Snowflake for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's Sunday and time for a new challenge at the Paper Players.  This week I'm hosting our monthly sketch challenge and created one that will be super easy and versatile for you to use.

PP757

As you can see, the circle can be any shape, so your choices are vast!  

For my card, I created a simple Christmas card.  In fact, it was so simple I ended up making four altogether.  But here's my favorite...

I had several ideas for this card, but I ended up with a foiling session, using the Pinkfresh Studio Radiating Snowflake press plate and a couple of Spellbinder sentiment sets.

Next I pulled out one of my favorite Christmas patterned paper pads and found four that would match the snowflakes I'd made.  For the most part, the papers all utilize a bokeh effect, along with different colors and some with more prominent snowflakes.  I love the gold and blue on the card above.  

Putting the card together was super simple.  The snowflake was layered on two additonal die cuts then adhered to the card front, the sentiment popped up with foam tape and then I added three snowflakes cut from white glitter paper and topped with sparkly gems.  I used the same design on the other three cards.

I hope this easy-to-use sketch inspires you to join us this week!  For more design ideas, my wonderfully talented teammates have some fabulous cards on challenge blog here. The challenge will remain open until 3pm EDT on Friday 3rd - I hope to see your card in the gallery! 

Stef

• Pinkfresh Studio Radiating Snowflake Betterpress plate and die
• Spellbinders Comfort & Joy Sentiments Hot Foil plate and die
• Spellbinders Sending Joy Sentiments Betterpress plate and die
• Kristina Werner Kristina's Essential dies A2 rectangle
• SSS Woodland Treescape Snowflake dies
• SSS Warm Tones, Surf and Prism Dazzling Gems
• Whimsy Stamps Blurry Flurries patterned paper

Bouquet Birthday for The flower Challenge

Hello friends!  I'm back with my mid-month reminder post for The Flower Challenge.  This month we're adding strips or spots to our cards.

TFC 102R

 

I found myself looking through my Pinkfresh Studio stamp sets and came upon one that I hadn't used for a long time and it was perfect for this challenge with its striped vase.  I looked through the set and found the floral image already heat embossed and water colored.  What a great timesaver!  I did find a mistake I made in the coloring, so I think that's why I tucked it away, but that was easily hidden with a sentiment.  

ETA: Full disclosure - I realized after I posted this that I used this watercolor image (sans boo boo) for my TFC DT card a couple of years ago. Oh well, I hope you enjoy seeing it again on a different design LOL!  I would have created another card, but I was going out of town and ran into a time crunch.

The image was water colored with Altenew Artist 24-pan watercolors.  It was die cut with the coordinating die, then I heat embossed and die cut the sentiment from another PFS stamp set.  

The octagon was die cut from brushed gold cardstock and matted with a panel of SU Pacific Point cardstock and added to an antique ivory base.  The floral image was added with foam tape before adhering the sentiment.   Thanks to my younger self for saving that water colored piece!

The challenge remains open until May 25th, so plenty of time to play along or upload a 2nd card if you've already joined in.  My talented teammates have some gorgeous inspiration on the blog, so I encourage you to go take a peek.  

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• PFS Inky Bouquet and Joyful Day sets
• PFS Blanket Stitched Octagon die 
• Altenew Artist 24-pan watercolors

Geo Happy Birthday for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's Sunday and you know what that means - a new challenge at the Paper Players.  This week Jan is hosting our CAS challenge with a theme of masculine cards.

Paper Players

 

Like many, I struggle with creating masculine cards.  But one of my fall backs is to use geometrics.  For todays card, I used a geometric foil plate and matching stencils that has been retired, but there are many stencils and stamps available for creating something similar.

The geometric pattern was created with silver foil on a Spellbinders Glimmer machine, as was the sentiment.  I then used the matching stencils to create the colored pattern.  There are three stencils but I only used two because I liked leaving part of the pattern white.  I actually made creating four cards in one day using this and another geometric foil plate/stencil set and different colors.

After the stenciling was complete I used a rectangle die to trim down the panel and adhered it to a white card base.  The sentiment was layered on two additional die cuts then added to the card.  This is a ridiculously simple design, but I like the clean and crisp look to it.

So glad you came by and I encourage you to visit the challenge blog because my talented teammates have loads for masculine card inspiration for you.  The challenge ends on Friday, Feb 21st at 3pm EST. I hope you'll join us!

Stef

• Pinkfresh Studio Geo Tiles hot foil plate and stencils
• PS Fancy Script Words hot foil plate and die
• Altenew Water Dyacinth and Alpine Aster Fresh Dye inks
• Spellbinders Glimmer hot foil in silver

Merry Christmas for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge at The Paper Players and this time we have a sketch from the lovely Jaydee!  She is off this week, so I am filling in for her as hostess.  I hope you have fun with this one!

 

The Paper Players

I am now feeling crunch time to start working on Christmas cards in earnest, and this sketch worked well with the image I wanted to use.

I used my new Pinkfresh Studio press plates to create the leaf and berry border as well as the senitment.  I used some cotton watercolor paper thinking I might try to use watercolor or colored pencils but on my trial piece I didn't like either, so I went to my go to Copic markers.  Because of the type of the paper, one must use a light hand when coloring or it will bleed.

I then die cut the sentiment and used partial die cutting so the die wouldn't cut the bottom edge of the border so I could have a larger panel to make sure the border was somewhat close to the middle.  On a separate panel of cardstock, I adhered the red glitter paper, then added the die cut panel, then adhered it all to an ivory card base.  My intention was to use the sketch as Jaydee created it, but when I started arranging the sentiment, I realized it looked so much better with the sketch flipped on its side.  A few green sparkly gems completed the card.

What are you inspired to create with this sketch?  We would love to see your card in the gallery this week!  Before you head off to your craftroom, please be sure to visit the challenge blog where my talented teammates have some more inspiration on how to use this sketch.  The challenge will remain open until 3 pm EDT on Friday 8/30.

Thanks for visiting and take care!

Stef

• Pinkfresh Studio Magical Holiday Pressplates and Dies
• Spellbinders Betterpress Cotton card panel
• Altenew Brilliant Red Glitter cardstock
• Picket Fence Studios Candy Lane Gem Mix

Cheers for The Paper Players

Hello friends!  Today we have a fun new challenge at The Paper Players.  The amazing Claire is hosting our CAS challenge and is asking us to use fruit on our cards.

The Paper Players

 

I decided to make a very vibrant card to share, which seemed fitting for summertime.

The glass and fruit were all foiled in gold using a pressplate, colored with Copic and Olo markers then die cut with the coordinating die.  The stamp set and pressplate create all the images at once and then there is only one die to cut it all out, which I love since it's all done in one pass.  

After I had all the elements colored, I ink blended the front of a white card base with super vibrant colors, then let that dry as I gold heat embossed the Cheers sentiment and stamped out the sub sentiment.  When I started to assemble the card, it just seemed to need a bit something more, so I added the foiled and die cut frame directly to the edge of the card, then added everything else.  Some things were adhered directly to the card front and some elevated with a bit of foam tape, but I made sure to leave lots of "white" space.  I love the bright colors and the festive, fruity elements!

Thanks for taking time to stop by and I hope that you'll join us this week!  My talented teammates have some amazing inspiration for you over on the challenge blog, so please be sure to stop by and take a look.

Take care!

Stef

• Pinkfresh Studio Cheers Stamp, Dies and Pressplate
• Pinkfresh Studio Decorate Frames Pressplate and Die
• MFT Skinny Strips sentiment lable die
• Simon Says Stamp Peony, Sherbet and Lemonad inks and Ultra Fine Gold embossing powder
• Olo markers:  RV1.7, 1.5, 1.3, YG1.6, 1.4, 1.2, G1.5, 1.4, 0.1
• Copic markers: Y26, 38, 08, 04, 00, R39, 37, 35, YR09, 16, B000, 0000

Wildwood Florals for The Paper Players

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

The Paper Players

 

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

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

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

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

Take care!

Stef

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

Slider Birthday Card

Hello friends, I have a fun card to share with you that I made for my grandson.  I rarely make interactive cards but I saw the die used on a Jennifer McGuire video (link to her blog post with the video here) and thought that even I could figure out how to use it lol!

I'm sharing this over at Inkspirational, where they have a fabulous mood board and I was inspired by some of the colors.

Ink 318

I was planning on using various foiled geometric panels that I've had in my stash for a long time for a number of upcoming masculine birthdays (doesn't have to be just for men, but it works well for those dudes that wouldn't appreciate florals lol!).  This one in particular makes these cool 3D blocks, so I used the matching stencil with Distress Oxide inks to create a panel.

The stenciled panel was die cut with the interactive feature die (Pinkfresh Studio A2 Slider die), then the tag that goes underneath was die cut from a piece of aqua paper that matched the ink colors well.  You'll see in photos below that the front of the interactive part has scoring, so the panel will open using the tag to reveal a message.

The panel was popped up on a white card base using foam tape, then the tag slipped in and adhered to the bottom of the interactive feature.  I pulled the tag up then used glue dots to add the gift card, and it slid up and down smoothly.  The pictures below will show it better than I can explain it.  Pinkfresh also has a how-to video on their product page. 

The word happy was cut from matte silver cardstock, layered on the white shadow die, then adhered to the pop-up panel that also reveals the interior sentiment.  Sooo clever!  The last thing was to add some holographic stars for some added shine. 

It was a fun card to make and I know my grandson will appreciate it.

Thanks for visiting and have a good week!

Take care!

Stef

• Pinkfresh Studio Geo Blocks Hot Foil Plate and Stencils
• PS A2 Slider Card dies
• SSS Big Happy die
• Honey Bee Stamps Birthday Wishes Stamp and die
• Peacock Feathers, Salvaged Patin and Squeezed Lemonade Distress Oxide inks
• Silver Metallic Thread

Joyful Day for Color Hues

Hello friends!  Mid-month brings a new challenge over at Color Hues and this time the lovely Marcia has chosen pink and sage.

Color Hues

I'm also sharing with the Time Out Challenge, where the theme is based on this wonderful quote by one of the great Impressionist painters, Henri Matisse. 

 "There are always flowers, for those that want to see them."

TOC 265

And I'm sharing my card at Seize the Birthday for the Anything Goes choice.

STB 285

No surprise, with the CH colors, I went with leafy branches and flowers, which also worked perfectly with the TOC challenge.

Pinkfresh Studio's new release included those pretty leafy branches, which I couldn't resist (wink, wink).  They were stamped, stenciled with three muted greens, then die cut with the coordinating die.  The sentiment and matching die are from the same set.  One additional die cut was added to the leaf branches and two were added to the die cut sentiment, nice for a bit of dimension and also stability on the die cut background.

Next I die cut several tiny flowers from a Memory Box and Poppystamps die sets and ink blended them in pink.  I used the same pink on the front of the card base, then added the die cut trellis over which I adhered to branches, leaving room for the sentiment.  At first, I just had a few flowers on the branches but kept adding more and more until I'd used almost all of them, and liked how it looked much better.  After they were adhered, I curled up the petals a bit, then added a sparkly gem to the middle of each.  After adding the sentiment, I decided to finish things off with a couple more flowers - why not lol?

What are you inspired to create with these colors?  For more inspiration, be sure to visit the challenge blog, where my wonderful teammates have some fabulous cards to share with you.  The challenge will remain open until 9 am EDT June 29th - hope to see your card in the gallery!

Take care!

Stef

• Pinkfresh Studio Joyful Day stamps, dies and stencils
• Memory Box Layered Impatiens
• Poppystamps Petite Blooms Flower set
• Altenew Garden Trellis Cover die
• Altenew Blush Rose, Silver Sage, Jade and Eucalyptus Fresh Dye Inks
• Honeybee Stamps Aurora Borealis Gem Stickers

Sweet Friend for Color Hues

Hello friends!  As we enter the month of June, the Color Hues team has a new challenge for you.  This time the lovely Karen has chosen the wonderful color combo of yellow and blue.

Color Hues

 

As I was contemplating what to create for this challenge, I flipped through some panels that were previously foiled and I found one that looked stunning in cobalt blue foil and voila! my decision was made!

The foiled floral image fills a full A2 card panel, but I knew I wanted to trim it down and just color the part I would use in the portion cut out with an oval die. I then used Copics in yellow for the flowers and a light blue for the background, then the colored piece was layered on a slightly larger yellow oval.

Next a panel of white was embossed with a very subtle pattern (you can see it better in photo below) then added to a white card base.  I found some scraps of a panel that had been foiled with the same cobalt blue, so I used those for the horizontal strip and to die cut the sentiment (foil is so hard to photograph - the strip looks black on one side in each photo lol!).  After assembling everything on the card front, I found some jewels that were the perfect match and added them to finish things off.

What are you inspired to make with these wonderful colors?  We'd love to have you join us, the challenge will remain open until 9am EDT 6/14.  In the meantime, I encourage you to pop over to the challenge blog to see all the beautiful cards my super talented teammates and our guest designer Rosemary have created.

Take care!

Stef

• Pinkfresh Studio Peony Print Hot Foil Plate
• Spellbinders Essential Stylish Ovals dies
• Spellbinders Cobalt Glimmer Hot Foil
• Altenew Versatile Greetings dies
• Stampin' Up Taseful Textile embossing folder
• Simon Says Stamp Cool Tones Dazzling Gems
• Copics - Y26, 18, 15, 11, B000

Birthday Wishes

Hello friends!  Another day, another card!  This time I'm playing along at Seize the Birthday.  Nancy has a fun challenge for us to use green and one other color, and of course make it a birthday card.

STB 281

 

I hadn't made a mini or regular slimline card for a while, so I decided a mini slim would work well with the floral image I wanted to use.

Everything on the card but the frame is from the April 2024 Simon Says Stamp card kit.  I started by coloring up that pretty wild flower in a vibrant pink and of course greens for the leaves.  Next I flipped through the patterned paper selection from the kit and found this pretty green with a subtle floral pattern.  

After it was trimmed down and added to the card base, I decided to frame up the floral using a Pinkfresh Studio mini slimline frame, layering it up twice before adding to the card front.  The flower was partially adhered to the paper with some of the petals and the small but popped up with thin foam squares.  After adding the sentiments, some jewels seemed in order, so I found some pretty pink ones that matched the flower so well.

Thanks for visiting, I appreciate it! Be sure to come back tomorrow for my reminder card for the current Flower Challenge (layers) and on Tuesday when we have a wonderful new challenge with perfect spring colors over at Color Hues.

Take care!

Stef

• Simon Says Stamp Wild and Free Flowers stamps and dies
• Pinkfresh Studio Essentials: Mini Slimline Frame die
• American Crafts Dreamer 6x8" paper pack
• SSS Taffy Dazzling Gems
• Copics - RV19, 06, 04, 02, YG67, 17, 03

Garden Tapestry for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends!  Here we are in beginning of April and at The Flower Challenge this month we are adding layers along with our flowers!

TFC #90

There are many ways to add layers and for this card, I added a panel cut with a cover plate die and also added layers under my main image for dimension.

The first step was to use the beautiful and intricate Pinkfresh Studio Garden Tapestry press plate with my BetterPress.  It was inked with Spellbinders Bark BetterPress ink, then I used the coordinating stencil to color the flowers and leaves.  I just love this delicate design.

Next came the die cutting.  The PFS Intricate Stitched Ovals Cover plate die left a subtle and beautiful design on the light peach panel, then added to the card base.  The stenciled image was die cut along with three additional layers, adhered together, the layered on the peach panel.  The sentiment was from a previous foiling session using SB More Sentiments foil plates and cut with the coordinating die, and I liked how the border seemed to coordinate with the background stitched design.  Lastly we couldn't go without a little bling, so I added some Studio Katia Gold Glitter drops, which also tied in the gold from the sentiment.

How would you add layers to your floral card?  Die cut flowers?  Layers of patterned paper? Frame?  All of the above? There are so many ways to go with this and for some wonderful inspiration, be sure to take a look at all the beautiful creations by my fellow DT members over at the challenge blog, then come play along with us!  The challenge will remain open until 5pm GMT (1 pm EDT) April 25th.  Be sure to swing back by on the 15th when I'll have my reminder post with a different way to add layers!

Take care!

Stef

• PFS Garden Tapestry Press Plate, Die and Stencil
• PFS Intricate Stitched Ovals Cover Plate die
• Concord and 9th Nectar cardstock
• PFS Peach Fuzz, Coral Berry and Clementine inks; SSS Limelicious and Pearfection inks; SB Bark BetterPress ink
• Studio Katia Gold Glitter Drops

You Are the Best for The Flower Challenge

Hello friends and Happy Independence Day to everyone in the US!  It's time for a new challenge at The Flower Challenge, and this month we're focusing on creating CAS cards using flowers.  AND we are so fortunate to have the amazing Therese Calvird as our Guest Designer this month!

The Flower Challenge

I used some cute flowers that had previously been stenciled and die cut but were left unused, so I thought they'd work well for a small grouping on a CAS card.

The flowers are from the Pinkfresh Studio Rainbow Floral set, stenciled in various Altenew pastel colors then die cut with the matching dies.  I decided to carry on the pastel look by ink blending the same pink on a panel cut with the largest Altenew Ornate Nesting rectangle die.  In hindsight, I wish I'd used the yellow in the background to better highlight the pink flowers in the back of the grouping, but I didn't think of it until the card was complete.

After the ink dried on the die cut panel, the sentiment was gold heat embossed.  The flowers were added but things seemed just a wee bit to plain (this is always my challenge with CAS cards lol!) so I did add a few gold glimmer crystals to finish things off before adding the panel to the card base.

Come show us your version of CAS - the challenge is open until the 25th of the month. In the meantime, some beautiful inspiration awaits you at the challenge blog, so be sure to pop over to see what the DT and our special guest Therese have created for you!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Simon Says Stamp Beautiful Friend (sentiment)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White

Ink:  Versamark; Altenew Rose Quartz, Puffy Heart, Lemon Ice, Warm Sunshine, Lime, Fresh Leaf and Wisteria

Dies:  PFS Rainbow Floral, Altenew Ornate Nesting die

Stencil:  Rainbow Floral

Other:  Altenew Antique Gold embossing powder, Studio Katia Gold Glimmer Crystals

Delightful Day

Hello friends!  Today I'm sharing a card that I made using Karren's fabulous sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.

FMS 582

I had just received Altenew's new Delightful Day stamp set the day before and it worked perfectly with this card design.

This set is a layering stamp set and specifically made to be used in Altenew's new Stampwheel.  It has the four  (or three for the leaves) layers on one stamp that you simply rotate to create the layers.  It took me a couple of tries to feel comfortable using it, but for me, it certainly beat trying to line up the individual layers, which I always had trouble with.  After stamping the flower, leaves and the sentiment, they were all die cut with the matching dies.

Next, a panel of SSS Sea Glass cardstock was embossed using Spellbinder's Beveled Diamonds 3D folder, then adhered directly to the white card base.  The circles were die cut with the Folk Edge Circle dies from Pinkfresh Studio, adhered to the embossed panel, then I added the floral image with thin foam squares.  I also used foam squares under the part of the sentiment that was hanging off the edge, then finished things up with a few Bridal Suite Jewels from Lucy's Cards.

I hope you are having a delightful day!  Thanks for stopping by!

Stef

Inks:  Altenew Obsidian, Baby Pink, Fuchsia, Magenta, Honey Drizzle, Lime, Fresh Leaf and Green Opal

Thank You for The Flower Challenge

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new challenge at The Flower Challenge and this month the theme is to use die cuts and/or stencils, so pull out your favorite dies or stencils (of flowers, of course!) and share with us this month!

The Flower Challenge

For my card I did a little stenciling and quite a bit of die cutting.

I started by stamping the sweet Pinkfresh Studio Inky Bouquet in Memento Tuxedo Black, then colored the flowers and leaves with Copic markers.  Next I used one of the 6 layering stencils and colored the vase with Simon Says Stamp Surf and Seafoam inks.  I have really been on a kick with peach and aqua, but I'm lovin' it!  When the ink was dry, I put the image back in my Misti where I'd left my stamp in place, restamped with Versamark ink and gold heat embossed both the floral image and the sentiment.

After using the companion dies to cut out the floral vase and sentiment, I went to work on the background.  This time I used the Ring Panel cover die from Waffleflower, die cut from white cardstock and layered it directly on the white cardbase.  Next I used the companion dies to cut additional layers for the vase and the sentiment, adhered them together, then added them to the card front and I was done!

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Be sure to do the same with the challenge to check out the absolutely gorgeous cards by the other DT members and hopefully join us this month!

Take care!

Stef