Chinese Lanterns for PP799

Hello friends!  This week at the Paper Players we have a new Clean and Simple challenge.  The lovely Claire is hosting and has added the theme of Looking Forward to Fall.  

Paper Players

For this card, I used three stamps that are oldies but goodies, two of which I've had for at least a decade.

The floral image includes both Chinese Lanterns and American Bittersweet.  When I first met my husband, he had a huge yard with so many plants I'd never seen before, including Chinese Lanterns.  They are a delight, with small white flowers in summer, then come fall, the orange lanterns develop and in that temperate zone (Vancouver, WA), they were fairly long lasting.  So, when I saw this stamp a few years later, I had to buy it.

It's illustrated by Marcella Hawley, the owner of Power Poppy.  She has an amazing garden that inspired her beautiful drawings.  While Power Poppy no longer appears to sell stamps, there are oodles of beautiful digital images for sale, including this one.

I colored everything using Copic and Altenew Artisan markers, including the addition of a bit of light blue around the image.  The sentiment is one of my favorites and so I made sure that oval die I used to cut out the panel had sufficient room for it.

On the orange panel I used a large background stamp from MFT to create a subtle tone on tone look.  I opted not to add any embellishments.

Thanks for taking time to stop by and I encourage you to pop over to the challenge blog to see all the amazing inspiration from the rest of the design team.  The challenge will remain open until Friday August 21st at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll join us this week!

Stef

PS if you're here early, come on back a later when my Color Hues DT post goes live.

• Power Poppy Sunny Harvest stamp set
• Stampingbella Autumn Sentiments stamp set
• MFT All Line Up Diagonally background stamp
• Spellbinders Essential Stylish Oval die

Funky Hello for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  Today we have a new color challenge at the Paper Players.  The amazing Jan is hosting and has chosen a wonderful fall palette.

Paper Players

Because this is the first outing for the die set I used for this card, I'll be sending my card to Darnell's NBUS challenge as well.

NBUS

It took me a while to decide what kind of fall/autumn card I wanted to create, but then I remembered my Tim Holtz Funky Foliage that was still waiting to be used after quite a while sitting in my NBUS bin, and it turned out to be perfect for this challenge!

I'll just say up front this card took quite a while to make, but I love how it turned out.  The next time I use the die set, I will start with colored cardstock rather than white to save some time.  I colored each die cut component using my Copic markers, which I'd chosen to closely represent the challenge colors.  The photos do make the "cajun" colors a bit more orange than rust-ish, but IRL they look much closer.

Next I took a background panel of Kraft cardstock, embossed it with the Tim Holtz Cracked folder, then blended dark brown ink over it for more visible texture.  The arch is black and was die cut three times and layered together before adding to the card front.  

I then added all the elements going up the left side, some with glue and others with foam squares, leaving room for the sentiment.  I actually didn't have one in mind, but a search yielded the Hello that had already been stamped and die cut.  Adding that finished things off.  I'm really happy with this funky/grungy look!

What are you inspired to create with these four colors?  I hope you'll share with us this week, we'd love to see your card in the gallery.  In the meantime, I encourage you to visit the challenge blog where my talented teammates are sharing how they used these colors.  The challenge will stay open until 3pm EST on Friday November 14th.

Thanks for visiting!

Stef

• Tim Holtz/Sizzix Funky Foliage dies
• TH/S Cracked embossing folder
• Simon Says Stamped Nested Domed Arch die
• Copics - Cajun-YR07, 18, E19; Early Espresso-E49, 47, 44, 43; Mossy Meadow-G99, 94, 82; Old Olive-YG99, 97, 95, 93; Grays-W5, 3, 1

Thankful Wreath for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  Wow, we're sure moving quickly towards the holidays.  Are you ready?  I'm not yet.  At the Paper Players this week, the lovely LeAnne has chosen a wonderful theme that is definitely appropriate for this time of year.  

Paper Players

In the fall of 2024, I attended the Altenew Cozy Comfort retreat, where we made many very beautiful fall and Christmas themed cards.  But one class, with the amazing Jacee Gaspar, was a wee bit early for me, so I opted to watch recording of the class.  Fast forward to 2025, I finally did that, finished the card, and I decided to share his beautiful design for this challenge.

We began by cutting a number of leaves with four different dies from three shades of cardstock, then doing a gradient of ink blending from the bottom to near the top.  Those were arranged in five groupings that we used to create the wreath on the Burnt Orange panel.

Next is where I varied from the class instruction.  Rather than stamping the pumpkins, I chose to gold heat emboss just three, colored them with the coordinating stencils according to the class instruction, then fussy cut them.  They were mounted on the wreath, with the die cut sentiment layered across the top.  Jaycee had the class add splatter, but I opted not to do that. I really like the wreath as is and felt the gold embossing and die cut sentiment added enough extra interest.

Thank you so much for stopping by and I encourage you to check out the bounty of beauty and thankfulness my teammates have created over at the challenge.  It will run until Friday, November 7th at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll join us!

Stef

• Altenew Mixed Foliage, Pistachios, Hazelnut Branch and Stylish Greetings dies
• Altenew One-Go: Sweet Pumpkins stamp and stencils
• Altenew Green Onyx, Sagestone, Red Jasper, Mandarin Burst and Raw Amber inks

Birthday Wishes for Color Hues

Hello friends!  Here we are on the first day of a new month and it's time for a new Color Hues Challenge.  I'm rather shocked how quickly October flew by and the holidays are looming just around the corner.

But, in the meantime, we can have some fun with Sheri's new color duo - orange and brown.  💕 Love these colors (okay, to be fair, I love all fall colors!).

Color Hues

I actually made two cards for this challenge, but I just wasn't happy with the first one.  I found something better in my NBUS - a beautiful stencil and die set that was long neglected, plus a newer sentiment set.

The stencil is Altenew's Strong Oak and it is just magnificent!  It has eight stencils and I used seven, three for the leaves, three for the trunk and branches and one for the ground.  My Distress Inks worked beautifully, although the camera and editing gave the leaves more of a yellow hue than IRL, especially in the photo below.  Trust me, they were all oranges!!  

The image was stenciled on a 6x6" panel, then cut down with an A2 rectangle die.  The sentiment was stamped, the twine wrapped around the panel, then it was added to a card base with very thin foam tape.  I debated on adding some enamel dots but decided the twine was enough.

What are you inspired to create with this color combination?  We would love to see your card in the gallery.  Before heading off to your crafty space, I encourage you to visit the challenge blog linked above and see all the gorgeous creations by my wonderful teammates and our Guest Designer Valerie.  The challenge will remain open until 9 am EST Friday, November 14th.  I hope you'll join us!

Thanks for stopping by.

Stef

• Altenew Stencil Art:  Strong Oak 
• Concord & 9th/Kristinia Werner Sending Trio Stamps
• Lawn Fawn Hemp Twine
• Spiced Marmalade, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge, Cracklin' Campfire, Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain and Scorched Timber Distress Inks
• SSS Latte ink

Autumn Leaves for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's time for our monthly CAS Challenge at the Paper Players and this time the amazing Jaydee is hosting and is asking us to use foliage on our cards.

Paper Players

And of course, what a perfect time of year to create cards with leaves.  Just remember to keep it CAS, with minimal layers and embellishments, along with plenty of "white" space.

My card has both die cut and embossed foliage on it.

As with many, autumn is my favorite time of year and creating fall foliage is just so fun.  For the acorns and leaves, they were die cut from Distress watercolor paper, then I watercolored them using Distress inks.  

While those dried, the background was embossed and the sentiment die cut from gold, white and vellum papers.  Because I was going to adhere the sentiment to a textured background, the words were layered on top of the vellum with gold on white, then a second layer of white was added to the underside of the vellum, which seemed to give it more stability and not appear lumpy when adhered.  I saw Amy R. from Prairie Paper and Ink use that little trick and thought it was a great idea.

After the card front was assembled and added to the card base, it was finished off with three gold sequins.

Okay now, assemble those leaves and share your beautiful creation with us this week!  For more inspiration, I encourage you to visit the challenge blog (linked above) to see all the gorgeous cards created by my talented teammates.  The challenge will remain open until Friday October 24th at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll join us!

Thanks for visiting!

Stef

• SSS Acorn Bundle dies
• SSS Happy Autumn dies
• Spellbinders Autumn Splendor 3D embossing folder
• Fossilized Amber, Wild Honey, Carved Pumpkin, Rusty Hinge, Cracklin' Campfire, Peeled Paint, Walnut Stain, Ground Espresso and Scorched Timber Distress inks
• Altenew Antique Gold sequins

Trick or Treat

Hello friends!  I'm popping in with a card to share with the lovelies over at the Time Out Challenge.  It's the "Pick 2" challenge, which is always a fun one to play along with.  This time I chose spatter and season.

TOC #298

 

I love making Halloween cards, so my season choice is fall.  I have to admit this one is a bit more on the creepy side, but I had a blast making it because I love getting inky.

I started with the background using a panel of Distress watercolor paper.  After masking off the moon, I used Distress Spray Stains to cover the panel.  It was a lot of water, spray, dry to get what I wanted. I dried, that, removed the mask then sprayed water on the moon so the spray stains around the edges would seep across the moon and create that spooky atmosphere. 

I learned out this technique from watching a video by Amy R. who credited it to Stacy Hutchinson here. I used it on a couple other Halloween cards I'll be posting in the next couple of weeks.

In the end, the background turned out much darker than I originally planned because I ink blended Black Soot on the foreground so the pumpkins looked less like they were floating in space.  They still do a little bit, ha ha - spooky floating pumpkins!

The pumpkins were colored with Copic markers, die cut, then I used gray markers to color in the white from the die cut.  The sentiment is from the same stamp set and the bats from another TH die set.

Thanks for stopping by, I appreciate it!

Stef

• Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Pumpkinhead stamps
• TH/Sizzix Vault Coffin bat dies
• Simon Says Stamp Pumpkinhead dies
• Distress Spray Stains - Black Soot, Fossilized Amber, Rusty Hinge, Cracklin' Campfire
• Distress Inks - Black Soot, Scorched Timber, Antique Linen

Fall Wreath for Color Hues

Hello friends!  Another month has rolled around and therefore it's time for a new challenge at Color Hues.  The lovely Marcia is our host, and she's chosen some perfect fall colors for this challenge.

 

Color Hues

Yep, I went with leaves, these colors were too perfect not to.  

The leaves were all die cut from white cardstock, then I used Copic markers to color them in a variety of yellows, light reddish brown and rust.  Coloring wasn't anything fancy but when the colors are all blended, they look so nice.

A panel of C & 9th Sunflower cardstock was die cut with a postage edge die, then stamped in a similar color with a plaid, creating a subtle, tone-on-tone background.  The panel was added to an ivory card base, then the wreath was assembled, layered on two additional wreaths cut from SU Cajun Craze.  A few extra leaves were die cut, colored, then mounted slightly askew on top of the same leaves.  The sentiment was die cut and added, along with a few gems, and that completed the card.

That's it!  Please spend a minute visiting the challenge blog, my talented teammates have some amazing cards to inspire you.  The challenge will remain open until October 14th at 9am EDT.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Fall Wreath dies
• SSS Autumn Leaves dies
• SSS Postage Edge die
• SSS Soft Plaid Background stamp
• Honey Bee Stamps Birthday Wishes stamp and dies
• HBS Vintage Love gems
• C & 9 Cayenne ink
• SSS Honey ink
• Copics - Brown - E99, 97, 95; Rust - E19, YR18, 14; Yellow #1 - YR24, 19, 15, 13; Yellow #2 YR27, 24, 23, 31

So Sweet for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players and this week the lovely Ann is hosting.  It's Theme week and Ann has chosen a great one that has loads of options for creating.  Let's take a look!

Paper Players

I'm also joining in with the lovelies at TOC, with their friendship/encouragement/support challenge.  My card, while a bit punny, is letting the recipient know they are appreciated.

TOC #296

Before getting to my card, I want to take a moment to congratulate Christy Stanford for being our newest member of the Paper Players Design Team!  Christy was a year-long guest designer a few years ago and has been joining us each week on a regular basis with her delightful and charming cards.  Welcome to the team, Christy!

For our latest PP challenge, and since we're heading into fall, I chose to use a little cutie eating her caramel apple.  I remember loving them when I was young. 

To start, I stamped the girl and the apples, then masked them off so I could create the scene using stencils for the sky and ground.  Once that was complete, the masks were removed and I colored her in fall colors using Copic markers.  

I decided to cut out and pop up the center of the panel using an arch die, then stamped the sentiment.  I added the outside to a white card base then popped up the center portion.  I finished off the apple with some Glossy Accents to make it shiny and when that was dry, also used a white gel pen to create highlights.

What are you inspired to create using this theme?  For more ideas, please head over to the challenge blog where my talented teammates have loads of great design to inspire you.  The challenge remains open until 3pm EDT, Friday September 12th. I hope you'll join us this week!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Stamping Bella Caramel Apple Bundle Girl stamp
• Altenew Sweet Jasmine sentiment stamp
• Simon Says Stamp Landscapes and MFT Mini Cloud Edges stencils
• Altenew Sea Breeze and SSS Fairway and Field inks
• SSS A2 Arches die
• Copics - YR18, 09, 07, 15, 21, 27, 23, R59, 37, 35, G29, 17, 03, E29, 27, 23, 21, 11, 00

Pumpkin Patch for Color Hues

Hello friends!  The first of the month has rolled around again (can you believe it???) and Color Hues has a new challenge.  The lovely Karen is hosting and has chosen a lovely color combo of orange and green.  Hmmm, rather fall-ish to me...🍃🎃.

Color Hues

As you can tell from the title of my post, I definitely went for a fall scene and used a sweet Bundle girl from Stamping Bella.

The scene was stamped, then before coloring with my Copics, the sky was stenciled using a light orange ink and a cloud stencil.  I completed the coloring, stamped the sentiment and die cut the panel with a rectangle die.  The panel was then added to a green matte that was barely larger than the colored panel.  

I added that to the card base, then as I was photographing it, I wondered to myself, where is all the green?  Frankly, there wasn't much because I opted to color the little girl's outfit in brown rather than green, and the leaves and the mat didn't provide much.  I think I lost my mind for a short time while creating this card lol!  Anybody else have those days?

A plaid cover die to the rescue!  It was cut with a Tim Holtz cover die, adhered to the card base, then the main image was added to finish the card.  Finally!

Thanks for taking time to stop by! I encourage you to pop over to the challenge blog where my very talented teammates have a variety of card design using these colors.  The challenge remains open until Sunday, 9/14 at 3pm EDT.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Stef

• Stamping Bella Bundle Girl at the Pumpkin Patch and Frightful & Delightful sentiment set stamps
• MFT Mini Cloud Edges die
• Hero Arts Nesting Rectangle die
• Tim Holtz Simple Plaid cover die
• Copics:  Pumpkin - YR18, 24, 09, 07, 16, Y38 E57, 35; Leaves YG67, 17, 03; Skin E11, 21, 00; Hat, Jacket and Boots E77, 74, 71; Scarf T2, 0; Ground E31, 41

Full of Thanks for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  I just want to thank everyone who joined in my theme challenge at the Paper Players last week - we had some amazing cards in the gallery!  And now it is time for a new challenge that the wonderful Claire is hosting.  It's a color challenge and she's chosen a beautiful palette that makes me think of fall.

Paper Players

In looking through my autumn/fall stamps and dies, I found one that hadn't been used in a couple of years and thought it would work perfectly with these colors.  Except for a slight booboo I made...and fixed.

I began with stamping and Copic coloring the autumnal spray with the challenge colors, except I forgot that the only green was Old Olive.  I finished up and then it dawned on me that the bright yellow green I used on some of the leaves wasn't going to work.  Fortunately, alcohol markers are transparent, so I was able to use another color to glaze over the parts that weren't olive and avoided a redo.  After that, the image was die cut.

I wanted to keep things simple, so a panel of white was trimmed down and lightly ink blended with a brown at the bottom and the orange above.  The sentiment was stamped and die cut before both pieces were added to the panel, which was then mounted to the card base with foam tape.  All done!

What do these colors bring to mind for you?  My wonderfully talented teammates have a wonderful array of designs with these colors, so I encourage you to pay a visit to the challenge before heading off to your crafty space.  Our challenge will remain open until Friday, August 15th at 3pm EDT.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Full of Thanks stamp and die
• Simon Says Stamp/CZ Design Clean Line Gratitude stamp and die
• Copics - YR18, 09, 07, 15, 21, R59, 39, 37, 35, YG99, 97, 95, 67, 63, 61, 17, 11, 05, 03, 01, V09, 06, 05, 01, E59, 57, 55

Grateful for You for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  This week at The Paper Players the lovely Joanne has chosen an autumnal color combination for our inspiration.

The Paper Players

I'm also joining the lovelies at Inkspirational with their gorgeous mood board inspiration.  I was inspired by the leafy photo and the fall colors.

Inkspirational #326

 

I had many, many ideas for these colors but in the end, I played around with messy, wonderful mica sprays to create my card.  And yes I did have orange and brown fingers for a day lol!

Right off the bat, I have to say the photos do not do justice to the beautiful colors and shine of the background.  I began with a half sheet of mixed media paper from Vicky Boutin and used two brown and two orange Distress Mica Sprays on the paper, adding water so they would mix a bit then set it aside to dry.

When it was dry the colors had mixed more than I anticipated.  Don't get me wrong, it was really pretty but the browns had dominated the oranges.  I put the panel in my Misti, arranged all the leaf stamps, then used a brown pigment ink to stamp.  That didn't show up well, so ended up gold heat embossing the leaves then used gold metallic paint to add splatters.

Next, I poured a bit of the mica spray onto a palette and used a small brush to paint the lightest orange over some of the leaves and I was so happy with that small step! When everything dried a second time the panel was die cut, wrapped with some gold twine and matted onto a dark brown rectangle before adding to the 5"x 7" ivory card base.  The sentiment was also gold heat embossed, die cut with the matching die and added to the card front along with some copper-ish gems.

We would love to have you share what you create with these colors this week!  The challenge remains open until 3 pm EDT Friday 10/18.  In the meantime, please take a moment to see all the beautiful cards my talented teammates have created for your inspiration over on the challenge blog linked above.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Autumn Leaves and Graceful Florals (sentiment) stamps and die
• Waffle Flower A7 Frames rectangle die
• Spellbinders 5" X 7" Matting Basics A die
• Rangers Jack-O-Lantern, Mulled Cider, Crooked Broomstick and Fallen Acorn Distress Mica Stain Sprays
• SSS Ultra Fine Gold embossing powder
• Altenew Gold Metallic paint
• HoneyBee Stamps Fall Is In the Air gems

Gratitude for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's the fifth Sunday of the month and that means we have a Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge at The Paper Players this week!  The amazing Claire is hosting and created this fun TTT board to inspire you!

The Paper Players

My initial choice was to go across the top row, but in the end, my card also fit left to right diagonal as well as the center column.

I couldn't decide which way to go but then I challenged myself to use some patterned paper.  I don't have a lot (I purged most of it years ago) but have since acquired some through card kits or very selective purchasing.  

The background is a piece of that pp that was included in a card kit about 3-4 years ago. This piece a pretty vintage style collage and even after trimming it down I was able to capture a sunflower and pumpkin for the background.  For the "table" I found a piece of brown from another paper pack and embossed it with a woodgrain folder, although you really can't tell in the pictures.  

Next, I went to my Fall dies and found the pumpkin already ink blended and assembled. The same thing happened when I was searching through my Autumn themed stamp sets.  The stamp set I pulled out had the leaves colored and die cut, and the sentiment already stamped, so I just used the coordinating die for it.  I used a rounded corner punch for the base and pp, then assembled all the elements, including the three enamel dots.  And I was really happy with how this turned out!

Claire's TTT board has many opportunities for a variety of cards.  I hope you'll find a column or row that suits your fancy and play along!  The challenge will remain open until 3pm EDT, Friday October 4th.  

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Layered Pumpkin die
• SSS/Memory Box Beautiful Moments Collaboration set (Stamptember 2022?)
• Tim Holtz Lumber embossing folder
• P13 Autumn and Honey Bee Stamps Harvest Festival patterned papers
• Spellbinders Corner Rounder punch
• Altenew Warm and Cozy Enamel Dots

Grateful for You

Hello friends!  Today I'm sharing a card created for the challenge over at The Paper Players.  This week Anne Marie is hosting the theme challenge and chose a perfect one for this time of year, which is to give thanks.

PP665

I went with a very fall-ish color palette because the colors this time of year (and the cooler weather) make my heart happy!  

I decided to color on kraft cardstock, which produces a more muted result.  The leaves were stamped in a random fashion on the panel, leaving room for the sentiment, then colored with Copic markers.  All the stamping was done with Gina K Chocolate Truffle Amalgam ink, which is Copic friendly.

 

With the coloring complete, next came the ink blending, which was done around the edges of the panel, leaving a center "glow".  I didn't want to trim down the panel, so I adhered it to a card base measuring 5.75" x 4.5" and called it good.  When I go to mail it, an A6 size envelope will work perfectly.

With so much going on in the world right now, for me (as I'm sure for many) it helps to remember all that I have to be grateful for, including you, my crafty friends!  Thank you for taking time to stop by and please take care!

Hugs,

Stef

Stamps:  Sunny Studios Elegant Leaves

Paper:  Neenah Desert Storm and Natural White

Ink:  Gina K Chocolate Truffe, Simon Says Stamp Cappuccino 

Copics:  R59, 46, 08, YR07, 68, 65, Y28, 26, 15, YG 17, 03, 01, BG75, 49, 15

Fall Hello for Sunday Stamps

Welcome back friends!  It's time for a new challenge at Sunday Stamps and this time we have some beautiful colors that just made my heart happy!  I hope you like them too!

Sunday Stamps

I'm also sharing my card at the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge for their Anything Goes theme.

To me these are wonderful colors for making Autumn cards, but honestly I love them any time of year.  Please excuse the photo quality - my camera definitely was not a fan of the foiled sentiment.

For starters, the pretty Forest Builder Frame was die cut from Distress Watercolor, then I used the ink smooshing technique to color them with Distress inks.  To get the frame a consistently darker color, I dipped a small paintbrush in Crackling Campfire Distress Spray Stain and painted the frame.  While that dried, a panel of Aqua Sky cardstock was embossed using the Tim Holtz Bark 3D folder, trimmed down then added to a Peacock panel layered on the white card base.

Next, I used a bit of Hero Arts gold wax on my finger to gently swipe over parts of the now dried leaves and branches on the frame.  While hard to see in the photos, I also swiped the gold wax on parts of the embossed panel to bring out the texture.  While that dried, I used my Spellbinders Hot Foiling system to create the sentiment, then adhered everything to the card front.  

So what are you inspired to create with these colors?  For more inspiration, head over to the challenge blog where my wonderful teammates have some beautiful cards to share, and hopefully you will join us!

On a personal note, this will be my final post as part of the Sunday Stamps design team. I've decided to take a step back and reevaluate my crafting priorities. The women on this team have been nothing less than fabulous to work with, and I will miss creating with them very much, and of course they will continue to bring you wonderful inspiration with each challenge. 

Take care!

Stef

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Hammermill, Distress Watercolor, Concord and 9th Peacock and Aqua Sky

Ink:  Crackling Campfire, Wild Honey and Carved Pumpkin Distress Inks

Dies:  Simon Says Stamp Forest Builder Frame and Elegantly Modern Greetings die

Foiling:  Simon Says Stamp Elegantly Modern Hot Foil Plate, Spellbinders Gold Glimmer Hot Foil

Other:  Tim Holtz Bark 3D embossing folder, Crackling Campfire Distress Spray Stain, Hero Arts Gold Wax

All the Best

Hello friends!  I'm back with a card for the current challenges at The Paper Players and Just Us Girls.  I'm also sharing my card at the Four Seasons Challenge, where their October challenge is Anything Goes - Fall.

PP662

JUGS 701

Four Seasons - AG Fall

I decided to give some love to an older stamp set from Impression Obsession called Fall Pumpkins - so perfect, no?

The pumpkin/floral scene was colored with Copic markers.  I'd forgotten how small and detailed this stamp was, with all the tiny leaves, berries and flower petals, but it still didn't take too long to color.  I used browns to ground the image and at first was just going to use a blue marker around the edges above the "ground" but then opted to color in the rest of the background.  When done, the panel was trimmed down to 3.5" x 4.75".

Next, I tried to stamp the sentiment onto the panel, but wouldn't you know it, my paper moved ever so slightly in my Misti and it blurred!  No worries, I just stamped it again on a piece of white scrap paper, die cut it along with another piece for a tiny bit of layering, then added it to the card front.  The panel was layered on a dark brown panel, then added to the white card base with foam tape.  I hope to get this card and a few others in the mail to some out of state friends.

I hope you're having a great week with some decent weather because soon enough, at least in the Northern Hemisphere, we'll be looking at things turning colder.  I think we'll have our last hurrah of high 70's by the end of this week, then brrrr lol!

It you have a chance, check back on Thursday when I'll have a Halloween card to share.

Take care!

Stef

Stamps and die:  Impression Obsession Fall Pumpkins, Pink Fresh Studio Wonderful Sentiments

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, SU Early Espresso

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Clair Nocturne

Copics:  Pumpkins - YR09, 16, Y38, 15; Flowers - YR27, 24, 15, 11; Leaves - G28, 17, 05, & G46, 43, 40; Stems, flower centers and ground - E59, 57, 55, 53; Sky:  B000, 0000; Berries: RV69, 55