Meadow Swag Birthday for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's time for a new color challenge at the Paper Players and this week the lovely and talented Ann is our host and has chosen a beautiful color trio.

Paper Players

My card uses no stamping, just stenciling, die cuts and foiling.

I didn't have cardstock that was an exact match for the SU colors but I found pieces that were close.  The swag is actually made from two die sets.  After cutting from cardstock, I used a bit of ink blending to create some shading, but in the photos it's really noticeable on the pink flowers.

Next, a panel of white was stenciled with a light ink, with some areas darker than others.  The panel was added to a card base, then the swag was adhered after layering on the flowers and berries.  The sentiment is one created during a previous foiling session.  It's foiled in black, which gives it a shiny appearance.  Easy peasy card, but I think the sentiment font and the stenciling really step it up.

Please head over to the blog where my talented teammates have some wonderful inspiration for you, and hopefully you'll join us this week.  The challenge remains open until 3pm, Friday May 16th.

Thanks for stopping by and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Meadow Swag and Lush Leaves dies
• Altenew Cascading Elegance stencil
• Your Are Everything BetterPress sentiment set

So Kind for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  It's time for May flowers at The Flower Challenge!  This month we'd like you to add spots or stripes.

The Flower Challenge

 

I went with spots this time, using an older Tim Holtz stencil that hadn't seen the light of day for some time.

Truth be known, the stamp set hadn't been used for over a year either.  I believe those flowers are camellia japonica, at least that was the photo they resembled in my search.  Anyway, I decided to use all three floral images from the set, along with one of the sentiments.

I colored them with Olo markers then die cut them with the matching dies.  For the background I moved the stencil around the panel to get  uneven coverage, then ink blended around the outside before splattering with gold metallic paint.  When that all dried the layered arch die cut was adhered along with the flowers framing the sentiment.  No gems, I thought the splatter was sufficient.

Well, we finally have some truly warmer weather and I think it's going to stick around.  How about you?  As the weather gets better, I hope you'll still find time to join us this month!  The challenge will remain open until Sunday, May 25th. But, before you head off, please be sure to visit the blog where my oh-so-talented teammates have some gorgeous cards to inspire you.

Take care and thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• SSS/Memory Box So Kind Stamps and Dies (Stamptember 2023)
• Tim Holtz Bubble Stencil
• SSS Nested Domed Arches Frame
• SSS Seafoam ink
• Gansi Tambi Starry Colors Gold Metallic paint
• Olos - RV0.6, 0.4, 0.2, 0.1, G1.8, 1.7, 1.5, 1.4
• Copics - E37, 33

Forest Sunset for The Paper Players

Hello friends and happy May!  It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players.  This week the amazing Joanne is hosting our theme challenge and she's chosen a fun one!

The Paper Players

For this challenge, we need to pair something old with our newest crafty item.  I recently, finally went all in on the postage trend and bought some of Waffle Flowers Postage Collage dies and their latest stamps.  I paired those new items with one of my older and favorite sentiment sets, also from Waffle Flower.  Let's take a look!

I was quite enamored with these beautifully designed silhouette stamps and had fun deciding what each little vignette would contain.  I started by using the stencil that goes with the product line and used Distress inks for the sunset sky.  I then added a bit of white paint splatter to create stars in the sky.

When that dried, I stamped the various scenes, then layered on the Postage Collage Block die cut from black cardstock, which separates each scene.  The white heat embossed sentiment was added before adhering the entire thing to a black card base.  

Since I had everything out, I made a second card but substituted some brighter inks for creating the sky.  I like both cards and don't know if I have a preference.  How about you?

Won't you come join us this week and share what old and new products you paired? The challenge is open until Friday, May 9th at 3pm EST.  In the meantime, don't miss all the inspiration by my lovely teammates over on the blog!

Take care and thanks for visiting!

Stef

PS Come back later this morning for my new Flower Challenge DT card.

• Waffle Flower Postage Collage die, Blocks Die, Stencil and Forest Sunset Stamps
• Waffle Flowr Elegant Sentiments stamps and dies
• Card #1 - Scattered Straw, Worn Lipstick, Picked Raspberry, Faded Jeans and Seedless Preserves Distress inks
• Card #2 - SSS Lemonade, Sweets, Galaxy and Amethyst inks
• Spellbinders Splatter White paint

 

Sending Sunshine for Color Hues

Hello friends!  Here we are at the first of May and it's time for a new challenge at Color Hues.  The amazing Marcia is our host this week and has chosen a lovely color pairing of blue and yellow.

Color Hues

When I saw these colors, I had a vision of what I wanted to create and set about doing it.  See what you think.

I've had the Spellbinders Build-A-Wreath die set for quite a while (thanks to my friend and crafty enabler, Nancy!) and used just one of the flower dies to create these cute sunflowers.  They were cut twice with a lighter and a darker shade of yellow, layered up and a brown center added.

For the background, the Altenew Trellis die was cut from white to layer on the blue base layer.  The sentiment was cut twice from white and once from the lighter shade of yellow, layered up and added to the white base.  It was centered on the card then the flowers were added on each side.  The sentiment and flower centers were brushed with a glimmer pen and the final step was to randomly add a few clear sequins.

What are you inspired to create with these colors?  To see what the team did, head over to the challenge, where my talented cohorts and our lovely guest Nance have some fabulous cards to share.  The challenge will remain open until 9am EDT on Wednesday, May 14th.  Won't you please come join us?

Take care!

Stef

• Spellbinders Build-A-Wreath dies
• Altenew Scripty Sentiments dies
• Altenew Garden Trellis Cover die

Warm and Merry Christmas for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  For the final Sunday of the month, the Paper Players brings you a sketch challenge!  This time the lovely Claire has created a highly versatile sketch.

I decided to add to my holiday card stash using this sketch and a cute die set that I bought and never used last year.  Time to change that!

I started by putting together the Old Fashioned Rocking Horse die from Honey Bee Stamps.  It has multiple little layers, but my handy reverse tweezers helped me when attaching them.  The rocking horse was added to the white scallop circle, which was then matted on a gold circle before adding to the card.  Here's a close up of the rocking horse:

I love all the embossed texture and the well though-out details.  The patterned papers are also from Honey Bee and the sentiment is from a retired packet of pre-foiled holiday sentiments.  The card ended up being A7 because it was more proportional to the rocking horse and circles.

Thanks so much for visiting!  I hope you'll join us this week and show what you're inspired to make with this great sketch.  In the meantime, for more ideas, head over to the challenge where my talented teammates have some great examples to share!  The challenge remains open until Friday, May 2nd at 3pm EDT.  

Take care!

Stef

• HBS Old Fashioned Rocking Horse die set
• Hero Arts Nested Circle and Scallop Circle dies
• Spellbinders A7 Matting die
• HBS Gingerbread Village patterned paper

Bunny Kisses for the Paper Players

Hello friends and Happy Easter!  It's time for a new challenge at the Paper Players.  The amazing Elizabeth is hosting CAS week, and she has chosen the prompt Bunny.

Paper Players

I had some fun with this one, I hope it'll make you smile!

I decided to use the Bounding Bunnies from SSS and actually have them bound across the card!  The bunnies have two layers, one is the white front and the other goes behind to add color to the ear interior.  It also has a spot for the tail, where I chose to use little pompoms from my stash.

The sentiments are from the SSS Happy Eggs set and after die cutting, were lined up in the middle of the card.  Well, except the Bunny Kisses was added a little too close to the ampersand, so there's a bit more room at the bottom than the top.  But hey, it's handmade not store bought, right?

After adhering the bunnies and "tails", I used a black glaze pen to color in the eyes and add a bitty nose, then used a light pink Copic marker to add just a smidge of pink to give them rosy cheeks.  I thought about adding some gems, but I wanted to leave more "white space" since I knew my card was already pushing the boundaries for CAS lol! 

I hope you'll join us this week, wherever that bunny trail takes you in your creative journey!  The design team has a variety of cards to inspire you, so be sure to visit the blog.  You'll have until Friday, April 25th at 3pm EDT to join in.

Thanks for visiting and have a great week!

Stef

• SSS Happy Eggs stamps and dies
• SSS Bounding Bunnies dies
• Honey Bee Stamps Scallop Rectangle die
• Pompoms from my stash

Ears to You for Color Hues

Hello friends!  Today I'm sharing my card for the latest challenge at Color Hues!  The delightful and talented Nancy will be our host for the next two weeks and she has chosen a beautiful color combination.

Color Hues

I'm also popping in at the last minute to join the Word challenge at Just Us Girls, using the word you.

JUGS 770

I love this soft color pairing and decided to make a cute and simple Easter card.

I adore that big bunny and used it a couple of years ago to create shaped Easter cards for the grands, but this time I wanted to use her on a card front.  Because of her size, the card ended up being A7.

Starting with the background, I randomly ink blended Shaded Lilac and Salvaged Patina over a panel of mixed media paper.  When the ink dried the panel was embossed with tiny polka dots and then trimmed down. 

The bunny, flowers and leaves were die cut in white, then ink blended with the same colors.  The bunny was adhered to the blended background, added to the card front and decorate with one flower and the leafy branches.  The sentiment was stamped, fussy cut and added to the card with thin foam squares.  I decided it still looked a little bare, so the remaining flower and two leaves were adhered in the corner.  The last touch was to add Glossy accent to the bunny's gray eye and Stardust Stickles to the white flower centers.  

For more inspiration be sure to visit the challenge blog and check out the fabulous variety of cards created by my talented teammates and our Guest Designer Caroline!  I hope you'll join us for this challenge, it will remain open until Tuesday, April 29th at 3pm EDT.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Ellen Hutson Essentials by Ellen Sew Cute Bunny dies and Ears to You stamp set
• Spellbinders Tiny Dots embossing folder
• Salvage Patina and Shaded Lilac Distress Inks
• Simon Says Stamp Earl dye ink

Hello for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm back with my reminder post for The Flower Challenge.  This month the theme is to use spring colors.

The Flower Challenge

At the first of the month I used purple and green here so this time I went with more peachy/orange colors.  

I started by coloring the flowers with Copic markers and the leaves with Olo markers.  I was trying to achieve a peachy color for the flowers but in the end it appears to lean more toward orange, and I was fine with that.  After die cutting, I used a black glaze pen to color in the stamen.

For the background I used the SSS Whirl Diamond Plate in white on a piece of Spellbinders Bellini cardstock, which I though complimented the color of the flowers without competing with it.  I placed the floral image up a little higher on the panel than I wanted, so I found a large die cut hello that helped balance things out.  Black enamel dots finished things off.

Can you believe it's mid-April already?  Time flies, that's for sure, but if you haven't joined us yet this month, or you have another floral with spring colors, there's still time to share.  The challenge will be open until Friday, April 25th. Please take a moment to visit the challenge blog, my amazing teammates have some more inspiration for you.  

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

PS - come on back tomorrow when I'll be sharing my DT card for our new Color Hues challenge!

• Simon Says Stamp/Alex Syberia Close at Heart stamp and die (Stamptember 2024)
• SSS Whirl Diamond Plate
• Altenew Timeless Sentiment dies
• Altenew Essential Black Enamel Dots
• Sakura Black Glaze pen
• Copics - YR68, 02, 00
• Olos - YG 1.6, 1.4, 1.2

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

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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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

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

Chicken Chatter for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  I am so happy Spring is here, although after having 3 days of glorious 70+ degrees, we're back to cold and rainy March.  It was a nice taste though and I look forward to better weather soon!

But that's not why you're here, so let's get to the card and the latest Paper Players challenge.  Since this is the fifth Sunday of the month, it's time for Tic Tac Toe and the lovely LeAnne has created a great grid with lots of options.

Paper Players

 

I was definitely thinking of the top row or left column (flowers, you know), but I ended up choosing the middle column - diecut, animal, green.

I have to say, I was smiling the entire time I was putting together those chickens.  Aren't they cute?  When this set was released I realized I didn't have anything like that in my crafty collection and I was totally smitten with these cute chickens.  There is a coordinating stamp set with layered images and sentiments, one of which says "still a spring chicken" and was used on the inside of the card.  

The chickens and the chick are all pretty easy to put together, using the packaging for guidance, then I added black enamel dots for the eyes of the two larger ones.  Once that was done, I ink blended a simple background for them to land on, along with die cut the sentiment from Simon Says Stamp.  The card ended up being an A6, 4.5" x 6" size.  

I hope you'll join us this week, there are lots of fun ways to use the TTT options!  In the meantime, I encourage you to pop over to the challenge blog to see what my talented teammates came up with.  The challenge ends Friday, April 4th at 3pm EST.  Come play along!

Stef

• Concord & 9th Chicken Chatter die and stamp set
• SSS Happy Birthday Brush Script dies
• MFT Grassy Edges stencil
• Altenew Black Enamel Dot
• Salvaged Patina Distress Ink
• Altenew Grassy Fields ink

Birthday Gardenia for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  Another Sunday rolls around and it's time for a new challenge with the Paper Players!  This week, the lovely, amazing Ann is hosting and has created a wonderful sketch.

Paper Players

I found myself looking through my numerous patterned paper pads and happened upon a very old one.  It is from BasicGrey, which has been out of business for years, and is from 2008.  I was inspired by the colors for my card.

The pattern is obscured a bit by the flower and sentiment; it is a leafy floral with dragonflies.  I loved the soft palate and was happy to find inks to match.  The flower components and leaves were die cut from white cardstock, then ink blended with the chosen inks.

The paper was trimmed down to A2 size before adhering to the base, then a die cut gold frame was layered on top.  The flower and leaves were  assembled, then added to a scallop circle.  The last thing was to decide on a sentiment, which I found in my foiled sentiment stash.  

Thanks for visiting and I hope you're inspired to join us! Ann's sketch is certainly wide open for many design choices.  My very talented teammates have created some beautiful examples, so I encourage you to take a moment and visit the challenge blog.  The challenge will remain open until Friday March 28th at 3pm EDT.

Take care!

Stef

• Altenew Gardenia Layering die set
• Pinkfresh Studio Fancy Script Words Foil plates and dies
• Simon Says Stamp A2 Nesting Frame dies
• Hero Arts Infinity Scallop Circle die
• Altenew Water Hyacinth, Alpine Aster, Silver Sage, Jade, Eucalyptus and Forest Fern inks
• BasicGrey Wisteria 6x6 paper pad

Hugs for Color Hues

Hello friends!  I'm here today with my card for the new challenge at Color Hues.  This time the lovely Julie is hosting and has chosen wonderful pair of colors.

Color Hues

I'm also sharing over at Just Us Girls, where Bobby has chose the word green for their word week challenge.

JUGS #766

My intention in the new year was to limit buying of crafty products but this die set was too fun to resist.

I can't grow them but I sure have fun creating them with paper!  I chose three shades of lime-y cardstock along with yellows for the flowers and grays for the pot.  I then ink blended each die cut to create a bit of dimension, then put everything together to create my hanging houseplant!

When my husband and I bought our current home a few years ago, we were delighted that it had nicely textured walls and that's what inspired me to emulate it with an embossing folder.  I used a rectangle die to cut the white panel before embossing it.  I layered it on a panel of the same yellow that was used for the flowers, then "hung" the house plant and added the sentiment, which is part of the die set.  Lastly, I added a gold pearl as a "hanger".  

What does this color pairing bring to mind to you?  For more inspiration, head on over to the challenge (link above) where my super talented teammates and Guest Designer Michele have their lovely creations to share with you.  The challenge remains open until Saturday March 29th at 9am EDT and I hope you will join us!

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Altenew Houseplants Layering die set
• Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics Rectangle die
• Stampin' Up Painted Texture 3D embossing folder (retired)
• Altenew Honey Drizzle, Lime, Moss and Silverstone inks