Noel Birds for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  I keep plugging away at making Christmas cards and have another one to share that I made for our current challenge at The Paper Players.  This week, the amazing Jaydee is hosting our CAS challenge with a fun theme that can help YOU work on your supply of holiday cards as well!

The Paper Players

I always love quirky characters so when I saw the Stamptember set in collaboration with Simon Says Stamp and AALL & Create, I had to have it, especially for these funny birds.

Aren't they so funny?  Love them!  Anyway, before I started coloring the images, I went online and looked up trending colors for Christmas 2024 and saw this color palette of purple, pink, aqua and lime.  Perfect!  Of course I used my Copics to color the birds and the sentiment blocks, then used the matching dies to cut them out.

Since the birds were all decked out in their winter apparel, I thought an embossed snowflake background would be perfect.  It was a little busy behind the birds, so I used an arch die to cut a piece of white and then add a bit of aqua ink blending to create a background for the birds.  After the card was complete, I added a bit of Glossy Accents to their eye glasses - it looks great IRL.

So, while I did use layers, I kept a lot of "white" space around the image to maintain the CAS look.

I know many are still making holiday cards, so come share your CAS creation with us this week!  The challenge remains open until 3pm EST Friday November 22. And don't forget to check out the design team cards here for more inspiration. 

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp/AALL & Create Winter Bells stamps and dies
• SSS Nested Domed Arches
• SSS Snowflake Visions embossing folder
• Altenew Aqualicious ink
• Copics - E59, 57, 55, 47, 44,43, 29, 37, 33, YR24, 23, 21, 12, Y21, V09, 06, 04, 01, RV14, 13, 11, YG09, 07, 05, 01, BG49, 45, 01

Christmas Joy

Hello friends!  I'm back with another card today, this time for the challenge at Just Us Girls, where it is word week and Sue has chosen a most appropriate work for this time of year.

JUGs #753

 

If you dropped by looking for my Color Hues DT card, you can find it here.

When I received the Simon Says Stamp November card kit, it had in it some darling decoupage images from Craft Consortium.  I'd never used them before, typically preferring to stamp and color myself, but these are soooo cute, I couldn't resist.  

There are five scenes included in the pack, and you pop out the images and layer them up with foam squares.  Each one was four or five layers, which I thought was too thick to mail, so I sorted the images for this particular scene so that I could make two cards from it.  In the photo above you can see the layers from the front snowman and the lantern.

I found the perfect patterned paper for the background.  It was die cut to fit on the largest of SSS's Chunky Scallop rectangle, then the snow people were added.  Isn't that the cutest little scene?  I especially love the birds.  Before adhering the panel to the scallop rectangle, the large joy sentiment was die cut from red metallic paper, added to the panel, then the sub-sentiment stamped in black.  I decided to go ahead and make this a shaped card using the scallop rectangle die.  This was a fun and quick way to create some holiday cards.

Thanks for taking time to stop by. Take care!

Stef

• Craft Consortium Christmas Market Decoupage papers
• SSS Christmas Cheer Stamp set (sentiment)
• SSS Fanciful Joy die
• Whimsy Stamps Flurry Blurry patterned paper
• SSS Chunky Scallop Rectangle die

Snowflake Stripes for Color Hues

Hello friends!  How are your plans for Thanksgiving shaping up?  It is certainly getting close as we hit mid-month, which brings a new challenge over at Color Hues!  This time the lovely Marcia is hosting and has chosen two beautiful colors for her combo.

Color Hues

The Color Hues DT is also excited to announce an addition to our team!  The very talented Bonnie Klass has agreed to join us and I know she will inspire you with her beautiful creations.

I'm also sharing my card over at the Tic Tac Toe challenge, which works for both the left column (ink blending, CAS, Die Cut) and bottom row (Die Cut, Metallic Element, Festive Sentiment).

TTTC260

I used three hues of pink along with aqua to create two modern style Christmas cards with these non-traditional colors.

The Snowflake Stripes stencil set has 3 stencils, two that create the stripes and the snowflake image and a third that could be used to color in the snowflake.  I opted to just use the first two and after completing my ink blending, I sprayed both panels with a shimmer spray for some subtle sparkle.

Next I used two different sentiments from the Simon Says Stamp Elegantly Modern Christmas sentiment set that were gold heat embossed then cut out with the matching dies.  When the panels dried, I trimmed one down for the landscape version, matting on some gold cardstock, then adhered to the white card base.  I kept the other panel A2 sized, adhered to a card base, then added a gold strip down the side.  After adding the sentiments to the cards, I used some gold glitter gems from my stash to finish things off.  These were really fast and fun to make - I know I will be making more with a variety of colors.

  

I hope these colors inspire you, whether for the holidays or beyond.  Whatever you're inspired to make I sure hope you'll join us!  The challenge remains open until 9 a.m. EST, Friday November 29th. In the meantime, be sure to visit the challenge blog (linked above) to check out all the beautiful cards my super talented teammates and our guest designer Teresa created!

Thanks for visiting!  Take care and if you're celebrating Thanksgiving later this month, I hope you have a lovely time with family and/or friends.

Take care!

Stef

• SSS Snowflake Stripes Stencils
• SSS Elegantly Modern Christmas Stamps & Dies
• Altenew Baby Pink, Fuchsia, Magenta and Aqualicious inks
• Hero Arts White Iridescent Shimmer Spray

Thankful for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm here with my reminder post for The Flower Challenge.  This month the theme is thanks. 

I'm also slipping in on the final day at Inkspirational, where the theme is to Layer It.

Inkspirational #328

I know sunflower season is done for the year, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, but I wanted to have one more go at using them for my floral card, so I used the lovely stamp set designed by Kelly Taylor for Honey Bee Stamps.

The stamp set has three flowers, one front facing and two side facing and I decided to incorporate all three on my card.  I used Copic markers to color them, then they were cut with the matching dies.  Next, a panel of white was ink blended with Salvage Patina Distress Ink, then adhered the card base.  It was topped with a Vintage Labels die cut from white, then I arranged the flowers and leaves, adhering them directly to the card front.  

The sentiment is from a set included with the Altenew Cozy Comfort Retreat products.  It has not yet been released but it will be sometime in the future.  It was die cut from gold metallic cardstock and twice more from white.  The card front was splattered with gold metallic paint and once dry, the sentiment was added to finish things off.

We would love to see your floral thank you card in the gallery, I hope you will join us!  The challenge remains open until Monday November 25th.  In the meantime, for some wonderful inspiration, please visit the challenge blog - my very talented team members have some beautiful cards to share!

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Honey Bee Stamps Bloom With Grace Stamp and Die set
• HBS Layering Vintage Labels die
• Altenew Stylish Greetings die set
• Gansi Tambi Starry Colors Gold Metallic paint

Shaker Snow Globe for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's Sunday and that means there's a new challenge at The Paper Players.  This week the lovely Claire is hosting our monthly color challenge and she's chosen some vibrant and beautiful colors.

The Paper Players

I decided it was the perfect time to make a fun shaker Christmas card.  While I tend to go towards using traditional reds and greens, I thought it would be fun to "shake" things up (sorry, not sorry, for the pun lol!).

The colors in the photo are a bit off, however I will admit I don't have any true turquoise paper so I got as close as I could with the cardstock I have.  I began by die cutting Twig & Stump from white velvet luxury cardstock and their apparel and the ornaments from colored cardstock.  The backer for the snowmen was cut from black.  The snow globe, tree and snowflakes were die cut from white glitter cardstock.  I also used the snow globe die to created a shaped card for something fun and unique.

I saw this snow globe design two years ago when Twig & Stump were first released, created by the talented Nichol Spohr and found it so clever, and since I rarely make shaker cards, decided to use it.  You can find her original post here.

The background was ink blended with purple and turquoise-ish ink then splattered with white gloss acrylic spray.  When dried I put the snow globe together, adhering the top white glitter layer to an acetate sheet cut to fit, then 3 more die cuts then the ink blended background, after adding the shaker bits.  After assembling Twig & Stump, they along with the tree, ornaments, snowflakes and white heat embossed sentiment were adhered on top.  The final step was to add glitter using Stickles to the ornaments. Definitely not a card for mass production but it was fun and I'll likely make a few more if time allows. 

This photo was taken flat so I could capture the shaker bits inside.

My wonderfully talented teammates have some terrific inspiration for you over at the challenge blog, so I encourage you to check it out.  I hope you'll join us this week with however these colors inspire you - the challenge remains open until Friday November 15th at 3pm EST.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Tim Holtz Twig & Stump dies
• Honey Bee Stamps Snow Globe A2 Shaker dies
• Hero Arts December 2020 card kit (sentiment)
• Simon Says Stamp White Luxury Velvet and White Glitter cardstock
• Concord & 9th colored cardstocks

Thank You for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends, I hope you're doing well! This month at The Flower Challenge the theme is Thanks, which is so appropriate for this time of year in the US, where we will be celebrating Thanksgiving on the 28th of this month.  

TFC 97

 

I'm also joining the current challenge Inkspirational, which is to layer it.

Inkspirational #328

  

My initial intention was to create a more muted color palette for my card, befitting this time of year as fall is in full swing, but then I ended up using some of my favorite markers and the coloring got much brighter lol!

At the time that I made this card, I'd recently received this big floral stamp from Simon Says Stamp and had to use it.  It was stamped in black, colored with Copic and Olo markers, then restamped with Versamark and gold heat embossed.  I always hold my breath when I put my colored image back in my stamp positioner, worrying that I'll ruin a couple hours (or longer) of coloring, but as you can see, it turned out just fine.  The sentiment, also from the same stamp set, was gold heat embossed as well, then both were cut out with their coordinating dies.

When I reached for a card base, I saw that I had one with a white die cut panel adhered to the front, which added a lovely touch of interest without detracting from the floral image.  The flowers were adhered directly to the panel, the overhanging parts trimmed off, then the sentiment was added with foam tape.

So much to be thankful for, including you stopping by my blog today!  For plenty more inspiration, use the link above and see what my talented teammates have created with this theme.  And, of course, we'd love to have you join us this month, the challenge remains open until Thanksgiving day, November 25th.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Grateful Florals stamps and dies
• Pinkfresh Studio Folk Edge Rectangle die
• Altenew Antique Gold ep
• Copic and Olo markers:  Orange - YR18, 09, 16, 21, Y17; Yellow - YR27, 24, Y19, 15; Magenta -RV69, 17, 55, 52; Small and Medium leaves - G1.8, 1.7, 1.5, 1.4; Large leaves - BG 2.7, 2.5, 2.4, 2.1, YG03 

Thankful for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  This is theme week at The Paper Players and the lovely Elizabeth has chosen an appropriate one for this time of year.

The Paper Players

 

I created a card that could be used for a number of occasions during the fall.

Three weeks ago I attended the Altenew Stay Cozy retreat and I've used some of the products from that were used to create this card, with the exception of the octagonal rectangle die.

I started by gold heat embossing the pumpkins and the sentiment.  I used the coordinating stencil to color the pumpkins and leaves, then everything was die cut with the matching dies.  It was fun to color the pumpkins in different colors - in fact I think it would be fun to used unexpected colors like pink or aqua on another card! 

The background panel was embossed with the pumpkin folder, trimmed down then I painted gold metallic ink around the edges to make it stand out a bit more before adhering to the white card base. After die cutting the white panel, I splatter it was a bit of gold paint as well before adding the pumpkins and sentiment.   

I hope you'll join us this week, it's the perfect time to create cards to send to friends and family during this month of Thanksgiving.  As always, my delightful and talented teammates have created some beautiful cards to inspire you, so I encourage you to stop by the challenge blog before heading off to your craft room!  The challenge remains open until Friday November 8th at 3pm EST.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Altenew One-Go: Sweet Pumpkins stamps, dies, stencils and 3D embossing folder (not yet released)
• Pinkfresh Studio Blanket Stitched Octagons die
• Altenew Mandarin Burst, Red Jasper, Raw Amber, Lemon Ice, Sagestone & Onyx Green
• Altenew Gold Metallic Paint and Antique Gold embossing powder

Noel for Color Hues

Hello friends!  The first of November is upon us and we have a new challenge over at Color Hues.  This time, the lovely and talented Karen has chosen red and black for her color duo.

Color Hues

 

This beautiful combination works well for so many occasions but I thought it would be an elegant look for a Christmas card.  For my card design, I used the sketch for the current challenge at The Paper Players. If you see this before 3 pm EDT today, you still have time to play along.

As I was searching my stash of patterned papers for another project, I came upon a 6x6 pad from HoneyBee Stamps that is probably about 2-3 years old but still yields some beautiful patterns for the holidays and found two pieces in red and black plaid that would work for the card front.

I could not believe my good fortune!  They didn't line up precisely but using the strip of matte gold cardstock did the trick to hide it.  I pulled out a new favorite die set from Spellbinders, the Christmas Bird Poinsettia and created a red floral image, using red Copic markers to color the white die cut.  

The poinsettia was added to the card with a foam square, then I tucked in the die cut leaves and branches, most from the same die set.  Using the matte gold for the flower center, one of the branches and the sentiment tied in with the gold horizontal strip.  The final step was to add a bit of sparkle with some pretty red gems.

Thanks for taking time to stop by and I hope you'll head over to the CH blog were my very talented teammates, along with our guest designers Colleen Begley and Izzy Scrap, have some gorgeous inspiration for you.  We'd love to have you play along; the challenge will remain open until 9 am EST November 14th.

Take care!

Stef

• Spellbinders Christmas Bird Poinsettia and Christmas Greetings die sets
• HoneyBee Stamps Lovely Layers: Winter Greenery die (the black branch)
• HBS Holiday Traditions 6x6 patterned paper
• Simon Says Stamp Matte Gold cardstock
• Picket Fence Studios Candy Cane Gem Mix

Snowflakes for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  The last Sunday of the month is upon us and that brings a new sketch challenge at The Paper Players!  This time the lovely and talented Ann has given us this wonderful sketch with lots of options.

The Paper Players

I'm also sharing my card over at Addicted to Stamps, where the theme is Any Occasion.

ATSM #479

Since I'm still working on Christmas cards, that is the direction I took.  I kept things very simple; so simple I made two cards!

I decided to pull out some patterned paper that I hoard rarely use but knew it would work perfectly with the snowflakes I created.  I love the bokeh effect and the pretty colors.  

The snowflakes were die cut from silver and white glitter cardstock using various snowflake dies, with the exception of one small snowflake that was cut from light purple glitter paper.  The same cardstocks were used for the die cut sentiment and the vertical strip.  No need for embellishments with all that sparkle and shine, plus I think they would get lost against the background paper.

What are you inspired to create with this sketch?  For more ideas and inspiration, be sure to visit the challenge blog to see what my talented teammates have come up with.  I hope to see your card in the gallery this week - the challenge remains open until Friday November 1st at 3 pm EDT.

Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Stef

• HoneyBee Stamps Lovely Layers: Snowflakes dies
• Simon Says Stamp Aidan and Sophie Snowflake dies
• SSS Handwritten Merry Christmas dies
• SSS Glitter and Matte Silver cardstock
• Whimsy Stamps Blurry Flurries 6x6 designer paper

Peaceful Holiday for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's Sunday and time for a new CAS challenge over at The Paper Players where LeAnne is asking us to add a tag.

The Paper Players

I am also sharing over at Inkspirational, where the theme is Seasonal.

Inkspirational #327

I love to make cards with tags, so I was excited to see our tag challenge.  I am in desperate need of adding more cards to my holiday card stash, so that is where I went with this challenge.

I started by die cutting the tag then stamping and clear heat embossing the tree trio on the tag.  I created a mask using the circle die that comes with the set to cover the moon while I used inks to create the night sky, then removed the mask and used the moon stamps in light and medium yellow.  I grabbed a scrap of white cardstock, hand cut the top then used the tag die to cut the bottom.  After it was adhered to the tag, I added some Star Dust Stickles to the top of the "snow"

The stag and the sentiment were also stamped and clear heat embossed, then die cut with the matching dies.  A white gel pen was used to create "stars" in the sky then the die cut pieces were added to the tag. I found a leftover bit of white sparkle ribbon and added that to the top of the tag and tied it off with some silver baker's twine.  It was then added to a card base that I found in my stash with the embossed panel already adhered.  The final step was to add some of the Star Dust Stickles to the tree branches.  It sparkles so much IRL!

What are you inspired to create with this challenge?  We'd love to have you join us this week - the challenge remains open until Friday October 25th at 3pm EDT.  In the meantime, be sure to head over to the challenge blog, where my wonderful teammates have some fantastic inspiration to share with you!

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp/Gina K Stamptember 2024 Stay Cozy collaboration stamps and dies
• SSS Snowy Pines embossing folder
• Ellen Hutson Tag Trio die
• Altenew Desert Night, Dusk, Lemonade Stand and Honeydew Glow inks
• Lawn Fawn Silver Baker's Twine
• Sakura White Gelly Roll pen

Thinking of You for Color Hues

Hello, friends!  Today brings a new challenge at Color Hues and this time the amazing Jules has chosen Mustard and Olive, a great fall combination.

Color Hues

I decided to use a set that's been waiting to be inked up for a while - Brighter Days Gerbera Daisy from Picket Fence.  I know Gerbera daisies come in a plethora of colors so I decided why not mustard yellow? 

This is a lovely, large floral image and so easy to color.  Of course, I used my Copic markers, making sure my yellows were more of a golden color.  I know mustard can be a bright yellow, I guess I was thinking Dijon? ;-)  Anyway, with the coloring complete it and the sentiment (also from the same set) where cut out with coordinating dies.

I really fiddled around to get a background that I liked.  At first the double plaid die was cut from brown cardstock and layered on white, but I didn't like that and finally settled on the white over kraft.  It's very subtle, but before the kraft panel was layered with the cover die, I stamped a text background stamp with white pigment ink, then used a blending tool to ink around the edges.  It adds just a little interest and a nice softness to the kraft.

With everything adhered to the card base, I finished things off with some yellow gems and used a white gel pen for the stamen (anthers?).

I do hope you'll join us and share what you were inspired to make with these two colors!  The challenge remains open until 9am on Tuesday October 29th.  And I encourage you to visit the challenge blog, where fabulous inspiration from my very talented teammates awaits you.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Picket Fence Brighter Days Gerbera Daisy stamps and dies
• Simon Says Stamp Double Plaid Cover Die
• SSS Friendship Text background stamp
• HoneyBee Stamps Vintage Love Gems
• Copics - YR27, 24, 23, Y15, 11, YG99, 97, 95, E37, 35, 33, 31

Just A Note for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  Here we are, mid-October - oh my, the weeks are flying by aren't they?  I won't go into how many days until Christmas yet.  Instead I'm here with my reminder card for The Flower Challenge, where we are adding a stencil to our floral card.

TFC 96R

I decided to use the embossing folder and stencil from an older Craft Your Life set from Altenew. 

These colors are nicely muted and to me, are perfect for fall.  I used the Sugarplums and Nature's Wonders color families with the stencils.  The image is so large that I went with an A7 sized card.  

The panel was trimmed down and matted on a metallic silver cardstock, from which the sentiment was also die cut.  The mat was cut with one of the Spellbinders 5x7 Matting Basics dies, which leaves an nice embossed edge. I didn't have any cardstock that matched the plum inks, so I used the Grape Agate to blend a custom background, then adhered everything to the card base.  Lastly, a white gel pen was used to make the ends of the stamen visible.

The picture below is at an odd angle because I was trying to show the embossed dimension but I'm not sure you can really tell.

Have you joined us yet this month?  If not, you have until Friday the 25th to put your beautifully stenciled card in the gallery.  The design team has a new batch of stunning cards to inspire you, which you can find by using the link above.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Stef

• Altenew CRL: Fragrant Flowers embossing folder and stencils
• Altenew Scripty Sentiments dies
• Spellbinders 5x7 Matting Basics A die
• Altenew Sugarplum and Nature's Wonders ink families
• Sakura White Gelly Roll pen

Grateful for You for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  This week at The Paper Players the lovely Joanne has chosen an autumnal color combination for our inspiration.

The Paper Players

I'm also joining the lovelies at Inkspirational with their gorgeous mood board inspiration.  I was inspired by the leafy photo and the fall colors.

Inkspirational #326

 

I had many, many ideas for these colors but in the end, I played around with messy, wonderful mica sprays to create my card.  And yes I did have orange and brown fingers for a day lol!

Right off the bat, I have to say the photos do not do justice to the beautiful colors and shine of the background.  I began with a half sheet of mixed media paper from Vicky Boutin and used two brown and two orange Distress Mica Sprays on the paper, adding water so they would mix a bit then set it aside to dry.

When it was dry the colors had mixed more than I anticipated.  Don't get me wrong, it was really pretty but the browns had dominated the oranges.  I put the panel in my Misti, arranged all the leaf stamps, then used a brown pigment ink to stamp.  That didn't show up well, so ended up gold heat embossing the leaves then used gold metallic paint to add splatters.

Next, I poured a bit of the mica spray onto a palette and used a small brush to paint the lightest orange over some of the leaves and I was so happy with that small step! When everything dried a second time the panel was die cut, wrapped with some gold twine and matted onto a dark brown rectangle before adding to the 5"x 7" ivory card base.  The sentiment was also gold heat embossed, die cut with the matching die and added to the card front along with some copper-ish gems.

We would love to have you share what you create with these colors this week!  The challenge remains open until 3 pm EDT Friday 10/18.  In the meantime, please take a moment to see all the beautiful cards my talented teammates have created for your inspiration over on the challenge blog linked above.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Autumn Leaves and Graceful Florals (sentiment) stamps and die
• Waffle Flower A7 Frames rectangle die
• Spellbinders 5" X 7" Matting Basics A die
• Rangers Jack-O-Lantern, Mulled Cider, Crooked Broomstick and Fallen Acorn Distress Mica Stain Sprays
• SSS Ultra Fine Gold embossing powder
• Altenew Gold Metallic paint
• HoneyBee Stamps Fall Is In the Air gems

Always for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  Here we are, the first Sunday in October and it's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players.  This week the lovely Jan has chosen the theme Love is in the Air.  

The Paper Players

 

Last month my husband and I celebrated our wedding anniversary and I struggled a bit trying to decide what to make.  I usually create something rather fun or silly but this time I went for something a bit more elegant.  

My husband and I share a love of dragonflies, and I've had this die for a couple years and never used it, so I decided it would work.  I began with an A7 piece of Peacock cardstock and ink blended Black Soot Distress ink around the edges, leaving the center with a large "glow".  The dragonfly and the arched frame were all cut from black cardstock, and the wing layer from matte gold, then I positioned them on the panel so I could get the placement for the sentiment, which was heat gold heat embossed.

Before adhering everything, I added a bit of metallic gold paint splatter for some additional interest since this was a pretty simple card.  And the good news was that he really liked the card, so that made me happy. ;-)

So what are you inspired to create for this challenge?  There are plenty of options because love cards can be for all types of occasions.  Please be sure to check out what my wonderfully talented teammates have made, then hopefully join us this week!  The challenge remains open until 3 pm EDT on Friday, October 11th.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Altenew Delicate Dragonfly
• Simon Says Stamp Nested Domed Arches Frame die
• MFT How to Say I Love You stamp set
• Altenew Metallic Gold paint