Art Is...

Hello friends, thanks for stopping by!  Today I'm sharing a sweet little card that I made for two challenges.  The lovely Lisa has chosen Paintbrush for Word Week at Just Us Girls, and the talented ladies at Addicted to Stamps and More are celebrating 10 years of challenges with a Make Your Mark challenge.  Big congrats to them!

JUGS 635

 

ATSM #431

I've admired all the beautiful paintbrush dies but haven't made that plunge...yet lol!  But I remembered I had a sweet Anita Jeram illustrated stamp set that worked perfectly.

Those two little bunnies watching the artist at work just make me smile!  There are some additional cute critters in the set, but I was in a hurry to get this card completed by the deadline, so I opted not to make an elaborate scene this time.  I colored the stamped image with Copic markers and used them to create a little sketched scene for the bunny to be "painting".  The image was then die cut with matching dies.

Next a panel of white was ink blended with light blue and tan, then die cut with a deckled rectangle die.  The sentiment was stamped then I fussy cut around it.  The panel was adhered to the ivory card base with thin foam tape, then the main image and sentiment added on top, also with foam tape and I was done!

Thanks again for visiting!  Take care and enjoy the upcoming weekend!

Stef

Stamps:  Art Is (Anita Jeram/Colorado Craft Company)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Antique Ivory (Hero Hues)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Latte and Seafoam (Simon Says Stamp Pawsitively Saturated Ink)

Other:  Art Is dies, Deckle Layers Rectangle die (Waffle Flower)

Copics:  W5, 3, 1, 0, C3, 2, R20, B45, 52, E29, 37, 34, 42, 41, 000, G28, 24, 21, BG11, 10, 0000

Cheers for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge and this week Claire has created this fabulous board to spark your mojo!

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

I'm also joining The Paper Players, where Anne Marie has chosen the theme of food and/or beverages, and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge with a theme of Bright and Cheerful.

PP594

I went down the right column of the Tic Tac Toe board - drink, bright colors, circle.

Claire's board certainly is evocative of summer, so I took this as an opportunity to use my new Birdie Brown Penguins in Paradise stamp set.  Probably everyone in the stamping universe that likes MFT stamps has this stamp in their collection, but I didn't so I bought it recently when MFT opened the Birdie Brown "vault" and made it available for sale.  SO darn CUTE!  Anyway, with drink in hand, this little penguin was perfect to be the main figure in my little scene.

Originally the scene included another penguin and a beach ball (which was to be the "circle").  I stamped it out using masks, die cut a couple of cloud masks as well, then ink blended the sky, water and sand. When that was done, I realized something had put a dent in the paper right above the head of the other penguin and no matter how I tried to disguise it, nothing worked to my satisfaction.  So I Copic colored the rest of the scene, then trimmed it down as you see it now. But the trimming also removed the beach ball, so now I had to come up with another circle, hence the large polka dot embossed background!  With those two layers complete, I decided to stamp and die cut the sentiment to leave room for the hibiscus, which I colored then fussy cut.  The last step was to use my white gel pen on the drink glass for a reflection.

Thanks so much for visiting, I really appreciate it!  The other DT members have fabulous cards to inspire you, so be sure to head over to the Tic Tac Toe Challenge and hopefully join us this week!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Birdie Brown Penguins in Paradise (MFT)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Magenta Madness (SU)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black; Sand Dunes, Sea Breeze and Ocean Waves (Altenew)

Other:  Large Polka Dot embossing folder (ret. SU), Cloud Cover dies (MFT), Featured Sentiment die (Altenew), Sakura White Gelly Roll pen

Copics:  E29, 37, 35, 34, 33, 31, 30, 0000, RV20, V04, YG67, 17, 05, 03, BG0000, YR18, 16, Y17, 38, 35, FY1, FV2, FRV1

Thinking of You for The Flower Challenge

Hello and welcome!  It's time for the June challenge at The Flower Challenge and this month the prompt is to use Blue and Yellow for your floral images as we continue to honor Ukraine.  You may also use green for the leaves along with black and white as neutrals, as long as the challenge colors are the most prominent.

The Flower Challenge

My card uses a newer set from Pinkfresh Studio, using the hot foil plate, dies and stencils.  I actually received the stamp, dies and stencils in late March when I attended a card making event and then was happy to add the hot foil plate when it became available in April.

Starting with the hot foiling, I used Gold Glimmer hot foil for the image outline.  Next, out came the stencils, using three shades of blue and two of green.  The image was die cut then layered on two additional dies cuts in white for dimension.  I love to color but stenciling sure does make creating quicker.

Next I ink blended a lively yellow on a panel of white, then it was trimmed down using diagonal stitched rectangle die.  It was matted on a panel of blue, then added to the white card base with foam tape.  The floral image was adhered to the card, as was the foiled sentiment I had in my stash.  Lastly I added a few pearls and gems from a newer Lucy's Cards collection that I was happy to discover included blues and yellows.

Okay, now it's your turn to get creative with these colors!  You have until the 25th of the month and for more inspiration, be sure to take a look at all the beautiful Design Team cards!

Take care!

Stef

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Hammermill, Pacific Point (SU)

Ink:  Citrus Burst (Altenew); Seaside, Summer Shower, Sky Blue, Fresh Pear and Key Lime (Pinkfresh Studio)

Other:  Simple Gestures Hot Foil Plate, Die and Stencil set (PS), Everyday Sentiments II Hot Foil Plate (Spellbinders), Skinny Strips die (MFT), Diagonal Stitched Rectangle die (PS), Gold Glimmer Hot Foil (Spellbinders), Crystal Collection - Bouquet (Lucy's Cards)

Peony Birthday

Hello and welcome!  I'm popping in with a card for four different challenges, finally using my new Lovely Layers Peony die set!

PP593

Just Us Girls Photo Challenge

STB 239

ATSC 430

I went down the left column (birthday, slimline, die cut/punch) for Ann's Tic Tac Toe Challenge, as I knew a slimline birthday card would work well with the large die cut blooms, which were colored in pinks to go with Carol's photo challenge at JUGS.  Plus, die cuts also for the ATSC and finally a stenciled background for the STB challenge.

I just love it when you have a vision and it all works out, because quite honestly, it doesn't always for me lol!  The flower petals and leaves were all die cut from white card stock, then ink blended with several inks to achieve this blend.  Originally I was going for pink with yellow edges on the petals but then on one I accidently blended the lightest pink over the yellow and loved the peachy color it created, so I went with it!  Of course, since it's ink blending each petal varies in coor, but the end result with these layering dies is amazing.

Pink was added to a white panel using the Fanfare stencil, trimmed down, then adhered to the back of the slimline scallop frame, which had been die cut twice and layered for a bit of dimension.  That piece was layered on a fuchsia panel and added to the card base.  I arranged the flowers and leaves, leaving room for the foiled sentiment, then adhered everything, including a few antique gold sequins.  As you can imagine, there's lots of dimension on this card with the layered die cut flowers, so I'm sure it will end up being mailed in a box or padded envelope if not hand delivered.

I'm so glad you took time to stop by!  Take care and happy crafting!

Stef

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Hammermill, Neenah Solar White, Doll Pink (SSS)

Ink:  Citrus Burst, Baby Pink, Fuchsia, Magenta, Lime, Fresh Leaf and Green Opal (Altenew)

Other:  Lovely Layers Peony dies (Honeybee Stamps), Happy Birthday Duo Foil Plate and Die (Waffle Flower), Fanfare Stencil (SSS), Slimline Scallop Frame (included in the Envelope Builder die set by Trinity Stamps), Antique Gold sequins (Altenew), Gold Glimmer Hot Foil (Spellbinders)

Special Delivery for Sunday Stamps

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps and this time Heidi has given us a very interesting and fun sketch to work with.

Sunday Stamps

 

I love the diagonal cut in the top rectangle to give it a different look, and initially I thought of using a flower die (what a surprise, right?) across both sections but then I was inspired to go a different direction.

I've had this cute little set from Stamping Bella for months and hadn't yet used it, so I thought it would be a fun way to use the sketch.  Initially I was going to use patterned paper but when I decided on the paper, I didn't want to cut it up so I used it for the background.  The sweet little owl with her special delivery envelope was colored with Copic markers then fussy cut, as there are no coordinating dies.  The sentiment was stamped, trimmed down, cut in two then rimmed with one of the Copic markers used to color the envelope.

The floral panel was die cut with a stitched rectangle die, then added to a white woodgrain card base, which is also the same paper I used for the diagonally split rectangle.  I used a brown Copic marker to color a strip of cardstock, matted it on a slightly larger white one, then adhered to the card.  The parts of the split rectangle were added with foam tape, as were the own and sentiment.  I debated about adding any embellishments as the background is already pretty darn busy, but in the end I liked how it looked with the addition of a few silver pearls.

Thanks for taking time to stop by!  I hope you'll use the link above to see how the other DT members used this sketch in spectacular fashion and also take time to join us!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Special Delivery (Stamping Bella)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, White Woodgrain (Ellen Hutson), Honey Bee Stamps "Free Bee" patterned paper (gift with purchase)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Clair Nocturne

Other:  Stitched Rectangle die (MFT), Aqua Shimmer Pen (Tonic), Pearls - Silver Mix (Lucy's Cards)

Copics:  E77, 19, 15, 13, 11, 01, 000, 0000, YR14, R59

Thanks for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge and this week we have a fun one created by the lovely Silke.  The Design Team has outdone themselves this week so be sure to use the link below to see their amazing cards!

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

 

I'd spent some time playing around with some Nuvo Shimmer Powders and decide to use some of the panels for my card, going diagonal from lower left to upper right - thank you, ribbon, vase.

The powder colors are quite vibrant, so sprinkling just a little bit around on a panel (I used watercolor paper) then spraying with water created some delicious results!  I made a solid teal, which I used as the background on my card, then did some that were half purple or yellow, with the other half green or teal.  Once those were completely dry (I think I let them dry overnight), I die cut the all the stems and trimmed down the background panel.

Next, I wrapped a piece of black satin ribbon around the panel and added it to the white card base with foam tape.  The sentiment and vase were die cut from black glossy cardstock, then adhered along with the die cut stems.  With all the shimmer on the panel and stems (sorry the photo does not do it justice), I decided to leave the card as is without any further embellishments.

Thanks for taking time to stop by, I always appreciate it!  I hope you're inspired to join us this week at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge!

Take care!

Stef

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Glossy Black (Simon Says Stamp),Tim Holtz Distress Watercolor

Other:  Sunray Crossette, Solar Flair, Falling Leaves, Lilac Waterfall and Atlantis Burst Nuvo Shimmer Powders (Tonic); Script Thanks die (SSS), Vase Variety and Stems dies (Waffle Flower), Nested Infinity Rectangle die (Hero Arts), Black Satin Ribbon (ret. SU)

Hello

Hello and welcome!  Today's card is one that I made for the current challenge at The Paper Players, where LeAnne has created a wonderful sketch.

PP592

I'm also joining the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge with an Anything Goes theme, the As You See It Challenge with their Recipe for Subtle Beauty and the current Addicted to Stamps Challenge to use die cuts and/or stencils.

AYSI #275

ATSC #430

I started with a panel of flowers and leaves that I'd previously foiled in gold and had in my stash.

The matching stencil made coloring the images easy and quick, then I used the matching die to cut them out.  A white panel was stenciled in blue on the bottom third, trimmed down and a corner cut with my trusty old SU corner rounder punch.  A shiny gold foiled strip was adhered across the top of the stenciling, then the flowers and sentiment arranged and adhered. 

 As I was preparing to add the main panel to a Flirty Flamingo card base, I realized I'd forgotten to emboss the top of the panel is the white space. So instead, an A2 size panel of Flirty Flamingo was embossed, adhered to the base, then the main image added with thin foam tape.  A few gems were added, and I was done!

Thanks so much for taking time to visit!  Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  None

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Hammermill, Flirty Flamingo (SU)

Ink:  Coral Reef, Passion Fruit, Fresh Pear and Key Lime (Pinkfresh Studio); Honey Drizzle and Sea Breeze (Altenew)

Other:  Brighter Days Hot Foil Plate, Stencils and Dies (PS), Fancy Script Words Hot Foil Plate and Die (Spellbinders), Arches Stencil (Simon Says Stamp), Sentiment Labels die (SSS), Tasteful Texture 3D embossing folder (SU), Corner Rounder punch (ret. SU), Crystal Collection - Bouquet (Lucy's Cards)

Hello Lovely

Hello and welcome!  I have a card to share that I made for the current challenge over at Color Hues.  Cindy chose the fabulous combination of red and aqua, so I couldn't resist playing along.

TCH #41

I had some fun using an older floral frame die and doing a bit of paper piecing using colored cardstock.

The Carnation Frame die was cut three times, once each from red, aqua and white.  I layered the white frame on two additional rectangles of the same size to give it stability and dimension, as well as provide a place to glue the interior pieces.

After puzzle piecing and adhering all the image components, I worked on the card base.  A panel of white was cut with a cover die, then adhered to the red card base.  I found some long retired textured red cardstock that was cut down with a rectangle die and layered atop the white panel.  The main image was adhered, then the sentiment stamped, die cut with a circle die and popped up with foam tape.  Although not really visible from the photos, I finished things off by painting the red flower petals with a shimmer pen.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!  Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Mini Everyday Messages (Mama Elephant)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Real Red (SU), Aqua Sky (Concord and 9th)

Ink:  Vineyard Berry (Altenew)

Other:  Carnation Frame die (Simon Says Stamp), Floral Grid Cover die (Pinkfresh Studio, Nested Infinity Rectangle and Circle dies (Hero Arts), Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen

Corner Rose Birthday for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends, so glad you've come by to visit! Can you believe we're halfway through May already?  As such, it's time for our reminder post at The Flower Challenge.  The challenge ends on the 25th so I hope you'll find time to join us - this month, all you have to do is use a number along with your flowers.

The Flower Challenge

 

I'm also joining the fabulous crew at the As You See It Challenge.  This time we are to fill in the blank for "The Best Thing About Mothers is: ________."  When I think about the mothers I have known as friends, my daughter and of course my own Mother, is the unconditional love they give.  

As You See It Challenge #274

And I'm also sharing my card at the Addicted to Stamps Challenge, where the theme is any Occasion.

ATSC #429

My Mom passed away many years ago and I decided that my DT card would honor what would have been her 100th birthday this June.

My Mom's favorite flower was the deep red Mr. Lincoln rose, so that is what I chose to create for this card.  The image is from a newer stamp illustrated by the amazing Emily Midgett and was a dream to color with my Copics.  It is very large, so the card size ended up being 5"x 7".  After completing the coloring it was die cut with the coordinating die, layered upon two additional die cuts from white paper, then cut down to fit the background panel.

For the background panel, Antique Linen was applied using the Spring Boho Circle stencil, then I lightly ink blended the rest of the background to achieve an aged look.  When the floral image was adhered to the panel, I lightly ink blended a bit more to soften the white edges of the die cut.  The sentiment was stamped and trimmed down then adhered with the gold numbers.  I find it a bit tricky to get it all lined up but I think it is centered pretty well and I was happy with how the gold kind of dressed things up.

For more inspiration, head over to The Flower Challenge and take a peek at all the amazing cards by the other DT members!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Celebrate Rose Corner (Simon Says Stamp), Elegant Sentiments (Waffle Flower)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Matte Gold (SSS)
Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Clair Nocturne, Distress Antique Linen

Other:  Celebrate Rose Corner die, Sentiment Labels die (SSS), Festive Alpha & Numbers dies (Scrapbook.com), Spring Boho Circle Stencil (SSS), A7 Layers Rectangle die (WF)

Copics:  R89, 59, 29, 17, G28, 17, 03

Thanks for Sunday Stamps

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps and this time we have some pretty colors to inspire you.

Sunday Stamps

That photo of berries sure looks scrumptious, doesn't it, but at first I was a little stumped as to what to make with the colors.  In the end, I used three of them - light reddish pink, red and navy - to create a plaid mini slimline thank you card.

I started by ink blending Coral Bliss to the top and middle of a panel of Bristol, then came in with the darker red Vineyard Berry at the bottom.  Once that was complete, I slipped the panel into my Misti and used Tanzanite to ink up the plaid background stamp.  My original intention was to make a birthday card for a BIL whose birthday is right before Independence Day but I didn't like how it was coming together, so I went a totally different direction.

I often like to pair organics/florals with geometrics, so I decided to do it with this plaid.  I found a pretty floral stem die in my "collection" that had gone as yet unused, so I changed that by cutting the stem from white cardstock.  The plaid panel was die cut with a mini slimline rectangle die, then matted on a slightly larger white panel that was cut with a die that created the hash mark border.  After adhering the die cut stem, I wrapped gold twine around the matted panels before adding to the white card base.  The sentiment was stamped in Vineyard Berry, die cut with a tag die, then added to the card front along with a gold bow.  I decided the card needed a little more "something", so some glossy dots were adhered at the top right and on the tag.  Super simple card to make.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope you'll take a moment to head over to Sunday Stamps and see the fabulous cards by the rest of the design team!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Special Delivery Sentiments (Waffle Flower), Soft Plaid Background (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol

Ink:  Coral Bliss, Vineyard Berry and Tanzanite (all Altenew)

Other:  Caserta Bloom die ( Memory Box), Special Delivery tag die, Mini Slimline Essential Bundle dies (Pinkfresh Studio), Silver Glossy Dots (Pink & Main), gold twine from my stash

Celebrate For the Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge and this week Jeanne has given us a great board to play with.

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

I'm also joining Just Us Girls, where Vicki has chosen "Flowers" as the prompt for Word Week, which works perfectly for my card.

Just Us Girls #631

Whimsical flowers, foiling and bright colors are what I chose to use for my card, going diagonal left to right up the Tic Tac Toe board - floral, blue and embossing.

I started with hot foiling the floral image on smooth white cardstock and the leaves on vellum.  The foiling came out pretty well on the vellum except for the bottom of the leaf stems, which I hid behind the flowers.  The flowers were colored with a variety of Copic markers and then both foiled images were die cut with matching dies.

For the background I used Ocean Waves from Altenew to lightly ink blend a panel of white, then trimmed it down to 3.75" x 5" before embossing it.  The panel was then adhered to the white card base, then the flowers and leaves added atop that.  The sentiment was created from a previous foiling and die cutting session, so all I had to do was adhere it to finish things off.

Thank you for taking time to stop by, I really appreciate it.  Be sure to head over to the Tic Tac Toe Challenge and check out the fabulous cards by the other DT members and hopefully join in the fun this week!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps: None

Paper:  Hammermill, Vellum

Ink:  Ocean Waves (Altenew)

Other:  Intricate Rose and Blooms Hot Foil Plate and die, Sketched Leaf Branches Hot Foil Plate and die (both Simon Says Stamp), Perfect Sentiments Hot Foil Plate and die (Pinkfresh Studio), Gold Glimmer Hot Foil (Spellbinders), Diamond Stars 3D embossing folder (Altenew)

Copics:  RV17, 09, 06, 04, 02, YR09, 16, Y38, 27, 23, 17, E39, V17, 15, 12, YG67, 17, 03