Monochrome stencil fun - CHALLENGE WINNER - Little Red Wagon

 Hi all!

Trying out watercolors with my stencils today.  I started with powdered watercolor pigments, but that went VERY astray, so I resorted to the old fashioned way.

 I was inspired by the Addicted to CAS challenge this week with the monochrome colors as well as the Addicted to Stamps and More challenge to use stencils and dies and thought I'd give the Little Red Wagon challenge blog a try this week as well.  

I like how it came out even if it gave me a run for my money today...  I love the stencil from Altenew, which I haven't used before so I thought I'd give it a run today.  The die cut is an old one from PTI, to be honest, difficult to get out of the die, but it's easily 10 years old and they've gotten better at making dies since then.  I actually have an order coming in from BOTH of these amazing companies this next week, I'm excited to receive them!

Have a colorful day!

Dots, stripes and peonies

 Hi all!

I'm SO ready for nice weather!  In Ohio we have 2nd and 3rd winters lasting until about May, sometimes we even get snow!  Today has been lovely and I'm hoping it continues to stay this way...fingers crossed.

After a whirlwind last 10 days helping out my 'protégé' at my old job (aprox 130 hrs), I'm finally able to find some time for my self in the studio. I'm participating in the Altenew May Inspiration Challenge hosted by the uber talented Jaycee Gaspar.  He is just...amazing.  Coloring and shading? CHECK!  Design and layout? CHECK!  Color and out of the box thinking? CHECK! CHECK! CHECK!  Amazeballs...

I mean...come on...really.  Have you seen anything else more exquisite? ALL of his work is of this caliber.  I still need to invest in some great alcohol markers, but I have pencils on the way so I can work on his techniques.  I am inspired!  I am also combining this with the Inkspirational challenge this week, Stripes and Dots. 

I started with stamping the image with Vanilla Cream ink using the Altenew Billowing Peonies bundle. It kept the image looking like a watercolor after using the stencils as the lines didn't show up hardly at all.  It's such a pretty set, I used the smaller of the 2 flower stamps with coordinating stencil using the Tropical Forest ink color group for the leaves and Rose Petal ink color group for the flowers, finishing the centers with the Warm and Cozy ink color group for the centers.

For the background, I used the Altenew Buffalo Plaid builder stencil with Orange Cream ink for my stripes and the dots were created with an old shimmer spray I had on hand and with gold metallic watercolor paint.  The sentiment is from the stamp set, which I stamped, embossed with gold embossing powder (I need to get some new stuff...it seems...off?) and die cut.  I finished off with a little sparkle from the sequins around the sentiment and the flowers.

Overall, I like the card...I think perhaps I should have used a darker ink for the stamp so the details would be more prominent.  I may try again with the larger stamp next time...

Have a colorful day!  

What an Honor! - GUEST DESIGNER!

 Hello all!

Welcome to my blog Paper Fiori!  I am honored to have been chosen to be the guest designer today at Color Hues Color Challenge today!  Color challenges are always my favorite, they inspire me to try combos I wouldn't try normally.  Like this card I made here.  I NEVER try combos like that, but trying it out, got me here today! 

This week, the challenge has 2 colors that would add cheer to anyone that received a creation with this combo.  Hot pink and cyan, those colors POP!  Cyan is one of my favorites, what girl doesn't love a Tiffany box color?  I decided to use all dies for this...minus the sentiment...I pulled out 2 dies I haven't used in YEARS!  Altenew Peony Dream 3D and the Candy Cane Stripe cover die.  

I started by using Altenew's Aqualicious ink with a blending tool on the corners of white card stock. Then I placed the Candy Cane Stripe background die over it.  

Next, I used a blending brush with Altenew's Cherry Blossom ink set to create the variegated colors for the flowers.  I die cut each piece of the flowers in the graduated colors from the ink set.  After completing the die cuts, I sprinkled the pieces with watered down white paint and Altenew's Rubelite watercolor brush marker.  

I die cut the leaves out of silver shimmer paper, SU! basic gray and vellum papers.  The sentiment came from Altenew's Best Mom stamp and die set and stamped with Industrial Diamond ink.  The card was finished off with a splatter with the Evening Gray watercolor brush  and a few iridescent sequins to add some sparkle!  Now I'm ready for Mother's day!!

Thanks again for visiting my blog today.  Be sure to visit the other designers from Color Hue and give them some love!

Have a colorful day!

Kristin

The struggle is real...CHALLENGE WINNER!

 Hi all!  I have to admit...CAS cards are HARD for me!  I want to add patters, and textures, and embellies, and die cuts, and, and, and....  I'm am generally a 'more is better' kind of girl, or as my girls would say "extra"!

When crafting earlier this evening, I made a background paper with my new favorite kit, the Altenew Craft Your Life Engraved Motifs.  I love this color green and love the versatility of this kit.  Since I didn't use it, and I couldn't let it go to waste, I decided to try my hand again at this weeks CAS Colors and Sketches challenge #509.  This is my second one, my first is here.

Again, sorry for the photo...its late here and my lighting is terrible!

I decided to add color behind the flower with a blender brush and Volcano Lake ink from Altenew.  I framed it out by using a post-it note.  The sentiment is from Altenew Sentiment Strips, its a great set to have on hand.

I HAD to be just a little bit 'extra' and added 3 simple sequins for a touch of sparkle.  This is only my second slim line card, and I get why they're popular.  I need to find my envelope punch so I can make cute envelopes for them!

Thanks for visiting me today, have a colorful day!

Trying something new...

 Hi all!  Its late here, I've enjoyed spending time in my studio this evening trying something new!  I was inspired buy the Shopping Our Stash challenge #495 this week, Fun Folds.  I am not generally a fancy fold card kind of girl, but when I saw the Sunday Stamps #308 layout challenge...my creative juices started flowing!  Also, since I'm trying to re-establish myself in the blog-o-sphere after my 2+ year hiatus, I'm also entering this in the Krafty Chicks #661 All Occasions challenge and the Addicted to CAS #236 Window Challenge, it's not exactly CAS...but it has a window?

Please forgive my horrible photo...like I said it's late here and my lighting is terrible!

The layout is where I started.  I have this window die for the panel to the left, used the flowers on the die cut for the circle in the layout and reversed the sentiment strip.  Also, in keeping with the 'shop my stash' theme, the roses are from a project I did a couple weeks ago but went another direction and the 'Hello' die has been in my sentiment left over box for YEARS!

This is also a tri-folded card, in that the sentiment and the flowers are folded over the card base...

Here is what the fold over looks like open...

Have a colorful week!

Better late than never...

Wow has it been a crazy week!  I am consulting at my old job, helping my 'protégé'  with implementing the year end art show at school.  With nearly 2,000 projects, it can get very overwhelming for your first time.  Thankfully, things were organized and we are almost ready for our Thursday show.

Since I've been distracted, I haven't been in my studio for my own crafting all week, but knew I HAD to make another card for the Altenew April Inspiration Challenge hosted by Joy D'souza.  I wasn't really happy with my other one, so I've had it in my head on what I'd do for another one.  Also, since I'm trying to get back into my blog-o-sphere and creating, I'm entering this into the Paper Players Challenge #638, using sparkle, die cuts and embossing

Please excuse the photography...its 10:30 pm and I don't have the best lighting...  

I am using my Craft Your Life Engraved Motifs kit for this time around.  I am LOVING this set...it reminds me of patterns by Dorthy Draper and Carleton Varney at the Greenbrier.  It has so many possibilities for color combinations or making monochromatic patterns with depth.

I used Altenew's Green Valley inks for the green flowers on SU! Garden Green paper as well as Velvet, Crimson and Heart Beat for the red flowers.  Everything was colored using the stencil.  The main flower I embossed BEFORE I stamped the outline image...so the image isn't a clean as I would like.

I stamped a sentiment from the stamp set with coordinating die as well as adding Mountain Pine and gold metallic splatters.  Finally I added some rhinestones in matching green.  TIP-use your alcohol inks to color your clear rhinestones to match your creations!

I hope you have a colorful week!!

Don't judge a book...

 Hello all!

Have you ever signed up for a monthly subscription?  I recently signed up for the Altenew Craft Your Life Monthly Kit.   I received my first package, and was immediately skeptical over the March set, the Engraved Motifs set.  I LOVE Altenew images, but when I opened this one...I wasn't impressed.  BOY WAS I WRONG!!!

The image and sample wasn't my normal style, but as I worked on this project, I became OBSESSED with it! It reminds me of my favorite place, The Greenbriar.  Fabulous prints with gorgeous colors.  Visit if you can....  Any hoo...The kits come with a stamp set, stencil set, embossing folder and dies to match. I only used the folder, stencils and die for this card and am excited to try out all the pieces and parts to set!  You will be seeing a lot more of this set...

Inspired by this weeks Color Hue Challenge #62, Purple and Green; I used Altenew's Enchanted Garden and as well as their Tropical Forest ink sets for the flowers and the leaves.  I found these glass iridescent crystals in my embellie drawer and thought I'd try them...eh...they're ok.  Only had 2 smaller sizes in the bag, which I didn't realize until I started attaching.  I like more variety in my sizes.

Hope you all have a colorful day!

Slimline CAS Flowers

 Hello all!  I may be able to embrace the CAS style...these cards can be super quick to make!  The design team at CAS Colors & Sketches are continuing my CAS journey this week with this sketch challenge:

 This is my first slimline sized card.  I absolutely LOVED this card from the design team, its so pretty and the popped die cut is fantastic. I started with the Altenew Dainty Bouquet stamp set for the decorated panel. 

I love this set, but still struggle with lining up the image perfectly.  Practice makes perfect, so I will keep working at it! I used Altenew Mountain Mist, Silver Lake and Cloudy Night inks.  I loved the mist color, it's so soft and beautiful!

Since I needed another thank you card, I decided to use the Altenew Script Words 2 die set.  Its a go to set of mine.  I cut 3 in white and 1 in gray, then stacked them together to give it dimension.  I completed the sentiment with an item from the Sentiment Strips set with the Mountain Mist ink.

I'm headed out of town to celebrate my daughter away at college this weekend, so I'll see you all on Monday!  Have a colorful weekend!!

Squeeze the Day! - CHALLENGE WINNER!

 Hello all!  Just a quick little card here for the Inkspiration Challenge #287.  The challenge is for a CAS (Clean and Simple) creation with the option of sunshine or rain.  I don't really have anything that is weather related in my stash, so I thought I would use the Altenew Main Squeeze to evoke the feeling of sunshine.

I also used my new stencil from the Altenew Craft your Life Garden Rose kit and added some splatters with my Jet Black water based ink.

I kept it VERY simple...not at all my style, which it why I wanted to try this challenge!

Have a colorful day!

Grateful Garden - SHOUT OUT!

 Hello all!  I was able to spend the day in the art studio, making thank you cards for the sweet people that sent me get well wishes for my surgery.  

I was inspired today by this weeks Just Us Girls challenge.  The JUGS challenge was the last one I did before I took my hiatus!  I loved the photo they used for this inspiration.  Such pretty colors.

I used my new Pink Fresh stencil set, Grant Yourself Grace.  I wish I had purchased the die and stamp set with it, I had to fussy cut all the flowers and leaves. I used Altenew colors Blush, Frosty Pink and Coral Bliss for the roses.  I love those colors!

The leaves were done with Altenew's Shadow Creek, Mountain Pine, and Fire Fly and the background was created using their Grid stencil and Mountain Mist ink.  I think used the Mountain Pine ink with some water and created some splatters on the back ground...I had some of the green splatter go a little crazy in the corner.

I finished off the card with a couple sprinkles and it's ready to be sent! 

Have a colorful week!

Recovering and Honors!

 Hello from the land of convalescence!  I am 13 days post op from having my gallbladder removed.  Besides popping and internal stitch on Monday, I'm doing pretty good...not great yet...but not bad.  I was  able to get back into the art studio today and do some 'therapy', and much to my surprise and HONOR, I was picked as a winner of the Altenew March Inspiration Challenge!  I LOVE their florals and will hopefully be able to complete the Educator Program soon.  HERE is the card that won.

The Altenew April Inspiration Challenge was a challenge for me...  The inspiration comes from guest host Joy D'souza and a beautiful photo she took of a red rose.  Now...as a former florist, I LOVE roses!  However...red roses cause me PTSD twitches.  I've spent DAYS making THOUSANDS of vases of red roses for Valentine's day for YEARS.  I would seriously have nightmares of the repetitive nature of the arranging, and fear of miscounting or running out...yes, I'm weird.  

I think that's why this was a difficult project for me!  I think I made 12 different red roses with the same colors and stencils and stamps.  Some with white borders, some on red paper, some fully covered with ink.  I think I made 5 different background papers, just trying to make it 'right'.  I finally put this together.  Its not my favorite creation, but I needed several thank you cards for sweet people that gave me get well wishes and was seeing them tonight.

I have signed up for the Altenew monthly Craft Your Life Kits and received the Garden Rose kit.  I embossed the background panel with the embossing folder in the kit, after inking up the panel with 2 green inks to deepen the embossing.  The rose didn't photograph well, but it is pretty in person. 

After I created the rose and the leaves, I assembled the card and die cut 'thanks' from the Script Words 2 die set out of gold mirror paper.  I finished off the card with a splatter of metallic gold water color and some rhinestones I colored green with a Copic marker.  I will try to make another one since I'm not really thrilled with this one.

That's it!  Have a colorful day!

For my other girl - CHALLENGE WINNER AND GUEST DESIGNER SPOT!

 Even though the blog is under construction, I'm still posting! I think it will be completed while I'm resting after gallbladder surgery next Thursday.   Future posts will have more project details.

So...I'm feeling guilty.  I couldn't just make something for my eldest...I had to create something for my littlest.  Although, at 14 years and nearly 6 foot, she's not little anymore! She struggles with being a "different" than the other girls, but has faced any challenge head on, she's incredibly courageous!  I whipped this one out, inspired by the challenge over at Color Hues .  Not a color group I would lean toward, but there are some STUNNERS made by the design team over there!  This one and this one were my two favs...

 

All of the products I used here were from Altenew; Dainty Bouquet stamp set and dies, Better Together sentiment stamp set and the Quilted die I used to emboss the card front.  I love their florals...  The sentiment die was from Spellbinders

Have a colorful week!!