Let's Party for PP797

Hello friends!  It's the first Sunday of August and that means a new theme challenge at the Paper Players.  This time the fabulous Jan is hosting and has chosen a delightful theme.

Paper Players

I'm also sharing with Darnell's NBUS challenge as this is the first outing for the main stamp and die set I used in today's card and joining in with the Anything Goes option of the Seize the Birthday challenge.

NBUS

STB #331

The newest little in our family is our great niece, and she is a cutie patootie!  She turned two in mid-July and I had So.Much.Fun. making this card for her birthday!

I started out with Lawn Fawn's stamp and die set that came out last year for Stamptember at Simon Says Stamp.  It has all the kitties and much of the other parts, but I also grabbed two older LF stamps from my collection to add the balloons, the cute bird, the hearts and one of the sentiment bubbles.  

I decided on a color palette (other than the critters) of pink, aqua, yellow and lime green.  I used my Copic markers to color everything, then out came the white gel pen to add some polka dots and stripes on the balloons and some of the packages.

I was trying to decide what type of scene to make with all these critters and thought it would be a fun design to use one of the postage collage A2 dies to create frames for little vignettes.  I went with the A2 size, which is 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" and it was die cut 3 times and stacked for dimension. 

Distress inks were softly blended on a panel of white for the background, which was trimmed down to the same size as the frame before adhering.  Most of the images were popped up on foam squares.  Before adding to the card base, I ink blended pink around the edges. Lastly, I added Glossy Accents to the balloons, Stickles to a couple of the party hat pompoms and lots of sparkle with a shimmer pen to many of the items.  

Thanks so much for visiting!  I encourage you to take a moment and head over to the Paper Players, where my amazing teammates have some super cute cards to inspire you.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, August 7th at 3pm EDT.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Stef

• Lawn Fawn/SSS Purrfect Birthday stamps and dies (no longer available but LF has oodles of similarly cute sets available).
• LF Happy Birthday Deer stamps and dies
• LF Hippo Birdie to You stamps and dies
• Waffle Flower Postage Collage A2 Block die
• Kitsch Flamingo, Twisted Citron and Salvaged Patina Distress Inks
• Stardust Stickles, Tonic Shimmer pen and Ranger Glossy Accents
• Copics - BG11, 13, RV 02, 04, Y00, 11, 15, YG05, 01, T1, 2, 3, 4, YR14, 16 18, Black

Jingle All the Way for PP796

Hello friends!  It's the 4th Sunday in July (can you believe it?) and time for the monthly sketch challenge at the Paper Players.  This week, the amazing Christy is hosting and has created a fun sketch.

I think this is sketch is a neat way to showcase three of something, like little flowers or numbers or quilt block designs.  For my card, I went with Christmas and three icon images.

This card uses images from the 2024 Simon Says Stamp/Tim Holtz Stamptember stamp and die set, including 2 sizes of postage stamp dies.  I first used the set for this card with the larger postage stamp dies, but the smaller ones worked better for this layout.

I was fortunate that the images were already stamped, colored and die cut, so it was a matter of choosing a trio.  But as it turned out, I had plenty of images ready to go, so I ended up making six cards using this layout and one where I changed it up a bit.

I'm not fond of mass production but I couldn't resist since these images were all ready to go!  I used another Tim Holtz Christmas stamp and die set for the sentiments, except for the one on the card at the top with the different layout.  That was a from a TH sentiment sticker book. The snowflakes were die cut from white glitter cardstock and I added a small red gem in the middle.  Some of the icon pieces have Glossy accents for shine.  After assembling, I decided no other embellishments were needed for all these cute cards!  Thanks for the fun sketch, Christy!

Thanks for stopping by and I encourage you to head over to the challenge blog to see all the fabulous inspiration by the the rest of the design team.  The challenge will remain open until Friday July 31st at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll find time to join us!

Stef

• SSS/Tim Holtz Stamptember 2024 stamp and die set, including 2 postage stamp dies
• Tim Holtz Tiny Text Christmas stamps and SSS Tiny Text dies
• TH/Idea-ology Christmas Noel sticker book
• SSS Sensational Snowflake die
• SSS A2 Postage Rectangles 
• Patterned paper from stash (Honey Bee and MFT)
• Copic markers

With Thanks for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's the first Sunday of the month of May (wow are the weeks rolling by!) and the lovely Jaydee is hosting our theme challenge to create a feminine card.  

Paper Players

For my card, I used some components of the Simon Says Stamp March card kit. Take a look!

While flowers don't necessarily have to be used solely on feminine cards, that's the way it usually ends up on my cards.  I also used a paper doily to "wrap" the flowers and a scallop border die to trim the background panel for lots of feminine detail.  

The flowers, doily, twine and sentiment strip were all from the kit and those things are still available separately at SSS.  I normally use a stamp positioner for stamping but for the technique I used for the flowers, leaves and dies, I pulled out some acrylic blocks.  The stamps were inked up, then I used a sprayer to add a mist of water before stamping on watercolor paper.  I found I had to aim carefully to use just one spray, because more than that caused the images to be blurry, and that wasn't the look I was going for. 

After drying, the stamped images were cut out with the coordinating dies. After adhering them together in the design I wanted, they were tucked into the doily, which was then glued shut and added to the pink background panel.  Next came the sentiment strip and a jute twine bow, with the final touch being the addition of a few sparkling gems.

Thanks for stopping by!  I hope you'll take a moment to visit the challenge blog, where my talented teammates have some gorgeous inspiration for you!  The challenge will remain open until Friday, May 7th at 3pm.  We'd love to have you join us this week!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Watercolor Bouquet Stamps and Dies
• SSS Eyelet Layer Frame Die
• SSS XL EZ Strips sentiment and banner die
• Honey Bee Stamps Aurora Borealis gems

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

Showers of Love for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  The Paper Players is back with a new challenge.  This week, the lovely LeAnne is hosting and has chosen a timely theme of Spring Showers. 

Paper Players

Lots of cute ideas in that image board!  I used my favorite stamp and die set for this theme.  It's a retired MFT set but the images still remain cute as ever. 

The cute little girl and her duck friend, along with the clouds, sun and sentiment are all part of the MFT Rain or Shine stamp and die set.  They were all colored with Copic markers and then die cut.  I added some white gel pen highlights and polka dots to her coat, just for fun.

I saw a few cards on Pinterest with the rain to sunshine design for the background, so I thought I'd try that too.  A panel of white was ink blended with two colors of blue, then I used a Copic Mulitliner to create the "raindrops" and colored them in with the white gel pen.  The panel was trimmed down and before adhering to the card base, the cobblestone path was colored then added.  The sun and clouds were all glued to the card front.  Everything else was added with foam tape and the card was done.

This is a fun theme and I hope you'll find time to play along.  For more inspiration, please head over to the challenge blog where my talented teammates have some amazing cards.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, April 10th at 3pm EDT.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

•  MFT Birdie Brown Rain or Shine stamps and dies
• Simon Says Stamp On the Ground stamp
• SSS Galaxy and Twilight inks
• Copics - YG09, 07, 05, 01, B39, 37, 34,  YR24, 23, Y15, 11, 00, E29, 37, 33, 04, 21, 000, R21

A Little Birdie for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  This week is CAS week at the Paper Players and the lovely Joanne is hosting.  She has chosen an apropos theme for this time of year.  Just remember to limit your layers and embellishments and leave plenty of "white" space to keep it CAS.

Paper Players

 

I'm also playing along with the lovelies at Seize the Birthday, with their Anything Goes option.

STB #318

What I was initially thinking of using turned out to be not very CAS, so I made a change of direction and used a fun little die set that is more in line with this challenge.

I adore the Simon Says Stamp Birdies die set, but it's been quite a while since I used it here, plus I acquired the Birdies Winter Accessories dies last month and wanted them to be able to take an outing in their latest apparel. Wait, what?  Birdies around you aren't wearing their winter attire?  Well, those poor little things! 😉

After all the die cutting and assembly, I thought the birdies needed an appropriate background, so I ink blended some sky and clouds on a panel of white using the MFT Rolling Clouds stencil, then adhered it directly to the card base.  After adding the cute birdies on the branch, the sentiment (from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Crazy Talk) was popped up with a bit of thin foam tape.  I'll add the Happy Birthday wishes on the inside of the card when I go to send it.  The last step was to use a Sakura Black Glaze pen for their eyes.

What signs of winter would you like to share this week?  For additional inspiration, please pop over to the challenge blog here, where my amazing teammates have some wonderful creations to share!  You can play along until Friday January 23rd at 3pm EST.  I hope you'll join us!

Thanks for visiting!

Stef

Season's Greetings for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm back with my reminder post for The Flower Challenge.  This month we are using Christmas florals on our cards.  I think this is a lovely way to bid a fond farewell to TFC and I do hope you'll join us if you haven't already.  The challenge will be closing for the last time on the 25th of this month.

TFC #109 Reminder

 

Well, I thought I'd be using something other than a poinsettia, but as I was looking through my Christmas floral stamps, one stood out rather forlornly, having not been used for a couple of years and I realized this was the perfect time to do so.

This is a retired stamp from Simon Says Stamp called the Center Cut Holiday Floral.  It's a large red rubber stamp and as the name implies, the center can be removed so you're left with a spot to use whatever sentiment you wish.  I stamped the entire image and colored it with Copic and Olo markers, then used the new SSS Frames dies to cut out the interior rectangle with the floral image and the scallop frame.  

The rectangle was layered onto a light blue panel, then the frame, which was cut twice from white and once from white glitter card stock, was puzzle pieced around it.  I used a foiled Betterpress sentiment, which a trimmed apart so it could be stacked in the circle.  A silver metallic pen was used to color the flower centers and the highlight on the berries.  The last touch was to add three blue gems.

As noted above, the challenge will remain open until the 25th, plenty of time to add a card or another, if you've already joined this month.  Please be sure to visit the challenge blog and my lovely, talented teammates who have made this an inspiring place to create and share.

Happy holidays to you and all the best in the New Year!

I'll be back on January 1st with my DT card for Color Hues.  Hope to see you then!

Stef

• SSS Center Cut Holiday Floral stamp
• SSS Frames dies
• Spellbinders Sending Joy Betterpress Sentiment plate and die
• Honey Bee Stamps Winter Wonder gems
• Altenew Silver Metallic pen
• Copics - R89, 85, 83, 81, YG67. 63, 61, BG18, 72, 70, B45, 41
• Olos - YG8.7, 8.5, 8.3

Bright Christmas for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's time for the final challenge of the year over at the Paper Players.  The lovely Jaydee is hosting our monthly theme challenge, and she has chosen a timely one.

Paper Players

 

I've created a gift envelope for Christmas giving but as you'll see from the team, it could be for any occasion.  

For this card and gift envelope set I used the Simon Says Stamp November 2025 card kit.  The envelope was created using the Pine and Post Gift card envelope set along with some stickers from the Tim Holtz-Idea-ology Christmas sticker book and the papers on both the card and the envelope are from his 2025 Christmas Backdrops papers.

The die that cuts the envelope also provides scoring, which made it easy to adhere together, then the front can be decorated however one wants.  I used the accompanying dies that cut the "ribbon and bow", the greens and berries, the tag and the postage stamp exterior and interior.  I use the tiny interior rectangle die to cut the snowman from the sticker book, then adhered it to the postage die cut from red cardstock.  The tag was cut from ivory cardstock then I adhered one the of the gift tag stickers on it.  So cute!  

The card used the SSS Bright Christmas stamp with the darling reindeer and the sentiments.  I had some fun by adding a red nose and a bow to the deer.  The distressed papers lent themselves well to the rustic stamp and I ended up making the same style cards and gift envelopes for all three of my grandchildren.  The other two cards are below (I don't have a photo of the other two envelopes but they're nearly identical to the one above).

I hope between all your holiday activities that you'll find some time to join us for our last challenge of the year, which will remain open until Friday, December 12th at 3pm EST.  I encourage you to visit the challenge blog where my wonderful teammates have created some beautiful inspiration for you!

The PP team will be back on January 11th next year. May peace, joy and happiness fill your days this holiday season!

Stef

• SSS Bright Christmas Stamps
• SSS Pine and Post Gift Card Envelope die set
• Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics B rectangle dies (for layered sentiments)
• SSS Labels Slides Christmas stamp and die
• Tim Holtz/Idea-ology Christmas Backdrops patterned papers and Christmas sticker book
• Hemp twine and red baker's twine from my stash
• Red Pom Poms and TH Christmas Droplets
• Walnut Stain Distress Ink
• Versamark Clair Nocturne, Pinecone and Acorn inks
• Altenew Crimson ink

Grand Poinsettia for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge at The Flower Challenge.  This month we're asking everyone to use your Christmas Florals.

The Flower Challenge

Before we take a look at my card, I have some sad news to share.  This month will be the finale for The Flower Challenge.  We've had 9 wonderful years thanks to the brilliant idea by Aileen Ryan and Vivian Hodge and with the assist of Karren Johnson running the challenge for the last two years.

On a personal note, I found The Flower Challenge shortly after it had begun and was thrilled to have a place to share my floral creations.  I was even more thrilled when Viv reached out to me in late 2021 and asked me to join the design team.  I'm going to miss my wonderful teammates but I'm hopeful we'll see one another in other blogosphere places!  And I will miss seeing all the beautiful floral creations each month.

So, given that this is our final challenge, I hope this inspires you even more to join us this month.  We'll be back with reminder cards on the 15th and the winners will be announced on January 4, 2026.  

So, now on to my cards.  I made two because they were so very quick and easy.

The very large embossed poinsettia is from a Gina K class I took in November.  It was created only for the card kit that accompanied the class, so it's no longer available.  But obviously any poinsettia die or stamp set would work here.

The folder came with the poinsettia die along with 2 fir branch dies.  The flower was die cut, then embossed.  I used the coordinating stencils and one of her new ink colors, Light Cranberry, which was just released on November 24th.   

To create the panel the flower and sentiment are resting on, I first used a Thermoweb Toner Sheet with a piece of Gina K Sparkling Silver Fancy Foil.  Actually I made two, and used the other on second card.  the Altenew Ornate Nesting die was cut from the panel and I was impressed with how beautifully it die cut.  And how darn sparkly it is!  For the flower center, I used Kuretake Silver Mica Ink, added the sentiment plus a few prism gems and called it done!  

Look at that sparkle!

My second card is similarly CAS.  I left the flower white, painted the centers like the first card, then mounted it and the sentiment on a scallop die cut panel.  I was going to add some gems but there wasn't really a good place.  I debated adding it to the flower center but opted not to at the time.  But I may change my mind...what do you think?  

Okay, my friends, I hope you'll visit the challenge blog to see my talented teammates' beautiful creations for our final month and then slip off to your craft room and create your Christmas floral.  The challenge will remain open until Christmas Day and we would really, really love to have you help fill the gallery one last time. 💕

Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp/Gina K Grand Poinsettia ef, stencils and die
• Altenew Ornate Nesting die
• Memory Box Fringed Scalloped Frame die
• Spellbinders Sending Joy Betterpress sentiments and dies 
• Gina K Sparkling Silver Fancy Foil and Therm-a-web Toner sheets
• Kuretake Silver Mica ink
• Gina K Light Cranberry ink

Grand Poinsettia for Color Hues

Hello friends!  Here it is, the first day of the last month of 2025.  My, my time seems to pass so quickly.  Do you feel the same?  Anyway, the good news is that the first of the month brings a new challenge at Color Hues.  The lovely Tracey is hosting our final challenge of the year and has chosen a wonderful color combination and it's a perfect combo for any time of the year.

Color Hues

I'm also joining in over at the Time Out Challenge, where this time we are to "Pick 2" and I chose nature (flowers/pine branches), emboss and sparkle.

TOC #302

And I'm playing along with Just Us Girls, where it is Anything Goes Stencil Week.

JUGS #803

How about one more poinsettia?  This one is unique in that it was made exclusively for the Simon Says Stamp/Gina K class kit sold earlier this fall, so there weren't any made available outside the kit, and it is sold out.  However, it's too pretty not to share and other components on my card are currently available.

The beautiful Grand Poinsettia was die cut from white cardstock then embossed in the coordinating folder, after which I used the matching stencils to color it in three shades of pink.  The pine sprigs were die cut from two shades of green cardstock.  All that was set aside to create the background.

The SSS/Gina K Merry & Bright stamp set (this one IS available) has a number of snowflake stamps, so I used them to create the background on a 4.75" x 6.75" panel.  A clear block was used to stamp them in Gina K's Medium Spruce ink, followed by a large blending brush to lightly blend the same color to soften the edges.  

The sentiment can be found in the same stamp set or, as I used, in a matching Polyglaze sheet, which I foiled, one each of gold and silver, then die cut.  The 4" x 6" panel was matted with silver glitter cardstock, added to the snowflake panel then all the other elements adhered.  I finished things off by adding SSS Prism Dazzling Gems to the flower center and up around the sentiment.

And of course I couldn't make just one, so here's the same design with gold.

Both of these cards were inspired by one we made in class from Gina K's design.  We used her new ink colors of light, medium and dark Cranberry, along with the spruce. 

So where will these colors take you?  For more inspiration, I encourage you to visit the challenge blog, where my amazing teammates have some gorgeous creations.  

Since this is the final challenge of the year, it will be open until December 29th at 9:00 am EST, so I hope that gives you time to sneak away from the holiday goings-on and play along with us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

P.S. If you like today's card, come by on Tuesday when I use the same poinsettia ef to create two CAS cards.

• Gina K Grand Poinsettia ef, stencils and dies
• SSS/Gina K Merry & Bright stamps, dies and Polyglaze sheet
• Altenew Baby Pink, Fuchsia and Magenta inks
• Gina K Medium Spruce ink
• SSS Prism Dazzling Gems

Christmas Magic for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  I hope all of you in the US had a wonderful Thanksgiving Holiday.  We had a big family gathering and it was a gorgeous day for the end of November.

Since it's the fifth Sunday of the month, we have a Tic-Tac-Toe challenge this week at the Paper Players.  The lovely Claire is hosting and has created a wonderful board full of great combinations.

Paper Players

I'm also sharing over at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

where this week's theme is Anything Goes.

My card fits both the left column (white, Christmas, die cuts) and the bottom row (die cuts, trees, sparkle).  Let's take a look!

I'm a big fan of Tim Holtz die sets and when this came out earlier in the fall, I snapped it up.  I didn't have a cityscape die set and thought this one was so cute and I ended up making four of them!

First came the background.  It was ink blended on Distress Watercolor paper with light, medium and dark blues, along with black around the edges.  The die set has a moon die but I wanted this to be a snowy scene, so I intentionally left a lighter spot, suggesting the moon trying to show through the clouds.  At least that was the story in my head lol! After applying the ink, the panel was splattered with an iridescent shimmer spray and white paint.

Next all the city scene components were die cut, then ink blended towards the bottom of the die cut for some shading.  I took time to randomly add little strips and squares of yellow cardstock behind some of the windows in the buildings, then adhered all the die cut pieces to the dried backgrounds.  The snowbanks were hand cut from white glitter paper. I used more white paint to splatter which dried while I created the sentiments.  Those were added with foam tape to finish things off.

I will admit I probably got carried away with the snow/splatter but I still like how it turned out!

I hope Claire's TTT board inspires you to play along with us this week!  The challenge will remain open until Friday December 5th at 3pm EDT.  Before you head off to your crafty space, I hope you'll pop over to the challenge blog, where my talented teammates have some fun cards to inspire you further!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Tim Holtz/Sizzix Vault Christmas Magic dies
• TH/Stamper's Anonymous Simple Sayings Stamp
• Simon Says Stamp Labels die
• Distress Watercolor and Black Heavystock paper
• SSS Slate, Red Metallic and White Glitter paper
• Broken China, Uncharted Mariner, Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot Distress inks
• SSS Kale ink
• SSS White Splatter medium
• Hero Arts White Iridescent Spray

Peace and Joy for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  The Paper Players have a new sketch challenge for you and this time the lovely Ann is hosting.  She's given us a good one with lots of options.  In fact, I ended up making 2 cards.

Paper Players

Both cards utilize patterned paper to achieve the three sections shown in Ann's sketch but one is a rustic look and the other a fancier appearance.

I have a limited supply of patterned paper for the holidays but I found this wood grain with the white images in a packet that was a gift for purchase from Honey Bee Stamps.  I couldn't believe the panel divisions worked perfectly for the sketch.  I trimmed it down to 3 1/8 x 4 3/8 inches, then matted it with Poppy cardstock from Concord & 9th.  I didn't have a matching ink but found another from Altenew that worked perfectly.  I layered up and adhered the sentiment, loosely wrapped the twine and added to the scallop card base with thin foam tape.  I thought the shaped card was a nice bit of added interest. The last thing was to add 3 ancient, retired SU snowflakes with gems in the center.

Making that card went so quickly that I decided to create a second. 

I used a panel of patterned paper on this one also and used thin strips of red metallic paper to create the divisions.  A leafy branch was die cut from white glitter cardstock and added to two additional layers before adhering to the card front.  I found a sentiment that couldn't have been a more perfect fit and finished things off by using sparkly gems for the berries.

I like both cards but I think the first is my favorite, with that rustic feel.  Do you like one better than the other?  Let me know in the comments below.  My amazing teammates have created some fantastic inspiration with varying ways to use this sketch, so I encourage you to head over to the challenge blog for visit.  The challenge will end on Friday, November 28th at 3pm EST.  I hope you'll join us this week!

And a Happy Thanksgiving to all those celebrating in the US this coming week!

Thanks for visiting and take care.

Stef

Card #1

• Simon Says Stamp Making Spirits Bright stamp and die
• SSS Chunky Rectangle die
• SSS Opal Dazzling Gems
• Altenew Heartbeat ink

Card #2

• SSS Etched Berry Branch die
• SSS Strips die
• Altenew Moonstone Glitter cardstock and Red Jasper Gem Sparkles
• MFT Cool Colab patterned paper

Peace for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge at the Paper Players.  Since it's the fourth Sunday of the month, that means a sketch challenge, and this time the fabulous Joanne is hosting and given us this great sketch to work with.

Paper Players

I did take some liberties with the sketch, using a landscape format and using metallic cord rather than horizontal strips, so I hope you'll be okay with what I came up with, Joanne!!

This card was actually created during an online class with Tim Holtz using Simon Says Stamp collaboration products, designed by Tim.  Afterwards, I was looking at the card I made, and it reminded me of Joanne's sketch, so I decided to use it for this challenge.

We created many flowers and different types of foliage, going direct to the stamps with Distress Watercolor pencils after misting with water, then stamping on watercolor paper.  It's not a new technique to me, but one I haven't used in at least two years and some of the images turned out fine and some went into recycling lol! I selected a small poinsettia and two branches for the card, all of which were decorated with a bit of glitter on the edges.

The white panel was sprayed with Hickory Smoke Distress Spritz, which looks more silver the gray IRL, dried it and die cut the Peace shadow die from it.   The panel was backed with acetate to create a shaker card.  I used silver sequins and chunky Rock Candy glitter for the interior.  After completing the shaker portion, the silver die cut Peace was adhered to the front along with the flower and branches, and the panel wrapped with silver cord.  It was matted with a panel of silver metallic cardstock then added to a Sea Glass card base.  

This card was not my typical style, but I was happy to step out of my comfort zone and just have fun creating!

So what are you inspired to make with Joanne's fabulous sketch? Take a moment to stop by the challenge blog (linked above) to see a wonderful variety of cards by my talented teammates, then please join us this week!  The challenge will remain open until 3pm EDT Friday October 31st.

Thanks for visiting!

Stef

• SSS/TH Festive Watercolor Stamps and dies
• SSS/TH Festive Words dies 
• Distress Watercolor pencils
• SSS Starshine Confetti
• Tim Holtz Rock Candy and Chunky Rock Candy Glitter
• Hickory Smoke Distress Spritz
• SSS Silver Cording