Gnome Witch for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  The Paper Players are back with a new challenge and this week the amazing Elizabeth is hosting (with an assist from Christy) our monthly color challenge.  She has chosen a fabulous fall combo of purple and green.

Paper Players

I think these colors are perfect for flowers, but for this time of year, these colors can only mean Halloween to me!

I'm also joining over at Just Us Girls.  It's Word Week and Sue has chosen "Halloween".  How could I resist?

Just Us Girls #796

Here's what I came up with this week:

The colors seemed perfect for this gnome witch and she makes more of a fun Halloween card rather than a scary one.  I colored her skin green because I was thinking of Elphaba from Wizard of Oz and that way I could give her a purple hat and cloak.  

I stamped her on a panel of white, then masked her off so I could ink blend the background with purple, green and black Distress Inks.  Once that was done, I removed the mask and colored her with Olo and Copic markers.

Next came a Gothic style Halloween background text stamp, which was stamped in black on purple cardstock, then black inked was blended around the edges.  When that dried, the panel was die cut with a mirrored arch label die, as was a panel of black with a size smaller so our witch could be framed up.  Both the "boo" letters and bats were cut from black glitter paper, then everything was added to a black card base.  The last thing I did was use a silver gel pen to color the buckle on her hat.  So fun!

How do these colors inspire you?  Remember, neutrals are welcome along with the two challenge colors.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, October 17th at 3pm EDT. I really hope we'll see your card in the gallery, but before you head off to your crafty space, be sure to check out the fabulous inspiration by my talented teammates over on the challenge blog.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Whimsy Stamps Gnome Witch stamp
• Simon Says Stamp Gothic Halloween Background stamp
• Spellbinders Mirrored Arch Label dies
• Tim Holtz/Sizzix Vault Coffin Box dies (letters) and Vault Wicked (bats) dies
• Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron, Villanous Potion and Black Soot Distress inks
• Olos - BV1.7, 1.4, 1.2, 1.1
• Copics - YG67, 17, 03, E47, 44, 43, 37, 35, 33, 31, C7, 5, 3

Trick or Treat for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  Today the Paper Players has a new theme challenge.  The amazing Claire is hosting and has chosen a fun one for the season - Halloween Costumes!

Paper Players

If you've followed me for any length of time you know I LOVE making Halloween cards and for this one I used a new Tim Holtz/Sizzix die set.

Isn't that a hoot?  I love the cute/creepy costumed kids with a cat and an umbrella (???)!  

I started by masking off the moon, then using a number of Distress inks to create the atmospheric setting.  I splattered it with a bit of water and when that was dry, I used a stencil to lightly color in the moon.  

All the images were die cut with black cardstock, then attached to the background.  The only thing that took time, other than making the background, was just figuring out the placement of the sentiment, limbs and bats.  Not hard to make but I like how it turned out.

I'll have a couple more Halloween cards to share in upcoming posts (one on 10/12, the other on the 16th), so please come back and take a peek if you enjoy these types of cards.  Or consider yourself forewarned if you don't lol!

What are you inspired to create using Claire's fun theme?  The other DT members have created some fabulous cards and I encourage you to visit the challenge blog and check them out.  This challenge will remain open until Friday October 10th at 3pm EDT.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Thanks for visiting and take care.

Stef

• Tim Holtz/Sizzix Trick-or-Treat and Vault Fright Night dies
• Hero Arts Nested Circle die (for moon mask)
• Villainous Potion, Wilted Violet, Crushed Olive, Peeled Paint, Antique Linen and Black Soot Distress Inks
• Picket Fence Haunted Moon Blending Stencils

Joyful Bouquet for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  The Flower Challenge is back for the month of October and this time we'd like everyone to add purple on your floral card.  Since I love purple, I didn't have to think twice about that!

I have a sweet bouquet stamp purchased during Stamptember that I decided to use.  It was a collaboration stamp between Simon Says Stamp and Altenew.  Since I keep adding to my NBUS collection, I guess I better send it over to Darnell's NBUS blog lol!

I used mainly blue violets but I did manage to add a pop of yellow along with the purple flowers.

The pretty floral spray was colored with Olo and Copic markers, then die cut with the matching die.  I love the angle of the stamp, it could fit so many ways on a card, but the placement I used seemed to make the most sense so I could add the sentiment, which also from the same stamp set.

The cover panel was die cut from SSS Lavender and adhered to the card base.  Another die from the same set was cut from white and popped up with foam tape.  After adding the spray and the sentiment I added a few Opal Dazzling gems to finish things off.

Okay all you purple and flower lovers, we'd love to see your cards in the gallery this month!  Be sure to stop by the challenge blog (linked above) to see all the gorgeous inspiration from my oh, so talented teammates.  So many beautiful cards!  The challenge will remain open until Saturday October 25th.  Please join us this month!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef  

• Altenew/SSS Joyful Bouquet stamps and dies for Stamptember 2025
• Honey Bee Stamps Spring Vine Layering Frames dies
• SSS Opal Dazzling Gems
• Olos - BV1.7, 1.4, 1.2, 1.1, BG2.7, 2.5. 2.4, 2.1, YO 2.5, Y2.3, 2.2, 1.1
• Copics - YG67, 17, 03, E37, 33, V17

Trick or Treat

Hello friends!  I'm popping in with a card to share with the lovelies over at the Time Out Challenge.  It's the "Pick 2" challenge, which is always a fun one to play along with.  This time I chose spatter and season.

TOC #298

 

I love making Halloween cards, so my season choice is fall.  I have to admit this one is a bit more on the creepy side, but I had a blast making it because I love getting inky.

I started with the background using a panel of Distress watercolor paper.  After masking off the moon, I used Distress Spray Stains to cover the panel.  It was a lot of water, spray, dry to get what I wanted. I dried, that, removed the mask then sprayed water on the moon so the spray stains around the edges would seep across the moon and create that spooky atmosphere. 

I learned out this technique from watching a video by Amy R. who credited it to Stacy Hutchinson here. I used it on a couple other Halloween cards I'll be posting in the next couple of weeks.

In the end, the background turned out much darker than I originally planned because I ink blended Black Soot on the foreground so the pumpkins looked less like they were floating in space.  They still do a little bit, ha ha - spooky floating pumpkins!

The pumpkins were colored with Copic markers, die cut, then I used gray markers to color in the white from the die cut.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set and the bats from another TH die set.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!

Stef

• Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Pumpkinhead stamps
• TH/Sizzix Vault Coffin bat dies
• Simon Says Stamp Pumpkinhead dies
• Distress Spray Stains - Black Soot, Fossilized Amber, Rusty Hinge, Cracklin' Campfire
• Distress Inks - Black Soot, Scorched Timber, Antique Linen

Fall Wreath for Color Hues

Hello friends!  Another month has rolled around and therefore it's time for a new challenge at Color Hues.  The lovely Marcia is our host, and she's chosen some perfect fall colors for this challenge.

 

Color Hues

Yep, I went with leaves, these colors were too perfect not to.  

The leaves were all die cut from white cardstock, then I used Copic markers to color them in a variety of yellows, light reddish brown and rust.  Coloring wasn't anything fancy but when the colors are all blended, they look so nice.

A panel of C & 9th Sunflower cardstock was die cut with a postage edge die, then stamped in a similar color with a plaid, creating a subtle, tone-on-tone background.  The panel was added to an ivory card base, then the wreath was assembled, layered on two additional wreaths cut from SU Cajun Craze.  A few extra leaves were die cut, colored, then mounted slightly askew on top of the same leaves.  The sentiment was die cut and added, along with a few gems, and that completed the card.

That's it!  Please spend a minute visiting the challenge blog, my talented teammates have some amazing cards to inspire you.  The challenge will remain open until October 14th at 9am EDT.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Fall Wreath dies
• SSS Autumn Leaves dies
• SSS Postage Edge die
• SSS Soft Plaid Background stamp
• Honey Bee Stamps Birthday Wishes stamp and dies
• HBS Vintage Love gems
• C & 9 Cayenne ink
• SSS Honey ink
• Copics - Brown - E99, 97, 95; Rust - E19, YR18, 14; Yellow #1 - YR24, 19, 15, 13; Yellow #2 YR27, 24, 23, 31

Snowflake for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's Sunday and time for a new challenge at the Paper Players.  This week I'm hosting our monthly sketch challenge and created one that will be super easy and versatile for you to use.

PP757

As you can see, the circle can be any shape, so your choices are vast!  

For my card, I created a simple Christmas card.  In fact, it was so simple I ended up making four altogether.  But here's my favorite...

I had several ideas for this card, but I ended up with a foiling session, using the Pinkfresh Studio Radiating Snowflake press plate and a couple of Spellbinder sentiment sets.

Next I pulled out one of my favorite Christmas patterned paper pads and found four that would match the snowflakes I'd made.  For the most part, the papers all utilize a bokeh effect, along with different colors and some with more prominent snowflakes.  I love the gold and blue on the card above.  

Putting the card together was super simple.  The snowflake was layered on two additonal die cuts then adhered to the card front, the sentiment popped up with foam tape and then I added three snowflakes cut from white glitter paper and topped with sparkly gems.  I used the same design on the other three cards.

I hope this easy-to-use sketch inspires you to join us this week!  For more design ideas, my wonderfully talented teammates have some fabulous cards on challenge blog here. The challenge will remain open until 3pm EDT on Friday 3rd - I hope to see your card in the gallery! 

Stef

• Pinkfresh Studio Radiating Snowflake Betterpress plate and die
• Spellbinders Comfort & Joy Sentiments Hot Foil plate and die
• Spellbinders Sending Joy Sentiments Betterpress plate and die
• Kristina Werner Kristina's Essential dies A2 rectangle
• SSS Woodland Treescape Snowflake dies
• SSS Warm Tones, Surf and Prism Dazzling Gems
• Whimsy Stamps Blurry Flurries patterned paper

Scenic Birthday for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  A new Sunday brings a new challenge at the Paper Players.  It's Clean and Simple week, and our host, the lovely Jan, is asking us to use watercolor.  

Paper Players

 

Keeping things CAS is easy to do.  Add only a limited number of layers or embellishments and your card should be clean and uncluttered, with lots of "white" space.  

I haven't water colored much over the past few years as I prefer to use my Copic or alcohol markers.  But this challenge reminded me it doesn't have to be complicated.  I chose a small scene, which also kept things simple. 😉

I used the Simon Says Stamp card kit for July to create this card.  The kit had many components, including three window dies, some fabulous city scene pattern papers, and a stamp set with various outdoor scenes that work with yet another window die, which is what I used here.  

The scene was stamped on watercolor paper with black pigment ink then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I smooshed four Distress ink pads onto my glassboard work surface, added water and did some simple coloring of the scene.  

A strip of aqua paper was trimmed down and stamped the sentiment black and heat embossed, adhered it to the card base, then added the two strips of green cardstock.  The window was die cut from black glossy paper to coordinate with the black embossing, layered onto the trimmed down watercolor scene, then popped up with foam tape.  I felt like the card needed something more, so black enamel dots to the rescue.  In hindsight, I think some scoring on the panel would have looked nice as well.

Below are a couple of other cards I made with the kit.  They were sent off to a dear girlfriend as part of her birthday present, along with some other cards.

Thanks for coming by! I encourage you to visit the challenge blog, where my talented teammates have some wonderful designs to inspire you!  The challenge ends Friday 9/26 at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll share you card in the gallery this week!

Stef

• SSS Through the Window Stamps and dies
• SSS Strips 1 die
• Altenew Black Enamel dots
• Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Hickory Smoke and Salvage Patina Distress inks

Holiday Cheer

Hello friends!  Today Color Hues has a new challenge with new colors chosen by the fabulous Jules.  

Color Hues

My initial plan had nothing to do with the holidays but things kind of morphed and that's what I ended up making.

I began with Simon Says Stamp sage cardstock, die cutting it with the SSS Arching Leaf Border die.  I found a couple of nice smokey blue inks from Altenew and blended them on the panel, darkest on the left, fading out to white on the right.  I was planning to add the die cut white flowers and make it a birthday card or use another sentiment, but the colors really had a holiday vibe to me.  

I did search the googles to see what white flowers are used at Christmas and there were white roses, poinsettias, helibores, but nothing quite like these dainty little flowers.  I decided, what the heck, they would look pretty and just be something a little different.

I found the completed sentiment tucked away in the die packaging and thought silver would work perfectly.  Before adding the flowers or sentiment, silver mica ink was splattered onto the leafy panel. When dry, I placed the sentiment then added the flowers, finishing things off with silver baubles for the flower centers. 

How will you use this lovely color combo?  My talented teammates and wonderful guest designer, Birgit Norton, have some amazing cards that are sure to get those creative juices flowing for you, so be sure to head over to the challenge here and take a peek!  You'll have until 9 am Monday, September 29th - I hope you will join us!

Thanks for stopping by.

Stef

• SSS Arching Leaf Border die and Holiday Cheer dies
• Memory Box Layered Impatiens dies
• SSS Sage and Matte Silver cardstocks
• SSS Artichoke and Kale inks
• Altenew Cloudy Sky and Nimbus inks

Daisy Birthday for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm here with my reminder card for The Flower Challenge.  This month we have a great sketch for you to use with your floral cards.

TFC 106R

I'm also slipping in at the last minute with the challenge over at Color Throwdown.  It's been a long time since I've had a chance to play along with them.

CTD #840

And since I am using new-to-me products on my card, I'm linking up with Darnell's NBUS challenge.

NBUS

Dies seem to be my go-to for TFC this month.  I used them on my card at the beginning of the month and I'm using some different ones here.

I used two different styles of daisy dies along with a couple of ferns and another leafy branch and grounded them on a scallop circle, which is rather hard to see after everything was added lol!  All the dies were cut from white cardstock then colored with Copic markers.

The background is a slightly smaller panel of white with some light blue ink blending.  I added the floral bunch then splattered everything with gold metallic paint.  Once dry, the panel was added to the card base and finished off with the sentiment.

There are 10 days remaining in the challenge, so I hope you'll make time to play along or share a second card - we always love to see your makes in the gallery!  In the meantime, I encourage you to pop over to the challenge blog where my teammates have some amazing inspiration for you!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

Everything listed is from Simon Says Stamp unless otherwise noted.

• Etched Layered Daisy Stem dies
• Charming Daisy dies
• Fiddly Leaf die
• Curled Fern Frond dies
• Chunky Scallop Circles die
• Spellbinders BetterPress Fancy Sentiment Strips press plate and die
• Gansi Tambi Starry Colors gold metallic paint
• Altenew Sea Breeze ink
• Copics - R59, 46, 27, 08, YR27, 24, Y15, 11, E39, 59, YG67, 63, 61, 45, 41, 17, 05, 03, 01, G29

Special Day for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  This week at the Paper Players, the lovely LeAnne is hosting our monthly color challenge and she's chosen a lovely trio for our inspiration.

Paper Players

I just couldn't resist creating a card with florals, these colors just seemed to demand it lol!  I used two sets that I received last year as part of Altenew's Cozy Comfort retreat, then discovered after creating and photographing my card, the die sets are not available for sale. Of course, there are many daisy or sunflower dies available, should someone be looking for a set.

ETA:  I realized that my flowers, leaves and sprigs all have embossing that occurred along with the die cutting, so I'm sending this over to my friends at Seize the Birthday.  

STB #313

And now, on to my card!

I tried to use colors as close as possible to the Stampin' Up ones, but it's a bit tricky at times.  Nevertheless, I found some that were a reasonable substitution.  The flowers, leaves and stems were all die cut from white cardstock then ink blended.  I added brown as a neutral for the flower centers.  Although the photo makes it look blue, for the background I ink blended a muted greenish blue onto a white card panel, trimmed it down and added it to the base.  After the flowers were all arranged on the card front, I added the sentiment to finish things off.

Thank you so much for visiting!  I hope you'll take a moment to visit the challenge blog, my lovely and talented teammates have a bounty of inspiration for you.  The challenge remains open until Friday September 19th at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll take time to join us this week!

Take care!

Stef

• Altenew Mix Foliage & Pistachios (just the leaves) die sets
• Spellbinders A Little Sentiments Betterpress plate and die
• Simon Says Stamp Butter, Zest, Honey, Cabbage, Kale, Dew, Latte and Mocha inks

So Sweet for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players and this week the lovely Ann is hosting.  It's Theme week and Ann has chosen a great one that has loads of options for creating.  Let's take a look!

Paper Players

I'm also joining in with the lovelies at TOC, with their friendship/encouragement/support challenge.  My card, while a bit punny, is letting the recipient know they are appreciated.

TOC #296

Before getting to my card, I want to take a moment to congratulate Christy Stanford for being our newest member of the Paper Players Design Team!  Christy was a year-long guest designer a few years ago and has been joining us each week on a regular basis with her delightful and charming cards.  Welcome to the team, Christy!

For our latest PP challenge, and since we're heading into fall, I chose to use a little cutie eating her caramel apple.  I remember loving them when I was young. 

To start, I stamped the girl and the apples, then masked them off so I could create the scene using stencils for the sky and ground.  Once that was complete, the masks were removed and I colored her in fall colors using Copic markers.  

I decided to cut out and pop up the center of the panel using an arch die, then stamped the sentiment.  I added the outside to a white card base then popped up the center portion.  I finished off the apple with some Glossy Accents to make it shiny and when that was dry, also used a white gel pen to create highlights.

What are you inspired to create using this theme?  For more ideas, please head over to the challenge blog where my talented teammates have loads of great design to inspire you.  The challenge remains open until 3pm EDT, Friday September 12th. I hope you'll join us this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Stamping Bella Caramel Apple Bundle Girl stamp
• Altenew Sweet Jasmine sentiment stamp
• Simon Says Stamp Landscapes and MFT Mini Cloud Edges stencils
• Altenew Sea Breeze and SSS Fairway and Field inks
• SSS A2 Arches die
• Copics - YR18, 09, 07, 15, 21, 27, 23, R59, 37, 35, G29, 17, 03, E29, 27, 23, 21, 11, 00

Good Day for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  The fourth of September brings us to a new month for The Flower Challenge.  This time we have a sketch to inspire you!

The Flower Challenge

 

Great sketch with lots of potential, don't you think?  For my card, I pulled out an older favorite floral die and a newer sentiment die. 

I'm also joining in with my friends over at Just Us Girls since it is die week and my card is loaded with them.

JUGS 791

Let's take a look!

After I chose the floral and sentiment dies, I looked through my collection of cardstock and settled on a couple from Concord and 9th for the flower and one from Spellbinders (one of my new favs!).  After die cutting, I ink blended some shading on both the flower petal layers and the leaves, although that's mostly hidden.  The flower was put together then set aside as I worked on the sentiment and background.

An A2 panel of Blue Spruce was die cut with an Altenew frame die, ink blended with a dark blue and a dark teal around the edges, then adhered it to an A2 kraft panel.  After die cutting the sentiment and flower center from matte gold, all the elements were added to the card front.  I found some gold sequins that matched the metallic paper, and that finished things off.

What are you inspired to create with our sketch?  For more inspiration, I encourage you to visit the challenge blog, where my talented teammates have some amazing cards to share.  The challenge remains open until the 25th of the month; I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Honey Bee Stamps Lovely Layers:  Coneflower
• Altenew Timeless Sentiments 2 and Mix & Match Frames dies
• C&9 Sprout and Nectar cardstock and Nectar and Grapefruit ink
• Spellbinders Blue Spruce cardstock
• Altenew Brushed Gold cardstock and gold sequins
• Simon Says Stamp Limelicious, Pearfection, Ocean and Galaxy inks