La Dolce Vita Birthday for PP794

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge at the Paper Players and this week the amazing Jaydee is hosting.  This is color week and Jaydee has chosen a gorgeous combination.

Paper Players

My card uses products that have been languishing in my unused bin, so I'll be sharing this at Darnell's NBUS challenge.

NBUS

I'm also joining the Anything Goes option at Seize the Birthday and the Summer Vibe challenge at Inkspirational.

STB #330

Inkspirational #371

I had so much fun creating the first card that I ended up making two.

I started by cutting the lemons, flowers and leaves from colored cardstock that coordinated with Jaydee's challenge colors and then enhanced them with some ink blending.  

The embossed background was made using Shortbread cardstock from Concord & 9th.  It appears a lot lighter in the photos - in person it is the yummiest warm color between ivory and light yellow.  It was trimmed down and added to a black matte.

The sentiments are from a coordinating Betterpress set, which I inked up in black then used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  As someone who doesn't speak Italian, I always thought ciao was goodbye, but learned it can also mean hello.  So the greeting reads hello beautiful and I like the versatility of that.  Paired with the sub greeting above, I can use it for a birthday or many other occasions.

For the second card, I kind of when overboard with the flowers lol! 

This time I die cut everything from white cardstock then ink blended them for a slightly different look.  I used the same embossed background but added the arch panel as a landing spot for all the die cuts.  The sentiment is from the same Betterpress set and I finished this off with a few opal gems.  

Do you have a favorite?  I like them both, but I like the look of the ink blending on white for card #2 a bit better.

Thanks so much for stopping by!  Be sure to take a moment to visit the challenge blog, my talented teammates have some amazing cards using these colors in a variety of ways.  The challenge will remain open until July 17th at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll join us!

Stef

Card #1

• Spellbinders Citrus Spritz die set
• SB La Dolce Vita Betterpress plate and die
• SB Lemon Fresco embossing folder
• SB Blush, Tutu and Rainforest cardstock
• C&9 Buttercup and Shortbread cardstock

Card #2 (same die and sentiment sets, and embossing folder)

• SB Essential Arch die
• Simon Says Stamp Shell, Salmon, Coral, Guava, Watermelon, Limelicious and Pearfection inks
• SB Opal gems

Joyful Bouquet for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  The Flower Challenge is back for the month of October and this time we'd like everyone to add purple on your floral card.  Since I love purple, I didn't have to think twice about that!

I have a sweet bouquet stamp purchased during Stamptember that I decided to use.  It was a collaboration stamp between Simon Says Stamp and Altenew.  Since I keep adding to my NBUS collection, I guess I better send it over to Darnell's NBUS blog lol!

I used mainly blue violets but I did manage to add a pop of yellow along with the purple flowers.

The pretty floral spray was colored with Olo and Copic markers, then die cut with the matching die.  I love the angle of the stamp, it could fit so many ways on a card, but the placement I used seemed to make the most sense so I could add the sentiment, which also from the same stamp set.

The cover panel was die cut from SSS Lavender and adhered to the card base.  Another die from the same set was cut from white and popped up with foam tape.  After adding the spray and the sentiment I added a few Opal Dazzling gems to finish things off.

Okay all you purple and flower lovers, we'd love to see your cards in the gallery this month!  Be sure to stop by the challenge blog (linked above) to see all the gorgeous inspiration from my oh, so talented teammates.  So many beautiful cards!  The challenge will remain open until Saturday October 25th.  Please join us this month!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef  

• Altenew/SSS Joyful Bouquet stamps and dies for Stamptember 2025
• Honey Bee Stamps Spring Vine Layering Frames dies
• SSS Opal Dazzling Gems
• Olos - BV1.7, 1.4, 1.2, 1.1, BG2.7, 2.5. 2.4, 2.1, YO 2.5, Y2.3, 2.2, 1.1
• Copics - YG67, 17, 03, E37, 33, V17

Charming Bouquet for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  This week at the Paper Players, the lovely Ann is hosting our color challenge and has chosen a delightful combination.

Paper Players

With these gorgeous colors, I couldn't do anything but a floral *wink* but I did step out of my usual A2 card and created a gatefold.

The gatefold card base was made months ago (dare I say over a year ago?) for an unfinished project, and I was happy to finally put it to use.  The card is 5" square with embossed panels of 2.5" each on either flap.  I used the Simon Says Stamp Petal-Tipped Labels to create layers for my floral image and sentiment.

The stamp was a gift from Altenew but any small/mini set would work for this.  It didn't come with a die, so when the Copic coloring was complete, I fussy cut it and used thin foam tape to add it to the petal label die cut. After adding the sentiment, the entire thing was adhered to just the left side of the front. I added a panel to the inside that was stamped in pale purple-pink, with the floral image going off the upper left hand corner. The last step was to add a few gems.

This is such a pretty color combination, I look for to seeing what everyone creates.  I hope your card will be in the gallery, which will remain open until Friday July 18th at 3pm EDT.  Before you head out, I encourage you to visit the challenge (linked above) and see all the beautiful inspiration from my talented teammates!

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Altenew Charming Bouquet stamp
• Altenew Modern Squares 3D embossing folder
• Altenew One Go: Solid Sentiment Strips 2 press plate and die
• Honey Bee Stamps Marvelous Moments gems
• Copics - Y06, Y26, RV66, 55, 63, 52, BG49, 13, 11

Paper Posy Birthday for The Flower Challenge

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

TFC 103R

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

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

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

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

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

Take care!

Stef

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