Petal Path Birthday for the Paper Players #785

Hello friends!  Today at the Paper Players we have our monthly color challenge. The delightful Claire is hosting and she chose a gorgeous color challenge.

Paper Players

I decided to try out a new die set using these colors, so I'll be sharing over at Darnell's Never Before Used Schtuff monthly challenge.

NBUS

I just love this color combination!

 

The Concord & 9th Petal Path die was used to create this card. The die cuts all the pieces in one pass, so I ran it through the die cut machine with each cardstock color and white.  When deciding on the cardstock to use, I was pleased to find I still had a couple of pieces of Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grape.  For the green I used Simon Says Stamp Granny Apple and substituted C&9 Aqua Sky for Coastal Cabana.

Before inlaying all the die cut pieces, I put the aqua panel into my Misti and stamped one of the sentiments from the coordinating stamp set in Aqua Sky ink.  This panel was layered on the white die cut panel for a little dimension then adhered to the card base.  I used two layers for the tulips and some of the flowers.  

For the second layer of the tulips, I first adhered just the stem then added a small piece of foam tape under the leafs. The tulips were glued just at the base then popped up with foam tape.  

I was going to add gems but it seemed to fussy with this playful design, so I added a bit of sparkle on all the flowers with a shimmer pen and called it done.

How will you use these colors?  Before you head off to your crafty space, take a moment to visit the challenge blog where the other DT members have some gorgeous inspiration for you.  The challenge will remain open until Friday, May 17th at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll join us!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

Peony Bowl for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm here today with my reminder card for The Flower Challenge.  This month we're adding embellishments to our floral creations.  

TFC 105R

 

Many years ago, when I was learning to color with my Copic markers, there were a number of people I followed, trying to learn their techniques and color choices, etc., which led me to Power Poppy.  It is owned by Marcella Hawley and as far as I know she still does all the illustrations.  I bought a couple of stamp sets and a few digi images, which have been tucked away. I haven't used them in ages and I thought it was way past time, especially since the image I used is one of my very favorites.

Isn't that an amazing illustration?  Since the peonies in our garden are a glorious pink, I was inspired to use the same color here.  It is an intricate image, so it did take a couple of hours to color but I love how it turned out.  I used some light brown markers to create a "table" and since I colored the bowl blue, I opted to use a light yellow in the background.

I trimmed the image down, matted on black then added to the card base.  I found some pretty gems that in real life are very close in color to the bowl.  I chose not to add a sentiment.

You still have 10 days to join in this month or add a second card - the challenge ends on the 25th.  In the meantime, do stop by the challenge and see the amazing inspiration by my talented teammates, there are some gorgeous cards to behold!

Thanks for taking time to stop by!

Stef

• Power Poppy digi print (not sure if it was Peony Bowl or ??)
• Honey Bee Stamps Winter Wonder gems
• Copics - B05, 02, 00, Y26, 15, 000, YG67, 45 17, 05, G29, 21, 40, E43, 41, 40
• Olos - RV 0.6, 0.5, 0.2, 0.1

Butterfly Blossoms for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's color week over at the Paper Players and I'm hosting.  I chose some Spring-like colors.

Paper Players

I'm also joining in over at the Time Out Challenge.  This time we are to Pick Two, so I'm choosing floral and stencil.

TOC #286

As you could tell from the blog title, I chose to use flowers. I debated about making an Easter card because I think the colors would work equally well for that occasion, but the flowers won out.

The stamp set has three dainty flower stamps and four butterflies, so lots of variety.  I used the coordinating stencils to color the images and the dies to cut them out as well as the sentiment.

I lightly ink blended Salvage Patina Distress ink on a white panel the cut it down with a postage edge rectangle die.  The shorter flowers were adhered directly to the panel except for the largest flower in the group to which I added thin foam squares.  The remaining floral image along with the sentiment and large butterfly were layered on two additional die cuts before adding to the panel.  The right wing of the wee little butterfly was glued down and a small piece of foam tape added a little dimension to the left wing.  It's not visible in the photos but I used an aqua shimmer pen to add glitter to all the images, then finished things off using a white gel pen for the flower stamen.

What do these colors inspire you to create?  I hope you'll show us this week, we'd love to see what you come up with.  Do take a moment to pop over to the PP blog as my teammates have some lovely cards to provide further inspiration.  The challenge remains open until Friday, April 18th at 3pm EDT.  

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Butterfly Blossoms stamps, dies and stencils
• SSS Postage Edge die
• Altenew Lemon Ice, Honeydew Glow and Lemonade Stand inks
• SSS Sprout, Fairway, Field, Lilac, Orchid, Amethyst and Mocha inks

Tulip Bouquet for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  Today is the start of a new challenge at The Flowers Challenge where this month we are to use Spring colors, along with the usual floral image.  Couldn't be more perfect for those of us in the Northern Hemisphere!

The Flower Challenge

I had a delightful tulip set from Hero Arts gathering dust and thought it was high time to put it to use.

I debated about what the color of the tulips should be and ended up with this pretty violet/purple, courtesy of my Olo Markers.  After coloring the image it was die cut with the matching die.  

Next a Pinkfresh Studio cover die was used to create a subtle pattern on a panel of green cardstock.  I have quite a bit of green cardstock and was happy to find one that was very close to the green Olo marker color. The panel was trimmed down and added to a white card base.  

I tried to use a different shape behind the bouquet but the circle worked best.  After adhering it to the card front, the flowers and sentiment were added with foam tape, and I used a little bit of hemp twine around the flower stems, like they had to be held together lol!

April brings Spring flowers and we would love to see yours in Spring colors this month!  In case you'd like more inspiration, my lovely, talented teammates have plenty to share over on the challenge blog.  The challenge will remain open until April 25th and I'll be back on the 15th with a new card for my reminder post.  

Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Stef

• Hero Arts Tulip Bouquet stamp and die
• Waffle Flower Elegant Sentiment stamp and die
• Pinkfresh Studios Fold Edge Circle and Floral Tiles Cover Plate dies
• Olos - G1.7, YG1.6, 1.4, 1.2, V2.6, 2.4, 2.3, 1.1

Best Day for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  Here we are at the first Sunday in March and the Paper Players have a new challenge for you.  The lovely Claire is hosting our theme challenge and she has chosen spring flowers.  You know I'm here for that!

The Paper Players

 

I decided to use a stamp set I have had for at least a year and I don't believe I've ever used it.  Anyway, with lots of flowers, I thought it would work great for this challenge.

The stamp was specifically designed for the matching oval dies, as you can tell (unfortunately, it's no longer available).  The wreath was stamped and colored with Copic and Olo markers in my favorite bright colors.  Before die cutting I stamped the sentiment on the same piece and thought I had it straight but after die cutting I realized, even using my stamp positioner, I managed to stamp it crooked lol!  So, the oval was cut and matted on a pink oval, then I stamped the sentiment on a scrap of white, fussy cut around it and added it with foam tape.

Next a white panel was embossed with a wood planks folder, adhered to the base, then I added a bright yellow strip that matched the yellow flowers.  The oval was popped up on foam tape and I decided there was enough going on with all the bright flowers that embellies weren't needed.

So, for my northern hemisphere friends, are you as ready for spring as I am? No matter what hemisphere you're living in, we'd love to have you pull out your favorite spring flowers and share them with us this week!  For more inspiration, my wonderfully talented teammates have a some gorgeous cards over on the challenge blog (linked above).  

I do hope you'll play along - the challenge will remain open until Friday, March 7th at 3pm EST.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Spellbinders Stylish Oval Birthday Wishes stamps (retired)
• Spellbinders Stylish Oval dies
• Honey Bee Stamps Wood Plank embossing folder
• Copics - BG49, 13, 23, 11, YG 67, 63, 61, V09, 06, 04, 01, YR23, 15, 13 (yellow), YR18, 16, 09, Y17 (orange)
• Olos - RV 1.7, 1.5, 1.3, 1.1, BV 1.7, 1.4, 1.2, 1.1, YG 1.6, 1.4, 1.2

 

Azalea Bunch for The Paper Players

Hello friends! The team at The Paper Players is all ready to go for 2025 and our first challenge of the year, hosted by the lovely Elizabeth, starts today!  It's color week and she's selected three wonderful colors.  And neutrals are welcome too.

The Paper Players

These colors definitely made me think of flowers and Spring, so that's the direction I took with this challenge.

I used products from many crafty manufacturers to create this.  The flowers were part of the Stamptember 2024 collaboration with Altenew and Simon Says Stamp. I have oodles of floral stamps but no azaleas until this stamp set made its way into my craft room.

I started by stenciling the stamped image with Altenew inks (listed below), then using the matching die to cut it out.  The background panel was die cut from white using a Honey Bee Stamps layering frame die, then I softly ink blended some orange in the middle so that it would highlight the floral arrangement.  It was then layered on a panel of Concord & 9th Clementine cardstock and added to the card base.  The floral image was added onto two additional die cut layers, then arranged on the card, along with fussy cut the sentiment to finish things off.

I hope to see your card in our gallery this week and definitely encourage you to visit the challenge blog for more inspiration and ideas from my talented teammates!  The challenge remains open until Friday 1/17 at 3pm EST.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp/Altenew Azalea Bunch stamp, die and stencils
• Stampendous Birthday Messages stamp set
• Honey Bee Stamps Spring Vine Layering Frame die
• Altenew inks - Pink Diamond, Pinkalicious, Rubellite, Snapdragon, Firefly, Green Field, Shadow Creek and Mountain Pine
• White gel pen 

Billowing Peonies for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  It's mid-month and time for The Flower Challenge reminder post.  This month our theme is to use your favorite flowers.  I hope you'll join us and share your favorite flower!

The Flower Challenge

Warning - this is a longer than normal post as I couldn't make just one card. ;-)

As I shared in my post at the beginning of the month, I love peonies and we had some beauties in our front yard this year but unfortunately the series of thunderstorms we've been experiencing cut their life a bit short.  But I do have a couple photos to share.

The pink flowers start out almost red, then bloom out to the light pink, and while it's hard to see, the whites one have small, vibrant pink stripes right in the middle. 

Now onto my cards.  When Altenew celebrated their 9th anniversary in April, I just had to get their mega-sized Billowing Peonies bundle.  The stamp used today is HUGE and I had to use my Memory Misti to stamp it!  I decided to use the accompanying stencils to color them pink and white like those in our garden.

The card ended up being 5 1/2 x 7 3/4 inches and I used my W R Memory Keepers 1-2-3 Punch board to make a custom envelope.  Altenew inks (listed below) were used for stenciling the image, then it was die cut with the coordinating die.  A separate panel was ink blended with light blue, then both the floral image and the panel were lightly splattered with Altenew Jet Black ink spray using a small paintbrush.

When the splatter dried, I used the punchboard to round two corners of the panel, adhered the floral image, then trimmed off the overhanging parts.  The panel was adhered to a white card base, then I added the die cut sentiment.  A few clear sequins finished things off.

I couldn't help but stamp a few more images while I was at it, so I made a couple more cards.

Similar to the last, it was stenciled, splattered with black ink spray, then the panel trimmed down with a rectangle die and added to a light gray card base.

And of course, I couldn't stop before coloring at least one flower with alcohol markers!  I tried out some of my new OLO markers - the flower was certainly a treat to color and the markers blended beautifully.

So there you have it, my total love affair with anything peony on full display lol!  Now, be sure to head over to the challenge blog, my amazing teammates have even more stunning floral cards to share with and inspire you.  Remember, you have until the 25th to play along!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Altenew Billowing Peonies

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Black, Fog

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Altenew Obsidian, Pink Diamond, Pinkalicious, Rubellite, Warm Sunshine, Honey Drizzle, Firefly, Grass Field, Shadow Creek, Limestone, Silver Stone, Industrial Diamond, Sea Breeze

Dies:  Altenew Billowing Peonies, Versatile Greetings and Featured Sentiment dies; Simon Says Stamp Fancy Hello; Hero Arts Rounded Rectangle Infinity die; Pink & Main Layered Square dies

Other:  Altenew Jet Black ink spray and Billowing Peonies stencil set, Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Sequins, W R Memory Keepers 1-2-3 Punchboard Envelope Maker, Honey Bee Stamps Small Clear Dew Drops

OLO markers:  V2.8, 2.7, 2.6, 2.4, 2.3, 1.1, G1.8, 1.7, 1.4, 0.1, YO 2.7, 2.5, 2.3, Copic Y04

Dogwood Blooms

Hello friends!  Today I'm playing along with Ann's Spring-themed CAS challenge at The Paper Players, along with Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, where they both have the theme of Spring and/or Easter.

PP632

One of my favorite flowers in Spring is from the Dogwood tree. There are different patterns to the petals depending on the tree, but most that I've seen are either pink or white.  I did a simple watercolor version for my card today.

I used the beautiful Big and Bold Dogwood stamp from Colorado Craft Company, and as it's name implies, it's a big stamp.  Using a Misti, I stamped a portion of it onto Distress Watercolor Paper with Versamark ink, then heat embossed it in white.  I used several Distress Watercolor Pencils (listed below) to do a simple water coloring adding a very pale aqua around the outside for better definition of the image.

When the panel was dry, it was cut down with a Hero Arts Rounded Rectangle die, then adhered to a white card front.  The die cut sentiment is from the Honey Bee Stamps Birthday Wishes set.  It was stamped in Versamark Clair Nocturne pigment ink, then die cut 3 times and layered together for a bit of dimension, since the main image was adhered flat.  Lastly, a few pink pearls were added around the sentiment.

I'm so happy for spring, although we aren't anywhere near springtime temperatures - even my Crocus have not popped up yet!  But it will be here soon and that's something to look forward to.

Thanks for taking time to stop by.  Take care!

Stef

Distress Watercolor pencils - Kitsch Flamingo, Picked Raspberry, Twisted Citron, Rustic Wilderness, Fossilized Amber, Crushed Olive and Salvaged Patina.