Proud of my baby! - COLOR THROWDOWN SHOUT OUT!

 Hi all!

My eldest daughter is off away at college...  It's hard to have her away, but it's nice to be close enough we could do a day trip...it would be a long day, but it's possible.  One of my BFF's eldest daughter is a Junior in high school and is beginning her college tours.  She visited Miami and Lily took her and her family on a tour of campus and why she loves it there.  I've had nothing but rave reviews of her 'tour' and I'm so proud of the woman she's becoming!  I thought I'd drop her a line and let her know just that!

  

The Color Throwdown and the Triple B challenges have a great color grouping, and I love those colors together.  I'm also using the Can You Handle the Pressure challenge with leaves and vines.

The wreath is embossed with Altenew Leaf Crown 3D embossing folder, with a bloom from the Proud of You stamp, stencil and die combo.  This is an AMAZING combo, it makes creating a beautiful blossom quick and fun!

Finished off with a sentiment from the combo, a few splatters and enamel dots; and it's ready to mail with a care package!  I love it when crafting comes together so quickly...

Thanks for stopping by, have a colorful week!

Altenew November 2023 Stamps, Dies, Stencils, Betterpress Plate, etc Release | Blog Hop + Giveaway ($300 in Total Prizes!)

Hi all!

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

There are SO MANY exciting Altenew things to share with you today!  Every time there is a release, I feel like I have to have EVERTHING...  Which my bank account disagrees with, so we're going to focus on the items from this release that will enhance what you already have.  That way you don't have to break the bank...unless you really want to...I know I do!

  

First off...this is an absolute MUST HAVE for the crafter that likes to stay organized...  Altenew has created ink labels for ALL their Crisp Dye Inks, and for all the currently available Fresh Dye Inks!

It was so much fun labeling and re-organizing all my ink pads...it's the little things really...  I will be investing in some new pad holders since some are for old ink pads I don't have any longer.  

Having the labels on the edge of the pads, makes creating and clean-up so much easier!!  It also helps keep my ADHD brain less stimulated and scattered when things have a proper place.  AND the label sheets had extra embellishments for you to use for future creations...these people are so smart....

 

The next must have item from Altenew's November Release are 2 of the sentiment items.  Both the font and the sentiments themselves in the Classic Sentiments stamp and die set are simply lovely and completely on trend.  However, the Timeless Sentiments Die set may be my favorite of the 2, it's bold and beautiful and perfect for any creation.

 

I don't think they could be any more perfect, unless you of course use them with the incredibly versatile Playful Leaves stencil and embossing folder and the Picture Frame Die sets.  The simple images are a great addition for any of your Altenew floral stamps and dies.  The following cards truly came together in mere minutes and the end result is a beautiful card to make someone feel special and important!  The first card uses both the stencil and the embossing folder, along with my rarely used Metallic Sprays, but this stencil just screamed 'spray me'. 

 

With the added highlights and splatters using Altenew Metallic Watercolors,  the 'friend' Timeless Sentiment die cut, along with 'happy birthday' from the Essential Sentiments Foil set, it's a great and super easy card to make.

This second card was also SO easy!  Just emboss the card front panel, added a few splatters with the Metallic Watercolors and a leaf using the Picture Frames die cut from the new gorgeous glitter paper collection.  The sentiment from the Classic Greetings set was heat embossed and...perfection!

NOW...here comes 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/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 11/12/2023 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 5 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 11/14/2023.

THANK YOU so much for taking the time to visit, read and comment here and at the other stops along the hop. I hope I was able to inspire you to get some fantastic basics for your crafting collection.  Your next stop is Michelle Short, and please be sure to share the love with her and all the other blog hoppers, we really love to share our work with you!

Have a colorful day!

You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!

Click here to enter

Chilly color combo -FRESHLY MADE SKETCH SHOUT OUT!

 Hi all!

I love unconventional colors for Christmas cards!  Don't get me wrong, I do love the traditional red and green, but I never decorate in those colors.  Haven't since...well...forever!  While this card doesn't have a holiday sentiment, it is a winter themed card in unconventional colors.

  

I was inspired by the Sunday Stamps color grouping, opposite colors on the color wheel are perfect together, so I'm drawn to it.  The layout is following this weeks Freshly Made Sketch and the Inkspirational prompt of 'cold' inspired the snowflake usage.

I used metallic copper paper for my orange color in the image, as well as adding a little alcohol ink to my sequins to make them match...one of my favorite tricks instead of investing in a million different colors.

The die cuts are from the recent Altenew Cozy Comfort retreat.  I'm not sure if the dies will be available this season, but I'll let you know if they are!

I'm feeling a little under the weather today, so I'm off to lay down!  Have a colorful day!

Some me time...

 Hi all!

Isn't it hard to find time for ourselves?  With taking care of my elderly parents and their doctor and social commitments, my teenage daughters school and fall play schedule, my hubbys work and family business commitments and babysitting our adorable God daughter, it leaves little time for my own things.  My mom signed me up for a caregiver class these last 2 months, and I have to say it's been eye opening!  Taking time for ourselves is a must when you're taking care of so many others...I am now making MY schedule a priority, which means more time for me in the studio!!

  

So being in the studio today, I was shuffling through my weekly challenges, and found 2 color challenges that I had to do.  The Color Throwdown and the first 3 colors from the Sunday Stamps colors this week are my favorite autumn combination...oranges and teal blues are a DREAM together!

I had a pumpkin left over from my creations 2 weeks ago using the Ella Pumpkin stencil from The Ton and needed to use it asap!  I also noticed I have ZERO birthday cards in my stash...what is wrong with me??  How is that possible???  This is something I MUST rectify!

The flowers are the gorgeous Japanese Camellia die from Altenew, inked with a little Vanilla Cream.  The background is inked with Dew Drops and covered with the new Honeycomb Daisies die...to be released on November 6th!  Make sure you make a note if it...it is going to go FAST!!!

I finished it off with a sentiment with 'birthday' from the Versatile Greetings 2 foil and die and 'happy' from the Sentiment Strips 3 set.  I love the colors and can't wait to sent it to a friend whos' birthday is in a couple weeks!

That's all for now!  Hope you've had a colorful day!

AAA Color Theme Challenge

 Hi all!

Welcome back!  How did you do on the last AAA Card Challenge...something spooky?  It's so fun to see others creations when given the same perimeters...don't you think?

This week, the challenge is inspired by this photo...using it's colors.  The colors are so pretty together, simple and the perfect inspiration for a CAS card!

For my card, I pulled out a retired Altenew stamp set, Billowing Peonies.  It was one of my first sets I purchased from Altenew probably 5 years ago?  I love their flower stamps so it was a must have.  The peoney was stamped with only the outline image using Obsidian ink on Bristol paper.

Next, the peoney was filled with a puddle of water.  That's when you let the magic happen!  Gently tap the end of your brush into the puddle and watch it move...you must be patient with it.  One false move and you completely loose the separate colors.  Repeat with each color.

Add in a teeny tiny little splatter along with a sentiment strip from a new set Altenew is releasing in November...keep your eyes here for more information on that!  This is a super easy CAS card to create, as long as you're patient!

Thanks so much for stopping by, please make sure to give the other DT members a visit and some love!  Have a colorful day!

Finally...

 Hi all!

I am FINALLY able to sit down and do the Altenew Inspiration Challenge for October!  It is being hosted by the amazingly talented Hannelie Bester...I know you've seen her work all over the blog-o-sphere...she's a national treasure.

 

This is the inspiration photo and Hannelie's interpretation of it.  Her simplistic style is quite impactful and the colors are stunning...

I used both her creation and the photo to inspire this card.  I knew I wanted to keep the design simple like Hannelie's by using a floral focal point with Altenew's Carolina Allspice Craft-a-Flower die set.  I inked my cardstock using Coral Bliss, Heart Beat, Orange Cream and Velvet Crisp Dye inks, to use the colors that best correlated with the photo.  Next, a sentiment strip from Essential Sentiments.  This is one of my all time favorite sets, as the foil plate and die allow me to make multiple sentiments and have them on hand at all times.  Then finished off with 3 satin gold sequins. 

Using the photos inspiration, I added the texture of the wood background with Altenew's Deck Planks embossing folder. After eliminating a frame...didn't want an exact replica...I went with a circle from the Halftone Circle die and added ink swipes using Moon Rock and Morning Frost Crisp Dye Inks.   I also added a touch of green...from the space in between the boards...and added a leaf cut from the same die set, but inked with Mountain Pine, Hunter Green and Green Onyx.

I finished off the card using the sentiment strip a few splatters of Moon Rock ink and the 3 sequins.

Thanks for visiting my corner of the internet today, I hope you have a colorful day!!

SUP Dawg?

 SUP dawg?

Welcome back to Paperfiori!  Today is another start to the fabulous CAS on Friday's challenge!  The next 2 weeks, the theme will be ANIMALS.

Admittedly, I have very few animal stamps.  Bugs?  Flowers? Geometric? Sentiments?  I've got those for days...but animals?  Limited supply.  No idea where I even got this set?  It's a type of spaniel...and I have 2...I had to use it. It's also a good stamp to use some alcohol markers...I'm still a newbie with them...practice makes perfect!

I was a teenager when this 'greeting' was introduced...think I may have just dated myself...  Snoop Dog may be who brought it into 'fashion'?  Or maybe Suds Mackenzie?  Not sure...I'm obviously an 80's kid.  This dog, although properly dressed, has some sass hiding under that bow tie so I totally had to use that saying!

I die cut the 'sup' out of my card front, and added a piece of red cardstock behind it.  Then finished it off with a few grungy splatters, and it's done!

That's it for me here, be sure to visit the other DT members for more inspiration. Hoping to see your creation linked up, who knows, you may have a winner!  Have a colorful day!

LATER DAWG!!

JOY!!!

 Hi all!

I have a talent...professional problem solver!  I trained myself...accidentally...to be a problem solver.  Having ADHD (diagnosed in 1992) has gifted me with the opportunity to create a lot of problems for myself growing up.  I was always messing up one way or another, and had to figure out how to get myself out of the jam, without asking for help!  I'm 😉a bit of a control freak I guess...  But with this talent also came the ability to think outside the box.

For Sisterhood of Crafters challenge, I decided to pull out my items from Altenew's latest release...it was intended for Christmas, but not this time!  The beauty of using stamps and stencils is you can use your supplies anyway you want!  You're not trapped in someone else's idea of how the item should be used.  

This card background was created using my 'tip' for cleaning brushes that I shared HERE on my YouTube channel.  Watch the video to see it in action, or continue reading as I try my best to explain it.  While ink blending, its my practice to always have an A2 piece of cardstock next to me to 'clean' off the ink from my brushes...I hate wasting anything...  Once the piece is filled its set aside until inspiration to use it hits me!  Generally, there are several pieces of cardstock going at a time, so I can create a paper with a good color combo and not just add random inks together.

Starting with my 'scrap' ink card panel, I pulled some darker inks that complemented the inks on the paper.  Using the Starburst Stencil from Altenew, I inked the colors coordinating with the background.  Easy peezy!  The Joy die was cut from white cardstock then placed on the vellum...we couldn't hide that gorgeous background could we??

The little coordinating sentiments are from the stamp set Joyful Greetings.  Think outside the box everyone...those supplies can be used for more than what they are intended for!

Thank you SO much for visiting my blog, I hope I've inspired you to try something different for this challenge!  Have a wonderfully colorful day!

Does this count? - JUST ADD INK HONORABLE MENTION!

 Hi all!

I'm winding down my very busy weekend, and hoping this week I'll get a little bit of a reprieve from the chaos!  Not really sure how or when that will happen, but I'm putting it out there...manifesting rest an relaxation...if I say it, it will come....😂😉

In the meantime, I'm here to share this card for the Just Add Ink challenge this week, spotlighting.  Now I learned spotlighting was when you separated out a portion of a stamped background, and made it different, generally with color. 

I think I followed the 'old way' kind of when I die cut the Ornate Nesting Die from Altenew, but also added a 'new way' of spotlighting by adding die cut of the same image, colored, over top of the cut-out part...am I overthinking this?  

Either way, I like the effect of the spotlighting I did.  The floral image and sentiment are from Altenew and will be released in November!  It's a great mini set and there are 2 others just like it!  If you like coloring and don't want to spend a ton of time doing it, these smaller image sets are perfect for that.  I'm still working on my alcohol ink skills, and practice makes perfect they say, so I'll keep going at it.  I do love the colors I picked for these florals though...

That's it for today...  Thanks for stopping by, and have a colorful day!

Final color story...COLOR HUES RUNNER UP! - AS YOU SEE IT FEATURED ARTIST!

 Hi all!

I've now completed my projects for the Instagram Create 3 Ways challenge!  It's a really fun challenge, and if you're into that sort of thing, check out my Instagram tomorrow at 3 pm for all the details.  In the mean time, here is the update on what I've created for the last card using the Color Hues  and the As You See It challenges for this week!

  

I originally was going to make a pink card for my last creation, but when I saw the challenge for Color Hues this week, I HAD to do it in yellow and craft!  I'm a sucker for yellow, and yellow with craft is one of my favorite combos.  I'm also obsessed with making these leaves with just the veining from vellum...simple and gorgeous.

I again followed the same layout and products from this and this card I made earlier this week.  I have to admit...I love this one the best!

The ink colors are from Altenew.  For the yellows, I used Fresh Lemon, Maple Yellow, Honey Drizzle, and Yellow Ochre, then Rocky Shore for the craft color.  For the pumpkins, I did add Vanilla Cream for the first 2 layers then the Honey Drizzle for the last one.

So that's it!  I finished my Instagram challenge and worked on some blog challenges as well!  Not bad for a few days work...

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