Fusion Card Challenge

It's time again for a new Fusion Card Challenge and I've used both the sketch and the inspiration photo to create this card. I dug into my Paper Smooches archives and used these adorable hugging elephants!

I stamped the image using Memento Tuxedo Black ink on X-Press It Blending Card paper then colored with Copics. Papers are all from the Authentique Classicque: Pretty 6x6" pad.  Stitched rectangle, stitched flags and the tag dies are all from My Favorite Things.

 

STAMPS: A Little Lovin', Fancy Frames (sentiment) by Paper Smooches.

Hope you can join us in the challenge! Happy stamping!   ~Wanda

Color Throwdown #570

Yours truly is hosting this week's Color Throwdown challenge and I hope you'll enjoy working with turquoise, orange and gray as much as I did! I went with a pretty literal take on the inspiration photo as well by giving the illusion of a snow globe (though the snowman is bursting outside of the globe - lol!) I stenciled with Peacock Feathers distress ink over the Frosty Flakes stencil by The Greetery. I then dry embossed the Softly Falling folder by SU.

The image was colored with Copics, highlighted with a white gel pen then fussy cut. The sentiment and banner die are from the Sentiment Suite: Christmas stamp set and the Sentiment Suite Basics die set by The Greetery.  

We'd love to see how you interpret these colors! If you need more inspiration, check out the rest of the design team samples below. 

  Amy Rohl

 Amy Rysavy
Barbara Anders

 Broni Holcombe  

Jodi Collins 

 Lisa Henke 

Lori Tecler

Lynn Put 

Vickie Zimmer 

Wanda Cullen (you are here)

~Wanda

Paper Players CAS

Happy Sunday everyone! It's clean and simple week at The Paper Players challenge blog and Jaydee has also chosen a North Pole theme to inspire us! Ironically, the day I made my card was unusually blustery and cold in VA, so I was led to use this snowflake embossing folder in my background along with a leftover piece of gelli print work from a long time ago.  I pulled out some stamps by Paper Smooches that were fun to color and paper piece!
I did some ink blending using Coastal Cabana (SU) and Falling For Blue (WPlus9) and used that to paper piece the scarf and hat band. The sentiment was white embossed then die cut with a banner die from MFT's Blueprint 27 set. A plastic snowflake that's been in my stash several years topped it off! 

STAMPS: Freezy Fellas (Paper Smooches); Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches). 

We'd love to have you play along with us!   For more inspiration from the rest of the design team, you can check them out HERE.                                                                                   ~Wanda

Fusion Card Challenge

It's time for another Fusion Card Challenge! I've always been fascinated by the adorable hedgehog stamp images in blog land, but believe it or not, I don't own a single one! My two wheeled image options were also very limited so I went digi shopping! I found this really cute digi image on Di's Digi Stamps and had a ball coloring it up with Copics! I'm also trying to add some highlights with a white gel pen (Hobby Lobby has a pack of two pens - Gelly Roll bright white ink by Sakura) when I do Copic coloring. It always adds interest and depth when others do it, so I added some dots to the cheeks and to the geraniums.

I modified the circle element and used a Stitched Rounded Rectangle die by My Favorite Things. The sentiment is from the Sentiment Sampler set by Paper Smooches and the patterned papers are from the "Sunkissed" 6x6 pad by Doodlebug Design. One of my favorite card base dies is from MFT's Blueprints 27 set. It was OOS for a really long time, but I finally snagged it.

As you can see...I used both the sketch and was inspired by the photo as well! We'd love to see how you are inspired by the new Fusion Card Challenge! Hope to see you in the gallery.
                                                                       ~Wanda

Penguin Love

This month is flying on by and 
the new Fusion Card Challenge has a fun inspiration photo that spurred my card creation. To be honest...I was so focused on the penguin theme that I forgot to incorporate the sketch - lol!  How pitiful is that?!  I'll blame it on my hectic schedule of daily (Monday through Friday) trips to the radiation oncology unit where I am getting treatments for breast cancer for six weeks.

This adorable critter is from the Chilly Chums stamp set by Paper Smooches and included some minimal coloring with Copics.  I added Glossy Accents to his eyes and a black pearl to his hat.  Fine glitter was added to some tiny punched snowflake embellishments. Patterned paper is from an old 6x6" Christmas pad by My Mind's Eye. The sentiment was white embossed on black CS then die cut using a Word Bubbles Framelits Die by Stampin' Up. 

For more inspiration, be sure to check out what the rest of the design team has created.. Barb Ghigliotty, Jeanne Jachna, Jen Mitchell, Karren Johnson, Linda Callahan, Lyndal Higgins , Michelle Leone, Michelle Lupton, Wanda Cullen (you are here). Thanks for stopping by and hope to see you in the Fusion gallery!

Paper Players CAS Week

Happy Sunday and welcome to another Paper Players Challenge! This week, Claire is asking us to create a CAS design with a snowy day theme.  I'll confess I struggled with keeping my card without many layers, since this snowflake just begs to be layered. In hindsight, I could have used just the one silver glitter snowflake!  

This really was a quick and easy card to assemble.  Patterned papers are from Doodlebug Design's "Frosty Friends" 6x6 pad.  The snowman (Winter Groves by Paper Smooches) was stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black on X-Press It Blending Card and was colored with Copics.  The scarf was paper pieced.  The sentiment is from Paper Smooches' "Sentiment Sampler" set and was stamped over a label die by My Favorite Things. The snowflake die is from Stampin' Up.

Be sure to stop by The Paper Players Challenge blog and see what the other talented team members have created.  We hope to see you in the gallery!

Inspired By All The Little Things

Whoa!! December is here already and the days until Christmas are numbered! It's time for another Inspired By All The Little Things challenge and we've got a "cool" inspiration photo to inspire you in so many ways!  I was inspired by the skating theme (my card started with this patterned paper with the skate border!), the pale blue colors, the furry border on the skates and the pompom. The pair of skates led me to use an old image with a pair of mittens and I added white Flower Soft detail to imitate the fur.  I love using this embossing folder that gives the illusion of falling snow and this sweet little penguin just had to have a pompom beanie to complete the scene. 😃  

I'm also playing along with the Paper Players challenge which has a great sketch this week (I did a flipped version of it and omitted the ribbon)!

STAMPS: Warm Winter Wishes (Flourishes), Winter Groves (Paper Smooches).
PAPER: Winter Fun 6x6 pad by Carta Bella.
INK: Blue Bayou, Baked Brown Sugar (SU), Versafine Onyx Black, Versamark.
MISC: Softly Falling EF by Stampin' Up; Stitched Oval die by Lil' Inker Designs; Polar White Flower Soft; Pure White embossing powder by Altenew.

We would love to see how YOU are inspired by this photo! Hope to see you in the gallery!

Inspired By All The Little Things

Hi everyone and welcome to the weekend! We have a new Inspired By All The Little Things challenge and we certainly hope that you'll join in! This woodland photo was perfect for me to use some birch tree dies over a base of patterned paper.  The owl was colored with Copics.  

Here is what I used:
STAMPS: Chubby Chums by Paper Smooches.
PAPER: Trail Mix 6x6 pad by BoBunny; Kraft by PTI; X-Press It Blending Card, White by PTI.
INK: Memento Tuxedo Black, Tea Dye distress ink (to sponge edges).
DIES: Birch Trees Die-Namics by MFT; All Framed Up by Reverse Confetti; Chubby Chums by Paper Smooches; Stitched Fishtail Flags STAX Die-Namics by MFT.

We're thrilled to have the talented Amanda Bodine from Rutabaga Pie Designs as our guest designer!  Check out her blog to see the awesome card she created!

Thanks so much for stopping by...hope to see you in the gallery!

Inspired By All The LIttle Things

Hello everyone! Hope your weekend is off to a fabulous start and that you'll find some time to join us in the new Inspired By All The Little Things Challenge!  Leigh has a beautiful inspiration photo for us with this table setting.  I was inspired by the runner, the colors and of course, the gorgeous florals!  

My card is a blend of products from SEVEN different stamp companies!
The Stamp Market: Pretty Peony stamp set.
Altenew: Daisy stamp set.
Reverse Confetti: Stone cardstock for card base and Tall Stripe Panel die. 
Simon Says Stamp: Big Hugs sentiment die. 
Paper Smooches: Stitched die.
WPlus9: Beanstalk, Appletini, Little Piggy, Sweet Gelato Pure Color dye inks.
Stampin' Up: Daffodil Delight, Crushed Curry, More Mustard, Pretty in Pink ink pads. 

I'm also entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where Anything Goes is the theme this week.  

Thanks for stopping by...hope to see you in the gallery HERE!

Smooches

I had so much fun putting this little country scene together and it took 3 different stamp company products to git 'er done! This uses the new layout for the Freshly Made Sketches Challenge and I'm combining it with the Furry Friends theme that is up for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge. 

The adorable cow and sentiment are from Paper Smooches' Chubby Chums stamp set.  The fence is the Rolling Hill Die-Namics die by MFT.  The florals are from Reverse Confetti's Blooms 'n Buds stamp set with matching dies and the stitched frame is also RC's newly released Hello and Thanks Label Confetti Cuts die set...LOVE it!  

Gotta run and head out to work shortly...thanks so much for stopping by and commenting!

Inspired By...

Good Saturday everyone!  I'm looking forward to a weekend off work (which means I can steal some time to stamp) and hope you will be able to find some crafty time as well and join us at Inspired By All The Little Things!  Leigh has a great inspiration photo for us!  I was inspired by the window panes, green/white/brown color combo and, of course, the flower pots.

Here is what I came up with...

I knew right away I wanted to use WPlus9's Fresh Cut Containers stamp/die set, so began with watercoloring with Mijello Mission paints on Ranger WC cardstock for the flower pots.  I stamped the greenery with 4 different shades of green dye inks (all by WPlus9) and felt they needed a wee pop of color, so added a few florals into the mix.  The frames are from Paper Smooches' Fancy Frames Icons die set and the sentiment is from their Fancy Frames stamp set.  The card base is Stone CS by Reverse Confetti.  It looks pretty simple but will have to admit, it took a good bit of time to die cut, stamp and arrange all the greenery!  

We're happy to announce that Lindsey Larsen of Occasional Crafting is our guest designer for this challenge! Be sure to stop by her blog and say hello.

Enjoy your weekend and hope to see you in the gallery!

Simple Thanks

This is a quick card post using some leftover flowers from a previous project paired with a popped up window frame for Splitcoaststampers' 600th Sketch Challenge.  We were to choose any of the last 100 sketches and I went with SC596.  

Here's what I used:

STAMPS: Painted Flowers (Altenew), Fancy Frames (Paper Smooches).
PAPER: Black and White Collection by Recollection; Black, White by PTI.

CAS(E) This Sketch

Just had to play along with this great layout for the current CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge!  I wanted to dust off some long neglected Paper Smooches products, so went with this fun crab and sentiment from Chubby Chum Pals.  The frame is one of 3 dies from their Fancy Frames Icons die set.   I used up this scrap piece of watercolored paper in my overflowing leftover pile which used Peacock Feathers and Twisted Citron distress inks. A splatter stamp was inked with Smoky Slate ink by SU.  I added Crystal Effects to his eyes after coloring the image with Copics: RV17, RV19, RV34, N1, N3.

STAMPS: Chubby Chum Pals (Paper Smooches); Ink Splats (WPlus9).
PAPER: Ranger watercolor CS; Bermuda Bay (SU); X-Press It Blending Card.

Color Throwdown

Hard to believe we're at the last Color Throwdown Challenge in November! I'm sure all of you have all your Thanksgiving meal prep under control and you'll have nothing to do but sit with your legs propped up tomorrow - lol! My legs will be tucked into a car and headed to see my family in Ohio tomorrow...can't wait!  We will celebrate both Christmas and Thanksgiving tomorrow and have been doing this for years.  It works out great to spread out the busyness of Christmas!  I took a little side road there, but I'm back and sharing my take on the fun colors that Vickie has chosen based on these adorable little snowman peeps!

I dusted off my Paper Smooches "Winter Groves" stamp set to create this winter scene.  I smooshed a bit of Tumbled Glass distress ink to ground the cool guy.  The sentiment is a Winter Words Confetti Cuts die by Reverse Confetti. 

Congratulations to Mona Pendleton of Cupcake's Creations - our guest star stamper for the week!  

We sadly say goodbye to Karolyn Loncon - our November guest designer - but stay tuned...we have a new talented guestie joining us in December!

For more inspiration by the rest of the design team, click on their blog links below...or... you can go to the Color Throwdown blog to see their cards and to get the details on how to play along. 
Barbara Anders  
Broni Holcombe   
Joan Ervin
Jodi Collins 
Lori Tecler   
Tammy Hershberger
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)
Karolyn Loncon (November Guest Designer) 

Here's another DIY essential oil gift idea!  

 

Color Throwdown

Hey, hey, hey...happy Wednesday everyone!  Joan has a really fun color combo for this week's Color Throwdown Challenge -  inspired by this fabulous Eiffel Tower photo!  I went with a "cool" theme and added another card to my Christmas stash!

This cool dude is from Paper Smooches' Winter Groves stamp set.  The sentiment is from Flourishes' Warm Winter Wishes - retired but one of those timeless sets I won't part with.  I colored with Copics and fussy cut...paper piecing the beanie hat and adding a single pom pom - then popping the guy with foam tape.  Snowflakes and sequins are SU's Frosted Sequin embellishments - adhered with Glossy Accents.  The layout is for Jen's current Deconstructed Sketch Challenge.

I'm happy to announce we have a new guest designer for the month of November!  Big WELCOME to the talented Petra Swart at Cards Creative!  She is a regular player with our challenge and I'm really looking forward to seeing her wonderful work as our monthly guest designer!

Also, congrats to Christy from Snapdragon Stamps who is our guest star stamper this week!

Details on how to post your project are given on the Color Throwdown blog.  For more inspiration, be sure and check out the rest of the design team's creations on the CTD blog or you can go to the links below:

Barbara Anders
Broni Holcombe 
Joan Ervin 
Jodi Collins 
Lori Tecler 
Monika Davis 
Vickie Zimmer 
Wanda Cullen (you are here)

Petra Swart - November Guest Designer