Paper Palooza for The Paper Players #602

 Hello stamping friends! It's time for this week's challenge #602 at The Paper Players! As I'm writing this post I feel almost giddy from my patterned paper playtime! 

I didn't hesitate to order this fun paper pack from Stampin' up! Although it has a darling coordinating tea pot stamp I have several tea themed images in my stash already, so I didn't *think* I would need it. 

As it turned out, I colored up this much older stamp and went to see if the paper I chose and the image  would work well together. Well, they did, but I can only say... it was WORK, lol! Sometimes a card comes together easily and sometimes it's like pulling teeth! Am I the only one?

I did very simple Copic coloring, and paper pieced the girl's dress and apron. Playing with the middle row across, I chose die cut, patterned paper and blue. 

The apron strings and ruffled edges were brightened up with a white gel pen. I do really love the blue teapots in this patterned paper. 

Thanks for a great challenge! I hope you will join us!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supply List 

Stamps:  MFT BB Steeped in Love
Paper:  Stampin' Up! - Tea Cup Boutique 6 x 6 paper pack
Other: Flower Dies are from Sunny Studio

Floral Delicacy for The Paper Players #601

 Hello everyone, thanks for making the challenge at The Paper Players a favorite! It's time for #601 and it's a wonderful sketch for us from LeAnne! 

A new-to-me set of stamps and dies called Floral Delicacy seemed ready for me to ink up for the first time, here you go! 

I was wondering what colors to use and inspiration HIT! A favorite tea cup. I've so often wanted to use these fabulous colors.  Voila!

After arranging the elements according to the sketch, I added a sentiment using gold foil on black card stock. 

It will be fun to see what you make with the sketch.  I hope you will play along! What will inspire you?

Thanks so much for your visit today! I'm adding this to the fun challenge at NBUS.

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

             Make something beautiful! 

Supply List 
Stamps  Floral Delicacy  - The Greetery,  
Ink  Altenew - Coral Berry, Ruby Red, Warm Sunshine, Ocean Waves, Dusk
Other  Foil plates - Spellbinders, Cover plate - Sparkling Diamonds Die by Pinkfresh Studio

Three Cards for You

  Cards for encouraging friends are so important. Awhile back I was sent a lovely set of stamps and dies and asked to be a Guest Designer for Technique Tuesday. I created three projects with the lovely Bowl Bouquet stamps and dies. 

All the images were colored with Zig markers. 

For the first card, after stamping and coloring the image, I used a mask over the bouquet and around the card edges and inked a rectangular background. 

The second card involved partial die cutting, so that I could create texture and slip in a pale aqua panel of DSP behind the vase.

The third card is more traditional, using a tag and die cut sentiment. A white rectangle was inked in pale pink and assembled onto a pale gray card front. Easy to color and with beautiful sentiments, this is a fabulous set. You can see my cards and find the supplies on the Technique Tuesday site HERE. 

I'd sure love to know if you have a favorite! My first card was my favorite but then I made the second and it holds the title. 

I really appreciate your visit to my blog today! Thanks so much! I plan to be back tomorrow posting just a few thoughts to round out the week. 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

             Make something beautiful! 

 

More with Interactive Cards

 Hey there, hello again! I'm back today to wrap up my theme this week of interactive cards, this time featuring the PTI products of Salt Air: Flora and Fauna, Reef Builder Dies, and sentiments. You can see that I'm still on a beach theme, but today's cards are to welcome a new little one. 

I'd never seen - or noticed - a Rocker card until recently in a blog challenge, and I just had to make one! They've been around for quite awhile - but now look so cute dressed up with dies. 

My card began with a 5" die cut circle scored in half. A smaller circle was glued just on to the bottom half and was embellished with the die cuts.  Just a note of caution - don't glue them down until you check the balance on your card. You don't want your rocker to be lopsided.  I loved making this, can't wait to try it again. Photos don't do them justice. 

The second card is a Flip Fold card, again, only requiring circle die cuts, no other special die needed. With this one, I added patterned papers to the front, and glitter to dust the seashells in sparkle. 

I definitely enjoyed stamping these sea creatures, and adding sponged color to the flora. All inks used are from PTI.  Here's a view of the inside. 

I love the way interactive cards give a surprise to the recipient upon opening. 

I will be back tomorrow with something I consider special! Hope to see you then. 

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

             Make something beautiful! 

Interactive Cards: Slimline Shadowbox

 How are you doing on this Tuesday morning? My past week allowed some wonderful family time, as my husband and I were out of town and able to help with the big sisters of the new baby! 

I had a few cards ready to go on the hopper that explore some special folds and interactive features. First up, the slimline shadowbox! 

I used an old favorite from Papertrey Ink - Fenceline: summer to create both cards. 

The first card measures, 4-1/4" by 8". The folds for the base are so easy, I got help from Jennifer's wonderful video HERE. I began by inking a simple scene of sand ocean and sky using Altenew inks. The fence was stamped on the bottom layer, other images were stamped and fussy cut to add depth to the front and the outer layer of the card. 

I used textured card stock in bermuda bay, adding a white frame over the top. 

For the second card - I will show you my mistake! THe first card is what I learned from it! 

Do you see what's missing?  The shadow box! OOPS. I glued the scene panel just behind the front of the card, instead of placing it onto the INSIDE of the box. Now you know what NOT to do, lol! 

Creating multiple cards with a set or a theme is helpful to me, as I learn and get better as I go. Learning from my mistakes may turn out to be helpful for you. Maybe not! This card measures 4" by 9". 

I've enjoyed pulling this set out to use again, I have only inked it up once before, HERE if you missed it. Oh, HERE is one more. 

The sentiment is from Altenew Craft Your Life Kit - Fragrant Florals.

Thanks for hanging on through this long post. Hope you caught some happy thoughts/vibes from your visit with me today!

Be yourself.

     Find delight in your craft.

             Make something beautiful! 

Cards for Kids for The Paper Players #600

 Hello, and welcome! Isn't it amazing - SIX HUNDRED challenges at the Paper Players! This talented and delightful group of stampers has been creating cards to inspire us through 600 weeks! Not sure how many years it is exactly. It is a lot.

Today Ann has chosen our theme of Kards for Kids for our CAS challenge. 

I stamped this sweet girl from the Hello Bluebird stamp set onto watercolor card stock, colored her with Copics and then created a mask to place over her. 

 Stamping the sand in Wild Honey Distress Oxide inks gave a hint of a scene. I brushed watercolor in swaths for the sky and completed the card with a sentiment.

Loving all that white space! I sure hope you'll join us in this fun challenge. I can't wait to see what you make! Have a wonderful week! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies used: 
Stamps: Hello Bluebird - Seaside Girls stamps; Inkblot - Get Grounded, SSS - Uplifting Thoughts

The Color Hues #45 with Altenew Fragrant Florals

Hello, hope you're having a happy Saturday. After a few cards without florals, I think it's time to bring some flowers back! I'm using my new  Craft Your Life Fragrant Florals Kit from Altenew, and it has endless possibilities which I hope to explore in future posts. 

Today's card features our challenge at The Color Hues to use Peach and Gray. I stamped the image in dark gray ink, and used the layering stencils to sponge in warm gray and peachy hues with a hint of coral. I made the berries a bit darker and added shine and detail with a dab of Glossy Accents. 

A simple card with sweet colors! I hope you will check out all the fab DT cards for inspiration and join us! 

I will be entering this card at NBUS - never been used Schtuff, where we're encouraged to use what we buy!

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies used: 
Stamps: Altenew - Craft Your Life Project Kit; includes, stamps, stencils, dies and 3D EF
Ink: Altenew - Warm Gray, Tea Party, Peach Perfect

For the Paper Players #599

 Can you believe how fast the weeks are going round? I've been loving being a Guest Designer at The Paper Players this year, and it's time for a NEW challenge! It's a color challenge from LeAnne, using my fav new colors from Stampin' Up!: Tahitian Tide and Parakeet Party. My best bet for getting close to the bright and happy shades was using my Zigs to color. Wow, was that ever fun! 

I also made a trifold window card. My blog theme this week will be Interactive cards, so I am kicking it off using stamps from Penny Black which work well for this technique.

When you open the card, you get the full bouquet of flowers in a cute teacup! My 'painting' is loosely done and leaves bits of white in the flowers. I carried the friend sentiment from the front to the inside. Lastly the sweet sentiment and my message to go with it will be seen. 

 I bet you can guess where the extra hearts came from ! Changed my mind and decided to go with a larger window. I didn't want to use a belly band to hold the card together, so this metal clip with black thread will do. I decided that was just the bit of something 'extra' the front needed! Supplies listed below. 

What will you choose? Can't wait to see your cards in the challenge gallery. Thanks so much for visiting today! My PB stamps are never before used, so I am entering this at NBUS.

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

My PB stamps are never before used, so I am entering this at NBUS.

Supplies used: 
Stamps: Honeybee Stamps and dies - BItty Buzzwords, Penny Black - Fresh Bouquet, Smile 
Paper: MFT Colorful Canvas Pack
Accessories - Zig markers, SU Heart dies

Day 3 with Bigger Blooms: Mix it up!

 Hello, welcome to a new day! If you've been following me the last couple of weeks, I've begun posting 3 projects using the same stamp set/dies.  Today's card is the third using the Bigger Blooms stamps from The Greetery.  I call it a mix it up card! 

I love mixing images from more than one set on a card. My inspiration - still from cleaning up my craft desk, was this patterned paper (SU!) with the florals and envelopes. I wondered if I had blooms and greenery to pull off that theme for the focal image. It worked!! I just love that. 

Here's a tip: When you stamp images always make a few extra. I keep these in with the sets. I already had the larger blooms, and easily found the leaves and pinkish flowers. 

I saw that the leaves fit, but re-stamped them in a better color. The pink flowers worked just as is to fill out the bouquet. I love when that happens! 

This card turns out to be my fav of the three. Is there one that you liked best? I'd love to hear in the comments below! Thanks so much! 

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Just a Note with Bigger Blooms

Hello, welcome back! 

I've been finding a good rhythm in my craft room! Using one set of products three ways is becoming easier and I am finding it a fun challenge. Today's card came together with a few already inked Bigger Blooms that I made into a card instead of just putting them away. I

 I wasn't even planning to make a card, but it was so satisfying adding accent to the blooms with colored pencils and a white gel pen. I paired them with a striped panel of DSP and a sentiment from the Opposites Attract set. All stamps and dies are from The Greetery. I kept the colors and layout simple. 

I hope you're doing well, thanks so much for stopping by! 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Bigger Blooms for The Paper Players #598

It's theme week at The Paper Players! We hope you will be inspired by the all the things associated with a Green Thumb, including plants, foliage, flowers and gardening. My new stamps and dies called Bigger Blooms from The Greetery seemed perfect for this challenge. 

I love the larger size and shapes of these florals and the easy details from stamp layering. They make it easy to fill up a card front. I made sure to include lots of GREENery, inked in vibrant Altenew inks.  My dear mother grew beautiful flowers in our backyard garden, and in summer there were always  impatiens and gorgeous geraniums on the front porch. 

My paper flowers tend to flourish much better than the plants I try to grow, but I love having the real ones!

Also entering this at NBUS, for challenge #40!

Thanks for your visit today, stay well and safe, have a wonderful holiday! 

 Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful!  

Supplies: The Greetery - Bigger Blooms, Opposites Attract stamps and dies; Nordic Frames Die

Red DSP is fro Stampin' Up!

Color Hues - We're Having a Play Day!

 Today is a special challenge at Color Hues #44. We're having a Play Day with Michele Ferguson! - I Card Everyone!  Her challenge is called Playing Cards With ...  and we are so happy to be the ones to play along this month! And YOU will be able to play along too making it super fun!
Our colors are red and blue. The DT was asked to include stars or stripes with the colors, but they are not required of those who play along. I gave myself a tough-er challenge: I used the colors, stars and stripes all on a NON-patriotic card! 
My husband's aunt had a July 4th Birthday and used to throw a huge party for all the family (and herself!)  every year.  Instead of having her birthday get lost in the holiday shuffle,  she found a way to make it extra special. Or just "EXTRA" as the sentiment says. She would have loved these happy gifts decked out in polka dots, stars and stripes! 
Hope you will decide to play along! I can't wait to see what you will make! And for those in the US, have a wonderful holiday weekend

Be yourself

          Have delight in your craft 

               Make something beautiful! 

Stamps used: WPlus9 Birthday Wishes

Dies: Pretty Pink Posh Build a Gift Dies are brand spankin' new, so adding this to NBUS!