copic markers then die cut.  The hello sentiment was die cut from pink glitter paper and added to the white die cut shadow.  The sub sentiment, left over from a previous project, was white heat embossed on black cardstock then die cut.

Next, I applied an adhesive sheet to the back of a white cardstock panel then die cut it with a trellis cover plate die.  It was layered on the white card base then I used a bone folder to press it down firmly.  I love the white on white background, adding just enough interest without being too busy. Two more of the floral heart wreaths were die cut from white cardstock, and layered beneath the color image, then adhered to the card front.  Although not captured in the photos, I painted the wreath with an aqua shimmer pen for even more sparkle, then added the sentiment with the aid of strategically placed foam tape and called it done!

 Thanks for taking time to stop by!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  You Have My Heart (ret.SSS), Bitty Buzzwords (Honey Bee)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Black, Glitter Assortment Pack (SSS)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark

Other:  You Have My Heart and Bitty Buzzwords matching dies, Garden Trellis Cover Plate die (Altenew), Featured Sentiment die (Altenew), Tonic Aqua Shimmer pen, SSS Fine Detail White embossing powder

Copics:  RV69, 66, 55, 52, BG99, 96, 93, 90, G29, 21, 40, YG45

Sunny Days Ahead for Sunday Stamps

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps and this week we have a wonderful sketch by Amy.

Sunday Stamps

I decided to pull out some as yet unused products from Simon Says Stamp to use for my card and I ended up flipping the sketch for a portrait style layout.

I began by stenciling a panel of white with the Peonies and Leaves stencil.  I carried the colors to go around the images so the leaf and berry stems would show.  A gold gel pen was used to color the berries

then the panel along with a panel of Gold Pearl cardstock was die cut with a deckled edge rectangle.

The panels were then layered at angles as shown in the sketch and then adhered directly to the white card base.  The Etched Butterfly was die cut from the same gold paper adhered together, then added to the panel with thin foam tape on the wings.  In hindsight, I wish I'd use thicker foam tape for a bit more dimension, but I was afraid of mucking up the whole card if I tried to remove it.  I found a wonderful sentiment in the Reverse Get Well Sentiment Strips, and die cut it as well as a strip of gold paper with a skinny sentiment strip.  They were layered onto the card and I was done!

Thanks so much for visiting, I really 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!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Gold Pearl (Tonic)

Ink:  Baby Pink, Fuchsia, Magenta, Lime and Fresh Leaf (all Altenew)

Other:  Deckled Frames Rectangle die (Waffle Flower), Etched Butterfly die (SSS), Skinny Strips die (MFT), Peonies and Leaves stencil (SSS), Reverse Get Well Sentiment Strips (SSS), Gold gel pen (Altenew)

Happy Birthday for The Flower Challenge

Hello and welcome.  I am thrilled to announce that I have been asked to join the Design Team at The Flower Challenge!  If you've been following my blog, you know florals are my one of my very favorite images for coloring and cards, so I was beyond ecstatic when Viv asked me to join the team, and very honored to be creating beside some amazing artists!

Now to the new challenge.  This month our theme is Occasions.

The Flower Challenge

I'm also joining the challenge at Seize the Birthday where the option is to add sparkle and shine.  My card sports a gold metallic sentiment and gold metallic splatters for a bit of shine.

STB #231

I can always use birthday cards, so our Occasions challenge was perfectly timed!

I decided to use one of the exquisitely drawn floral coloring panels by Emily Midgett (periodically, she will sell her original illustrations on her blog here).  I colored the images with Copic markers, then lightly splattered the panel with gold metallic paint. After the paint dried, the panel was trimmed down to 4"x 5.25".

The sentiment was die cut from Gold Pearl Mirror cardstock and then adhered directly to the panel (I apologize if the sentiment looks slightly out of focus in a couple of the pictures, my camera was absolutely not cooperating and I reshot the photos a number of times).  The panel was added to the Fog card base and that finished things off!

Thanks so much for stopping by, I appreciate it!  Be sure to use the link above to see the gorgeous cards by the other DT members and hopefully join us this month!

Stef

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Emily Midgett Color Panel, Fog (Simon Says Stamp), Gold Pearl (Tonic)

Ink:  None

Other:  Happy Birthday Script die (Simon Says Stamp), Gansi Tambi Starry Colors Metallic Gold Paint

Copics:  RV69, 66, 55, 52, BG99, 96, 93, 90, 18, 72, 70, Y26, 15, 11

Deco Birthday for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge and I am the Featured Designer this week.  I created this board and I hope you're inspired to join along with us this week!

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

When I created the tic tac toe board, I had a completely different card in mind than the one I ultimately ended up with.  Crazy!

My original plan was to use a wreath as the main image.  I started by stenciling the pink and purple inks on a white panel, then decided I wanted to make it a shaker card and I'd add the wreath around the outside.  I had a sequin pack in my sequin stash that once I bought it, I really didn't care for, however it worked perfectly for this with lots of pink, muted purple and iridescent sequins, plus I also added in some other clear sequins to give it lots of shaker bits. 

The circle was die cut from the panel, then I trimmed it down and adhered the acetate window to the back.  Foam tape was added to the back, then I piled the sequins on the card base and adhered the card front.  Then I tried to add the wreath but realized it just didn't go with the stencil design, so I searched through my die cut sentiments and found this one already made!  Perfect!  The vellum had even been die cut with adhesive sheet on the back so all I had to do was stick it on and add a few clear sequins, then I was done!

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

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Vellum, Matte Silver (SSS)

Ink:  Pink Diamond, Wisteria (both Altenew)

Other:  Deco Wallpaper Stencil (Altenew), Nested Infinity Rectangle and Circle dies (Hero Arts), Happy Birthday dies (MFT), Sparkling Clear sequins (Pretty Pink Post), Little Princess sequins (SSS)