Friends Like You

With a headache plaguing my whole day long, I wasn't sure I would make it to the craft desk today.  But late this afternoon, it went away and I was able to get this pretty pair of flowers done for a couple of my favorite challenges.  Given it's getting late and I'm so ready to call it a night due to headaches take a lot out of me but I'm so thankful it didn't get to be migraine strong.

Taking a wee bit of artistic license, I made my poppies purple instead of the more traditional red.   I heat embossed the flowers using Gold Embossing Powder by Ranger, then watercolored them using my Liquid Watercolors from Taylored Expressions.  To a card base of Whisper White I added a layer of Gold Glitter Paper, then a layer of Gorgeous Grape and then the layer with the flowers.  The sentiment was in my stash so I added it to a layer of Gorgeous Grape cardstock.  For the finishing touch, I added some Icy Sparkle Crystals by Studio Katia.  

Here is an angled view of the card which shows some of the shimmer I added to the flowers.  It really doesn't show up very well in the photo but does look nice on the card itself.

I have linked my card up to the following challenges:

The Paper Players

Sunday Stamps

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Product Used

Build-A-Flower:  Poppy Stamp Set by Altenew

Simple Strips-Friendship Stamp Set by Taylored Expressions

Jelly Donut, Lemon Meringue, Peapod Liquid Watercolor by Taylored Expressions

Gorgeous Grape, Gold Glitter Paper, Whisper White Cardstock by Stampin' Up!

Mixed Media Vellum Surface Paper by Strathmore

Simple Strips Die by Taylored Expressions

Icy Sparkle Crystals by Studio Katia

Love Is In The Air

Here is another card I made to send to one of my friends or someone in my family.  It's a very simple design but I love that patterned paper.  This one happens to be one without the foil accents.  The red heart was punched from the patterned paper as the design fits perfectly with the scalloped heart punch.  It's foil but you can't really see that as it did not photograph well.

This is what the inside of the card looks like.  Since I always write a note in the cards I send, I like to leave plenty of room.

Stamp(s):  Heartfelt (Stampin' Up!)
Ink(s):  Real Red
Cardstock:  Flirty Flamingo, Whisper White (Stampin' Up!)
Patterned Paper:  From My Heart Specialty Designer Series Paper (Stampin' Up!)
Punch(s):  Heart Punch Pack (Stampin' Up!)

I'm linking up my card in the following challenge(s):

Thanks for stopping by,

Marsha

Hope Today is a Good Day

It's always a good day when I spend it in my craft room.  Today found me trying to decide what to do with these pretty roses I made last night.  What you see is the finished card.  The roses are from the Bold Blossom stamp set from Altenew.  I love the layered stamps they have and this is my first time using this stamp set.  I love how these roses turned out. 

Stamp Sets:  Bold Blossom (Altenew); Clear Mini Stamps/Mini (Inkadinkadoo)

Inks:  Poppy Seed, Chocolate Truffle (Taylored Expressions)

Distress Oxide Inks:  Wild Honey, Frayed Burlap, Spiced Marmalade, Fired Brick (Tim Holtz)

Cardstock:  Sugar Cube, Oreo (Taylored Expressions); Fresh Fig, Tangerine Tango (Stampin' Up!)

Dies:  Bold Blossom Die (Altenew); Hope Die (Taylored Expressions)

Other:  Calypso Coral Baker's Twine (Stampin' Up!)

Today's card was made for the Paper Players Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Peace

It seems like it's been ages since I last sat at the craft desk and made a new card.  Life has been moving fast for me this past month.  It's been a whirlwind of doctor's appointments and various tests.  Only one more hurdle to jump and life can go back to normal.  But, that is a discussion for another day.

For now, it's time to share this pretty white on white card I made for The Paper Players.  The card base and the snowflakes were done using Sugar Cube.  For the wreath I used Shimmer White to offset it from the white of the card base.  It let's you see more detail of the Wreath Cutting Plate.  It's one of my favorite dies from Taylored Expressions.  The snowflakes are cut using the Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies from Stampin' Up!  The word peace is a die from Taylored Expressions.

Stamp Set:  None; Ink:  None; Cardstock:  Shimmer White, Sugar Cube; Dies:  Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies (Stampin' Up!), Wreath Cutting Plate (Taylored Expressions)

The color I used is from The Paper Players Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Hello Friend

It's just a short post for me today.  It's one of those days where there is much to do and so little time in which to do it.  But, I wanted to share the card I designed using a stencil I made from various leaf dies.  It was a fun way to create my own background and use my Distress Oxide Inks.  I spritzed a bit of water onto the inks as well as added some drops of Glossy Accents all over the card front.  Of course, the Glossy Accents drops are not showing up well in the photograph.

Stamp Set:  None; Distress Oxide Inks:  Fired Brick, Frayed Burlap, Wild Honey, Worn Lipstick; Cardstock:  Baked Brown Sugar, Calypso Coral, Chocolate Chip, Sugar Cube; Other:  Assorted Leaves Dies (Darice), Friend Die (Taylored Expressions), Glossy Accents, Hello Die (Taylored Expressions), Seasonal Layers Thinlits Dies (Stampin' Up!)

I've entered my card in the following challenges.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the images below.

Just Us Girls

The Paper Players

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Just for You

You know, some days I just can't seem to write a blog post that makes any sense at all.  Unfortunately, today happens to be one of those days.  It's taken me five minutes just to get these three sentences written.

I  think I'll just share that I made my card for The Paper Players Challenge.  It was a great sketch with which to work and I think those patterned papers made a great background for that pretty flower. 

Stamp Sets:  Delightful Daisies (Heartfelt Creations), Teeny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Basic Black Archival, Fired Brick Distress Ink (Tim Holtz), Lemon Meringue, Wild Wasabi; Cardstock:  Cajun Craze, Delightful Dijon, Sugar Cube; Patterned Paper:  Golden Grove (KaiserCraft); Other:  Delightful Daisy Dies (Heartfelt Creations), Pocket Die (Taylored Expressions)

The sketch I used is from The Paper Players Challenge.  For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the images below.

Thanks for stopping by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Birthday Stars

Well, it's been one of those days.  My poor car has an issue and I was not sure it was going to get resolved but I'm so pleased and thankful that come tomorrow I'll have my little burgundy car back on the road taking me wherever I want to go.  I'm happy!

Today I'm sharing another card I made using the Tim Holtz Distress Oxide Inks.  It's a bright cheerful card and I know one of my grandchildren will love it.

The birthday theme challenge at The Paper Players Challenge was the perfect place to show off another of my distress oxide inks card I made at a recent Taylored Expressions class. They really are a lot of fun and you can do so many different things with them.

For all the challenge details and to share your project, click the image below.

So glad you stopped by the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

The Paper Players #263

Scraps! Scraps!  And more Scraps!  I needed to clean up my craft table just a wee bit so instead of putting everything away, I made this fall card using one of my new favorite techniques, Inlaid Die Cutting.  I love the look it gives and it was perfect for this simple Fall card.  I had so much going on this week that I got behind in too many things.  Because the deadline for linking up my card is fast approaching, I would be done now.  :-)

Stamp Set:  For All Things (sentiment inside card);  Inks:  Soft Suede; Cardstock:  Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Various Patterned Paper Scraps (Unknown); Accessories & Tools:  Assorted Leaves Dies (Darice), Cajun Craze Regal Candy Dots, Linen Thread, SNAIL Permanent Adhesive, Dimensionals, Blending Tool, Stampin' Trimmer, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine.  All Stampin' Up!® product unless otherwise noted.

The theme I used is from The Paper Players Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Can't Thank You Enough

Where does the time go when you are having fun?  I sat down to make a card and suddenly it is after 2 a.m.  Something tells me I really need to set an alarm when I start crafting given this is not the first time this has happened.  It used to be reading all night long, now it's card designs that keep me awake at night.  Good thing I'm retired, right?

Today I've combined the colors from The Paper Players Challenge with the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.  I kept it a very clean and simple design as I do with most of the cards I need to put in the mail.  I love the 2013-2015 In Colors and I'm going to be very sad to see them retire in just a few short weeks.

Stamp Sets:  Lovely Amazing You (sentiment), Petal Potpourri (flower); Inks:  Coastal Cabana, Tuxedo Black Memento; Card Stock:  All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack, Coastal Cabana, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Flower Medallion Punch, Large Pearl, Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Glue Dots, Stampin' Trimmer

The colors I used are from the current Paper Players Challenge.

The sketch I used is from the Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Flower and Ferns

Seriously?!?  Eighty-three degrees in Iowa in mid-March!  All I can say is Wow!  I, for one, am loving it.  The windows are open and the fresh air is pouring in giving my home a crisp, clean smell.  Is it okay to admit that I'm looking forward to our first spring rain, too?  Talk about a clean fragrance.

Anyway, today's card is for The Paper Players Challenge.  The challenge was to create a clean and simple floral design.  I pulled out my Butterfly Basics Stamp Set and got to work.  Truth to tell, I just had fun with this one.  I actually designed it in my art journal first then, transferred it, with a few changes to a card.  Even though the butterfly is a punch out, I really think the eye is drawn first to the flower.  I went with all Rich Razzleberry so it would stand out.

Stamp Sets:  Butterfly Basics, Kinda Eclectic; Inks:  Coastal Cabana, Crumb Cake, Mossy Meadow, Pistachio Pudding, Rich Razzleberry, Tuxedo Black; Card Stock:  Coastal Cabana, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Elegant Butterfly Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive

The inspiration for my design came from The Paper Players Challenge.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Butterfly Birthday

While it is still to early for butterflies here in Iowa, the colors for the current Paper Players challenge had me thinking that Crisp Cantaloupe butterflies would look really pretty on a Crumb Cake card.  Along with the Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum, I'd say a breath of Spring has come my way.

To color the flowers and leaves on the vellum, I used the So Saffron and Wild Wasabi Stampin' Write Markers.  It's so easy to put a little color on the vellum.  You color on the back, flip it over and attach it to your card.  It does make for a pretty background.

Stamp Sets:  Endless Birthday Wishes, Nature's Perfection; Ink:  Crisp Cantaloupe; Stampin' Write Markers:  So Saffron, Wild Wasabi; Accessories & Tools:  Elegant Butterfly Punch, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Adhesive Sheets (Scrapbook Adhesives), Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer

All Stampin' Up!® products unless otherwise noted.

The colors are from the current challenge at The Paper Players.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

A Challenge Trio

Something I rarely do is try to combine three challenges on one project.  So, yes I did try it on this card.  I kept it very simple and used some of that gorgeous new Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum Stack from Stampin' Up!®  I love that stuff!  I used my Simply Scored Stylus to burnish the back side of the vellum.  It turns the image white and it raises it up a bit which is hard to see in a picture.  I love the way it adds color to the vellum image.

The sketch is from Retro Sketches.  The colors from Colour Me...!  The theme is from The Paper Players.  I changed it up a bit as far as the sketch but I'm hoping I pulled off the basic shapes they were after.  So, tell me, how do you think I did?  :-)

Stamp Set:  Best Day Ever (sentiment); Ink:  Tangelo Twist; Card Stock:  Whisper White, Tangelo Twist, Sheer Perfection Designer Vellum Stack; Accessories & Tools:  Flower Medallion Punch, Simply Scored Stylus, Stampin' Pierce Mat, Dimensionals, Adhesive Sheets (Scrapbook Adhesives)

Here is the sketch from Retro Sketches.

Here are the colors from Colour Me...!

Here is the theme from The Paper Players.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Current Hostess Code:  BDU2XPTT

Lovely Lotus Blossom

One thing about cleaning up your craft area is you come across so many things that you've saved but had forgotten they were saved.  :-)  I have a top that I love to wear but the decoration is slowly starting to fall off so it's been regulated to an every day shirt that is only worn at home.  It's a flat bead or brad or I'm not sure what to call it but I saved those that have fallen off.  The Paper Players theme challenge to use a recycled or re-purposed item was a perfect reason to use them on my card.  The colors I used are from the Pals Paper Arts challenge.

This is my first opportunity to use the Lotus Blossom stamp set from the new Sale-A-Bration Catalog and I have to say it is a great set.  I love the tabs that are on the stamps so you can line things up perfectly.  And, I love that it's a three-step image.  The colors I used for the blossom are Night of Navy and Wisteria Wonder.  I could have used one color and let each ink layer darken the image but I like that Night of Navy as the bottom layer.  It really gave some depth to the flower.

Stamp Sets:  Lotus Blossom, Lovely Little Labels (retired); Inks:  Night of Navy, Wisteria Wonder, Card Stock:  Wisteria Wonder, Night of Navy, Whisper White, Glitzy Glitter Card Stock Stack (DCWV); Accessories & Tools:  Brass Bracket, Brass Brads, Linen Thread, SNAIL Adhesive, Glue Dots, Dimensionals

All Stampin' Up!® product unless otherwise noted.

You can find more inspiration and challenge details HERE at The Paper Players.

More inspiration and challenge details for Pals Paper Arts can be found HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

The Paper Players 222 with Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge 245

Today I decided to play around with all of the newest In Colors from Stampin' Up!®  They all look so well together.  Along with The Paper Players theme challenge and the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge, I think the it all came together nicely.  What do you think?

Stamp Sets:  Four Feathers, Fancy Thank You (Hero Arts); Inks:  Blackberry Bliss, Lost Lagoon, Mossy Meadow; Card Stock:  Hello Honey, Mossy Meadow, Tangelo Twist, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  Banner Punch, Feathers Framelits Dies, Linen Thread, Dimensionals, Glue Dots

HERE is where you can find The Paper Players Clean and Simple Thank You Challenge.

The Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge can be found HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Paper Players 221 - Mojo Monday 371

Combining challenges is something I really enjoy.  It can be quite a challenge sometimes but the colors from Paper Players made it easy.  I love the Mossy Meadow, Cherry Cobbler and Very Vanilla.  They worked well with the Mojo Monday sketch and for this Christmas card.  With all the Mossy Meadow I used on the card, I purposely didn't add a layer of it under the top layer of patterned paper.  I did give it a try when I was playing with the layout but I didn't like the way it looked.  I could be wrong.  :-) 

Stamp Set:  Hardwood, Delightful Dozen (retired); Ink:  Cherry Cobbler; Card Stock:  Mossy Meadow, Very Vanilla, All Abloom Designer Series Paper Stack, Festival of Prints Designer Series Paper Stack (retired); Accessories & Tools:  Labels Collection Framelits Dies, Cherry Cobbler 1" Sheer Linen Ribbon, Rhinestone Basic Jewels, Dimensionals, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

The colors are from this week's Paper Players Color Challenge.  You can find all the details HERE.

The sketch is from this week's Mojo Monday Card Sketch Challenge.  You can find more details HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Silver and Gold Gentle Peace

The challenge over at The Paper Players is to use silver or gold on your project.  Since I couldn't make up my mind, I used both.  I embossed the image onto a Gold Foil sheet, using Silver Stampin' Embossing Powder.  The dotted paper is from the All Is Calm Specialty Designer Series Paper.  So far, I've not added sentiments but I'm thinking I'll use the ones from the Gentle Peace stamp set and stamp them in Mossy Meadow.

Stamp Set:  Gentle Peace; Ink:  VersaMark; Card Stock:  Real Red, Mossy Meadow, Gold Foil Sheets, All Is Calm Specialty Designer Series Paper; Accessories & Tools:  Silver Stampin' Embossing Powder, Corner Rounder, Dimensionals, Paper Snips, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer

The details for The Paper Players Clean-And-Simple Challenge can be found HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Paper Players 215

It isn't often that I make anything resembling Halloween but the images from the Holiday Home stamp set were perfect for the Paper Players sketch challenge.  Funny thing is, it's very similar to the design Sandy Mathias did and that was not intentional on my part.  I didn't see hers until after I had mine all done.  One of the things I purposefully do when I enter a challenge, is not look at the projects from the design team until after I have mine done. Interesting how we can see the same thing in a sketch and come up with a slightly different look.

Stamp Set:  Holiday Home; Inks:  Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie; Card Stock:  Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White; Accessories & Tools:  1" Square Punch, Petite Curly Label Punch, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer

The Paper Players Challenge can be found HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Paper Players 214 and Pals Paper Arts 220

My oldest son, Wayne, has a birthday coming up soon.  With his recent move back to Tennessee, I won't get to hand him his birthday card.  That meant I had to get it made and in the mail so he gets it on time.  The Paper Players CAS (Clean And Simple) Masculine Birthday challenge and the sketch from Pals Paper Arts were the perfect combination for his card. 

Stamp Sets:  Four You, Traveler; Ink:  Soft Suede; Card Stock:  Soft Suede, Whisper White, Moonlight Designer Series Paper Stack; Accessories & Tools:  Circles Collection Framelits Dies, In Color Sequin Assortment, Dimensionals, Multipurpose Liquid Glue, SNAIL Adhesive, Stampin' Trimmer, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

You can find the sketch challenge from Pals Paper Arts HERE.

The masculine birthday card challenge from The Paper Players can be found HERE.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha

Paper Players 208 and RetroSketches 127

You know, there are just so many challenges out there I like that I can't keep up with all of them.  :-)  Today's card is a combination of challenges.  I loved the sketch from RetroSketches and the colors from The Paper Players.  Two great challenges, one pretty card.

Something that I am doing differently these days, is not listing all the product under my photo.  Instead, you can find all the product listed at the end of this post.  It's much easier and it lets you see exactly what the product looks like.  Oh, just so you know, the flowers were punched from a scrap left over from another project.  The Square Lattice Embossing Folder that was used is now retired so you won't see that in the list below.

All Stampin' Up!® Product.

For the color details at The Paper Players, click on the image below.

For the sketch details at RetroSketches, click on the image below.

Thanks for stopping in at the Coffee Pot Stamping Cafe,

Marsha