You Rock! for Color Hues

Hello, my friends!  Can you believe half the year is gone by already? I can almost hear the wind whistling in my ears as the year seems to be flying by lol!

Anyway, let's get down to business.  It's time for a new challenge at Color Hues and the amazing Julie is hosting.  She's chosen a lovely color combination.

Color Hues

These colors would work beautifully for a wedding or anniversary card, but I decided to go a different direction.  Take a look!

Once again, I am filling the need of masculine birthday cards.  This one, with the Retro Radio from Concord & 9th went to my nephew Ron a while back. When he was young, he and my sister lived with my parents and me for a time.  My mom had an old cream-colored radio she always listened to during the day, which inspired this card.  He and I both had a good time reminiscing about that memory on his birthday.

The radio components were die cut from glossy black, matte gold and off-white cardstock.  The music notes are also part of the die set.  The You Rock sentiment, heat embossed in gold and off-set layered on black, is from the coordinating stamp set.  

All the components were super easy to put together but I felt like the card needed a little something more. I die cut a frame from both gold and black, and, as you can see the black won out. It seemed to bring it all together better. I know I'll be making at least two more cards with this die set for each of my BILs, so it may make an appearance in a future post.

Thanks for taking time to visit!  I encourage you to visit the challenge blog, where my talent teammates have some beautiful inspiration for you.  The challenge will remain open until Tuesday, July 14th at 9am EDT.  I hope you'll join us!

Stef

• Concord & 9th Retro Radio Stamps and Dies
• Simon Says Stamp A2 Nesting Frames die
• SSS Glossy Black and Matte Gold cardstock
• Neenah Natural White cardstock

Petal Path Birthday for the Paper Players #785

Hello friends!  Today at the Paper Players we have our monthly color challenge. The delightful Claire is hosting and she chose a gorgeous color challenge.

Paper Players

I decided to try out a new die set using these colors, so I'll be sharing over at Darnell's Never Before Used Schtuff monthly challenge.

NBUS

I just love this color combination!

 

The Concord & 9th Petal Path die was used to create this card. The die cuts all the pieces in one pass, so I ran it through the die cut machine with each cardstock color and white.  When deciding on the cardstock to use, I was pleased to find I still had a couple of pieces of Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grape.  For the green I used Simon Says Stamp Granny Apple and substituted C&9 Aqua Sky for Coastal Cabana.

Before inlaying all the die cut pieces, I put the aqua panel into my Misti and stamped one of the sentiments from the coordinating stamp set in Aqua Sky ink.  This panel was layered on the white die cut panel for a little dimension then adhered to the card base.  I used two layers for the tulips and some of the flowers.  

For the second layer of the tulips, I first adhered just the stem then added a small piece of foam tape under the leafs. The tulips were glued just at the base then popped up with foam tape.  

I was going to add gems but it seemed to fussy with this playful design, so I added a bit of sparkle on all the flowers with a shimmer pen and called it done.

How will you use these colors?  Before you head off to your crafty space, take a moment to visit the challenge blog where the other DT members have some gorgeous inspiration for you.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, May 17th at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

Beautiful Day for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's the fourth Sunday of the month and that means a sketch challenge over at the Paper Players.  I'm hosting this week and I've created a sketch that should give you lots of options for your card.

Paper Players

I'm also sharing my card over at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where they are looking for feminine cards.

I really love wreaths and thought the wide-open space on the right side of the sketch would work well for one.

The wreath is from Concord & 9th's Briar & Blooms die set and the banner sentiment is from the matching stamp set.  The wreath, along with the layering leaves and flowers, was die cut from colored cardstock, then I did some ink blending to give them more depth and dimension.

I took my color inspiration from the strip of plaid paper, which was part of an old paper pack from MFT.  The light purple paper was embossed with a floral design, then both pieces were adhered to the card base, with a strip of white to cover the seam.

I had to chuckle because this is my sketch and I almost forgot the shape at the lower right.  I wanted something small, which I found in an older Mama Elephant sentiment set.  The smallest die from a Hexagon die set worked beautifully to die cut the sentiment.  

After gluing the wreath to the card front, a bit of foam tape was added beneath the large purple flowers and also the center of the banner.  The happy birthday was also popped up with foam tape. Then, to finish things off, tiny little gems were added to the tiny little flowers for some pretty sparkle.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Be sure to take a moment to visit the challenge blog for some wonderful inspiration by my talented teammates!  The challenge will remain open until Friday, May 1st at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll join us this week!

Stef

• Concord & 9th Briar & Blooms stamp and die sets
• Mama Elephant Mini Everyday Messages stamp set
• Simon Says Stamp Tiny Flora embossing folder
• SSS Strips die
• Pinkfresh Studio Nested Hexagon die
• MFT Plaid Patterns Paper Pack
• Spellbinders Fairy Tale, Lavender, Beeswax and Saffron cardstock
• C&9 Sprout and Parsley cardstock
• Inks - SSS Honey and Iris; Altenew Fresh Leaf and Mountain Pine; Versafine Clair Mountain Mist

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

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

Paper Posy Birthday for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm back with a new card for our reminder post at The Flower Challenge.  This month we're using embossing on our floral cards.

TFC 103R

I'm also playing along with the SSS Wednesday Challenge where are cards are to feature fur, feathers or flowers, along with the AG portion of the challenge at Seize the Birthday.

For my first card this month I added dry embossing to the background. This time I added dry embossing to both the card background and to some of the flowers and leaves.

I used the relatively new Paper Posy set from Concord & 9th, which includes an embossing folder to use with some of the flowers and leaves.  All the elements for the floral spray were cut from Spellbinders gorgeous cardstock, with the exception of the yellow and white flower centers.  

After die cutting, I used the embossing folders on the dark green leaves and the petals of the largest flower, then assembled the spray on a panel embossed with Spellbinders Tiny Dots folder.  The sentiment and the label die are from the same set.  I referenced the packaging for some of my flower and leaf colors, along with arrangement, which I altered to fit the 5" square card and include the sentiment.  It's such a cute set with lots of ways to use some or all the elements.  I did notice that I neglected to add gems to the small flower centers, so I'll do that before sending.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you'll take a moment to visit the challenge; as always my talented teammates have some amazing inspiration for you.  I also hope you'll join us if you haven't yet or add a second card to the gallery, if you have already joined in.  Plenty of time left, the challenge ends Wednesday, June 25th.  

Take care!

Stef

• C&9th Paper Posy stamp, die and embossing folder set
• Spellbinders Sicily, Coral, Bellini, Rainforest, Fern, Blue Spruce and Breeze cardstocks
• C&9th Sunflower cardstock
• Spellbinders Tiny Dots ef

Christmas Berries for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  We have a new challenge at the Paper Players and this week the lovely Claire is hosting and has chosen a theme of fruit for our CAS week.  

 

Paper Players

 

I took a bit of a different turn with this challenge, creating two Christmas cards with berry branches, since I really don't have many fruit images, plus I always like to add to my holiday card stash. 

Both cards use the Gentle Berries dies by Kristina Werner at Concord & 9th.  This card was inspired by one of her samples on the web site, using a red background with the stenciled dashes.  The berry branch was die cut three times with white, red and green glitter cardstock then adhered as you see above to a base.  The sentiment was also die cut from white glitter cardstock.

I first tried to stencil the dash lines with white pigment ink but a combination of a rather dry ink pad plus the thickness of the stencil didn't yield a satisfactory result.  So I used a white gel pen, then I covered the dash lines with Distress Sparkle Texture paste so the dashes would also have some subtle sparkle.

The second card uses a different orientation of the branch and sentiment, along with a snowflake embossed background and a white glitter frame.  

I decided to go monochromatic with turquoise and light blue, although the photos look more on the blue side.  Both cards were super easy to put together and I think the sparkle lends itself to these CAS designs.  What do you think?  

My talented teammates have some wonderful and varied designs to inspire you, so please make a quick trip to the challenge before heading off to your crafty space.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, June 20th at 3pm EDT.  Hope to see your card in the gallery!

If you have a chance later today, come back and take a peek at my reminder card for The Flower Challenge.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Kristina Werner/Concord & 9th Gentle Berries Dies
• KW/C&9 Kristina's Finishing Touches Stencils (card 1)
• Simon Says Stamp Flourished Merry Christmas die
• Lawn Fawn and SSS Glitter cardstocks
• Distress Texture Paste (card 1)
• Spellbinders/Simon Hurley Sparkling Snow embossing folder
• SSS A7 Nesting Frames

Chicken Chatter for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  I am so happy Spring is here, although after having 3 days of glorious 70+ degrees, we're back to cold and rainy March.  It was a nice taste though and I look forward to better weather soon!

But that's not why you're here, so let's get to the card and the latest Paper Players challenge.  Since this is the fifth Sunday of the month, it's time for Tic Tac Toe and the lovely LeAnne has created a great grid with lots of options.

Paper Players

 

I was definitely thinking of the top row or left column (flowers, you know), but I ended up choosing the middle column - diecut, animal, green.

I have to say, I was smiling the entire time I was putting together those chickens.  Aren't they cute?  When this set was released I realized I didn't have anything like that in my crafty collection and I was totally smitten with these cute chickens.  There is a coordinating stamp set with layered images and sentiments, one of which says "still a spring chicken" and was used on the inside of the card.  

The chickens and the chick are all pretty easy to put together, using the packaging for guidance, then I added black enamel dots for the eyes of the two larger ones.  Once that was done, I ink blended a simple background for them to land on, along with die cut the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp.  The card ended up being an A6, 4.5" x 6" size.  

I hope you'll join us this week, there are lots of fun ways to use the TTT options!  In the meantime, I encourage you to pop over to the challenge blog to see what my talented teammates came up with.  The challenge ends Friday, April 4th at 3pm EST.  Come play along!

Stef

• Concord & 9th Chicken Chatter die and stamp set
• SSS Happy Birthday Brush Script dies
• MFT Grassy Edges stencil
• Altenew Black Enamel Dot
• Salvaged Patina Distress Ink
• Altenew Grassy Fields ink

Season's Greetings for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  The Paper Players has a new challenge starting today and we welcome you to play along.  The amazing Joanne is hosting our monthly sketch challenge, and she's created a great one.

The Paper Players

 

I took this opportunity to add to my small stash for the 2025 holidays with a quick and easy card.  In fact, so easy that I made two!

I did use some "artistic license" with the layered section in the middle but hopefully Joanne will give me a pass lol!

I started with two panels of white and used the same colors on both to stamp the design using Concord & 9th's Turnabout jib and specifically designed stamps.  After the panels were stamped, I die cut the coordinating layered sentiment and some leaves.  I thought the card needed a little something more, so I used a fluted border die to create the decorative edges.

The panels were added to white card bases, then the sentiment and leaves centered in the middle and added with some foam tape.  To finish things off, I used a shimmer pen to paint sparkle on the leaves, frame and sentiment. Unfortunately, my camera didn't capture the sparkle in the photos.

How are you inspired to use this sketch?  For more inspiration, I encourage you to head over to the challenge blog linked above and see what my talented teammates have created!  The challenge remains open until 3pm EST Friday, January 31st.  

Hope to see your card in the gallery!

Stef

• C&9 Holly Berry Turnabout stamps and dies
• C&9 Turnabout jig
• Spellbinders Fluted Classics Rectangle die
• C&9 Evergreen, Cranberry and Tidepool cardstock

Merry Christmas for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  How are your Christmas plans shaping up?  My house is decorated and now it's time to send cards and presents, and probably make a few more Christmas cards lol!  

Are you ready to play over at The Flower Challenge?  This month our theme is to Add Sparkle to your floral images.  Perfect for the holidays or anytime really if you love sparkle.  

The Flower Challenge

 

For this card, I used a die set that I've had since September or October and have been itching to create with, and this was the perfect opportunity.

I think this might be my favorite card that I've created for Christmas this year.  It was hard to narrow down my color choices but, in the end, went with white-ish flowers, turquoise leaves and branches, and red berries.

After the flowers were die cut from white cardstock, the poinsettias were lightly inked with a light tan in the centers.  The smaller flowers were inked with a light pink.  The centers were cut from some champagne Luxe Glitter paper to go along with the Matte Champagne metallic paper used for the background and sentiment.

The leaves and branches were die cut from C&9 card stocks along with some gorgeous turquoise glitter paper.  I kept the berry branches white and added red glitter berries.  Putting this together was so much easier than I imagined as the base has an imprint of where all the die cuts should go.  The sentiment was red heat embossed on the same Matte Champagne metallic cardstock then die cut and added with some foam tape.  

How are you inspired to add sparkle to your floral card?  I do hope you'll be able to sneak in some crafty "you" time during this busy season and join us this month!  The challenge will remain open until the 25th and we'll be back with reminder cards on the 15th.  My amazingly talented teammates have created some gorgeous cards for this challenge, so I encourage you to use the link above and take a look!

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• C&9 Festive Blooms dies
• C&9 Aqua Sky and Oceanside cardstock
• Tonic Turquoise Lake glitter paper
• SSS Matte Champagne cardstock, Champagne Luxe Glitter and Crimson Red Glitter papers
• SSS Latte, Surf and Raindrop inks
• Altenew Pink Diamond ink

Season's Greetings for Color Hues

Hello and welcome back!  As the calendar flips to another month, it also brings a new challenge over at Color Hues!  This time, the lovely Marcia has chosen Merlot and Navy for her combo.

Color Hues

I thought about making a floral card with these colors but then decided they were perfectly suited for a Christmas card, and I am all about building that stash of holiday cards now instead late fall!  As a result, I'm also joining the new challenge at Inspirational - Christmas in July!

Inspirational #293

I used the lovely Concord & 9th Holly Berry Turnabout bundle that included the stamp and the dies for this card.  While I didn't have a Merlot ink specifically, I got as close as I could using Simon Says Stamp Cherry, which is almost identical to C & 9's Cranberry.  For the navy, I used SSS Galaxy ink.  I did try to use my new C & 9 Midnight and Cranberry ink pads, but they were still so juicy I couldn't get a crisp image when stamping.  I just need to put them to use and they will be fine in the future, I'm sure.

I used the new Turnabout jig in my Misti and with worked beautifully.  The stamped panel was originally 5.5" square, trimmed down to 3.75" x 5" using a rectangle die.

Next the sentiment, navy backer and leaves were all die cut, along with a 4" x 5.25" panel of SSS Matte Silver that was then layered on an A2 size panel of C&9 Cranberry cardstock.  The leaves were glued to the back of the sentiment then it was all popped up on the card with thin foam squares.  A few silver pearls were added to finish things off.

The design team and our wonderful guest designer Rosemary have some gorgeous inspiration to share with you, so pop on over to the blog and check it out.  I hope you're inspired to join us using this pretty color combo, the challenge will be open until 9 am EDT on July 14th.

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  C & 9 Holly Berry Turnabout

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Matte Silver, C & 9 Midnight and Cranberry

Ink:  SSS Cherry and Galaxy

Dies:  Holly Berry dies, Hero Arts Nested Infinity Rectangle dies

Other:  Lucy's Cards Silver Pearl mix