Pool Room Birthday Card for PP789

Hello friends!  It's time for our first challenge of the month of June over at the Paper Players and it's a theme challenge.  I'm hosting this week, asking everyone to create masculine cards.  It's a great time of year, especially with Father's Day a week away. Or, in my case, I have 2 grandsons, 2 nephews, 2 brothers-in-law and my husband celebrating birthdays this summer!

Paper Players

For this week's card, I created a slimline style with a scene.  

The die set is a Lovely Layers set from Honey Bee Stamps called Man Cave.  It rang a bell for me because my husband and I have a pool table and I thought the entire die set was so cleverly designed.  

All the components were die cut from colored cardstock with the exception of the glasses of beer and the pool balls. The beer glasses were cut twice from vellum and then, to make two beers facing one another, I simply flipped one over and adhered the yellow cardstock piece to the back of each glass for the look of beer.  The pool balls were cut from white cardstock then colored with Copic markers.  Glossy accents was then added to the beer foam, the light fixtures and the pool balls.

The blue wall was ink blended then I used an old rag to create some texture by dabbing it in the ink then randomly dabbing onto the panel.  I created the wood floor using a plank die, doing partial die cutting on one end then flipping it around so that I could make it 8 1/2" long. I added the sentiment to the TV screen along with some holographic stars for the finishing touch.

Thanks for visiting and I encourage you to head over to the challenge blog to see all the fabulous masculine cards from the rest of the team.  The challenge will remain open until Friday June 12th at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll come join us this week!

Stef

• Honey Bee Stamps Lovely Layers: Man Cave
• Simon Says Stamp Wood Plank Die
• Spellbinders Just Add Cake Sentiment Stamp and Die
• Trinity Stamps Oh My Stars embellishments
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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

Scenic Birthday for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  A new Sunday brings a new challenge at the Paper Players.  It's Clean and Simple week, and our host, the lovely Jan, is asking us to use watercolor.  

Paper Players

 

Keeping things CAS is easy to do.  Add only a limited number of layers or embellishments and your card should be clean and uncluttered, with lots of "white" space.  

I haven't water colored much over the past few years as I prefer to use my Copic or alcohol markers.  But this challenge reminded me it doesn't have to be complicated.  I chose a small scene, which also kept things simple. 😉

I used the Simon Says Stamp card kit for July to create this card.  The kit had many components, including three window dies, some fabulous city scene pattern papers, and a stamp set with various outdoor scenes that work with yet another window die, which is what I used here.  

The scene was stamped on watercolor paper with black pigment ink then heat embossed with clear embossing powder.  I smooshed four Distress ink pads onto my glassboard work surface, added water and did some simple coloring of the scene.  

A strip of aqua paper was trimmed down and stamped the sentiment black and heat embossed, adhered it to the card base, then added the two strips of green cardstock.  The window was die cut from black glossy paper to coordinate with the black embossing, layered onto the trimmed down watercolor scene, then popped up with foam tape.  I felt like the card needed something more, so black enamel dots to the rescue.  In hindsight, I think some scoring on the panel would have looked nice as well.

Below are a couple of other cards I made with the kit.  They were sent off to a dear girlfriend as part of her birthday present, along with some other cards.

Thanks for coming by! I encourage you to visit the challenge blog, where my talented teammates have some wonderful designs to inspire you!  The challenge ends Friday 9/26 at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll share you card in the gallery this week!

Stef

• SSS Through the Window Stamps and dies
• SSS Strips 1 die
• Altenew Black Enamel dots
• Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Hickory Smoke and Salvage Patina Distress inks

So Sweet for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players and this week the lovely Ann is hosting.  It's Theme week and Ann has chosen a great one that has loads of options for creating.  Let's take a look!

Paper Players

I'm also joining in with the lovelies at TOC, with their friendship/encouragement/support challenge.  My card, while a bit punny, is letting the recipient know they are appreciated.

TOC #296

Before getting to my card, I want to take a moment to congratulate Christy Stanford for being our newest member of the Paper Players Design Team!  Christy was a year-long guest designer a few years ago and has been joining us each week on a regular basis with her delightful and charming cards.  Welcome to the team, Christy!

For our latest PP challenge, and since we're heading into fall, I chose to use a little cutie eating her caramel apple.  I remember loving them when I was young. 

To start, I stamped the girl and the apples, then masked them off so I could create the scene using stencils for the sky and ground.  Once that was complete, the masks were removed and I colored her in fall colors using Copic markers.  

I decided to cut out and pop up the center of the panel using an arch die, then stamped the sentiment.  I added the outside to a white card base then popped up the center portion.  I finished off the apple with some Glossy Accents to make it shiny and when that was dry, also used a white gel pen to create highlights.

What are you inspired to create using this theme?  For more ideas, please head over to the challenge blog where my talented teammates have loads of great design to inspire you.  The challenge remains open until 3pm EDT, Friday September 12th. I hope you'll join us this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Stamping Bella Caramel Apple Bundle Girl stamp
• Altenew Sweet Jasmine sentiment stamp
• Simon Says Stamp Landscapes and MFT Mini Cloud Edges stencils
• Altenew Sea Breeze and SSS Fairway and Field inks
• SSS A2 Arches die
• Copics - YR18, 09, 07, 15, 21, 27, 23, R59, 37, 35, G29, 17, 03, E29, 27, 23, 21, 11, 00

Through the Window Birthday

Hello friends!  Just popping in with second post today (you can find my Paper Players DT card here).  I haven't been playing along with challenges outside of my DT duties very often lately, so I decided to join in with a couple.

Ink #346

STB #310

The toppings option at Seize the Birthday is to use your favorite color but my card doesn't amplify my favorite so I'm joining in the Anything Goes option.

I made this card a while ago for my dear SIL's birthday but never posted it and I thought it was a pretty one to share.  I used Altenew's House Plants, Boho Vases and Through the Window dies along with their Masonry Wall 3D embossing folder to create this little scene.  

I started by die cutting the window in a panel of white, then embossing it.  For the window scene, I just die some simple ink blending to create the sky and ground, adhered it behind the panel then added the dark gray window frame.  I used the same dark gray cardstock to create the big vase and backed the openings with a light blue scrap.  

The leaves were all die cut from white then ink blended with a trio of greens.  The pot was also ink blended with a light gray.  The wood shelf was cut from light brown cardstock, then I added shading with ink.  With everything added to the card, I finished things off with matte gold flower centers and a foiled sentiment.  This was a fun card to make - these dies are fabulous!

Thanks for taking time to stop by!  I'll be back at the end of the week with a new DT card for Color Hues.  In the meantime, take care!

Stef

• Altenew Houseplants, Boho Vases and Through the Window dies
• Altenew Masonry Wall 3d ef
• Simon Says Stamp Wood Plank die
• Spellbinders Fancy Sentiment Betterpress plate
• Altenew Rhodolite, Silver Stone, Sea Breeze, Moss, Fresh Leaf and Lime inks

Birdie Hello for the Paper Players

Hello friends! I have a fun little card to share with you for the new challenge at the Paper Players.  This time, the lovely LeAnne is hosting our CAS challenge with the theme of using things with wheels.  Pretty fun, huh?

Paper Players

As I was combing through potential stamp and die sets, I remembered a favorite Stampin' Up cling rubber stamp set that retired years ago.  It has a fun little scene that includes wheels.  Take a look!

I stamped the image without its accompanying sentiment (in fact, I used my oldie but goodie red rubber scissors to trim it off) on a small panel of white cardstock.  Before coloring, I used a cloud stencil and also added a bit of blue around the sides.  I used a light hand so it's a bit hard to see in the photo.  After the coloring was done, the panel was cut with a square postage die.

I found some cardstock that was close in color to the wagon and used a cover die that added a tulip piercing pattern and die cut little hearts.  It was then cut with a postage rectangle die and added to the card base.  A sentiment was stamped on the image square before mounting it on the card using foam tape.  I thought a little enamel heart would look cute, carrying on the theme from the background, and found a wee yellow one that I added to the upper right corner.  

There are so many possibilities with this theme, I hope you'll play along this week.  Just remember to keep it clean and simple.  My talented teammates have a variety of amazing examples, so I encourage you to use the link above and check it out.  The challenge will remain open until 3pm EDT Friday 7/25.

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Stampin' Up For the Birds stamp (retired)
• Altenew Happy Eight mini stamp (sentiment)
• Pinkfresh Studio Tulip Love Coverplate die
• MFT Mini Cloud stencil
• Simon Says Stamp Postage Edge dies
• Altenew Eastern Sky ink, Ultramarine cardstock and Citrus Punch enamel heart
• Copics - B28, 26, 24, 23,21, C9, 7. 5, 3, 1, 0, W3, 1, 0, Black 100, Y15, 11, RV 06, 02 YR 09, 04, YG17, 05

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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Summertime Silhouette for Color Hues

Hello friends!  We have a new, beautiful color combination for your inspiration at Color Hues.  This time the amazing Tracey has chosen something I think is perfect for summer, yellow and orange.

Color Hues

 

To me, these colors say either a beautiful summer sunrise or sunset, although fruit would be an equally good choice.  But I chose I sky scene.

I used an older Simon Says Stamp/CZ Design stamp set with these gorgeous colors to create a little summery scene.  Starting with the silhouette image, it was stamped with black pigment ink on a panel of Koh-I-Noor Bristol paper, then I ink blended a few Distress inks to create the background.  I put the paper back in my Misti and stamped a second time to darken the silhouette.

Because the stamp is narrow, a mini slimline seemed most appropriate, so the panel was trimmed down.  It was at this point that I decided to add some new Distress Spritz sprays in Spiced Marmalade and Fossilized Amber.  I add some light spray and also did a bit of splattering then set it aside to dry.  The sentiment from the same stamp set was white heat embossed on black and die cut along with two butterfly dies, also from the same set. The dried panel was added to the black card base, then the sentiment and butterflies were adhered with some foam tape.  To complete the look, three tiny gems were added to each butterfly.  My only regret is not restamping the silhouette image after the spray dried, but I tell you, in real life all the shimmer and sparkle don't really diminish the silhouette like the photo does.

This is such a great color combo, I hope you're inspired to create along with us!  I know you'll love to see what my very talented teammates have created, so head over to the challenge blog before heading to your craft room!  The challenge will remain open until 9 a.m. Thursday August 29th.

Thanks for visiting.  Take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Silhouette Sentiments Stamps and Dies
• Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Spiced Marmalade and Wild Honey Distress inks
• Spiced Marmalade and Fossilized Amber Distress Spritz sprays
• Spellbinders Aura Color Essential Gems

In My Heart

Hello friends, I'm back yet again this week, this time with a fun card for the current challenge at The Paper Players.  Claire has chosen some yummy, vibrant colors and I knew immediately what stamp set would work best with them.

PP685

I have had this cute stamp and die set for months but never used it so when I saw these colors I knew it was time to put it to use.

I stamped out all the images, colored them with Copic markers and then used the dies to cut them out.  The sentiment is from the set but I only used part of it, masking off the part I didn't want to include, then used a paper trimmer to size it appropriately.

Next the brick background was stenciled with gray about 2/3rds of the way down the panel, trimmed down to 4" x 5.25", then I built the scene, adhering everything directly to the panel except for the planters on each side, which were popped up with foam tape, as was the sentiment.  

Thanks for taking time to stop by!  I hope you're having a good week and that Spring has finally arrived where you are.  Here in Meridian, our weather keeps vascilating between 50s and 70s but I'm hopeful that by next week we'll be well into warmer weather. ;-)

Take care!

Stef

• MFT Sittin' Pretty stamps and dies
• MFT English Brick Wall stencil
• Simon Says Stamp Earl ink
• Copics - RV19, 09, 06, 04, 02, BG49, 13, 11, YG67, 17, 03, 01, YR27, 24, 15, 11, E11, 21, 00, C5, 3, 1, 00, W5, 3, 1, 0

Christmas Hats for Christmas Craft Creations

Hello friends, it's time for our reminder post at Christmas Craft Creations!  For our November challenge, we're asking you to add a hat to your design.

CCC

I decided to have some fun with this challenge and created an A7 card with lots of cute critters wearing hats.

I couldn't have had a more perfect stamp and die set in my stash that the Christmas Hats one from Colorado Craft Company and illustrated by Anita Jeram.  After coloring all the critters with Copic markers, they were die cut along with the trees in the background.

The next step was to create the background.  On an A7 panel, I ink blended Simon Says Stamp Galaxy for the sky, then added a panel of snowy hills that I hand cut from a panel of white.  Before adhering to the panel, I used a light blue ink both on the base of the piece and at the top of the hills, then glued it down.  The trees were die cut from dark green cardstock, then I used a dark brown Copic marker to color the trunks before adding to the background.  Next, the sentiment was white heat embossed, then the critters were adhered either with glue or foam tape.  Before adding to the card base, I sprayed the panel with shimmer spray then added "snow" with white paint.

Thanks for stopping by and I do hope you'll join us this month for this fun challenge!  In the meantime, please take a moment to visit the challenge blog, where my talented teammates have lots of inspiration for you.

Take care!

Stef

Stamps and dies:  CCC/AJ Christmas Hats, Honey Bee Stamps Pine Trees

Paper:  Neenah Solar White

Ink:  SSS Galaxy and Marine; Memento Tuxedo Black; Versamark

Other:  SSS Fine Detail embossing powder, Hero Arts White Iridescent Shimmer Spray, Dr. Ph Martins Bleed Proof White

Copics:  R89, 59, 29, 27, G99, 94, 82, 28, 09, 03, B28, 26, 24, 21, 0000, E47, 44, 43, 42, T4, 2, 0, YR27, 24, 23, Y21, C3, 1, 0, W5, 3, 1, 0

Warm Hugs for Sunday Stamps

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new Sunday Stamps challenge, and this week Lisa has given us that fabulous sketch to work with.

Sunday Stamps

I'm also joining the current challenge at Color Throwdown.  These colors (navy, blue, green, orange) are perfect for a fall scene.

Color Throwdown

For my card I decided to have a scene running the length of the card and incorporate the vertical rectangle as part of it, which I moved more to the left to work with my layout.

These sweater-wearing critters are part of a favorite fall stamp set of mine, just because they're so darn cute (thank you Birdie Brown)!  Plus they are fun to color with my Copic markers.  After completing the critter coloring, they were die cut with matching dies.  Next, I worked on the two panels, for which I also used my Copics to make a fall background.  It's not terribly realistic but I'm okay with that since it's the backdrop for critters in sweaters taking a stroll and drinking coffee 😆!  I temporarily adhered the vertical panel to the horizontal one to make the panel intersections as smooth as possible, then permanently adhered them together when it was complete.

After the background coloring was done, the critters, sentiment and clouds were adhered with a combination of craft glue and thin foam tape. The embossed panel was adhered to a white card base, then the scene panels added with thin foam tape.  Since there was so much already going on in the scene, I opted to forego any embellishments on the card.

Here's sending warm hugs to you for taking time to visit!  Be sure to use the link above to check out the wonderful cards by the other DT members and hopefully join us for our sketch challenge!

Take care and stay safe!

Stef

Stamps:  Sweater Weather in the Woods (MFT)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White and Desert Storm

Ink:  Gina K Chocolate Truffle Amalgam

Other:  Bark 3D embossing folder (Stampin' Up), Sweater Weather matching dies, Stitched Rectangle die (Simon Says Stamp), Petite Clouds dies (MFT), Copic Markers

Bright Christmas

Hello again!  Yes, I'm back with my third post today and this time it is for the current Double D Challenge, where the fun theme is Santa Hats!  I'm also joining the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme this week is "Fun With Dies".

Double D Challenge - Santa Hats

Don't you just love the cat in that mood board???  For my card, I went Slimline with Santa out enjoying a little bit of surf and sun.

I started by stamping all the images on one sheet of white card stock, colored them up with Copic markers then die cut them with the coordinating dies.  White clouds were also die cut from the same paper.

Next came making the scene.  I kept it pretty simple, masking off the water to ink blend the sand and sky, then reversing that to add the ocean.  My handy white gel pen was used to add waves and a little foam at the waters edge, and also to Santa's stylish shades for a little reflection.  I laid out all the die cuts to create the scene, then used a Copic marker to add a bit of shading and some dots.  The sentiment was stamped, then the panel was added to a Desert Storm base.  The last step was to adhere all the images, some of which were popped up with foam tape for dimension.  Such a fun card, I think!

Thanks so much for visiting, I really appreciate it!  I hope you're staying safe and healthy, and that you have a great week ahead!

Stef

Stamps:  Sun Lovin' Santa (MFT)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White and Desert Storm, Distress White Heavyweight (Tim Holtz/Ranger)

Ink:  Gina K Obsidian Amalgam, Versafine Clair Nocturne, Antique Linen Distress, Sky Blue and Seaside (PinkFresh Studio)

Other:  Sun Lovin' Santa matching dies, Cloud Cover dies (MFT), Sakura White Gelly Roll pen

Copics:  [R59, 27, 24][RV25, R43, 20][B05, 02, 01, 000][YG67, 17, 03][E57, 55, 53, 51][E13, 11, 21, 51][Y26, 06] Y17 [C9, 7, 5, 3, 1, 0]

Sweater Weather

Hello friends and welcome back!  I have a card to share that I made for the current Just Us Girls challenge.

JUGS 544

I have made only a few slimline, or long and skinny cards, but I've found they're great for creating a scene card.  Although we're in the midst of Summer right now, I wanted to use a cute stamp set I recently acquired, Sweater Weather from MFT.

I love those woodland creatures all wrapped up in their sweaters, some holding their coffee cups!  I started by creating a background on Bristol paper, using a scene builder stamp with the trees, bushes and hills.  It was made to use on an A2 card so I just used a sepia Micron pen to extend the hills all the way across the panel.  Next the sky and the ground were ink blended with Distress Inks.  Then I was able to plan my scene with the various critters.  I actually pulled the two squirrels and the log from another MFT stamp set to fill out the scene.  All the critters were stamped, colored with Copic markers and die cut with coordinating dies.  Because the coloring so obscured the bear's eyes, I used a black glaze pen to make them visible.

Back to the panel, I used Copic markers to color the trees, then lined the panel up in my Misti to stamp the sentiment.  After adhering the panel to the card base, All the animals were adhered either with liquid adhesive or foam tape.  I LOVE how this turned out, it just makes me chuckle every time I look at it!  And of course it will be perfect to send to one of my girl friends in Oregon who was always the organizer for activities for our group of friends there!

Thanks so much for visiting, I really appreciate it!  I hope you'll come back by tomorrow afternoon when I will have my DT card for the new Tic Tac Toe Challenge!

Stef


Stamps:  BB Sweater Weather, BB Fall Friends, SY-08 Scene Builder (all MFT)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Cajun Craze, Koh-I-Noor Bristol
Ink:  Gina K Chocolate Truffle Amalgam, Versafine Clair Pinecone (sentiment), Scattered Straw, Fossilized Amber and Tumbled Glass Distress Inks
Other:  Coordinating dies, Micron 05 Sepia pen, Sakura Black Glaze pen
Copics:  E79, 77, 74, 59, 57, 55, 49, 47, 44, 43, 37, 35, 33, 31, 30, 19, YR21, 18, 14, 12, 07, 04, YG99, 97, 95, 93, T8, 6, 4, W5, 3, 1, 0, RV99, 69, 39, 37, R85, 83, 81