Buttercup Bunch for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  Today the Paper Players is back with our monthly color challenge.  This time, the lovely Jan is hosting and has chosen a great color combination.

Paper Players

I really love black and yellow together but I have to admit the gray threw me for a bit, but after some trial and error, a satisfactory card emerged lol!

I knew I was going to use my Altenew Buttercup Bunch die set, because, well, buttercups are yellow lol!  It's a rather modern style so I tried different graphic designs for the background, but nothing worked.  Then I realized I was using too dark of a gray so I went searching around and found the stenciled background I ended up using.  It was in with some Stampin' Up neutral scraps and was one of my last pieces of Smoky Slate (which I didn't even know I still had!).  

The panel was stenciled using Versamark ink. I trimmed it down to have a white border on each side, then added the black strip.  The flowers were arranged with the stems glued down and the flowers popped up using thin foam squares.  The stacked sentiment was adhered, then a few Onyx gems finished things off.

What are you inspired to create with this color trio?  I think it would work equally well for a more "masculine" card. The rest of the design team has fabulous inspiration with a variety of designs over at the challenge blog, so I encourage you to head over and take a peek.  The challenge will remain open until Friday April 17th at 3pm EDT.  I hope to see you there!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Altenew Buttercup Bunch Layering die set
• Simon Says Stamp Hibiscus Bloom sentiment stamp and die
• Tim Holtz Bubble stencil
• Spellbinders Onyx gems

Thinking of You for Color Hues

Hello friends!  No fooling, the first of April has rolled around and we have a new challenge at Color Hues! (I apologize for the old groaner, I just couldn't resist.) ;-)  

This time the amazing Jules is hosting and has chosen a delicious color combination.

Color Hues

After enjoying using an older Emily Midgett illustration for our first challenge this year here, I decided to use another one for this challenge.

I started by shading the white flowers with cool grays then moved on to the remainder of the panel.  I can't tell you how much I love this color combination.  I could have used darker orange colors for a little more drama but I went with something a bit lighter, maybe because it's Spring?  I don't know but I like how it all turned out.  I used a lighter shade of teal to color the background, the trimmed down the panel.

Some gold metallic paint was used around the edges of the panel, and lest you think my hands have gotten shaky, the imperfection was intentional.  I followed that up with some splatter and after it dried mounted it onto an orange panel adhered to a white card base.  I used a white gel pen for the stamen then finished things off with the foiled sentiment from my stash.

Thanks for visiting and I encourage you to head over to the challenge blog where my wonderfully talented teammates and Guest Designer Renate have some spectacular inspiration to share with you.  The challenge will remain open until 9 am EDT Monday 4/14 and we'd love to see YOUR card in the gallery!

Take care!

Stef

• Emily Midgett Illustrated panel
• Poppystamps Your Are Amazing Foil & Cut set
• Gansi Tambi Starry Colors Metallic paint
• Copics - 
•    Flowers - YR69, 65, 01, 00 and C02, 0
•    Berries - YR07, 16, Y17
•    Leaves - BG78, 49, 45, 01
•    Background - BG000

Whimsical Flower Vine for Color Hues

Hello friends!  Yes, a second post for me today because it's time for a new challenge at Color Hues. (If you're here for my DT post for the Paper Players, you can find it here)  The amazing Bonnie is hosting this week and has chosen the color combo of coral and yellow.

Color Hues

I love nearly all colors, but I have to admit coral is a bit of a struggle for me, and I have no idea why.  But nevertheless, I made a fun little card using my default - flowers!

Last fall I'd purchased a couple of these modern floral design die sets and thought I'd use this one from Altenew (watch for the other one from Spellbinders, it will be coming soon!).  It certainly was easy to put together once the die cutting was complete and I added it to a panel where I'd inked up a bit of light yellow ink blending so the white leaves would be more visible.  But the card needed a little somethin' somethin' since die cut doesn't fill a full card front, so I layered up a frame and the helped a lot.

Since the frame was black I thought a black sentiment strip would work well along with a few black enamel dots.  But still...it needed something more, so I added the Baker's Twine and called it good!  

We'd love to have you join us for Bonnie's challenge and I encourage you to visit the challenge blog for loads of wonderful inspiration from my very talented teammates and our guest designer,  Teresa.  The challenge remains open until Thursday 2/27 at 9 am EST.  I do hope you'll play along!

Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Stef

• Altenew Whimsical Flower Vine and Picture Frames dies
• Simon Says Stamp sentiment strip
• Concord & 9th Sorbet cardstock
• SSS Lemon Chiffon cardstock
• Altenew Lemon Ice ink
• Altenew Essential Black and White enamel dots

Thinking of You for Color Hues

Hello, friends!  Today brings a new challenge at Color Hues and this time the amazing Jules has chosen Mustard and Olive, a great fall combination.

Color Hues

I decided to use a set that's been waiting to be inked up for a while - Brighter Days Gerbera Daisy from Picket Fence.  I know Gerbera daisies come in a plethora of colors so I decided why not mustard yellow? 

This is a lovely, large floral image and so easy to color.  Of course, I used my Copic markers, making sure my yellows were more of a golden color.  I know mustard can be a bright yellow, I guess I was thinking Dijon? ;-)  Anyway, with the coloring complete it and the sentiment (also from the same set) where cut out with coordinating dies.

I really fiddled around to get a background that I liked.  At first the double plaid die was cut from brown cardstock and layered on white, but I didn't like that and finally settled on the white over kraft.  It's very subtle, but before the kraft panel was layered with the cover die, I stamped a text background stamp with white pigment ink, then used a blending tool to ink around the edges.  It adds just a little interest and a nice softness to the kraft.

With everything adhered to the card base, I finished things off with some yellow gems and used a white gel pen for the stamen (anthers?).

I do hope you'll join us and share what you were inspired to make with these two colors!  The challenge remains open until 9am on Tuesday October 29th.  And I encourage you to visit the challenge blog, where fabulous inspiration from my very talented teammates awaits you.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Picket Fence Brighter Days Gerbera Daisy stamps and dies
• Simon Says Stamp Double Plaid Cover Die
• SSS Friendship Text background stamp
• HoneyBee Stamps Vintage Love Gems
• Copics - YR27, 24, 23, Y15, 11, YG99, 97, 95, E37, 35, 33, 31

Thinking of You for Color Hues and The Paper Players

Hello friends!  Today I have a card that combines two challenges.  At The Paper Players, the lovely Joanne is asking us to use spots or stripes and I managed to do both!

The Paper Players

 

Over at Color Hues, the wonderful Carol has chosen Rust and Green as her color combination. A note about the color Rust - it covers a range hues - from terracotta, bronze, ginger, cider, burnt orange, so there are lots of options. I really love this combo!

Color Hues

My card features a favorite stamp set, but one that I haven't used for a while, so I thought it was about time.

As you can see, the pots have both spots and stripes (albeit wavy ones!).  The plants and pots were all stamped then colored with alcohol markers, then die cut with the matching dies.  The sentiment is from a different stamp set and was cut with its matching die as well.

Next, the "floor" was die cut from white cardstock using a wood plank die then also colored with markers.  The die impresses embossed woodgrain detail, so I just followed those with my darkest brown marker then when over it with a shade lighter. It was adhered to a panel of light green cardstock and before added the plants I decided to make things look a bit more interesting by adding the die cut lattice.  

What are you inspired to create with these two challenges?  My teammates have so much inspiration to share with you, please be sure to use the links above for both challenges and check out their wonderful cards.

The Paper Players challenge is open until Friday, Sept. 6th at 3pm EST and the Color Hues challenge runs through 9am EST Saturday, Sept. 14th.  I hope to see you in both galleries!

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Honey Bee Stamps Happy Plants stamps and dies
• Simon Says Stamp Graceful Flowers sentiment stamp and die
• SSS Wood Plank die
• Spellbinders Woven Lattice Texture die
• Copics: E19, YR18, 07, 04, E59, 57, W3, 1, 0
• Olos:  YG1.6, 1.4, 1.2, G1.8, 1.7, 1.5, 1.4

Wildwood Florals for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  Today at The Paper Players we have a great sketch created by the lovely LeAnne.  We're also celebrating our 700th challenge - woo hoo!  Here's to many, many more.

The Paper Players

 

The three circles could certainly be anything but I decided to pull out an as-yet-unused stamp and die set that was certainly deserving of some ink!  

The set from The Greetery has layering stamps for many of it's images and I was so pleased to see how easily they layered.  Sometimes it can be a challenge, at least for me, but these stamps required just a couple of tries before getting the results I was pleased with. After stamping, including the sentiment, everything was die cut with the matching dies. 

Along with the three flowers representing the circles on the sketch, I also added a few sprigs and leaves for interest.  The white panel was first run through with a cover die that only creates a stitched look to the images, then it was cut down with a rounded rectangle die.  That was layered onto a sage-like card base that went well some of the leaf colors, then the arrangement added with both foam tape and glue. The sentiment was partially layered on top of the largest flower and I was done.  I liked the clean look of this, so I didn't add any embellishments.

I hope you'll join us this week to celebrate our anniversary with this fabulous sketch!  Be sure to visit the challenge blog, where my wonderful teammates have some fabulous inspiration for you!

Take care!

Stef

• The Greetery Wildwood Stamps and Dies
• Pinkfresh Studio Floral Tiles Cover die
• Hero Arts Rounded Rectangle die
• Altenew Pastel Sunrise & Canyon Clay Crisp die inks and Peachy Glow, Golden Honeycomb, Amber Breeze, Melted Butterscotch, Silver Sage and Eucalyptus Fresh Die Inks
• Simon Says Stamp Mocha ink

Thinking of You for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  This week brings our Color Challenge to The Paper Players.  Jaydee is hostess this time and she chose black, grey, red and white.

The Paper Players

I had plans for a totally different card with these colors but then I happened upon a floral image that I'd stamped in ink intended for "no line" coloring.  I normally shy away shy away from "no line" because I find it much more difficult than coloring a stamped image. It took me much longer to make, however I was pleased with how it turned out. 

The full image is much larger, so I trimmed down the panel, which was less intimidating lol!  It was stamped on white, and I started with the leaves, which I colored in warm greys.  I continually referenced the stamp packaging to be sure I knew what I was coloring, which was extremely helpful when I began working on the flowers, and even then I think I changed a couple of the petals, but no one will ever know except you and me wink, wink. 

After I thought I was done coloring, I felt like it needed something more, so I colored in the background with a black marker and it really made the floral image pop!  I adhered it to a white card base and created a frame to add some interest.  Lastly, I added the sentiment with some thin foam squares, and while I thought about adding some sequins or gems, ultimately decided not to now.  I always do that later when I go to mail it.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you'll join us this week!  Be sure to pop over to the challenge blog, my wonderful teammates and guest designers have oodles more inspiration for you.

Take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Celebrate Rose Corner stamp
• Altenew Cascading Flowers stamp (sentiment)
• SSS A2 Nesting Frames and Sentiment Label die
• Copic Markers - R39, 37, 35, W3, 1, 0, Black 100

Thinking of You for Color Hues

Hello friends!  Today I'm sharing my card for our new challenge at Color Hues!  The lovely Jules has chosen a pretty combo of coral and teal.

Color Hues

I'm also joining the Seasonal challenge at Inkspirational, with these spring flowers.

Inkspirational #315

I did a little stash shopping and found a pretty Altenew floral that I haven't used in a very long time and that it would work well for the CH challenge and, as it turns out, the Inkspirational challenge too.

I love this image of a climbing floral, it flows beautifully across the A2 sized card.  I first Copic colored it in coral and teal (although my camera makes the teal look a bit more blue than it is in real life), then cut out the image with the matching die, along with a two more from white cardstock to layer for a bit of dimension. 

Next, I used a script background stamp on a panel of Neenah Desert Storm in light brown, then ink blended the edges with white pigment ink.  When the ink dried, the floral image was adhered then the panel, which was then splattered with white gouache.  When dried, it was added to the card base and the sentiment popped up with thin foam tape.  No gems or sequins - I thought there was plenty going on with the white splatter and I really love the subtle text in the background.

So many options with these colors - what will you create with them?  You'll have until 9am on Wednesday May 29th.  Before heading off to your craft space, please visit the challenge blog where my talented teammates will inspire you with their wonderful cards!

Thanks for stopping by.  Take care!

Stef

• Altenew Craft Your Life Project Kit: Never Stop Dreaming stamp and die
• Honeybee Stamps Be Still sentiment stamp and die
• Simon Says Stamp Old Letter background stamp
• Honeybee Brilliant white pigment ink and SSS Latte ink
• Copics: R08, 14, 22, 20, BG49, 15, 11, B02
• Windsor & Newton White Gouache