Just a Note for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's Sunday, so you know what that means, it's time for a new challenge at the Paper Players.  This week the lovely Jaydee is hosting our monthly color challenge and is asking us to use only pastels.  Couldn't be more perfect for this time of year with Easter and Spring just around the corner!

The Paper Players

In hind sight, I should have worked on Easter cards but instead I used one of my older favorite Altenew flower stamps.

I love pastels but they are not my usual color choices, mainly because I love the drama of the contrast and shading I can achieve with darker colors, but I enjoyed the change. I thought it would be fun to go with pink, mint and aqua, with a dash of yellow.  I colored the floral image then went around the edges of it with a light blue marker, and used a rectangle die to trim it down.

A panel of mint cardstock was added to the middle front of the card base, then the main image popped up with foam tape.  The thing that took me the longest in making this card was choosing the sentiment and in the end I used one from the same stamp set and added it with thin foam squares.

I so look forward to seeing all the beautiful pastel cards in the gallery this week - I hope yours is one of them! Do visit the challenge blog (linked above) where my wonderfully talented teammates have some beautiful inspiration for you.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, March 14th at 3pm EDT.  

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Altenew Fragrant Florals stamps
• Altenew Featured Sentiment die
• Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics A die
• Copics - RV91, 21, 10, BG34, 32, 11, G16, 02, 00, Y08, 00, B0000

Peruvian Lilies for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  It's a special time over at The Flower Challenge because we are celebrating our 100th challenge!  And there are prizes to be won!  All you need do is create a card featuring flowers and using our theme this month which is Add Circles.

The Flower Challenge

To go along with the theme, I decided to use a Waffle Flower cover die behind my flowers.

I love this new Peruvian Lily set from Altenew, the floral bouquet is so pretty.  Did you know that the scientific name for these flowers is the Alstroemeria?  I kept looking at the stamp, thinking I didn't have any lilies such as this in my garden (and we have many!) so I looked it up.  Alstroemeria are used extensively in cut flower arrangements because they are long-lasting.  And very pretty too.

So, on to the actual creation of the card.  After stamping the image, I used the simple coloring stencils with two colors per petal and leaf to create some dimension, then it was die cut with the matching die.  The sentiment is also from the same stamp set and was die cut with its matching die as well.

The Ring Panel cover die was cut from a panel of white and layered on the card base.  I tucked the end of the stem underneath a corner of it, then added foam tape under the flowers and the sentiment.  The final touch was to add some sapphire gems.

I hope you're excited to play along and share how you add rings to your card, and for further inspiration, look no further than my very talented teammates over on the challenge blog (linked above).  More information about how the prize winners will be chosen is over there along with photos of the prizes. The challenge will remain open until Tuesday, March 25th. Hope to see you there!

Thanks for visiting and take care.

Stef

• Altenew Peruvian Lily stamps, dies and stencils
• Waffle Flower Ring Panel cover die
• Altenew Water Hyacinth, Indigo Skies, Honeydew Glow, Lemonade Stand, Firefly and Mountain Pine inks
• Lucy's Little Things Dark Sapphire gems

Best Day for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  Here we are at the first Sunday in March and the Paper Players have a new challenge for you.  The lovely Claire is hosting our theme challenge and she has chosen spring flowers.  You know I'm here for that!

The Paper Players

 

I decided to use a stamp set I have had for at least a year and I don't believe I've ever used it.  Anyway, with lots of flowers, I thought it would work great for this challenge.

The stamp was specifically designed for the matching oval dies, as you can tell (unfortunately, it's no longer available).  The wreath was stamped and colored with Copic and Olo markers in my favorite bright colors.  Before die cutting I stamped the sentiment on the same piece and thought I had it straight but after die cutting I realized, even using my stamp positioner, I managed to stamp it crooked lol!  So, the oval was cut and matted on a pink oval, then I stamped the sentiment on a scrap of white, fussy cut around it and added it with foam tape.

Next a white panel was embossed with a wood planks folder, adhered to the base, then I added a bright yellow strip that matched the yellow flowers.  The oval was popped up on foam tape and I decided there was enough going on with all the bright flowers that embellies weren't needed.

So, for my northern hemisphere friends, are you as ready for spring as I am? No matter what hemisphere you're living in, we'd love to have you pull out your favorite spring flowers and share them with us this week!  For more inspiration, my wonderfully talented teammates have a some gorgeous cards over on the challenge blog (linked above).  

I do hope you'll play along - the challenge will remain open until Friday, March 7th at 3pm EST.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes stamps (retired)
• Spellbinders Stylish Oval dies
• Honey Bee Stamps Wood Plank embossing folder
• Copics - BG49, 13, 23, 11, YG 67, 63, 61, V09, 06, 04, 01, YR23, 15, 13 (yellow), YR18, 16, 09, Y17 (orange)
• Olos - RV 1.7, 1.5, 1.3, 1.1, BV 1.7, 1.4, 1.2, 1.1, YG 1.6, 1.4, 1.2

 

Especially For Color Hues

Hello friends!  Here we are at the first of March and we have a new challenge for you at Color Hues.  This time the amazing Carol is hosting and has chosen a lovely color combo as we edge closer to Spring.

Color Hues

I'm also sharing over at Seize the Birthday, where my CH teammate Jules is hosting with a toppings theme of No Stamping.  I used dies and a foiled sentiment on my card.

STB #100

Today I have another one of the modern floral die cuts to share, this time it's one from Spellbinders.

The leafy vines were die cut from sage cardstock, then I used Copic markers to add shading.  For the flowers, I added a light of amount of shading before adhering the matte gold centers.

Next came the background.  For that a panel of Neenah Natural White was die cut with the Simon Says Stamp Double Plaid Cover die.  It's an off white paper and stands out a little more against the white card base, and I like that the die cut looks like a trellis.  The floral die cuts were adhered to the card, then the sentiment and some sparkly gold gems were added to finish things off.

What are you inspired to create with these two colors?  If you need more ideas, then pop over to the challenge (linked above) where my immensely talented teammates and wonderful guest designer Nance have loads of beautiful cards to inspire you!  The challenge remains open until Friday, March 14th at 9 am EST and I hope you'll take time to join us!

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Spellbinders Fresh Picked Daisies die set
• SSS Double Plaid Cover die
• Spellbinders Fancy Sentiments Press Plate 
• SSS Sage and Matte Gold cardstock
• Honey Bee Stamps Marvelous Moments gems
• Copics - YG67, 45, 41, W1

   

Sweet Jasmine Birthday for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge at the Paper Players and this week I am hosting and have created a sketch that I hope will inspire you to play along.

Paper Players

 

I'm also playing along with the Anything Goes portion of the challenge at Seize the Birthday.

STB #299

I kept it fairly simple to give everyone lots of creative options.  For my card I used....drum roll....flowers!  What, not surprised? 😅

The floral spray was stamped in a very light brown, then I used the matching stencils to color it in.  They are simple coloring stencils so I added shading to the leaves, flower centers and the part of the bud closest to the stem.  

For the kraft panel, I ran it through my Betterpress with a wood press plate, using that same light brown ink.  I trimmed it down then used a slightly darker ink around the outside edge before adhering to the card front.  The flower image was layered on two additional die cuts for a bit of dimension, then the sentiment added with thin foam tape.  I rummaged through my box of twine and found a hemp twine for a bow to finish things off.

So, what are you inspired to make with this sketch?  It could be used innumerable ways and I look forward to seeing your interpretation in the gallery! But before you run off to your craft room, please head over to the challenge (linked above) to see how my super talented teammates have used it.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, February 28th at 3pm EST.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Altenew Sweet Jasmine Stamp, Die and Stencils
• Altenew Essential Textures:  Wood Press Plate
• Simon Says Stamp Silhouette Sentiments stamp and die
• SSS Latte and Cappuccino inks
• Altenew Baby Pink, Fuchsia, Magenta, Citrus Burst, Honey Drizzle, Lime and Green Onyx inks

Whimsical Flower Vine for Color Hues

Hello friends!  Yes, a second post for me today because it's time for a new challenge at Color Hues. (If you're here for my DT post for the Paper Players, you can find it here)  The amazing Bonnie is hosting this week and has chosen the color combo of coral and yellow.

Color Hues

I love nearly all colors, but I have to admit coral is a bit of a struggle for me, and I have no idea why.  But nevertheless, I made a fun little card using my default - flowers!

Last fall I'd purchased a couple of these modern floral design die sets and thought I'd use this one from Altenew (watch for the other one from Spellbinders, it will be coming soon!).  It certainly was easy to put together once the die cutting was complete and I added it to a panel where I'd inked up a bit of light yellow ink blending so the white leaves would be more visible.  But the card needed a little somethin' somethin' since die cut doesn't fill a full card front, so I layered up a frame and the helped a lot.

Since the frame was black I thought a black sentiment strip would work well along with a few black enamel dots.  But still...it needed something more, so I added the Baker's Twine and called it good!  

We'd love to have you join us for Bonnie's challenge and I encourage you to visit the challenge blog for loads of wonderful inspiration from my very talented teammates and our guest designer,  Teresa.  The challenge remains open until Thursday 2/27 at 9 am EST.  I do hope you'll play along!

Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Stef

• Altenew Whimsical Flower Vine and Picture Frames dies
• Simon Says Stamp sentiment strip
• Concord & 9th Sorbet cardstock
• SSS Lemon Chiffon cardstock
• Altenew Lemon Ice ink
• Altenew Essential Black and White enamel dots

Geo Happy Birthday for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's Sunday and you know what that means - a new challenge at the Paper Players.  This week Jan is hosting our CAS challenge with a theme of masculine cards.

Paper Players

 

Like many, I struggle with creating masculine cards.  But one of my fall backs is to use geometrics.  For todays card, I used a geometric foil plate and matching stencils that has been retired, but there are many stencils and stamps available for creating something similar.

The geometric pattern was created with silver foil on a Spellbinders Glimmer machine, as was the sentiment.  I then used the matching stencils to create the colored pattern.  There are three stencils but I only used two because I liked leaving part of the pattern white.  I actually made creating four cards in one day using this and another geometric foil plate/stencil set and different colors.

After the stenciling was complete I used a rectangle die to trim down the panel and adhered it to a white card base.  The sentiment was layered on two additional die cuts then added to the card.  This is a ridiculously simple design, but I like the clean and crisp look to it.

So glad you came by and I encourage you to visit the challenge blog because my talented teammates have loads for masculine card inspiration for you.  The challenge ends on Friday, Feb 21st at 3pm EST. I hope you'll join us!

Stef

• Pinkfresh Studio Geo Tiles hot foil plate and stencils
• PS Fancy Script Words hot foil plate and die
• Altenew Water Dyacinth and Alpine Aster Fresh Dye inks
• Spellbinders Glimmer hot foil in silver

Festive Poinsettias for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm here today sharing my reminder card for The Flower Challenge, where this month we are featuring the color pink.

The Flower Challenge

 

Earlier this month my card for TFC was a bold vibrant pink birthday card.  This time I took the opportunity to add to my stash of Christmas cards.

A couple of months ago I purchased this beautiful poinsettia Betterpress, intending to use it for 2024 Christmas cards, but it never got inked up.  So I thought it would be fun to make a card with pink poinsettias.  I was in somewhat of a hurry to get this card done, so after inking it up in black pigment ink, I clear heat embossed it, then used the stencils to color the images.

The panel was trimmed down and splattered with a bit of white paint, then added to the silver panel after drying.  The sentiment is from an old package of foiled holiday sentiments, which was popped up on foam tape over the foiled strip.  It was quite easy to make, so I made a second one only using red rather than pink.

If you haven't yet had a chance to join us this month, why not take a moment to pop over to the challenge for more inspiration from the design team, then head on into your craft room!  We'd love to see your card (or a 2nd card!) in the gallery.  The challenge remains open until 2/25.

Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Stef

• Spellbinders Festive Poinsettias Betterpress plate and stencils
• Pinkfresh Studio Foiled Sentiments 4 Holiday
• Altenew Baby Pink, Fuchsia, Magenta, Grass Field, Mountain Pine & Sunray inks
• Simon Says Stamp Rhubarb, Cranberry, Latte, Cappuccino and Mocha inks