Attempting to hold onto the last bit of summer... FRESHLY MADE SKETCHES PRINCESS!

 Hi all!

Super quick creation here...

I wanted to work on a challenge today, so I chose the Freshly Made Sketches challenge.  I actually had an entirely different plan, but when I openend up my scrap bin...it took a 180 degree turn!

I was actually going for a fall card, but saw these lemons I made a while back, and realized I had to use them!  It is my last grasp to hold on to the loveliness of summer.

I used a really old embossing folder inked with Sunray Fresh Dye ink and finished it with a sentiment strip from my bin as well.

Now I really need to finish these fall cards....

Thanks for stopping by, have a colorful day!

EXCITING NEWS!!!

 Hi all!

I have some MORE exciting news today....I have been selected to be a member of the AAA Cards Challenge Design Team!!!  WOOP!  WOOP!!!  They asked me to get started right away, so here I am with my first post with them and I hope they keep me around after this creation...

The challenge for the next 2 weeks is to create something SPOOKY but keep it CAS in style.  I don't have ANYTHING in my stash for Halloween, which is surprising considering Halloween is one of our favorite holidays!  NOW...I have to say, this particular card is not my normal type of creation, and I had to dig down into my mixed media stash for inspiration to create this card...I hope it's not too creepy...  But when I found the sentiment in my bulk sentiment bin from Altenew's Classic Greetings stamp set (to be released in November and NOT AT ALL creepy!) I literally laughed out loud with how it correlated with the imagery...I mean, it could go either way, right?

I used some old Tim Holtz images and lumped them all together to form a little group.  The little pictures of kids already lean a little creepy all on their own, but I amped up the creep factor and blackened out their eyes....  Seriously, what is wrong with me!!  😂😱

Keeping the design CAS, I mounted everything on a black card front and added some purple metallic splatters using the Altenew Metallic Watercolor pan set.  

So there you go...my first post on the AAA Cards Challenge DT.  I promise my future creations won't be so....out of the box?  Creepy?  I'm really a normal person......I promise!!!

Since it is the Halloween season, and I do love this card, I am entering it in the Festive Friday challenge using black, watercolor (metallic purple splatters), and spooky sentiment.  I thought I'd add it to the Shopping our Stash challenge and the Four Seasons challenge as well!

Thanks so much for stopping by, have a colorful...not creepy...day!!

CAS Autumn on Friday!

 Hi all!

Isn't it funny how old things become new again?  Like 80's and 90's fashion.  My girls are wearing things I wore when I was a teenager in high-school.  Occasionally, I'll show them a picture of something I wore that looks similar to their outfit of the day...they immediately go change!  Don't they know vintage is cool?

I decided to use that mindset for today's challenge at CAS on Friday, all the items used are 'vintage'!   The challenge is to create something with an Autumn theme, I just threw in the vintage twist for my own fun.  Making an autumn card is easy enough right?  Just make sure it is CAS in design...

I found this paper I created using metallic spray ink in green, orange, gold and a pomegranate color.  The colors got muddy, so I wasn't thrilled with it really.  I threw it in my scrap paper bin and it's been there for a few weeks, but the colors were very fall-ish, so I started from there.  

I decided to die cut the paper  pulled out a SUPER old die set for the feathers. I don't even know where it's from, but I would guess Spellbinders circa 2008?  Vintage...like me!  I then added a die cut leaf with gold embossing on it from an old PTI set I have called Leaf Prints, another vintage set from 2010...I never throw anything away.

To complete the design, I used some metallic copper paint for a stripe and a few splatters for good measure.  The sentiment I found in my scrap sentiments bin, I do know that's from Altenew, Essential Sentiments.  It's a great set, and with the die, you can make a few sentiments and use them as needed like I do.

That's it!  This is my second post on the CAS on Friday as a design team member...I'm so excited about that! I am also entering this is in the Time Out Challenge this week, Vintage...70's theme. Please be sure to visit the other DT members, the love to create as much as I do!

Thanks for stopping by, have a colorful day!

Altenew New October 2023 Stamps, Dies, Stencils, and More Release!

 Hi all!

Welcome to Paperfiori, I'm so glad you're here!  Today I'm honored to be participating in Altenew's October 2023 Marvelous Monthly Series Release Blog Hop + Giveaway!  You should have arrived here from the amazing Agnieszka Malyszek, but be sure to hit all the AMAZING artists on this hop by starting here.

I am featuring today the fantastic Joy die, foil and stencil bundle, the Festive Greenery embossing folder and stencil bundle, and a touch of the Joyful Greetings stamp set. These products are wonderful for holiday projects or even for everyday happy occasions.  They are perfect for quick and simple cards when you're busy with life...or the holidays!

Each of the cards above are created using the same layout and processes.  However, with a change of color, a switch of the coordinating sentiment and embellishments, the possibilities with these products are endless!

This first card is my traditional holiday card.  The Joy bundle includes a foil plate, dies and a stencil.  Such variety!  The stencil allows you to create a bold statement stripes or solid colored if you want some variety.  I used the die set and stencils from the bundle for this bold sentiment.  The sentiment strip in the center was created from the new Joyful Greetings stamp set, which has a great combination of sentiments that coordinate.

I also adore the Festive Greenery layered stencil background! I love layered stencils, as you can make endless patterned papers in any color combination of your choice, which makes them a fantastic investment.  

This second card layout and technique is the same as the first, but using non-traditional holiday colors and actually is geared more toward New Year celebrations. 

I only used the Joy foil plate and the background die for the large sentiment and again the Joyful Greetings set for the center sentiment.  With a few added sprigs of 'greenery' from Altenew's Create-A-Wreath die set using vellum paper lightly inked with a coordinating color and Blue Crystals Gradient Glitter Paper set, the sentiment really shines!  

This final card moves more toward an everyday celebration instead of the holidays.  I used the Festive Greenery again for the background with pale pinks and greens making it perfect for celebrating a new addition to a family.  The foreground white panel was embossed with the coordinating folder and laid out to continue the pattern.

The Joy die bundle again is featured in the center, with the background die cut out from the white panel and the Joy outline pink to complete the bold sentiment.  If you'd like to see more cards non-holiday cards using the Joy bundle, check them out on my  Instagram @kristinsluhan.  

Now for the fun part! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $100 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner and a $50 gift certificate to 4 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog AND each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 10/10/2023 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 5 random winners from the comments left along this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 10/12/2023.  That's $300 total in prizes!!

THANK YOU so much for taking the time to visit, read and comment here and at the other stops along the hop!  It really brings each of us so much JOY...yes I went there😉...to share our work with you! 

Now head on over to the lovely Amy Tsuruta for your next stop on the hop!

Have a wonderfully colorful day!

Birthdays galore and a SNEAK PEEK! - AAA BIRTHDAY CARD CHALLENGE TOP 4!!

 Hi all!

I have several family birthdays this month, 2 of them on the same day!  I shared a card for my sweet teenager's birthday here from a previous challenge.  She is only 1 of the the important people in my life with a birthday within a 30 day period.

Today, I'm using the AAA Birthday Card challenge to inspire this next card.  Since I am an ex-preschool teacher, my students loved to ask me, 'what's your favorite color Mrs. 'Luan?' (its hard to pronounce double S's at that age😆).  I always said 'rainbow color because I love ALL the colors!", so that's what I did here!

This is a soon-to-be released stamp and die set from Altenew called Cut the Cake. It doesn't release until the middle of the month, but you can see some of the inspirations from it here.  

I used all the fun rainbow colors for this, and love how it came out!  The background is also a new embossing folder from Altenew called Stellar Cascade, but that one is being released on THURSDAY!!!  Stop back for a blog hop then...

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you have a colorful day!!

Paradise...

 Hi all!

What's your version of paradise?  Relaxing on a beach?  Snuggled up to a fire?  Lounging in bed?  Holed up in your crafting space without ANY other responsibilities, or demands on your time?  I'll take all 4 thank you....  Since my mom's fall in July, we had to cancel our immediate family vacation plans until next year, but we all need a break!  4 days in New York or at beach?  Hmmmm....  we will see...

Until then, I'm in my studio for a few minutes this morning whipping up a card for the new AAA Challenge #250, ink blending.  I'm even throwing my hat in the ring for their open DT spot...keeping my fingers crossed!

Ever since I found the mini blending brushes from Altenew, I can't stop doing ink blending!  I love it...I even have a trick I use while creating you can see HERE.  I hate wasting ink...

I always head toward a good rainbow blending, it's the pre-school teacher in me!  I then used a simple tropical leaf to die cut my rainbow paper from the Hibiscus flower die set.  The design of this leaf allows the white background to show, to keep my CAS design as simple as possible.

After the leaf was cut, I added a few little splatters of the rainbow with my watercolor paints.  Next, I added a sentiment from a new set debuting in November which is too cute...more sneak peeks on that set soon.  Add it all together and you have a simple yet impactful CAS card design!

Thanks for visiting my blog today, I hope your day is filled with color!!!

Shroomie Lovin'

 Hi all!

It's my littlest's birthday on October 3rd...but she's not so little anymore, she'll be 15.  She has just surpassed me in height...I'm 5'10"...and is truly built like a linebacker.  I've taught her to embrace her size, that she comes from a long line of  Amazon warrior women...just like Wonder Woman!  She is powerful, kind, fierce, sassy, creative and just the most lovely little being on earth. *tear*  I love this gorgeous daughter and am so proud of the woman she is becoming!  Look at that teenage smirk...

  

She is also incredibly OBSESSED with mushrooms, so I knew I had to use Altenew's Mushroom Greetings stamp set, and that it had to be paired with the Wood Cookie die.  It's just a perfect combination.

The background is a piece of retired SU! cardstock that I did some ink blending on the edges and corners for some added interest.  The sentiment is a wonderful set, the Essential Sentiments foil plate.  

Since I was inspired by this week's Freshly Made Sketches challenge for the layout, I chose to not use the coordinating die set to the plate and cut it into a long strip.

A little bit of splatter along with the added 'love you so mush' sentiment to the inside, and it's the perfect birthday card for my amazing daughter!

Thanks so much for stopping by, I hope you have a colorful day!!

EXCITING NEWS! - ALPHABET CHALLENGE TOP 3!

 Hi all!

I have been holding onto this news for a while, and I'm finally able to share it!  I am a new design team member at the CAS on Fridays blog!  I'm so excited to explore my CAS style.  It's not my 'go-to' design style, but I love how simple designs can really pop off a card!

This week our challenge is a CAS card for a wedding.  I LOVE weddings...I was a wedding and event designer and florist for over 15 years so it's kinda in my blood!

I kept this very CAS style using Altenew's Botanical Line Art stamp and stencil set from their Craft-Your-Life monthly series.  Its a great set for a CAS card!  The sentiment is from my overflow stash and was crated from Altenew's Essential Sentiment foil and die set.  I did some ink blending on the sentiment strip to make it match. 

I am a monochromatic wedding color type of girl myself, but can get behind a bold color selection like red or deep purple as well.  My own wedding was a combination of blush, coral, cream and white, so that inspired my color choice here. It's finished off with just a couple of enamel dots because even though it's CAS, I love a little splatter or bling to my creations!

Be sure to visit the other DT members blogs for more inspiration this round, and I'm looking forward to seeing what YOU create!

Have a colorful day!!

Throwin' Down Color

 Hi all!

When I saw this challenge from the Color Throwdown, I was immediately inspired by swipe art I used to do with my little artists at school.  It was always one of their most favorite projects and it's ALL over the ticky toc right now too...

I decided to use some of my old re-inkers from my SU! days, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, and Soft Sky.  I placed a little drop of ink on a scraper and swiped until my paper was full!  Super easy...

I decided to make this a masculine card, so I added some scrap geometric shapes I had in my bin and came across the sentiment in there too!  Even EASIER!!

The gold from the embellies inspired me to add some gold metallic splatter watercolor...then added it all together and viola!  Easy card for my nephew's bday in November!  Actually both of my nephew's birthdays are in November....I'll make another!!

Thanks for stopping by, have a colorful day!!

Little, quick CAS

 Hi all!

What is your personal style?  I love all thinks shimmer, glitzy and glamour!  My kids call me and our house decor, 'extra'....   CAS style is not what I personally gravitate when creating, BUT it is what I prefer when I look and admire what is done...does that make sense?  Maybe I just have the inability to edit and love seeing when someone else does?  Anyhoo...

I am working on my inner editor, so here is a card I made for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge this week.  Simple...kind of...

As I was cleaning up and pondering this sketch, I thought I'd try it before I finished up for the day.  I stamped the branches from Alex Siberia Designs Festive Poinsettia on a tiny 4x4 inch card.  Its my first ASD set and I'm loving it!!!  I'll post more of what I made with it soon...  

After stamping the branches, I stamped and heat embossed with red powder the sentiment....I've literally had this powder for about 18 years and have hardly ever used it! 

I thought it looked a little sad, so I added the gold watercolor splashes....see?  I'm am extra!  Not my favorite creation, but it is a one layer CAS?  Either way, thanks for stopping and have a colorful day!!

Olaf is my FAVORITE!!! - CLEAN AND SIMPLE TOP 3!

 Hi all!

We're all in touch with our inner Disney obsession on some level, right?  Most of us have kids, so we've seen more Disney movies than we care to admit, but if you're anything like my family of girls, we are well versed in ALL THINGS Disney related.  My ALL TIME favorite Disney character is Olaf from Frozen.  He's optimistic, funny, charming, sensitive, and the most joyful personality ever created from Disney!  Everyone should be like Olaf...

 

With that being said, this week on Inkspirational, they are asking for a CAS card inspired by a movie...I chose a character.  This little snowman isn't Olaf, but he looks pudgy and cheerful none the less!  AND since it's a CAS card, I decided to work in the Simply Clean and Simple challenge of using a stencil as well!

This is another card using the soon to be released Altenew Delightful Duo:Snowy Delight, (October 17th), BUT I will attach a link as soon as I get it!  It's a great holiday or winter set with a layered stencil background maker, images to color in with markers and a sold separately die set to save your hands from fussy cutting.

I also used the Dotted Waves die to create the background, I think the waves look like mounds of snow?  I used a little bit of Arctic ink blended on the bottom corner, then accentuated the mounds with the coordinating Arctic alcohol marker.

The trees were created from the layered stencil background along with the snowflakes.  I added a few sequins for some sparkle and its done!