Joyful Peonies

Hello and welcome!  I'm sharing a card that I made for two challenges - As You See It, where we are to use our favorite technique, and Anything Goes at the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge, which sadly is the finale for this challenge blog. 

As You See It Challenge #268

 

WWC335

If you know me or have followed my blog, you know my favorite technique is coloring, specifically with Copics.  However, for my card I've combined Copic coloring with a relatively new-to-me and growing favorite technique, which is hot foiling.

I've been watching foiling take hold in the crafting industry and at first didn't think it was something I need bother with. But I've always loved metallics, and when I found out I could use my Copics with all those beautiful foiled images, plus found an excellent sale online, I went in head first!  

My card is pretty straightforward.  The Joyful Peonies image was foiled with a very sparkly foil (see photos below for a better example), then colored with Copics to achieve a pretty pinkish coral tone.  It was die cut with a matching die, then I went to work on the remainder of the card.

My go to is often white on white, so I reached for an A2 cover die, used it on a panel of white, then adhered it to the white card base.  Next, the circle was cut out with a die that left the pretty design around the outside and I used a smaller circle die to cut out the inside.  It was added to the card base using foam tape, then the floral image adhered directly to the circle plus foam tape on the bits that extended beyond the circle.  Lastly, the foiled and die cut sentiment was adhered on top.

Well friends, I appreciate you stopping by. And to the DT at Watercooler Wednesday, thanks for all the great challenges and all the best to you going forward. 

Take care and have a great week ahead!

Stef

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Hammermill

Ink:   None

Other:  Joyful Peonies Hot Foil and Die set (Pinkfresh Studio), Folk Edge Circle dies (PS), Dotted Scales Debossing Cover die (Altenew), Fancy Script Words Hot Foil and Die set (PS), Speckled Aura Glimmer Foil (Spellbinders)

Copics:  RV29, 25, 23, R22, 20, Y26, 15, 11, YG67, 17, 05, 03

Elegant Motifs Birthday

Hello and welcome! Today I'm sharing a card made for the challenges at The Paper Players and Watercooler Wednesday.

PP 573

WWC332

I think I struck a feminine tone with this birthday card using those lovely colors and a kind of swirly, fun stamp.

Typically, I lean towards somewhat realistic floral stamps, but I have to say I had fun with this more stylized image, especially with all the flourishes and whatnot.  I used Copic markers to color it and I think I got pretty close to the SU colors.  The Just Jade took a bit of time to figure out, and I like the end result. Once the coloring was complete, the image was cut out with the coordinating die.  The sentiment was stamped with Calypso Coral and also die cut with the matching die.  When I went to stamp the sentiment, I found that the ink pad was dry, so I reinked it and then stamped.  To me it seems a little dark in color, but I think that may be due not waiting for the ink to completely settle into the ink pad.

Next came the layers.  A swirly cover plate die was used to create the pattern on a panel of Pale Papaya, then it was trimmed down and adhered to the white base.  The white scallop panel was adhered to the base with foam tape, then the floral image and sentiment atop that, also with foam tape.  That last was a bit fiddly due to all the small leaves and flourishes - next time I'll just adhere a couple of additional die cuts underneath, which will be so much quicker lol! The final touch was to add a few gems for sparkle.

Thanks for visiting, I always appreciate it!  

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Elegant Motifs (Altenew), XL Birthday Greetings (SSS)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Pale Papaya (SU)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Calypso Coral

Other:  Elegant Motif die, XL Birthday Greetings die, Chunky A2 Scallop Rectangle die (SSS), Detail Swirls Cover Plate die (SSS), Iridescent Gems (Lucy's Cards Little Things)

Copics:  R08, 05, 22, 11, YR02, 01, 00, 000, G17, BG34, 11

Into the Woodland for Sunday Stamps

Hello and welcome!  I hope your holidays have been enjoyable.  It's time for a new color challenge at Sunday Stamps and wowzer do we have some beautiful colors to work with!

Sunday Stamps

I'm also playing along with the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge, where the theme is Anything Goes.

WWC331

I was truly inspired by the Bokeh look of the color board, but I encountered some issues trying to recreate that look and frankly ran out of time (I might still finish that card and share it later).  So instead, I pulled out a newer Altenew stamp set and used shades of purple, yellow/gold and navy from the color board plus I used a neutral gray. 

The floral stem was stamped then colored with Copic markers.  I was happy to find a blend of violet markers that seemed to match up fairly well with the color challenge purples and loved adding the dark blue background.  The leaves were colored in light grays.  Next I used white gouache for a bit of splatter and while that dried the sentiment from the same stamp set was gold heat embossed and cut out with an oval die.

The frame was die cut from gold pearl mirror cardstock and twice more from white then layered together.  The floral panel was trimmed down to fit behind the frame then glued in place.  It was adhered directly to the white card base, then the sentiment added with foam tape.  Once the coloring was complete this card was super quick to put together.

Thanks for taking time to stop by, I really appreciate it.  Be sure to use the link above to see all the really beautiful cards by the other DT members and hopefully join us for this color challenge!

Stef

Stamps:  Into the Woodland (Altenew)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Gold Pearl Mirror (Tonic)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark

Other:  Scallop Stitched Frames die (Poppystamps), Essential Oval die (Ellen Hutson), Antique Gold embossing powder (Altenew), White Gouache

Copics:  V05, 01, 00, T2, 0, YR24, Y26, 15

Nice List

Hello and welcome! Today I'm sharing what I think is my final Christmas card for 2021 and I made it using the colors from The Paper Players' current challenge.  I'm also sharing at the Four Seasons challenge, Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme this week is "Bling it On".

PP571

Four Seasons - Winter

WWC331

LeAnne gave us the perfect traditional colors to use this week.  It was a happy surprise to find I still had some Merry Merlot cardstock!

I love this Santa Bunny image!  He was stamped on white cardstock and colored with Copic markers for everything except the gold buckle and buttons.  For that I used a paintbrush and gold metallic paint.  The sentiment grounding Santa is from the same set and was gold heat embossed on Merry Merlot then die cut with the matching die.  I also die cut Santa but when I decided to layer him directly onto the Ivory panel (my Very Vanilla sub), the white outline did not look good at all, so I ended up fussy cutting him.

Next, the Ivory panel was die cut to give it that deckled edge, embossed with a 3D snowflake embossing folder on the Ivory panel, then I used the same gold paint around the edges.  The panel was adhered directly to the Merry Merlot card base, then the sentiment and Santa Bunny were added with thin foam squares.  The last step was to add a bit of bling with the gold baubles.

Thanks for taking time to visit, I appreciate it very much.  Take care and have a very Merry Christmas!

Stef

Stamps:  Santa Bunny (Anita Jeram/Colorado Craft Company)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Ivory (Simon Says Stamp), Merry Merlot (SU)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark

Other:  Snowflake Visions 3D embossing folder, Santa Bunny sentiment die, Mix and Match Frames dies (Altenew), Finetec Gold Metallic paint, Antique Gold embossing powder (Altenew), Gorgeous Gold Baubles (Trinity Stamps)

Jingle All the Way for Sunday Stamps

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps and this time Heather has given us a great sketch to work with.

Sunday Stamps

 

I'm also joining the following challenges:

ATSC #420

POECC #5

WWC330

In trying to design my card using the image I wanted, I ended up flipping the sketch on the side.

I don't know if I'll ever get tired of using this fun and energetic Santa LOL!  He was stamped, colored with Copic markers and die cut with the coordinating die.  Next the sentiment was red heat embossed on white and die cut with a fishtail sentiment die.  The die was too long for the sentiment, so I ended up cutting it twice, moving the end of the die up closer to the word on the right end on the second pass.  I hope that makes sense!

Next I trimmed down the patterned paper for the background and the horizontal strip.  The larger piece was adhered directly to the card base, and after matting the strip on white and wrapping with Baker's Twine (yay, my stash yielded just what I needed!), it was added to the card with thin foam squares.  Santa and the sentiment were also popped up with foam.  The snowflakes were die cut three times, once from white glitter and twice from scraps of white cardstock, layered and adhered to the panel.  Unfortunately, they did not photograph well, but adding the dimension helps make them stand out from the background better IRL. The final touch was a bit of glimmer pen added to the "fur" on Santa's hat.

Thanks so much for visiting, I really appreciate it!  Be sure to use the link above to check out the gorgeous cards by the other DT members and hopefully join our sketch challenge!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Jingle All the Way (MFT)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Cool Colab 6x6 paper pack (MFT), White Glitter paper (Simon Says Stamp)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark

Other:  Jingle All the Way die, Fishtail Foundations die (MFT), Merry and Bright Snowflake dies (SSS), Red Hot embossing powder (Gina K), Baker's Twine (ret. SU), Tonic Nuvo Shimmer pen

More Christmas cards...

Hello and welcome!  I hope you're doing well in your holiday preparations!  I have one more Christmas card and a few gift card holders to make, and then some gift wrapping.  We are just over two weeks until Christmas - can you believe it?

So today I have two more Christmas cards to share with you for different challenges. The first was made using Karren's fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches, plus I'm also sharing it at Watercooler Wednesday.

FMS 515

WWC330

I decided to use some cute Birdie Brown images from MFT for this first card.

I started by stamping, coloring with Copic markers and die cutting Santa, the tree and the reindeer.  The sentiment was red heat embossed on white, then die cut with a fishtail sentiment die.  Next a panel of white was embossed with the Softly Falling embossing folder, then trimmed down and adhered to the card base.  I found a patterned paper that went well with the reds and green I used in the coloring and adhered it to the card.  Next a die cut strip of white was added to the card with foam tape, then the images adhered with adhesive and foam squares for the overhanging areas.  In hindsight I should not have and the tree over behind Santa so far, but it was firmly glued down so there was no moving it!  I'm sure the recipient (my younger grandson) will not even notice.  The last touch was to add some tiny stars that were punched out of white glitter paper.

 

The second card was created for the Color Hues Challenge, with their well-timed challenge of red and green.

TCH #31

For this card I started by ink blending two Distress Oxide greens on a panel of white and splattering with water and with white gouache.  While the panel dried, several of the Etched Berry Branches were die cut from white cardstock and the "berries" were painted with gold metallic paint.  The sentiment was die cut once from red and twice from white and layered together for dimension.  The branches were adhered in a random pattern on the green background and afterwards I realized I'd need a vellum shadow so the sentiment would better stand out.  Once that was all adhered together, it was matted on the red panel and adhered to the white card base.  Lastly, I used Glossy Accents on the die cut sentiment to make it nice and shiny.

Thanks for hanging in there for this long post!  Take care and happy holidays!

Stef

Card #1

Stamps: Jingle All the Way (MFT)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, 9x4 Holiday Collection (Trinity Stamps), White Glitter (Simon Says Stamp)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versamark

Other:  Jingle All the Way dies, Fishtail Foundation die (MFT), Slim Lacy Layers die (Waffle Flower), Softly Falling embossing folders (ret. SU), Red Hot embossing powder (Gina K), Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer Pen, Stars Border punch (ret. SU), Copic markers

Card #2

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Cranberry (Concord & 9th), vellum

Ink:  Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness Distress Oxide

Other:  Merry and Bright dies (Simon Says Stamp), Etched Berry Branch die (SSS), Gold Metallic paint (Altenew), White Gouache, Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Ho Ho Ho for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge and this week Carol has brought us this fabulous board to inspire our creativity.

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

For my card, I decided to go diagonal, from the bottom left to the top right (Holiday, Free, Gift).

I'm also joining three other challenges - Inkspirational, Peace On Earth Christmas and Watercooler Wednesday.

Ink#251

POEC #3

WWC328

I really love the Big Pickup Truck and Big Pickup Tailgate stamps from Honey Bee Stamps so I decided to use the pickup tailgate on for this card.  It's not one I can mass produce for the holidays but I will make a few to send.

For starters, I stamped multiples of everything - the truck, the tailgate, the tree, packages and Santa's bag full of toys.  Also, when I stamped the truck, I stamped the back of Santa in the cab, waiving as he hurries to get everything home before the snow comes down too heavy. (Obviously, it's just started because the tires aren't entirely covered with snow - oops lol!)  Colored it all with Copic markers and used the matching dies to cut everything out.  

To accommodate the size of the truck, a panel of mixed media paper was trimmed down to 5x5 inches, which is the final size of the card.  Distress Ink was used to create the sky, ground and stenciled trees.  The truck was then assembled, adhering the tree and packages directly to the truck, then using thin foam tape to add the bag of gifts.  The tailgate was then added with regular foam tape.  

Next I used both white acrylic paint and white gouache to splatter snow on the background and the truck. I also used the paint to cover the "ground" and add a bit to the tires.  I set those aside to dry and created the sentiment. The word Christmas was die cut twice from white cardstock and once from red polished foil.  I used double sided adhesive sheets on those papers and the vellum used for the shadow, just to make things easier.  The merry was stamped in green pigment ink then die cut with a label die.  Once all the paint was dry, the background was mounted on a white card base, the truck adhered directly to the background, then the sentiment was added to finish things off.

Thanks for visiting, I appreciate it so much.  Be sure to use the link above to check out the fabulous cards by the other DT members and hopefully be inspired to join us this week!

Stef

Stamps:  Big Pickup Tailgate, Loads of Holiday Cheer, Bitty Buzzwords: Holidays (all Honey Bee)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Vicki Boutin Multi Media, Memory Box Polished Foil 6x6 pad, Grafix Translucent Vellum

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Versafine Clair Green Oasis; Distress - Speckled Egg, Frayed Burlap, Hickory Smoke

Other:  Big PU Tailgate, Loads of Holiday Cheer and Bitty Buzzwords: Holiday dies, Sentiment Labels die (Simon Says Stamp), Woodland Stencil (Tim Holtz), Picket Fence Distress Acrylic Paint, White Gouache

Copics: R39, 37, 35, 29, 24, YR18, BG49, 13, 23, 11, B000, YG67, 17, 03, C7, 5, 4, 3, 2, W9, 7, 5, T6, 4, 2, 0

Snowflake Christmas for Sunday Stamps

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps and this time Heidi has given us this great sketch to work with.

Sunday Stamps

  

I'm also playing along the Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and the Peace on Earth Christmas Challenge.

WWC326

POEC #2

When I saw Heidi's sketch, I narrowed my choices to leaves or snowflakes...and snowflakes won out because I wanted to use a couple of the gorgeous new Tim Holtz Mica Stain Sprays.

For starters, I took an oversized piece of multi-media paper that could withstand water and sprays, and had a fun time creating this background.  I used two of the green blue colors (my photos pick up more of the blue shade - IRL it turned out more of a teal shade), sprayed in spots on the panel, sprayed with water to mix it, then heat set it.  I did this a couple of times then set it aside to dry overnight.  The next day, I die cut the panel with a rectangle die, splattered it with white metallic paint, which was a bit too faint, so I went to white gouache for a brighter effect.  As with many shiny applications, the beautiful shimmer of the mica sprays unfortunately isn't discernable in the photos.

For even more sparkle, the snowflakes were die cut from white glitter cardstock.  I used Liquid Platinum to heat emboss the sentiment, trimmed it down, then added more embossing around all the edges.  The sprayed panel was added to the 5" x 7" white card base with foam tape, then the snowflakes were adhered with just a touch of liquid glue at the centers so I could get some lift on the outer portions of the flakes. The sentiment was popped up with thin foam tape and the final touch was to add a few sequins.

Thanks so much for visiting, I really appreciate it!  Be sure to use the link above to check out the fabulous, clever cards by the other DT members and hopefully be inspired to join us!

Stef

Stamps:  Holiday Greetings Mix 1 (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Vicki Boutin Multimedia, White Glitter (SSS)

Ink:  Versamark

Other:  A7 Layers Rectangle die (Waffle Flower), Daphne, Lia, Kaydn & Rina Snowflake dies (SSS), Snowflurries and Frosted Juniper Mica Stain Sprays (Tim Holtz), white metallic paint (Altenew), White Gouache, Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder (Ranger), Antique Gold sequins (Altenew)

Big Pickup Birthday

Hello and welcome!  I have a card to share that I made for our nephew's 30th birthday this week and with it am joining the perfectly timed All Things Masculine challenge at Watercooler Wednesday.

WWC325

Our nephew recently bought a new-to-him pickup truck that he was so thrilled to get, so I knew I was going to use the Big Pickup Tailgate stamp for his card.  Plus it's fun to make a stand up card with it rather then a normal A2 card.

How fun is that?  To start, the truck and leaves were stamped and colored with Copic markers then die cut with matching dies.  Next I stamped and colored a second tailgate, that was die cut with the separate tailgate die.  Since our nephew is a Boise State student, I used the school colors of royal blue and orange.  The sentiment was stamped in blue pigment ink and the word birthday was die cut with the matching die.

Next I scored a white card base and did partial die cutting of the pickup, leaving just a slight seam at the top of the cab.  The colored truck was adhered to the base, then the leaves and tailgate added with foam tape.  The word birthday had been die cut 3 times and layered together to give it almost a chipboard feel, then it was added directly to the tailgate and the word happy popped up with a bit of foam tape.  

Thanks for taking time to visit, I really appreciate it!  

This is my second card post today, so if you scroll down you can catch the card I made for the current Paper Players and Double D challenges.

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Big Pickup Tailgate, Loads of Fall, Bitty Buzzwords (all Honeybee Stamps)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Clair Bluebell

Other:  Big Pickup Tailgate, Loads of Fall and Bitty Buzzwords matching dies.

Copics:  B39, 26, 24, R39, 29, 08, BG0000, YR18, 16, 14, 09 E08

Y26, 19, 15, 13, 38, 17, C9, 7, 5, 4, 3, 1 W9, 7