Full of Thanks for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  I just want to thank everyone who joined in my theme challenge at the Paper Players last week - we had some amazing cards in the gallery!  And now it is time for a new challenge that the wonderful Claire is hosting.  It's a color challenge and she's chosen a beautiful palette that makes me think of fall.

Paper Players

In looking through my autumn/fall stamps and dies, I found one that hadn't been used in a couple of years and thought it would work perfectly with these colors.  Except for a slight booboo I made...and fixed.

I began with stamping and Copic coloring the autumnal spray with the challenge colors, except I forgot that the only green was Old Olive.  I finished up and then it dawned on me that the bright yellow green I used on some of the leaves wasn't going to work.  Fortunately, alcohol markers are transparent, so I was able to use another color to glaze over the parts that weren't olive and avoided a redo.  After that, the image was die cut.

I wanted to keep things simple, so a panel of white was trimmed down and lightly ink blended with a brown at the bottom and the orange above.  The sentiment was stamped and die cut before both pieces were added to the panel, which was then mounted to the card base with foam tape.  All done!

What do these colors bring to mind for you?  My wonderfully talented teammates have a wonderful array of designs with these colors, so I encourage you to pay a visit to the challenge before heading off to your crafty space.  Our challenge will remain open until Friday, August 15th at 3pm EDT.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Full of Thanks stamp and die
• Simon Says Stamp/CZ Design Clean Line Gratitude stamp and die
• Copics - YR18, 09, 07, 15, 21, R59, 39, 37, 35, YG99, 97, 95, 67, 63, 61, 17, 11, 05, 03, 01, V09, 06, 05, 01, E59, 57, 55

Blossoms Birthday for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  It's a new month and a new theme for The Flower Challenge.  This time we're asking you to use embellishments - any kind, whatever you like as long as your card features flowers.  Easy, right?

TFC

I have a frame die that was made specifically for adding sparkling gems so what could be more perfect?

I've been wanting to use the Butterfly Blossoms set from Simon Says Stamp again and thought these sweet flowers would frame up nicely, along with the tiny butterfly.  They were colored with Copic markers then die cut.  

Originally, I thought I would use a gold metallic frame, but I didn't care for how it looked and decided to go with white since I ink blended the interior with light blue.  I found some gems and looked through my blue cardstocks for something that would go with the inked frame center and the gems and chose a piece of SSS Island Blue. Sooo pretty! 

The frame was layered three times and adhered to the blue card front, then the center with the flowers and butterfly adhered was popped into the middle.  After testing out a few sentiments, I ended up with one of SSS Reverse sentiment strips, then finished things off with the beautiful gems all around the frame.

Are you ready to play along this month?  What are your favorite embellishments?  We'd love to see!  The challenge will remain open until August 25th.  Before you head off to your crafty space, I encourage you to visit the challenge, where my talented teammates have some beautiful inspiration to share with you.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• SSS Butterfly Blossoms stamps and dies
• SSS Reverse Sentiment Strips set (not sure which one, mine are all mixed together)
• Altenew Sparkle Frame
• Altenew Deep Sea Sapphire Gem Sparkles
• Copics - YR16, Y17, 08, G19, 02
• Olos - O4.6, 4.3

By the Water for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  For this week's Paper Players theme challenge, I am hosting and chose one of my favorite things to do and that is be by the water.

Paper Players

When I was young, my parents took us to the Oregon coast for a week every summer and to me, there's nothing like the ocean.  However, I also love camping beside a lake or hiking along a stream or river, just enjoying nature.  We would love to see you're favorite place by the water this week!

For my card, I used another of the Waffle Flower Postage Collage stamp sets.

I started by cutting out the individual scene panels with the Postage Collage Block die, then inked the sky in each.  I used my Misti and stamped each panel with various tropical scene stamps.  Since I was going to all this work, I did make two cards.

For both cards I used the Postage Collage die and cut it from white card stock, then adhered the panels.  The first was simply added to a black card base with foam tape.  For the second card, I found some cardstock that was similar to one of the sky colors to use for a mat before adding to a white card base.  I used the same sentiment for both, stamping, die cutting and layering on two additional die cuts for dimension.  The final touch was to add waves in each vignette using a white gel pen.

Do you have a favorite spot by the water?  I hope you'll share it with us this week.  For more inspiration, be sure to use the link above to see what my talented teammates have created for this challenge.  The challenge will remain open until 3pm EDT, Friday August 8th.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Waffle Flower Postage Collage Tropical Sunset Stamp set
• WF Postage Collage die and Block die
• Simon Says Stamp Butterfly Blossoms sentiment stamp and die
• Card #1 - Altenew Starlight, Rubellite, Mid-Yellow and Turquoise inks
• Card #2 - Altenew Dusk, Fuchsia, Sunray and Turquoise inks
• Sakura White Gelly Roll pen

Cozy Birdhouse for Color Hues

Hello friends!  The summer is sure cruising by and here it is, August 1st! Over at Color Hues we have a new challenge, this time hosted by the amazing Carol.  She has chosen a lovely combo of pink and gray.

Color Hues

Making a bunny with these colors definitely crossed my mind but instead I decided to use a couple of cute die sets to make a fun little scene.  Since the dies are new, I'll be linking up to Darnell's NBUS as well.

NBUS

I started out by inking the background using a cloud stencil and a light pink ink on an A2 panel of white.

Next all the elements were die cut from white, which were colored with a variety of inks in pink, gray and brown.  For the sentiment, I took the inkpad direct to paper, let it dry overnight, then die cut it.  

I started creating the card front with the branch, which I layered on two additional die cuts, then wrapped some hemp twine on it before adding it to the top of the panel.  The twine was pulled taut, then I used a little tape to hold it in place.

Then came the birdhouse and fun little birdies.  I put the house together first, added foam tape to the back and positioned it so that the roof hid the taped twine.  The interior panel is also cut from the die but it's hard to get it exactly centered, so next time I think I'll create a slightly larger one.  After adding the birdies, the layered die cut sentiment was centered and I was done.

I encourage you to use the link above to see what my oh, so talented teammates have created with this color combination.  After seeing all that great inspiration, I hope you'll head off to your crafty space and join us!  The challenge will remain open until Thursday, August 14th at 3pm EDT.  

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Birdies and Cozy Birdhouse die sets
• MFT Mini Cloud Edges stencil*
• MFT Hello There Dienamic set*
• SSS Mocha Cappucino and Latte inks
• Altenew Baby Pink, Pinkalicious, Rubellite, Idustrial Diamond and Pure Graphite inks

*Sadly, MFT has closed but I am guessing there may be products available online or other retailers.

Through the Window Birthday

Hello friends!  Just popping in with second post today (you can find my Paper Players DT card here).  I haven't been playing along with challenges outside of my DT duties very often lately, so I decided to join in with a couple.

Ink #346

STB #310

The toppings option at Seize the Birthday is to use your favorite color but my card doesn't amplify my favorite so I'm joining in the Anything Goes option.

I made this card a while ago for my dear SIL's birthday but never posted it and I thought it was a pretty one to share.  I used Altenew's House Plants, Boho Vases and Through the Window dies along with their Masonry Wall 3D embossing folder to create this little scene.  

I started by die cutting the window in a panel of white, then embossing it.  For the window scene, I just die some simple ink blending to create the sky and ground, adhered it behind the panel then added the dark gray window frame.  I used the same dark gray cardstock to create the big vase and backed the openings with a light blue scrap.  

The leaves were all die cut from white then ink blended with a trio of greens.  The pot was also ink blended with a light gray.  The wood shelf was cut from light brown cardstock, then I added shading with ink.  With everything added to the card, I finished things off with matte gold flower centers and a foiled sentiment.  This was a fun card to make - these dies are fabulous!

Thanks for taking time to stop by!  I'll be back at the end of the week with a new DT card for Color Hues.  In the meantime, take care!

Stef

• Altenew Houseplants, Boho Vases and Through the Window dies
• Altenew Masonry Wall 3d ef
• Simon Says Stamp Wood Plank die
• Spellbinders Fancy Sentiment Betterpress plate
• Altenew Rhodolite, Silver Stone, Sea Breeze, Moss, Fresh Leaf and Lime inks

Beautiful Day for the Paper Players

Hello friends! This week at the Paper Players, the lovely Jan is hosting our monthly sketch challenge.  Here's what she came up with.

Paper Players

I tried out different ideas but nothing seemed appealing to me, so I went with a CAS deconstructed and minimalist interpretation of the sketch. Jan, I apologize if I've gotten a little loose in my interpretation lol! 

I was looking through my floral stamp sets and saw this image that would fit across the entire panel, letting the flowers represent the circle.  It was stamped, stenciled and die cut. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.  

For the background, I wanted some detailed embossing for all the white space and decided to use a tile motif embossing folder.  It was trimmed down slightly before adhering to the card base.  The flowers were added with foam tape, and I finished things off with some pretty green gems that matched the leaves. 

What are you inspired to make with Jan's fabulous sketch?  I encourage you to pop over to the challenge and see the variety of designs my talented teammates came up with.  The challenge remains open until 3pm EDT Friday, August 1st.  I hope to see your card in the gallery this week!

Take care!

Stef

• Altenew Craft Your Life Project Kit: Hello Beautiful stamp, stencil and die
• Altenew Featured Sentiment die
• Spellbinders Tiled Motif embossing folder
• Honey Bee Stamps Vintage Love gems

Birdie Hello for the Paper Players

Hello friends! I have a fun little card to share with you for the new challenge at the Paper Players.  This time, the lovely LeAnne is hosting our CAS challenge with the theme of using things with wheels.  Pretty fun, huh?

Paper Players

As I was combing through potential stamp and die sets, I remembered a favorite Stampin' Up cling rubber stamp set that retired years ago.  It has a fun little scene that includes wheels.  Take a look!

I stamped the image without its accompanying sentiment (in fact, I used my oldie but goodie red rubber scissors to trim it off) on a small panel of white cardstock.  Before coloring, I used a cloud stencil and also added a bit of blue around the sides.  I used a light hand so it's a bit hard to see in the photo.  After the coloring was done, the panel was cut with a square postage die.

I found some cardstock that was close in color to the wagon and used a cover die that added a tulip piercing pattern and die cut little hearts.  It was then cut with a postage rectangle die and added to the card base.  A sentiment was stamped on the image square before mounting it on the card using foam tape.  I thought a little enamel heart would look cute, carrying on the theme from the background, and found a wee yellow one that I added to the upper right corner.  

There are so many possibilities with this theme, I hope you'll play along this week.  Just remember to keep it clean and simple.  My talented teammates have a variety of amazing examples, so I encourage you to use the link above and check it out.  The challenge will remain open until 3pm EDT Friday 7/25.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Stampin' Up For the Birds stamp (retired)
• Altenew Happy Eight mini stamp (sentiment)
• Pinkfresh Studio Tulip Love Coverplate die
• MFT Mini Cloud stencil
• Simon Says Stamp Postage Edge dies
• Altenew Eastern Sky ink, Ultramarine cardstock and Citrus Punch enamel heart
• Copics - B28, 26, 24, 23,21, C9, 7. 5, 3, 1, 0, W3, 1, 0, Black 100, Y15, 11, RV 06, 02 YR 09, 04, YG17, 05

Sunny Hello for Color Hues

Hello friends!  Today starts a new challenge at Color Hues.  This time the lovely Bonnie is hosting and she has chosen a wonderful color combination.

For a nanosecond I thought about doing something other than a floral card, but fortunately that thought passed quickly lol!

I dug through all my sunflower stamps and dies, and found this oldie but goodie from Colorado Craft Company.  It's one of their Big and Bold images and it works well with either a 5" square (with a little trimming) or an A7 size, which is what I went with.  I used my Copic and Olo markers for the coloring then die cut it with the matching die.

For the background a panel of Spellbinders Beeswax cardstock was cut down with one of their matting basics dies, then I used a couple of ink colors to blend around the edges.  I admit to getting a little enthusiastic while doing that I didn't leave much of the cardstock color.  The trellis is actually an A7 plaid cover die that I trimmed down to fit on the panel.  Once everything was adhered to the card base, I added the sentiment and a few gems.  Last came the white gel pen and some clear shimmer on the flower petals, but I don't think it's visible in the photos.

This is a great summer color combo - just wait until you see what my talented teammates came up with!  Use the link above to visit the challenge and then I hope you'll head off to your crafty space and play along with us!  The challenge will remain open until 3pm EDT Tuesday, July 29th.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• CCC Ukraine's Sunflower stamp and die
• Simon Says Stamp Hi There Greetings
• Honey Bee Stamps Plaid A7 Cover die (base)
• Spellbinders 5x7 Matting Basics A die
• SB Beeswax cardstock
• Ink - Altenew Lemonade Stand and SSS Honey
• Copics - YR27, 23, Y15, 11, E59, 37, 39, 33
• Olos - 8.7, 8.5, 8.3

Flourishing Blooms #2 for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm here with my mid-month reminder card for The Flower Challenge.  This month we're asking everyone to use the colors in the prompt, which are orange and aqua/cyan.

As I shared in my post at the first of the month, I used the huge Flourishing Blooms stamp from Altenew and got three panels from a full sheet of cardstock and this card was made from one of the two smaller panels.

I trimmed the stenciled panel down from it's original A2 size, then added a sentiment from the same stamp set. I really like that the sentiments are flourished in some manner as well, to kind of match up with the flourished leaves.  The panel was layered directly onto an orange card base, gems were added and I was done!

You still have 10 days to play along, so what are you waiting for?  The team has more inspiration for you at the challenge blog (linked above) and you'll have until July 25th to join in or add a 2nd card.  

Thanks for stopping by.  Take care!

Stef

• Altenew Flourishing Blooms stamps and stencils
• Altenew Dew Drops, Aqualicious, Galactic Stream, Chamomile, Snapdragon and Mandarin Burst inks
• SSS Surf Dazzling Gems and Creamsicle cardstock

Charming Bouquet for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  This week at the Paper Players, the lovely Ann is hosting our color challenge and has chosen a delightful combination.

Paper Players

With these gorgeous colors, I couldn't do anything but a floral *wink* but I did step out of my usual A2 card and created a gatefold.

The gatefold card base was made months ago (dare I say over a year ago?) for an unfinished project, and I was happy to finally put it to use.  The card is 5" square with embossed panels of 2.5" each on either flap.  I used the Simon Says Stamp Petal-Tipped Labels to create layers for my floral image and sentiment.

The stamp was a gift from Altenew but any small/mini set would work for this.  It didn't come with a die, so when the Copic coloring was complete, I fussy cut it and used thin foam tape to add it to the petal label die cut. After adding the sentiment, the entire thing was adhered to just the left side of the front. I added a panel to the inside that was stamped in pale purple-pink, with the floral image going off the upper left hand corner. The last step was to add a few gems.

This is such a pretty color combination, I look for to seeing what everyone creates.  I hope your card will be in the gallery, which will remain open until Friday July 18th at 3pm EDT.  Before you head out, I encourage you to visit the challenge (linked above) and see all the beautiful inspiration from my talented teammates!

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Altenew Charming Bouquet stamp
• Altenew Modern Squares 3D embossing folder
• Altenew One Go: Solid Sentiment Strips 2 press plate and die
• Honey Bee Stamps Marvelous Moments gems
• Copics - Y06, Y26, RV66, 55, 63, 52, BG49, 13, 11

For the Record for the Paper Players

Hello friends! Today begins a new challenge at the Paper Players and I am hosting this week, stepping in for the lovely Joanne so she could enjoy a well-deserved vacation.  She chose the theme of using circles on our cards.  Very easy to do, with sooo many ways to use circles.

Paper Players

I hit some crafty sales a couple of months ago and found the perfect stamp and die sets for this challenge, so I'll be sharing once again with Darnell over at NBUS #76 (which stands for Never Before Used Schtuff).

Isn't that a fun card?  All the stamps and dies are from Concord & 9th. I thought these were such a clever products that could be used for most ages.  

I started with the background stamp.  It's a rather clever design where you stamp it one direction then turn it 180 degrees then stamp it again to fill in the entire background.  I also used a little stamp around some of the records, which to me looks like the record player beneath of it. 

Next all the dies were cut, the sub-sentiment stamped, then everything added to the card front.  This card will be headed to my BIL next month but I think the products are generic enough to use for anyone. 

I'm looking forward to seeing all the gallery cards and how everyone chose to use circles.  I hope you'll join us this week, the challenge remains open until 3pm EDT Friday July 11th.  But before you dash off, please make a stop at the challenge blog where my talented teammates have used circles in a wide of array of designs.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• C & 9 For the Record stamps and dies
• C & 9 Greatest Hits stamp
• C & 9 Oceanside and Sunflower cardstocks
• Altenew Aqualicious and Lemonade Stand inks

Bloom With Happiness for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  It's a new month over at the Flower Challenge and this time we have a color challenge.

The Flower Challenge

I love this combination of orange and aqua/light blue and decided to use a beautiful floral stamp that I had yet to ink up.  

The stamp is Altenew's Flourishing Bouquet and it is ginormus, so large I had to use my Memory Misti and a full sheet of white cardstock.  The cool thing is that you can then cut the panel in quarters and have four card fronts, so that is why I decided to get it.  

After stamping I used the coordinating stencils to color the image.  I made a boo boo using the first stencil, inking up a leaf in orange, and I couldn't fix that.  So, I completed the remainder of the stenciling, then cut the panel in half so that I could get one 5" x 7" panel from the side with the mistake and two A2 panels from the other (one of which you'll see for my reminder card on the 15th).  I stamped the sentiment, added the larger panel to an A7 card base and finished it off with some gems.  I do love this to bits, with the flourished image in these colors!

What are you inspired to make with these colors?  I think our gallery will be beautiful this month and I hope you'll add your card to it!  Be sure to visit the challenge where my amazingly talented teammates have some beautiful cards to share.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, July 25th.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Stef

PS Happy Independence Day to all those in the US!

• Altenew Flourishing Bouquet stamps and stencils
• Kristina Werner Kristina's Essential Dies
• Altenew Dew Drops, Aqualicious, Galactic Stream, Chamomile, Snapdragon and Mardarin Burst inks
• SSS Surf Dazzling Diamonds

I'm Killin' It for Color Hues

Hello friends! Okay, I try to refrain from saying this every month, but can you believe it's the first of a new month? And that we're halfway through 2025? It's true, and the good news is that we have a new challenge at Color Hues.  The fabulous Tracey is hosting this time and has chosen the great color duo of red and white.

Color Hues

 

And since I am using multiple new products I'm linking up to Darnell's NBUS Challenge here.

I am especially fond of Art Impressions stamps with humor and I picked up one earlier this year and thought it would work perfectly for this challenge.

Love this cranky old lady and I find the sentiment so funny!  I stamped her and the sentiment on a panel of die cut white, then set about coloring her with Copic markers.  I used a Copic Acrea paint marker in Snow White to add the polka dots on her hat and the stripes on her balloon.  Unlike most white gel pen, the paint marker doesn't absorb the ink colors underneath, so it's one of my new favorite tools!

I used a polka dot background stamp on the card base, then added the matted arch with our birthday gal and called it done.

Thanks for taking time to stop by!  For oodles of inspiration from my highly talented teammates and our guest designer, Kim Miller, please head over to the challenge and check it out!  Hopefully you'll join us for Tracey's challenge, it will remain open until Monday, July 14th at 3pm EDT.

Stef

• Art Impressions Never Too Old Laugh Lines stamps
• Simon Says Stamp Swiss Dots Background stamp
• SSS Nested Domed Arches dies
• Copic Acrea Paint Marker in Snow White
• Copics - R59, 39, 37, 35, 21, C9, 7, 5, 3, 0, T2, 0, W3, 1, Black 100, E11, 21, 00

Lakeside Birthday for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  The Paper Players are back with a new challenge and since this is the 5th Sunday of the month, the amazing Jaydee is hosting our Tic Tac Toe challenge.  She's created a wonderful board with lots of great choices.

Paper Players

I'm also joining in with Seize the Birthday, where the toppings is to use a silhouette on your birthday card.

STB #308

From the TTT board, I chose the center column - something that flies, die cut and layers - but it could easily go across the bottom row as well.

I'm quite smitten with these Waffle Flower Postage Collage products, so this won't be the last you'll see in the next few weeks.  When I lived in Oregon, our house was about a mile from a National Wildlife Refuge, so my husband and I would frequently walk the 3.5 mile path around it. There were always herons, storks, ducks, geese, hawks, eagles, deer, frog, etc. (depending on the time of year, of course) and when I saw this particular Lake Sunset stamp set, it reminded me of those times (except no waterlilies there). I also used a couple of bird stamps from two other PC sets. 

I used the Postage Collage Blocks die, which cut out the little panels, that were then ink blended before adding the silhouette images.  The Postage Collage die was cut from a white panel and then the little panels were added using foam tape.  The sentiment is from an Altenew mini stamp set.  The postage panel was matted with an aqua panel then added to the card front.  I didn't add any of the postage elements, such as first class or the cancellation mark, because I just love the wildlife scene as is, but it's always an option for another card.

The Tic Tac Toe challenge is always fun, with so many options for creating, I do hope you'll join us this week.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, July 4th at 3pm EDT (Happy Independence Day to those in the US!).  But before you head off, please take a minute to pop over to the challenge blog for a bevy of inspiration from my talented teammates.  

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Waffle Flower Postage Collage Lake Sunset, Forest Sunset and Wild Birds stamps
• WF Postage Collage die and Blocks die
• Altenew Regal Frame sentiment stamp
• Altenew Aloe Vera, Matcha Tea, Dew Drop and Aqualicious inks

Cast A Spell for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's Sunday and we have a new challenge at the Paper Players.  This week, the amazing Elizabeth is hosting our sketch challenge and asking everyone to make a true one-layer card.  That's right, no layers allowed.

Paper Players

Since this is sketch week and not CAS week, the design I came up with is definitely not clean, although technically it is pretty simple.  Let's take a look!

Colorful, yes?  Also, cute, right?  I adore so many of the stamps from Whimsy Stamps, but especially this wizard with his little dragon and the cute frog!!  

Anyway, I started with a white card base and since I needed a landscape layout, it became a sidefold.  After stamping and masking the images, I opened the card, laid it flat and taped off the back so I could ink blend on the front, using Distress inks in green, blue and purple.

Next, the masks were removed and I colored the images with Copic markers.  I did lean on a couple of samples by amazing Jennifer Dove on the web site, for shading ideas.  Once the coloring was done, I put the masks back over the images, then splattered the background using a paint brush dipped in an iridescent spray.  

I love how this turned out.  The funny thing is that cutting out the masks was some of the most time-consuming things about the card.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  My fabulously talented teammates have lots of wonderful cards for your inspiration, so I encourage you to visit the blog before heading off to your crafty space.  The challenge will be open until 3pm EDT Friday, June 27th.  I hope to see your card in the gallery! 

Take care!

Stef

• Whimsy Stamps Cast a Spell and Create Magic stamp sets
• Hero Arts White Iridescent spray
• Chipped Sapphire, Wilted Violet and Twisted Citron Distress inks
• Copics:  Hats and robe - B39, 37, 34, 32, Y15, T4, 2, 0; Beard - C03, 01, 0; Wand - E77, 74, 71, YG67, 17, 05, 01; Book/Shoes - E79, 77, 74, 71; Dragon - V09, 06, 04, 01, YG05, Y15; Frog - YG67, 17, 05, 01, T2, 0