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