Slimline Birthday for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  I hope you are continuing to stay safe and healthy, and had a great 4th of July celebration for those of you in the US!

It's Sunday, which means it's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players!  The lovely Ann is hosting this week, bringing us a theme challenge to use fun and fancy folds!

The Paper Players

I am also joining the current challenge at Seize the Birthday, where the toppings option is to use red, white and blue.

STB #194

Using a fancy fold on my card is not something I've done for a long time but a while back I saw a video by Jennifer McGuire using the dies I purchased from Hero Arts and knew I had case her Inside Out Card for this challenge.

Isn't that a fun card?  I made this for my FIL who was in the Air Corps (Air Force predecessor) in WWII.  He's in his mid 90's and, aside from some age related vision issues, is remarkably doing quite well. Of course, this is not the type of plane he would have flown back then but both he and my husband love any and all airplanes, so I thought he would enjoy this card.

The card uses two dies, one is the airplane and the other is a really cool cloud die.  I first cut the airplane from white and silver card, then paper pieced the "metal" pieces after coloring the body and tire with Copic markers.

The card base is made up of two main panels plus a small panel that are overlapped to create the base, then a third large panel is adhered on the back of the card to cover up all the overlapping pieces.  I started with a panel of white card cut to 4.625 x 8.625 inches, then scored at 1" on the long side.  It was then die cut with the cloud die as was the separate smaller piece in order to create a smaller flap hidden underneath.  Before assembling the card I stamped the sentiment on the front.

The Bristol panel (cut to slightly smaller than 3.625x 8.625 inches) was ink blended using stencils to create the sun and clouds.  Next the cloud die cut panels were folded at the 1" score line and the ink blended panel adhered with strong adhesive, as was the back panel. The final step was to pop up the plane with foam tape and add the die cut bird silhouettes.  A personal message can then be added under the flaps and remain hidden until the clouds are lifted, so to speak!

I realize my explanation of how the card is put together may not be super clear LOL, so if you're interested in making this style card, I highly encourage you to view Jennifer's blog post and video linked above.  It is worth the time and she shows 3-4 examples of her Inside Out card technique with various stamps and dies.

Thank so much for visiting, I always appreciate it!  I do hope you'll pop over to The Paper Players and check out the fantastic designs by the rest of the DT.  Have a great Sunday and week ahead!

Stef


Stamps:  Big on Birthdays (SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Koh-I-Noor Bristol, Silver metallic
Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne, Tumbled Glass, Squeezed Lemonade and Fossilized Amber Distress inks
Other:  Cloudy Sky Scene die (includes the birds) and Airplane Fancy die (HA), Sun Background stencil (HA), Mini Clouds stencil (MFT) 
Copics:  R39, 37, 35, 100

Awesome for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge!

Hello friends and welcome back!  I have some exciting news to share!  I have been asked to join the Design Team at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge!  I am thrilled to be a part of this immensly talented group of card makers! If you're not familiar with this challenge, you must use the link below and check it out!  Every week there is a new challenge filled with great inspiration to get your creative juices flowing.

This week, the lovely Jeanne is hosting and here is her fun challenge:

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

I'm also joining the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where this week's theme is something bright and cheerful. I think my card definitely qualifies with all the happy colors!

For my card, I went across the middle with flowers (no surprise!), stripes and stencil.  This card is composed of lots of bits that I had previously made and stashed away so it really cut down on the time to make it.

I almost always start by choosing my stamp set, then building the rest of the card.  Low and behold, in the set I decided to use there was this lovely flower all colored up with Copic markers and die cut, so all I had to do was stamp, color and die cut the leaves.  Next, for the background I searched my stash and found a panel already ink blended with Distress Inks that happened to match the flower beautifully!  I pulled out a stripe stencil and went over the panel with the same inks, splattered it with water and when dry, sprayed it with shimmer spray and splattered it with a pearl metallic acrylic paint.

When the panel dried, it was trimmed down and adhered to the scallop rectangle die, then added to the card base.  I decided on the sentiment stamp set I wanted to use and there was the sentiment already stamped and heat embossed with clear ep! Wow!  Happy dance!  I had to cut it in half to have it fit on the panel along with the floral image but I was pretty stoked to put together a card composed mainly of "found" elements LOL!  The final touch was to add a few sparkling sequins.

Thank you so much for visiting, it's always greatly appreciated!  Be sure to use the link above to check out the fabulous cards by the rest of the DT and join us for tttc071 this week!

Stef


Stamps:  More Spring Flowers (Simon Says Stamp), Label Love (Altenew)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Strathmore Bristol
Ink:  Gina K Obsidian Amalgam, Versafine Clair Nocturne (sentiment), Worn Lipstick, Spiced Marmalade and Squeezed Lemonade Distress inks
Other:  More Spring Flowers matching dies, A2 Scallop Rectangle die (Honey Bee), Tsukineko Sparkling Sheer Shimmer Spray, Ranger Pearl Metallic Acrylic Paint, Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen, Sparkling Clear sequins (PPP)
Copic markers:  RV09, 25, 23, 21, BG49, 15, 11, YG67, 17, 03

Hello Friend for the SCS Color Challenge

Hi there, and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Chris is hosting this week and has chosen the beautiful combination of Pacific Point, Gorgeous Grape and Bermuda Bay, with a dessert option to add waves or scallops.

I'm also joining the current Anything Goes challenge at the Simon Says Stamp Wed Challenge.

I thought it would be fun to pull out another Suzy's Watercolor Prints and create a colorful card with these rich colors.

I used Copic markers in colors similar to the challenge (plus SU neutral Mossy Green plus brown shades).  Beginning with the background, I then worked on each part of the print, ending with the bird, which I colored sort of like a dove.  I didn't worry about being too realistic with any of the coloring given it's cartoon-like nature, although I did add a shadow on the lettering with a medium gray marker to give it a bit more dimension.  Once the coloring was completed, the panel was trimmed down to roughly 3.75 x 5 inches.

Gold seemed like a good metallic to go with these rich colors, so I painted in the centers of the flowers, then decided to add splatter too, using a scrap to keep it off the bird.  Still I wasn't satisfied so I painted it around all the edges.  Love!  When it dried, it was mounted to a white card panel that had been run through the die cut machine with a debossing scales design I thought made a good substitute for scallops.  The entire piece was adhered to an A2 card base then added a gold thread ribbon for a final touch.

Thanks for visiting, I appreciate it so much!  Be sure to use the link above to check out the Color Challenge and hopefully join us this week!

Stef


Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Suzy's Watercolor Prints Birds and Butterflies (SSS)
Other:  Dotted Scales Debossing Cover die, Gansai Tambi Starry Colors watercolor paints, gold thread (ret. SU)
Copics:  G99, 94, 82, W5, 3, 1, 0, V09, 17, 15, BG13, B16, C5, E37, 33, 

Yay, It's Your Birthday for The Paper Players!

Hello, friends!  Welcome back!  Can you believe it's almost the end of June???  The weeks seem to just fly by, although I wish it was because we were vacationing somewhere instead hanging around the homestead!

But here's a fun way to spend your day - it's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players!  The lovely Claire is hosting our monthly sketch challenge with this terrific sketch:

The Paper Players

I'm also joining the current Anything Goes challenges at  SSS Wednesday Challenge  and Seize the Birthday.

STB #193

I have need of several masculine birthday cards (7 out of the 12 family birthdays in the next 2 months), so I decided to use this opportunity to make one.  I kept it pretty clean and simple, for me, and it came together very quickly.

I decided to use some of my "stash" of old patterned paper for this card.  In my early days of card making I became a "collector" of patterned paper but a few years ago I had to clear out a large portion of it (donated most of it) because I realized I probably would never use it.  However, I did keep some special designs that I loved and also a lot suitable for guy cards.

I chose a pattern from an old Basic Grey pad that I've probably had over 10 years but I still like the designs and colors.  The panel was die cut with a Wonky Stitched rectangle die, adhered to the card base, then the vertical strip, also from the same paper collection, was added.  The sentiment was stamped in brown pigment ink, trimmed down, layered on a piece of Seaside Spray card, then popped up on the card with foam tape.  The card looked a little tooooo plain, so I found a cute wood leaf embellishment for a little added interest.  Bingo, done!

Thanks so much for visiting, it's always greatly appreciated!  I hope you'll use the link above to check out the fabulous cards by the rest of the DT and find time to join us this week!

Stef


Stamps:  Stylish Sentiments: Birthdays (ret.PTI)
Paper:  Ivory (SSS), Neenah Desert Storm, Seaside Spray (SU), Archaic 6x6 paper pack (Basic Grey)
Ink:  Versafine Clair Pinecone
Other:  Wonky Stitched Rectangle die, Wood leaf (ret. SU)

Forest Collage Birthday for the SCS Color Challenge!

Hello friends, and welcome back!  It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Barbara is hosting this week and has chosen Berry Burst, Tranquil Tide, Terracotta Tile and So Saffron with a dessert option to use a stencil.  I am without dessert this week as it did not work with my card design.

I'm also joining the current challenge at Seize the Birthday with my "Anything Goes" entry.

STB 193

I have a number of birthdays coming up in the next two months, so I used this color challenge to create a birthday card for one of my BILs.  He enjoys the outdoors and I thought the colors lent themselves well to a sunrise (or sunset) scene.

It took me a while to decide what paper to use for the card front (e.g. there are now a couple of samples in my stash LOL!) but settled on this beautiful brown woodgrain cardstock.  It was die cut with the Far Away Forest Collage die.  Next came the background sunrise.  A piece of Bristol worked beautifully with Distress Inks.

Once the blending was complete, the die cut panel was adhered to the ink blended piece.  Before adding to the Desert Storm base, a piece of linen thread was wrapped around it, then it was popped up with thin foam adhesive pieces.  The last thing was to stamp the sentiment, trim it down, add flag ends and add to the card front with narrow foam tape.

Thanks so much for visiting, I appreciate it so much!  I hope you'll use the link above to check out the Color Challenge at SCS and hopefully join in the fun!

Stef


Stamps:  Big on Birthdays (ret. SU)
Paper:  Ivory (Simon Says Stamp), Woodgrain (Lawn Fawn), Strathmore Bristol, Neenah Desert Storm
Ink:  Versafine Clair Pinecone, Seedless Preservers, Rusty Hinge, Scattered Straw and Pine Needles Distress Ink
Other:  Far Away Forest Collage die (SSS), Linen Thread (SU)

Floral Thanks for The Paper Players!

Hello friends, and welcome back!  It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players, where the lovely Joanne is hosting our monthly CAS challenge, which is to make a thank you card.

The Paper Players

I used the current Color Throwdown challenge colors of pink, aqua, gold and white (well, a wee bit anyway) for my card.

CTD 598

I started by taking a panel of white watercolor paper and spraying it first with Distress Ink Spray Stain, then with a good coating of clear water, so some of the white paper in the background still shows through a little.  This is the first time I used both the spray stain and the new Distress color of Speckled Egg, which is a muted, almost grayish light blue.  After spraying with the stain I was almost ready to put the panel in the trash because I didn't care for the color, but after it dried it looked much prettier, so I decided to go with it.  It was splattered with gold pearlescent paint then all painted around the edges.

While the gold paint dried, I die cut the flower cluster from both pink and gold paper and the sentiment also in gold.  Tough to see in the photo is a vellum shadow die beneath the sentiment.  I added the dried panel to a base of Neenah Solar White card, adhered the gold flower cluster die cut, then glued the pink flower petals into the die cut, kind of like puzzle pieces.  A bit fiddly to do, especially with the smallest petals LOL.

With the flower cluster and sentiment attached, the final touches were to use a shimmer pen on the flower petals (which the photo doesn't capture), then add a few Ocean Wave Crystals.

Thanks so much for visiting, I really appreciate it!  I hope you'll head over to The Paper Players to check out all the beautiful creations by the other DT members and join us this week for our CAS challenge!

Stef


Stamps: None
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Peony (Hero Arts Hero Hues) Tim Holtz Watercolor, Tonic Gold Pearl Satin Effect Mirror paper, vellum
Ink:  Speckled Egg Distress Ink Spray Stain
Other:  Flower Cluster and Script Thanks dies (SSS), FineTec Pearlescent watercolor paints, Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen, Ocean Wave Crystals (Studio Katia)

Relaxing Day for the SCS Color Challenge!

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers! I'm hosting this week and have chosen Real Red, Pool party and Garden Green, with a dessert option to use your favorite yellow.

Splitcoaststampers

I used the current sketch challenge at Fab Friday for my design inspiration.

FF191

I'm also joining the current Tic Tac Toe challenge (right vertical row-summer, scene, free).

tttc068

And finally I'm linking up to NBUS (Never-Before-Used-Schtuff).

NBUS 15

For my card, I used super cute stamp set from MFT.  I bought it about a month ago and this is it's first use.

I love mushroom stamps (and cute critters too), so I knew there would be a home for this set in my craft room!  I started with a panel of Bristol card stock and ink blended the sky using a mini cloud stencil.  Next I stamped a scene using the cute relaxing squirrel and butterfly and colored with Copic markers.  I ended up adding a couple of additional mushrooms to the scene, fussy cutting then popping them up with bits of foam tape.

With the scene complete, it was layered on a red panel then adhered to the brown card base.  The sentiment was stamped in black pigment ink, trimmed down then also popped up with foam tape.  The sentiment seemed a bit lonely by itself on that long strip of paper so a couple of yellow hearts were added and seemed like a good final touch.

Thanks so much for visiting, I really appreciate it!  I hope you'll use the link above to SCS and join us for this week's color challenge!

Stef


Stamps: SY Always Bring a Smile (MFT)
Paper: Neenah Solar White, Koh-I-Noor Bristol, Real Red, Textured Early Espresso
Ink: Gina K Obsidian amalgam, Versafine Clair Nocturne, Soft Pool (Hero Arts)
Other: Mini Cloud stencil (MFT), Doodlebug Shape Sprinkles
Copics: R39, 29, 24, 20, Y08, 04, E47, 44, 43, 41, 37, 35, 33, 31, G29, 24 21, YG45

Merry Christmas for The Paper Players!

It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players!  It's color challenge week and the lovely Laurie has brought us these fun color!

The Paper Players

For my card design I was inspired by the current sketch at CAS(E) this Sketch.

CTS 376

Laurie's colors threw me at first but then I realized how great they would be for a Christmas card, and there's nothing like getting started early!  I decided to use a pretty background stamp with leaves and berries, then layering the sentiment and horizontal piece at the bottom of the panel.

The image was stamped then colored with Copic markers in colors similar to those for the challenge.  I kept the coloring very simple as these images are pretty small.  Once complete the panel was trimmed down to 3.5 x 4.75 inches and layered on slightly larger panels of Real Red and Basic Gray.

I used a sentiment from an old Hero Arts monthly kit, stamping in black and die cutting with stitched circle die.  It was adhered to the front then a strip of red card was added with foam tape.  Then the entire thing was added to the card base with foam tape.  To have a bit more of a festive feel to the card, sparkle was added to the red strip and all the red berries with an aqua shimmer pen.  Last but not least, a few gold glitter crystals were adhered.

Thanks so much for visting, I really appreciate it!  Be sure to use the link above and check out all the beautiful creations by the rest of the DT and hopefully join us this week!

Stef

Stamps:  Leaves and Berries background (Simon Says Stamp), October 2017 Monthly Card Kit (HA)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Real Red, Basic Gray

Ink:  Gina K Jet Black Amalgam, Versafine Clair Nocturne

Other:  Stitched Shapes Circle die (SU), Tonic Nuvo Aqua Shimmer pen, Studio Katia Gold Glitter Crystals

Copics:  R39, 29, G29, BG75, 72 

For Pops

Hello friends, I'm back with a card for the current Sunday Stamps sketch challenge.  They always have great sketches and this one is no exception.

SSC#232

I've made a card for my 94 year old FIL, whom my husband calls Pops.  He's a WWII veteran, still alive and pretty healthy, except that he has Macular Degeneration, so he only has some peripheral vision.  But I must put in a plug for the VA because about four years ago they prescribed a device for him to use at home to magnify images to read or, in this case, see the card we're sending him.  Pretty cool!

Because his vision is limited, I always try to include elements of texture.  The Evergreen Circle die was cut from Forever Green patterned paper, die cut again with a square die around the perimeter, then layered on a panel with the sunrise background ink blended with a few Distress inks.The ink blended panel was splattered with water to give that wonderful texture then dried before the patterned paper was adhered.  I still felt it needed something to make it stand out more so I die cut a circle frame of green card stock using two circle dies.

Next I started building the card, layering an A2 sized panel of woodgrain cardstock onto a white card base, then adding a vertical piece of patterned paper from the same paper pack.  To create the smaller square just below and behind the main image, a third piece of the same patterned paper was die cut then adhered to a piece of card to give it stability, the added directly to the background.

I wanted to add more to the small square, so a long retired SU wood embellishment was adhered, it's elements keeping with the woodsy (is that a word?) theme  Along with the layered die cut and woodgrain background, it adds some more texture to the card for my FIL.  The last thing was to add the sentiment on a small strip of white card and hand trimmed for a little flag end.

Thanks for visiting, I appreciate it so much!  I hope you have a great weekend and continue to stay safe and healthy! ❤❤❤

Stef


Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes (ret. SU)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Green Leaf (Simon Says Stamp), Strathmore Bristol, Forever Green Patterned Paper (Moda Scraps)
Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne, Squeezed Lemonade, Ripe Persimmon, Worn Lipstick and Seedless Preserves Distress Inks
Other:  Evergreen Circle die (SSS), Essential Square dies (Ellen Hutson), Nested Circle dies (Hero Arts), wood embellishment (ret. SU)

Miss You for the SCS Color Challenge!

It's time for a new Color Challenge at Splitcoaststampers!  Karen is hosting this week and has chosen Mango Melody, Poppy Parade and Old Olive with a dessert option to make the sentiment the focal point or main image.

The stamp set I ended up using is one with some big bold sentiments but the other images are not my style, so I have rarely if ever used the set.  Today I was determined to dust it off and make it work!

Beginning with the sentiment, it was stamped with black pigment ink for good coverage.  It is actually two stamps but they were easy to line up.  Next I lined up the flowers and hearts around the sentiment and used my Misti so I could stamp multiple times for good coverage. Distress Oxide inks in colors similar to the challenge were used.  After the stamping was complete (at that point anyway!), the panel was trimmed down and added to a mango scalloped rectangle.

At this point I felt something was missing, so I decided to add a little bow Black Baker's Twine to tie in the black from the sentiment.  After adhering to the card base with foam tape, I realized I forgot to include Old Olive on the panel!!  Fortunately the stamp set has a couple leaf images, so the smallest one was inked up with Peeled Paint, stamped on a separate piece of paper three times, then fussy cut. I wanted to have the off the edge look with the leaves so I placed them on the panel to get the right positioning, cut off the ends then adhered to the panel.  That finished up this very CAS card.

Thanks so much for visiting, I really appreciate it!  I hope you'll use the link above and join us for the Color Challenge this week!

Stef


Stamps:  Everything Together (Simon Says Stamp)
Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Mango Melody
Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne, Festive Berries, Spiced Marmalade and Peeled Paint Distress Oxide Inks
Other:  A2 Scallop Rectangle die (Honey Bee), Black Baker's Twine

Big Hugs for The Paper Players!

It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players!  This is theme week and Anne Marie has chosen a wonderful one!

The Paper Players

I also found my card would work for the current Tic-Tac-Toe challenge (hug, heat emboss, rainbow).  Bonus!

tttc067

In starting to create my card, I found I have some deficiencies in my craft stash (which seems pretty impossible since I seem to have an abundance of "stuff" LOL!). No rainbow or sun dies, nor stencils specific to those images.  So I had to put on my crafty thinking cap and this is what I came up with.

I'd seen various card makers leaving their main images white, or most white if there were multiple images, and I thought it would work for this. Beginning with a panel of white card, the beautiful lotus flower image was stamped off the side of the panel, then masked so I could ink blend the background with a rainbow of Distress inks .  It's always so exciting to remove the mask and reveal what had been protected! 

After die cutting the panel with a stitched rectangle die, the next step was to liberally splatter the panel with water, which also helped to hide some of my less than perfect blending.  While the panel dried, the sentiment was heat embossed on a strip of black card.  Once the card was assembled, a few clear sequins were added for that finishing touch.

I thank you so much for visiting, it's always appreciated.  Be sure to use the link above to check out the rest of the PP DT and hopefully join us this week!

Stef

Stamps:  Sketch Lotus Flowers (Simon Says Stamp), Everyday Mini Messages (Mama Elephant)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Black

Ink:  Versafine Claire Nocturne, Versamark, Worn Lipstick, Festive Berries, Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Squeezed Lemonade, Twisted Citron, Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, and Seedless Preserves Distress Inks

Other:  Stitched Rectangle die (SSS), Alabaster embossing powder (Brutus Monroe), Sparkling Clear Sequins (PPP)