Rustic Thanks for PP803

Hello friends!  Here we are, the second Sunday of the month and that means we have a new color challenge for you at the Paper Players!  This time the lovely LeAnne is hosting and has chosen a trio of pretty colors that I find perfect for fall.

Paper Players

 

Because these colors remind me of fall, I created a pretty bouquet with the challenge colors along with neutrals in ivory, a metallic champagne plus light and dark browns.

The bouquet definitely has a lot of layers and dimension.  I probably got a little carried away (a little???) but I love how it turned out.

I started by cutting the five layers of each flower from Stampin' Up Pumpkin Pie and Crushed Curry.  The foliage was die cut from ivory, dark and light brown along with PP and CC. The two ivory leafy branches were then ink blended with bright yellow and Real Red inks. The layers of the flowers were ink blended with darker shades of orange and yellow then white pigment ink was dabbed onto the ends.

The background panel was stamped with the Cracked Background stamp from Simon Says Stamp using a light brown ink.  A strip of wood embossed brown cardstock was layered at the bottom for the "table", then the doily and watering can with the Thanks sentiment were added.  The flowers were layered on with varying levels of foam tape then all the foliage was tucked in behind them.  I decided there was enough going on so embellishments weren't necessary. 

So what are you inspired to make with this trio of colors?  To see the fabulous designs by the other DT members, use the link here to visit the challenge blog.  The challenge will remain open until 3pm EDT on Friday, September 18th.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Stef

• Concord & 9th Rustic Bouquet die and stamp set
• SSS Cracked Background stamp
• Tim Holtz Lumber embossing folder
• SU Real Red, Pumpkin Pie and Crushed Curry cardstock
• SSS Dark Chocolate cs
• Altenew Espresso cs
• C&9 Sand cs

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

Sweetheart Daisies for Color Hues

Hello friends!  I'm here with my card for the new challenge at Color Hues. This time the amazing Nancy is hosting and has chosen a gorgeous color combination.

Color Hues

 

I have to say, I love this pair of colors so much!  I should have titled this post "Oldies but Goodies" because much of what is used to create this are things I've had for years.  And I'm so happy I pulled out the Sweetheart Daisies stamp from Kitchen Sink Stamps (sadly closed in 2024), because it is a stunner.

The stamp is a layering stamp, which was one of the big things Kitchen Sink Stamps was known for.  I have always found layering stamps rather intimidating, so I only have two of the KSS stamp sets in my collection. I bought this stamp in 2021, used it once in 2022 here and it's just been waiting for this occasion.

The Altenew trio of Magenta, Fuchsia and Baby Pink was used to color the flower, along with Tanzanite for the navy color.  It almost looks like a photo IRL.  Once the stamping was done, the panel was cut with an arch die.

I found one sole piece of Navy patterned paper from a 2017 Simon Says Stamp card kit in my stash.  It was just 3" x 5.5", so I trimmed off a small amount on the side, then added a strip of matte gold cardstock on each side to finish it off nicely on the card front.

The search for a sentiment to fit the space at the bottom of the heart yielded another older product, this time a SSS thanks die from 2017. It was cut once from gold and layered on a second die cut in white, then adhered to the arch panel.  The panel was then added to the card front with foam tape and a few gold sequins finished things off.

How do these colors inspire you?  For more ideas, please take a couple of minutes to visit the challenge blog to see the gorgeous cards created by my talented teammates! The challenge will remain open until Tuesday April 14th at 9am EDT.  I hope you'll join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Kitchen Sink Stamps Sweetheart Daisies layering stamps
• SSS A2 Arches die
• SSS Strips die
• SSS Script Thanks die
• Altenew Magenta, Fuchsia, Baby Pink and Tanzanite inks
• SSS Stay Gold confetti sequins

Happy Birthday for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm back with my reminder card for The Flower Challenge.  This month were adding purple to our floral cards - so easy, right?

The Flower Challenge

For this card I decided to use a technique that I've seen Jennifer McGuire use many times in videos.  It's a way to add darker ink to an embossed panel.  I ended up making three cards with different folders and two types of inks.  Here's my favorite of the three:

I started with three ink pads - a light, medium and dark.  I used a large brush and randomly inked the light and medium colors over most of a white panel, then embossed it so that the colored side is raised, making sure to use temporary adhesive on the back of the panel to keep it in place.  This is really important because you want the panel to be nice and secure.

With the embossed panel still in place, I inked up of flat side of the folder with the darkest color and ran it back through the die cut machine. It took two - three applications of ink to get good coverage.  And admittedly, I had to toss one because the panel moved while I was inking the other side of the folder.  But ultimately, I was really happy, even with purple inky fingers lol!  I just clean the folders by spraying with isopropyl alcohol.  The last step was to lightly rub the embossed images with a sanding block to get a tiny bit of white to show.

This card ended up being just shy of an A6 card size, measuring 6" x 4".  I used to thin die cut strips at the top and bottom, then added a die cut sentiment that was gold heat embossed.

Below are the other two cards (A2 sized) made in the same session.  They both have gold foiled sentiments, but the photos don't show that well.  We all know what that's like!

If you haven't yet joined the challenge, I hope you'll make time - the challenge stays open until Saturday October 25th.  In the meantime, my lovely and talented teammates of some wonderful reminder inspiration for you at the blog (linked above).  I hope to see your card in the gallery, or a second one if you're so inspired!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

One additional comment about the inks.  I first tried SSS inks with foam pads and it worked okay but I found that Altenew inks with cloth pads worked better for me.  

Card #1

• SSS Blossom Field ef
• SSS Big Scripty Greetings stamp and die
• SSS Strips die
• Altenew Lavender Fields, Deep Iris and Midnight Violet inks

Card #2

• SSS Floral Centerpiece ef
• SSS Elegantly Modern Greetings Foil Plate and die
• SSS Lilac, Orchid and Amythest inks

Card #3

• Altenew Beautiful Bergenia ef
• SSS Postage Edge Rectangle die
• SSS Elegantly Modern Greetings Foil Plate and die
• Altenew inks same as card #1

Sweet Jasmine Thanks for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  It's a new month which brings a new theme to The Flower Challenge.  For June, we're asking everyone to use embossing, dry or heat, on their cards.  Easy peasy, right?

TFC 103

Oooo, so many ways to go about using embossing.  This time I opted to dry emboss a panel for my card background, but instead of an embossing folder, I used a foil plate with a geometric design.

I started with Altenew's Sweet Jasmine press plate and instead of black ink I used Altenew's Indigo Skies ink, which is also the darkest color used on the flowers.  The stencils made the coloring easy, then I came in with a gold pen for the stamen.  The press plate was also used to create the sentiment in the same dark blue.

To use a foil plate to emboss, simply follow the directions on your die cut machine for embossing with a die.  I used the debossed side of the white panel, but either way, it looked wonderful.

I didn't want to just plop my flowers into the middle of an embossed background, and I was inspired by my friend Michele's use of angled embossing on her card here, although I simply used a trimmer to cut the panel at an angle.  After mounting to a dark blue panel, I finished it off with a thin strip of gold.  I think I got a bit carried away with the gold baubles, which is funny since I don't often used embellishments these days.

So there's my sample for this challenge and I encourage you to pop over to the blog and see the amazing cards by my talented teammates.  The challenge ends Wednesday, June 25th and I do hope you'll make time to join us this month!

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Altenew Sweet Jasmine press plates, stencils and dies
• Pinkfresh Studio Geo Arches foil plate
• Simon Says Stamp Strips 1 die
• Altenew Water Hyacinth, Alpine Aster, Crystal Violet, Indigo Skies, Aloe Vera, Matcha Tea, Swamp Green and Oak Moss Fresh Dye inks
• Trinity Stamps Golden Baubles

Thankful for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm here with my reminder post for The Flower Challenge.  This month the theme is thanks. 

I'm also slipping in on the final day at Inkspirational, where the theme is to Layer It.

Inkspirational #328

I know sunflower season is done for the year, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, but I wanted to have one more go at using them for my floral card, so I used the lovely stamp set designed by Kelly Taylor for Honey Bee Stamps.

The stamp set has three flowers, one front facing and two side facing and I decided to incorporate all three on my card.  I used Copic markers to color them, then they were cut with the matching dies.  Next, a panel of white was ink blended with Salvage Patina Distress Ink, then adhered the card base.  It was topped with a Vintage Labels die cut from white, then I arranged the flowers and leaves, adhering them directly to the card front.  

The sentiment is from a set included with the Altenew Cozy Comfort Retreat products.  It has not yet been released but it will be sometime in the future.  It was die cut from gold metallic cardstock and twice more from white.  The card front was splattered with gold metallic paint and once dry, the sentiment was added to finish things off.

We would love to see your floral thank you card in the gallery, I hope you will join us!  The challenge remains open until Monday November 25th.  In the meantime, for some wonderful inspiration, please visit the challenge blog - my very talented team members have some beautiful cards to share!

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Honey Bee Stamps Bloom With Grace Stamp and Die set
• HBS Layering Vintage Labels die
• Altenew Stylish Greetings die set
• Gansi Tambi Starry Colors Gold Metallic paint

Thank You for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends, I hope you're doing well! This month at The Flower Challenge the theme is Thanks, which is so appropriate for this time of year in the US, where we will be celebrating Thanksgiving on the 28th of this month.  

TFC 97

 

I'm also joining the current challenge Inkspirational, which is to layer it.

Inkspirational #328

  

My initial intention was to create a more muted color palette for my card, befitting this time of year as fall is in full swing, but then I ended up using some of my favorite markers and the coloring got much brighter lol!

At the time that I made this card, I'd recently received this big floral stamp from Simon Says Stamp and had to use it.  It was stamped in black, colored with Copic and Olo markers, then restamped with Versamark and gold heat embossed.  I always hold my breath when I put my colored image back in my stamp positioner, worrying that I'll ruin a couple hours (or longer) of coloring, but as you can see, it turned out just fine.  The sentiment, also from the same stamp set, was gold heat embossed as well, then both were cut out with their coordinating dies.

When I reached for a card base, I saw that I had one with a white die cut panel adhered to the front, which added a lovely touch of interest without detracting from the floral image.  The flowers were adhered directly to the panel, the overhanging parts trimmed off, then the sentiment was added with foam tape.

So much to be thankful for, including you stopping by my blog today!  For plenty more inspiration, use the link above and see what my talented teammates have created with this theme.  And, of course, we'd love to have you join us this month, the challenge remains open until Thanksgiving day, November 25th.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Grateful Florals stamps and dies
• Pinkfresh Studio Folk Edge Rectangle die
• Altenew Antique Gold ep
• Copic and Olo markers:  Orange - YR18, 09, 16, 21, Y17; Yellow - YR27, 24, Y19, 15; Magenta -RV69, 17, 55, 52; Small and Medium leaves - G1.8, 1.7, 1.5, 1.4; Large leaves - BG 2.7, 2.5, 2.4, 2.1, YG03 

A Botanical Thanks

Hello friends!  I'm dropping in with a fun post, sharing a card I made last week after watching a YT live with Gina K and Jennifer McGuire here. For this live, they showed different techniques for using background stamps and I've incorporated one in my card today that Jennifer shared.

This particular technique involves stamping your panel with a background stamp inked with either white pigment ink or a watercolor ink such as Versamark. When completely dry, you ink blend over it to get a subtle design.  The Versamark resists the ink, while the white pigment ink takes on a darker hue.  I made several backgrounds but this was my favorite.  

For this card, I used the Simon Says Stamp Botanical Split Background stamp for mine, inking it up in HoneyBee Stamps white pigment ink and letting it dry over night.  The next day, I ink blended it with SSS Limelicious and Surf inks, then die cut it with a Spellbinders Postage Edge Rectangle die.

Next I stamped the sentiment and sub sentiment with SSS Ocean ink, then die cut them both.  I used the SSS Whirl Dragonfly die to cut from white, glued it together then added it along with the sentiments to the card front.  The last detail was to add some SSS Surf Dazzling Gems.  CAS but with lots to look at because of the background detail.

Thanks for taking time to stop by!  I hope you're having a great week and I'll be back on the 15th with my Flower Challenge DT reminder post.

Take care!

Stef

Mondo Hydrangea for The Flower Challenge

Hi friends!  It's mid-month and time for our reminder post at The Flower Challenge.  This month we're asking you to add spots or stripes to your floral card.

The Flower Challenge

For my lily card at the beginning of the month, I used spots on the lilies.  This time I'm adding strips with an oldie but goodie cover die.  In fact, all of the card elements used are items I've had for probably two or more years.  

I started off by using my Copics to color that beautiful Mondo Hydrangea from Ellen Hutson, using purplish blue colors for the flower petals and a light green for the center.  The leaves are a separate stamp, which I stamped twice and colored with yellow-greens, then everything was die cut with companion dies.

The cover die cut from white was left unused from another project and I thought it would work great for the stripe theme.  The word thanks was already die cut from white and I simply die cut the shadow die twice from a light green and layered them together.  Rather than have white on white, I wanted a colored cardstock panel under the striped cover die, so I tried a variety of colors and settled on the pretty light blue.  After everything was adhered to the card base, the final step was to add drops of Stardust Stickles to the flower centers.  You might be able to see the little bit of sparkle in the photo below.

I love how this card turned out (can't always say that about every card I make lol!) and I hope you do to!  Please be sure to take a minute to see how the other DT members used this theme on their stunning cards and hopefully find time to join us - the challenge is open until the 25th of August.

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Ellen Hutson Mondo Hydrangea

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Concord & 9th Sprout and Powder

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Clair Nocturne (restamped the images after the coloring was done)

Dies:  Mondo Hydrangea, MFT Bold Strips Cover-Up die, Hero Arts Nested Rectangle die, Simon Says Stamp Script Thanks dies

Other:  Stickles

Copics:  B69, 66, 63, YG67, 17, 05, 03, 01

Fragrant Florals Thanks for Sunday Stamps

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps and this week Lisa has given us this fun sketch to stretch our creative muscles.

Sunday Stamps

I'm also joining Time Out Challenges, where the theme is Spring.

TOC #212

After thinking about a variety of images that could fit the lower left hand corner of the sketch, I decided to use a new flowers stamp from Altenew.

I guess it was a purple day when I created this card ;-).  The floral stamp is very big, so I used my Misti to stamp a portion in the corner of an A2 panel, then colored everything with Copic markers.  I went around the image with a couple of the lightest blue markers, then used my colorless blender to fade out the edges.  A white gel pen helped redefine the stamen on the flowers, which were just too small to avoid as I colored, then the panel was cut down with a rectangle die and matted on a die cut panel of Fresh Freesia using foam tape.  

The foiled sentiment was created in a previous crafting session, so that made things go together a bit quicker. I trimmed down two fishtail strips in gold mirror and Freesia, adhered to the panel then layered the sentiment on top.   The entire thing was adhered to a white card base and I was done!

So glad you visited today!  I've included a link above so I hope you'll go check out all the fabulous cards by the other DT members and hopefully be inspired to join us!

Be sure to come back on Wednesday when I'll have my DT card for the new Flower Challenge for May.

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Fragrant Florals (Altenew)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Fresh Freesia (SU), Gold Mirror (Tonic)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Other:  Fancy Script Words Hot Foil Plate and Die (Pinkfresh Studio), Gold Glimmer Hot Foil (Spellbinders), Diagonal Stitched Rectangle dies (PS), Sakura White Gelly Roll pen

Copics:  V09, 06, 05, 01, 000, G28, 05, 14, YG67, 17, 05, 0, BV01, Y15, 11, B63, 60, 000, 0000

Floral Thanks for The Paper Players!

Hello friends, and welcome back!  It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players, where the lovely Joanne is hosting our monthly CAS challenge, which is to make a thank you card.

The Paper Players

I used the current Color Throwdown challenge colors of pink, aqua, gold and white (well, a wee bit anyway) for my card.

CTD 598

I started by taking a panel of white watercolor paper and spraying it first with Distress Ink Spray Stain, then with a good coating of clear water, so some of the white paper in the background still shows through a little.  This is the first time I used both the spray stain and the new Distress color of Speckled Egg, which is a muted, almost grayish light blue.  After spraying with the stain I was almost ready to put the panel in the trash because I didn't care for the color, but after it dried it looked much prettier, so I decided to go with it.  It was splattered with gold pearlescent paint then all painted around the edges.

While the gold paint dried, I die cut the flower cluster from both pink and gold paper and the sentiment also in gold.  Tough to see in the photo is a vellum shadow die beneath the sentiment.  I added the dried panel to a base of Neenah Solar White card, adhered the gold flower cluster die cut, then glued the pink flower petals into the die cut, kind of like puzzle pieces.  A bit fiddly to do, especially with the smallest petals LOL.

With the flower cluster and sentiment attached, the final touches were to use a shimmer pen on the flower petals (which the photo doesn't capture), then add a few Ocean Wave Crystals.

Thanks so much for visiting, I really appreciate it!  I hope you'll head over to The Paper Players to check out all the beautiful creations by the other DT members and join us this week for our CAS challenge!

Stef


Stamps: None
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Peony (Hero Arts Hero Hues) Tim Holtz Watercolor, Tonic Gold Pearl Satin Effect Mirror paper, vellum
Ink:  Speckled Egg Distress Ink Spray Stain
Other:  Flower Cluster and Script Thanks dies (SSS), FineTec Pearlescent watercolor paints, Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen, Ocean Wave Crystals (Studio Katia)