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

Pumpkin Patch for Color Hues

Hello friends!  The first of the month has rolled around again (can you believe it???) and Color Hues has a new challenge.  The lovely Karen is hosting and has chosen a lovely color combo of orange and green.  Hmmm, rather fall-ish to me...🍃🎃.

Color Hues

As you can tell from the title of my post, I definitely went for a fall scene and used a sweet Bundle girl from Stamping Bella.

The scene was stamped, then before coloring with my Copics, the sky was stenciled using a light orange ink and a cloud stencil.  I completed the coloring, stamped the sentiment and die cut the panel with a rectangle die.  The panel was then added to a green matte that was barely larger than the colored panel.  

I added that to the card base, then as I was photographing it, I wondered to myself, where is all the green?  Frankly, there wasn't much because I opted to color the little girl's outfit in brown rather than green, and the leaves and the mat didn't provide much.  I think I lost my mind for a short time while creating this card lol!  Anybody else have those days?

A plaid cover die to the rescue!  It was cut with a Tim Holtz cover die, adhered to the card base, then the main image was added to finish the card.  Finally!

Thanks for taking time to stop by! I encourage you to pop over to the challenge blog where my very talented teammates have a variety of card design using these colors.  The challenge remains open until Sunday, 9/14 at 3pm EDT.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Stef

• Stamping Bella Bundle Girl at the Pumpkin Patch and Frightful & Delightful sentiment set stamps
• MFT Mini Cloud Edges die
• Hero Arts Nesting Rectangle die
• Tim Holtz Simple Plaid cover die
• Copics:  Pumpkin - YR18, 24, 09, 07, 16, Y38 E57, 35; Leaves YG67, 17, 03; Skin E11, 21, 00; Hat, Jacket and Boots E77, 74, 71; Scarf T2, 0; Ground E31, 41

Poinsettia Swag for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's the fifth Sunday of the month (bye, bye August!) and that means it's time for our Tic Tac Toe challenge at the Paper Players.  This time the amazing Joanne is hosting and has created a really great TTT board!

Paper Players

I chose to use the middle column - flowers, free and word die - to create another Christmas card for my stash.

I went searching through my holiday stamps and found this lovely poinsettia swag from Simon Says Stamp.  The image was stamped twice and I colored the flower from one and the leaves and berries from the other, which were then die cut.  The flower was fussy cut then added to the leaf and berry image with thin foam tape.  

The die cut sentiment is one of my favorites and I found it already die cut and adhered to the vellum base.  White just seemed too boring for the background, so I used a piece of Spellbinders Chiffon cardstock after embossing it with the SB Tufted 3D folder. Everything was added to a white card base, then I opted to use some gorgeous gems for the flower center to really glam things up.  I love how this turned out!

Won't you come play along this week?  There are so many great options on Joanne's TTT board and you'll have until Friday, September 5th at 3pm EDT to join in.  My wonderfully talented teammates have some great inspiration for you over on the challenge blog, so please take a moment to check it out!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• SSS Poinsettia Swag stamp and die
• SSS Flourished Merry Christmas dies
• Spellbinders Tufted ef
• Spellbinders Chiffon cardstock
• Lawn Fawn Pearlized Vellum
• SSS Prism Dazzling gems

Big B-Day Vibes for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge at the Paper Players and this week the fabulous Jaydee is hosting our monthly sketch challenge and she's created great one with lots of options.

Paper Players

 

I decided to work on adding to my pile of masculine birthday cards, of which I never seem to have enough.

This card, which is a gatefold shape, was super-duper simple to create, as you can see.  In hindsight, the only thing I wish I would have added was some twine around the middle piece before adding to the card.  Maybe next time, if I make more.

I started with the patterned paper, which is from an 2008 paper pad by  Basic Grey.  It's been a great source for masculine/boy paper designs and I still have a few pieces I'm hoarding holding onto.  I trimmed it down to A2 size then cut it in the middle to fit each side of my gatefold. After ink blending brown all around the outside edges, I die cut two decorative strips from a grungy orange panel from the same paper pad and added them to each side of the card front.

The middle piece was created with a wood plank die.  I made two, cut them in half, then used 3 of the 4 pieces.  I arranged them onto a small square, which was then added to the left side of the gatefold.  The sentiment was added with a bit of thin foam tape and that finished things off.  A bit plain but I hope the gate fold and the paper add enough interest for the recipient.

Thanks for stopping by and I encourage you to visit the challenge blog, where my talented teammates have some fabulous and varied takes on this sketch for your inspiration!  The challenge remains open until Friday, August 29th at 3pm EDT.  Hope to see your card in the gallery!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Big Old Birthday stamp and die
• SSS Wood Plank die
• Basic Grey Archaic paper pad
• MFT Fine Finish Edge die

Meowy Christmas for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  We have a fun new challenge over at the Paper Players this week!  The amazing Elizabeth is hosting our Clean and Simple challenge and is asking us to use critters on our cards.  

Paper Players

You can use any type of critter as long as you keep your card CAS - minimal layers and embellishments, simple and uncluttered with plenty of "white" space.

I'm continuing to work on my holiday card stash and I also used a stamp set that I've had for nearly, cough, cough...five years and have never used.  I figured it was high time to do so, and I'll be sharing over at Darnell's NBUS challenge.

Having had cats for at least half of my life, I couldn't love that sentiment more!  It makes me giggle, as does that very tense looking kitty (who knows what's in his cup???).  The cat was stamped then I did very simple coloring with my Copics before fussy cutting.  

The frame was die cut 3 times, twice from white and once from red metallic, then layered together on top of the Sea Glass card base.  The white center portion was stamped with the sentiment, layered inside the frame, then the cat was added with thin foam tape. 

I had cut three Christmas lights from another stamp in the set, colored them, then covered them with Glossy Accents. They, along with some torn up pine needles were added to the floor beneath the cat.  (sorry, they're a bit hard to make out; they're more visable IRL) Those darn cats will make such a mess of your holiday decorations if left unattended, as any cat owner will tell you! 

I hope you'll share your CAS critter card with us this week!  Before you head off to your crafty space, I encourage you to check out what the other DT members came up with (they're so talented!).  The challenge remains open until Friday, August 22nd at 3pm EDT.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp/Tim Holtz Stamptember 2020 stamp set (this set isn't available any longer but TH has other Snarky Cats stamps available at SSS or other retailers, if you have a warped sense of humor as I do lol!)
• Tim Hold Mini Holiday Greens die
• Waffle Flower Nesting Piercing Ticket Frames die
• Copics - R59, 37, 35, T4, 2, 0, C3, 1, 0, Y11, B00
• Olos - G1.7, 1.5, 1.4