Live Salty for PP795

Hello friends!  It's Clean and Simple week over at the Paper Players.  The lovely LeAnne is hosting and has chosen a theme of going to the beach.

Paper Players

I'm also playing along with the current Time Out Challenge, with the theme of Water and with Just Us Girls and their Summer Fun Mood Board.

TOC #317

JUGS #832

I made a fun birthday card using some Waffle Flower Postage Collage products.  Take a look!

I started with the PC die that cuts a 4"x 5.25" panel with six different postage "stamp" sections and then used the beach stencil and some coordinating stamps to create the individual scenes.  The whole thing about Finding Nemo (mine! mine!) and the fun sentiment had me smiling the whole time.  

As you can see, I cut apart the stenciled sections then chose the three I liked the best to go with the sentiment and our beach theme.  The sentiment was stamped then fussy cut.  The background panel was cut with a postage rectangle die, ink blended with a light blue ink and attached the to the card base, then the stenciled sections and sentiment were added with a mix of glue and foam tape.  

Thanks for visiting!  Please be sure to pop over to the challenge blog to see the fabulous cards my talented teammates have created.  The challenge will remain open until 3pm EDT Friday July 24th.  I hope you'll join us!

Stef

• Waffle Flower Postage Collage die
• WF Postage Collage Beach Day stencil
• WF Postage Collage Beach Days and Inquisitive Seagulls stamp sets
• SSS A2 Postage Rectangle die

Wildflower Silhouettes Birthday Card

Hello friends!  Today I'm sharing a card made for the current challenge at Time Out Challenges.  It's a photo challenge and the picture is simply amazing!

TOC 312

It took me a couple of tries to get the colors I wanted that would come close to the colors of the sky.  My colors aren't an exact duplicate but I was happy how the inks looked blended together.

I recently invested in the A7 version of the Waffle Flower Postage Collage dies and stencil.  I thought the colors from the photo challenge would create a pretty setting for the stamped wildflowers, butterflies and dragonflies. 

I laid down the block stencil and blended the sky with SSS Heather, Guava, Shell and Galaxy inks.  Next I used the Wildflower Flower Silhouette Stamps along with one stamp from the Wild Butterflies Silhouette Stamps to create my little scene, then cut the panel with the A7 PC die.

The sentiment was stamped using the WF Sweet Birthday Sentiment Stamp and Die set.  The collage piece was matted with a piece of light purple cardstock.  The last step was to place a few gems around the sentiment.

Here's my second card.  The wildflower images are pretty much in the same place as the first card, but I altered where the butterflies and dragonflies were stamped.  I also used the PC A7 Block die with the same light purple paper to create the frame around the images.

I like both versions, how about you?  Do you like it with the postage edge or with the block die cut?

Thanks so much for stopping by!  

Stef

• WF Postage Collage A7 die, blocks die and blocks stencil
• PC Wild Butterflies stamp
• PC Wildflowers stamps
• WF Sweet Birthday Sentiment stamp and die
• SSS Galaxy, Shell Guava and Heather inks
• Honey Bee Stamps Gingerbread gems

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

Lakeside Birthday for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  The Paper Players are back with a new challenge and since this is the 5th Sunday of the month, the amazing Jaydee is hosting our Tic Tac Toe challenge.  She's created a wonderful board with lots of great choices.

Paper Players

I'm also joining in with Seize the Birthday, where the toppings is to use a silhouette on your birthday card.

STB #308

From the TTT board, I chose the center column - something that flies, die cut and layers - but it could easily go across the bottom row as well.

I'm quite smitten with these Waffle Flower Postage Collage products, so this won't be the last you'll see in the next few weeks.  When I lived in Oregon, our house was about a mile from a National Wildlife Refuge, so my husband and I would frequently walk the 3.5 mile path around it. There were always herons, storks, ducks, geese, hawks, eagles, deer, frog, etc. (depending on the time of year, of course) and when I saw this particular Lake Sunset stamp set, it reminded me of those times (except no waterlilies there). I also used a couple of bird stamps from two other PC sets. 

I used the Postage Collage Blocks die, which cut out the little panels, that were then ink blended before adding the silhouette images.  The Postage Collage die was cut from a white panel and then the little panels were added using foam tape.  The sentiment is from an Altenew mini stamp set.  The postage panel was matted with an aqua panel then added to the card front.  I didn't add any of the postage elements, such as first class or the cancellation mark, because I just love the wildlife scene as is, but it's always an option for another card.

The Tic Tac Toe challenge is always fun, with so many options for creating, I do hope you'll join us this week.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, July 4th at 3pm EDT (Happy Independence Day to those in the US!).  But before you head off, please take a minute to pop over to the challenge blog for a bevy of inspiration from my talented teammates.  

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Waffle Flower Postage Collage Lake Sunset, Forest Sunset and Wild Birds stamps
• WF Postage Collage die and Blocks die
• Altenew Regal Frame sentiment stamp
• Altenew Aloe Vera, Matcha Tea, Dew Drop and Aqualicious inks

Forest Sunset for The Paper Players

Hello friends and happy May!  It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players.  This week the amazing Joanne is hosting our theme challenge and she's chosen a fun one!

The Paper Players

For this challenge, we need to pair something old with our newest crafty item.  I recently, finally went all in on the postage trend and bought some of Waffle Flowers Postage Collage dies and their latest stamps.  I paired those new items with one of my older and favorite sentiment sets, also from Waffle Flower.  Let's take a look!

I was quite enamored with these beautifully designed silhouette stamps and had fun deciding what each little vignette would contain.  I started by using the stencil that goes with the product line and used Distress inks for the sunset sky.  I then added a bit of white paint splatter to create stars in the sky.

When that dried, I stamped the various scenes, then layered on the Postage Collage Block die cut from black cardstock, which separates each scene.  The white heat embossed sentiment was added before adhering the entire thing to a black card base.  

Since I had everything out, I made a second card but substituted some brighter inks for creating the sky.  I like both cards and don't know if I have a preference.  How about you?

Won't you come join us this week and share what old and new products you paired? The challenge is open until Friday, May 9th at 3pm EST.  In the meantime, don't miss all the inspiration by my lovely teammates over on the blog!

Take care and thanks for visiting!

Stef

PS Come back later this morning for my new Flower Challenge DT card.

• Waffle Flower Postage Collage die, Blocks Die, Stencil and Forest Sunset Stamps
• Waffle Flowr Elegant Sentiments stamps and dies
• Card #1 - Scattered Straw, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Faded Jeans and Seedless Preserves Distress inks
• Card #2 - SSS Lemonade, Sweets, Galaxy and Amethyst inks
• Spellbinders Splatter White paint

 

Hello Friend for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  I'm here to share my card for the latest challenge at the Paper Players.  This time, the lovely Jan is hosting our theme week and she has chosen Travel.

The Paper Players

For my card, I used an older stamp set from Waffle Flower.  It is whimsical and it made me smile, which I hope it does as well for the recipient.  I had fun creating it and also coming up with a silly little back story for the scene.

Our little bear buddy, Fred, has been at the local Farmer's Market and is now traveling home, accompanied by his friends Bert the Bee and Veronica the Birdie, where he'll plant all the flowers he bought.  Fred is very fond of flowers and fills his yard with them every year. ;-)  

Do you ever create stories about cards as you're making them?  I don't always but this time it seemed so fitting.   

Aren't those images delightful? They were all colored with Copic markers then die cut with the coordinating dies.  I created a simple background for the scene by ink blending on a panel of Bristol, which is sized at 4" x 6".  It was mounted on a mat of Balmy Blue, then adhered to an A7 card base.  All the critters and the sentiment were added with thin foam squares.  For a scene card it was exceptionally easy to make.

As you see with my card, travel can take many forms, and we'd love to see what you come up with!  Before you head off to your crafty space, I encourage you to visit the PP blog where my teammates have some wonderful and varied ideas for this theme.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, April 11th at 3pm EDT.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Waffle Flower Happy Day stamps and dies
• Honey Bee Stamps March 2023 "Free Bee" sentiment stamp
• Simon Says Stamp Marine, Sprout and Cappuccino inks
• Copics - Bear - E37, 35, 33, 31, R22; Wagon, Bike and Hat - B28, 26, 24, 21; Butterflies - B02, 00, 000, RV04, 02, FRV1; Bird & Bee - YR23, Y15, 11, R21; Flowers and Leaves - RV04, 02, FRV1, YG09, 05, 01

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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

Cosmos for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm back with my mid-month reminder card for The Flower Challenge.  This month, we're using the colors black, yellow and white.

The Flower Challenge

 

I ended up using a long-neglected background stamp for my card this time.

For my second card in this color combination (you can find my first one here) I color the background and flower centers yellow and left the flowers white using gray Copic markers to add gentle shading to the flower interior and edges.  Since the stamp is a 6" x 6" background stamp, I die cut the desired section first, then colored it.

The black layering panel was die cut with the next larger die in the set, then after adhering to the colored panel, I decided to wrap it with some black Baker's Twine and add my sentiment using a small tag.  Once that was done, the final step was to pop it up on the white card base with some foam tape.  Super easy and simple.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll take a moment to visit the challenge blog - as always, my wonderful teammates have created some gorgeous cards for our reminder post!  And I do hope you're inspired to join us this month!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Cosmos Background, Waffle Flower Special Delivery Sentiments

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, SU Black

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Clair Nocturne

Dies:  Altenew Ornate Nesting, Waffle Flower Special Delivery

Other:  Retired SU Black Baker's Twine

Copics:  W3, 1, YR27, 24, Y19, 15, 13

Peonies and Butterflies

Hello friends!  Today I'm playing along with two challenges - Jacquie's fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches and Nancy's fun Things in a Garden theme at Seize the Birthday.

FMS 578

STB 258

I thought I would use some patterned paper in the background, as I have several pads but don't use them often, and I was fortunate to find one that I liked, that worked with the STB theme and would be colors I could work with for my Copic coloring.  Peonies and butterflies are two things that eventually will be in my garden.

The patterned paper is from Simple Stories Simple Vintage Cottage Fields 6x8" pad.  I really like the small graph design in the background, along with the script and of course the butterflies.  While most of the butterflies on the paper are more neutral, there are a couple that have a hint of peach, so that and the aqua background formed my coloring choices.

I used one of the two floral images in the Build-A-Garden: Precious Peonies set from Altenew, stamping in Memento Tuxedo Black and coloring with peachy and blue-green markers.  The peach markers are ones I rarely use because it's hard to achieve a deep contrast between light and dark, but when I was done, I was really happy with how it turned out.  After coloring, I used the matching dies to cut out the image.

The sentiment is from Waffle Flower's Elegant Sentiments, die cut the the coordinating die.  I lightly ink blended some Salvaged Patina Distress Ink on the white panel then added the flowers and sentiment with thin foam tape.  After adhering the patterned paper to the card base and adding the black horizontal strip, I also used thin foam tape to add the panel to the card and that was it!  

Thanks for taking time to stop by.  I hope you have an enjoyable week ahead!

Take care!

Stef

Copics:  R32, 12, 00, 000, BG57, 53, 11, YR24, Y19, 15

Thank You for The Flower Challenge

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new challenge at The Flower Challenge and this month the theme is to use die cuts and/or stencils, so pull out your favorite dies or stencils (of flowers, of course!) and share with us this month!

The Flower Challenge

For my card I did a little stenciling and quite a bit of die cutting.

I started by stamping the sweet Pinkfresh Studio Inky Bouquet in Memento Tuxedo Black, then colored the flowers and leaves with Copic markers.  Next I used one of the 6 layering stencils and colored the vase with Simon Says Stamp Surf and Seafoam inks.  I have really been on a kick with peach and aqua, but I'm lovin' it!  When the ink was dry, I put the image back in my Misti where I'd left my stamp in place, restamped with Versamark ink and gold heat embossed both the floral image and the sentiment.

After using the companion dies to cut out the floral vase and sentiment, I went to work on the background.  This time I used the Ring Panel cover die from Waffleflower, die cut from white cardstock and layered it directly on the white cardbase.  Next I used the companion dies to cut additional layers for the vase and the sentiment, adhered them together, then added them to the card front and I was done!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Be sure to do the same with the challenge to check out the absolutely gorgeous cards by the other DT members and hopefully join us this month!

Take care!

Stef

Poinsettia Christmas for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  Today I'm sharing my design team card for The Flower Challenge.  This month our theme is sparkle and I hope you'll join us!

The Flower Challenge

This is my second blog post today - you can view my fall themed DT card for Sunday Stamps here.

I'm also joining the current Time Out Challenges where the theme is Festive, Addicted To Stamps and More for their Christmas challenge and the CAS Christmas Card Challenge with a September theme of Sparkle.

TOC #221

ATSC #437

CAS Christmas Card Challenge

I decided to create a Christmas floral and let the sentiment provide the sparkle.

I used three of the lovely poinsettia stamps from Waffle Flower, stamped and colored with Copic markers.  I also added some silver to the flower centers and the little berry branch with a gel pen.  Before die cutting with the matching dies, I popped the stamped panel back into my Misti, where I'd left the stamp and restamped, this time with black pigment ink.

I used a large panel of Bristol paper, ink blending around the edges with Salvaged Patina Distress Ink, then using Transparent Texture paste through a snowflake stencil along the bottom third.  When that dried, it was just too transparent, so I lightly swiped a white pigment ink pad across the raised portions to help it stand out just a wee bit more.  The sentiment was die cut twice from white cardstock then once from silver glitter and layered together for dimension.  After the background was dried, trimmed down to 4.5"x 6" and adhered to a white cardbase, the flowers and sentiment were added.  The last bit was to add a few snowflake embellishments.

I'm so glad you stopped by and I do hope that you'll join us this month at TFC, you have until the 25th of September.  In the meantime, do be sure to use the link above and look at all the beautiful cards created by my fellow DT members.

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Poinsettia (WF)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Koh-I-Nor Bristol, Silver Glitter (Simon Says Stamp)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Clair Nocturne, Salvage Patina Distress, Shark Tooth White (Ink on 3)

Other:  Poinsettia dies, Merry Christmas Poe Script dies (Poppystamps), Delicate Snowflake stencil (SSS), Texture Paste Transparent Matte (Ranger), Vanilla Sugar Snowflake Embellisments (Trinity Stamps)

Copics:  R59, 39, 35, 37, G28, 27, 03, Y17, 03, BG72, 70, 57, 53, 11

Thanks for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge and this week we have a fun one created by the lovely Silke.  The Design Team has outdone themselves this week so be sure to use the link below to see their amazing cards!

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

 

I'd spent some time playing around with some Nuvo Shimmer Powders and decide to use some of the panels for my card, going diagonal from lower left to upper right - thank you, ribbon, vase.

The powder colors are quite vibrant, so sprinkling just a little bit around on a panel (I used watercolor paper) then spraying with water created some delicious results!  I made a solid teal, which I used as the background on my card, then did some that were half purple or yellow, with the other half green or teal.  Once those were completely dry (I think I let them dry overnight), I die cut the all the stems and trimmed down the background panel.

Next, I wrapped a piece of black satin ribbon around the panel and added it to the white card base with foam tape.  The sentiment and vase were die cut from black glossy cardstock, then adhered along with the die cut stems.  With all the shimmer on the panel and stems (sorry the photo does not do it justice), I decided to leave the card as is without any further embellishments.

Thanks for taking time to stop by, I always appreciate it!  I hope you're inspired to join us this week at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge!

Take care!

Stef

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Glossy Black (Simon Says Stamp),Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor

Other:  Sunray Crossette, Solar Flair, Falling Leaves, Lilac Waterfall and Atlantis Burst Nuvo Shimmer Powders (Tonic); Script Thanks die (SSS), Vase Variety and Stems dies (Waffle Flower), Nested Infinity Rectangle die (Hero Arts), Black Satin Ribbon (ret. SU)