Winter Cheers for CH140

Hello friends!  It's hard to believe but today is the first of September!  Wow!  While the year seems to be rushing by, the good news is that we have a new challenge at Color Hues.  This time the lovely and amazing Nancy is hosting and she's chosen a really nice, subtle color pairing.

Color Hues

When I saw this color combo, immediately my mind went to a die set that I'd purchased on sale last winter but never had a chance to use.  As such, I'll be sharing with Darnell's NBUS challenge.  

NBUS

It's kind of fun, when it's the last, hot dregs of summer, to think of cooler days to come, which my card reflects.  

I used three different dusty blues from Spellbinders for the sweater and cocoa cup, although my camera made the colors a bit more vibrant than they are IRL.  I wanted to use white for the gloves, so I went with a tan background and a very light gray for the "steam" coming off the cup.

I did some ink blending on all the die cut pieces for a bit of dimension before assembling.  The background was embossed then I went over the raised areas with a white pigment ink pad so all the pretty snowflakes could stand out more and to break up the solid brown.  

The greeting is from the coordinating sentiment set.  It was stamped and die cut, then added to the blue layer.  After everything was adhered, I used Stardust Stickles in the centers of all the snowflakes, including the one on the cup of cocoa.  You may be able to see it a bit better in the photo below.  It just adds a little bit of a sparkling finish to the card.

Thanks for stopping by.  I encourage you to head over to the challenge blog to see the beautiful cards created by the other DT members and our amazing guest designer, Michele Ferguson.  The challenge will remain open until Monday, September 14th at 3pm EDT.  I hope you'll join us!

Stef

• Spellbinders Mugs & Mittens dies
• SB Stay Snuggly sentiment stamp set
• Simon Says Stamp Snowflake Visions embossing folder
• Altenew Featured Sentiments dies
• Stardust Stickles
• Altenew Icy Water and Winter Lakes inks
• SSS Flannel ink

A Little Birdie for the Paper Players

Hello friends!  This week is CAS week at the Paper Players and the lovely Joanne is hosting.  She has chosen an apropos theme for this time of year.  Just remember to limit your layers and embellishments and leave plenty of "white" space to keep it CAS.

Paper Players

 

I'm also playing along with the lovelies at Seize the Birthday, with their Anything Goes option.

STB #318

What I was initially thinking of using turned out to be not very CAS, so I made a change of direction and used a fun little die set that is more in line with this challenge.

I adore the Simon Says Stamp Birdies die set, but it's been quite a while since I used it here, plus I acquired the Birdies Winter Accessories dies last month and wanted them to be able to take an outing in their latest apparel. Wait, what?  Birdies around you aren't wearing their winter attire?  Well, those poor little things! 😉

After all the die cutting and assembly, I thought the birdies needed an appropriate background, so I ink blended some sky and clouds on a panel of white using the MFT Rolling Clouds stencil, then adhered it directly to the card base.  After adding the cute birdies on the branch, the sentiment (from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Crazy Talk) was popped up with a bit of thin foam tape.  I'll add the Happy Birthday wishes on the inside of the card when I go to send it.  The last step was to use a Sakura Black Glaze pen for their eyes.

What signs of winter would you like to share this week?  For additional inspiration, please pop over to the challenge blog here, where my amazing teammates have some wonderful creations to share!  You can play along until Friday January 23rd at 3pm EST.  I hope you'll join us!

Thanks for visiting!

Stef

Warm Wishes for Color Hues

Hello friends and Happy New Year!  I hope your holidays were wonderful.  We're back with a new year of challenges at Color Hues and starting off 2026, the lovely Bonnie is hosting and has chosen a wonderful winter pairing.  

Color Hues

I'd been wanting to use an older stamp set from Stamping Bella and these colors couldn't have been more perfect to use with it.

This is Quinn.  She looks very stylish and cozy in her cute coat and warm boots!  I used Copic markers in cool grays to color her coat, stockings and to add shading, including on the ground so she didn't look like she was floating in air lol!  The red markers are more of a tomato red mix and worked well with the poppy cardstock used for the layering arch. A white gel pen was used to add polka dots to her scarf, but it looked so bright white that I chose to lessen the effect by coloring over them with a light red marker.

I used a piece of gray snowflake patterned paper from the Honey Bee Stamps North Pole paper pad (it came out last year but it's still available), cut it with an arch die, then layered that over the poppy cardstock cut with the next smaller arch die.  Two additional layers were added under that for a bit of dimension before adhering to the card base.  

The sentiment is from the same stamp set and was die cut with a small circle die.  The final touches were to add Star Dust Stickles to the hat pompom and head band, along with the tops of her boots, plus a few HBS Aurora Borealis gems.  In person, the sparkle is amazing but of course, it is difficult to capture in a photo. 

I hope you'll have an opportunity to play along with us this round.  These colors provide a wide range of options, as shown here by my talented teammates and our wonderful Guest Designers Lisa and Barb.  The challenge will stay open until 9 am Wednesday, January 14th.  I hope to see your card in the gallery!

Thanks for visiting!

Stef

• Stamping Bella Uptown Quinn and her Boots stamps
• Simon Says Stamp A2 Arches dies
• Hero Arts Nested Circle die
• Star Dust Stickles
• HBS Aurora Borealis gems
• HBA North Pole paper pad
• Copics - R59, 46, 27, 17, C7, 5, 3, 1, 0, E47, 44, 43, 41, 04, 21, 00

There's Snow Buddy Like You

Hello friends!  I'm here to share a card that I made for the current challenge at Just Us Girls.  They have a terrific winter mood board for inspiration. 

And I have a fun little winter card that I made recently using the January 2025 card kit from Simon Says Stamp.

Isn't he the cutest little yeti?  I had so much fun putting this card together.  I started by stamping and Copic coloring the trees, mountains, yeti and the two hearts, one that he's holding and one up by the sentiment.  Everything was die cut with the matching dies and the neat thing is that the yeti die cuts his hands so that you can insert little items like the heart I used.  The sentiment is also from the same set.

Next I used a piece of patterned paper that looks like snow falling for the background, then layered on a "snow hill" that had been die cut with a hillside border.  I left enough room to tuck in the mountains and tree, then added the trees and yeti.  I used Copic markers to add a touch of blue shadow atop the hills and underneath the yeti and two trees.  The sentiment and little heart were added and I called it done.

Thanks for taking a look and I hope you have a great weekend!

Stef

I also invite you to come on by tomorrow when my new Paper Players card goes live.

• SSS Get Yeti stamps and dies
• Honey Bee Stamps Horizon Slimline Borders die
• Photoplay Yeti for Winter Custom patterned paper
• Copics - R39, 37, 35, 20, G29, 17, 05, BG78, 75, 72, 000, 0000, E29, 37, 33

My Favorite Human Bean for Just Us Girls

Hello friends!  Well, the month of January is flying by and today I'm sharing my 3rd card as guest designer for Just Us Girls.  This week we have a wonderful mood board that I think is one of the sweetest and coziest I've ever seen.

 Just Us Girls

I know the photos are a bit hard to see but if you head over to the JUGs blog, they have a larger version where you can see all the details.  

I'm also joining the current Inkspirational Challenge, where the theme is Stencils.

Inkspirational #307

I just love this JUGS Mood Board!  I was inspired by the kitty's warm cuddly sweater and hat, along with the cup of coffee.

I started with Altenew's Sweater Pattern stencil and used light brown and medium gray to create the pattern on a panel of white, which was then cut it down with a rectangle die and added to a white card base with foam tape.

Next I used the MFT Coffee Talk Bundle to create the die cut coffee cups and stamp the sentiment.  I laid the coffee cups on a sticky mat, then colored them with Copic markers.  Two additional dies were cut for each cup and they were layered up before adhering to card front around the sentiment.  The last thing was to add a heart.  I have some clay hearts from Trinity Stamps but the color was a little too tomato-y, so I just used a dark red Copic marker to change the color and after adhering it to the cup, I covered it with Glossy Accents for some shine.  I was tickled pink by how this card turned out because I've never used this bundle before although I think I bought it over a year ago.  Time to keep shopping my stash, I guess!

So, what inspires you on the mood board?  Please take a moment to visit the challenge blog and see what inspired the DT and hopefully play along!  Thanks for visiting.

Take care!

Stef

Stamps and dies:  MFT Coffee Talk Bundle, Hero Arts Nested Rectangle die

Stencil:  Altenew Sweater Pattern

Ink:  Simon Says Stamp Latte and Earl, Versafine Clair Pinecone

Other:  Trinity Stamps Candy Apple Hearts, Glossy Accents

Copics:  R39, C2, 1, 0, 00, E35, 31, 30

Winter Wishes for Just Us Girls

Hello friends!  It's time for a new challenge at Just Us Girls, where I am the January guest designer.  This week is Word Week and we have one that is apropos for this time of year.

Just Us Girls

  

I'm also playing along with the current Time Out Challenge, where the theme is new.

TOC 254

I recently bought a new snowflake embossing folder and snowflake die cut set and was excited to put them to use for this card.

I started with a panel of mixed media cardstock and ink blended a trio of purple inks, then embossed it with the snowflake folder.  Next I used my white pigment ink pad and very gently rubbed it across the top of the raised part of the embossing to give it some dimension.

I used four dies from the HoneyBee Stamps Lovely Layers: Large Snowflakes set to cut snowflakes out of two colors of purple and one of white.  The background panel was added to the white card base, the snowflakes adhered together and then added to the card along with a foiled sentiment to finish things off.  Super easy and oh, so sparkly!

Thanks so much for visiting, I appreciate it.  Be sure to head over to the challenge blog where the DT has loads of inspiration to share with you!

Take care!  

Stef

Stamps:

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Vicki Boutin Mixed Media, Pinkfresh Studio Foiled Sentiments 4 Holiday, Simon Says Stamp White Glitter, Winter Glitter and Be Mine Glitter

Dies:  HBS Lovely Layers: Large Snowflakes

Inks:  SSS Lilac, Orchid, and Amethyst, Hero Arts white pigment

Embossing:  HBS Snowflakes folder

Yeti or Not for Just Us Girls

Hello friends!  I am so honored to be the January Guest Designer for Just Us Girls!  And this week we're starting off 2024 with a fabulous color combination that I absolutely love!

Just Us Girls

 

I'm also sharing over at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where this week's theme is Something New, which is perfect since I used a new stamp and die set for this card.

I knew right away that I'd be using these colors for a birthday card for our great-nephew because they are perfect for creating a snowy scene.

I started with a panel of mixed media paper and ink blended the teal sky with Altenew Teal Caves.  Next I combined some Tim Holtz Distress Snowfall Grit Paste and Sparkle Paste then spread it through a snow stencil.  While that dried, the images were all stamped, colored with Copic markers and die cut.

Before adding the cute little Yetis, the background was added to the panel.  I used a Copic marker to add teal around the edges then used Stardust Stickles to add sparkle on top and also on the tree branches.  The Yetis were then added with thin foam squares, as was the sentiment, and lastly I used Glossy Accents on the balloon to make it nice and shiny.  I think my nephew will get a kick out of this card, especially the punny sentiment.

Thanks for taking time to stop by, and I hope you'll do the same at the challenge blog, where the DT have some fabulous inspiration for you!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  MFT Yeti or Not

Dies: MFT Yeti or Not, MFT Grounded

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Vicki Boutin Mixed Media

Ink:  Versafine Clair Nocturne, Memento Tuxedo Black, Altenew Teal Cave

Stencil:  MFT Heavy Snowfall

Copics:  B39, 37, 34, BG07, 45, 53, YG67, 17, 03, E29, 25, 11, 21, 00, W3, 1, 0, C3, 00

Snowy Hugs

Hello friends!  I have a fun little card to share that I made for the current challenge at The Paper Players.  The lovely Ann has chosen a theme of tags and while I don't use them often, I do love using tags on cards as the focal image.  

PP622

I'm also joining the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, slipping in on the last day to play along with their theme of "Something New"

 

I'm still feeling the winter vibe here in Idaho, although our snow finally went away for now and we're in the "balmy" 40's this week lol!  Plus I wanted to use my awesome new stencil set from Taylor Expressions.

Wintery but not Christmas-y, with aqua, pink and purple.  The stencil set is called Create-in-Quads, with four 8" x 10.5" stencils used over a letter size piece of cardstock.  After the stenciling was complete, I cut the card stock into four panels measuring 4" x 5.25", and then cut the tag from the one that had the most stenciling.  Next, the hugs portion of the sentiment was die cut from white glitter paper, with the shadow from purple.

The diagonal stitched rectangle in aqua was layered directly onto the white card base, then before adding the tag with foam tape, a piece of white glitter ribbon was tied on to the tag with a piece of silver twine.  The hugs die cut was adhered directly to tag, then the sub-sentiment popped up on thin foam squares.  All the little glitter snowflakes and do-dads were cut out with a snowflake confetti cover die, then adhere randomly to the card for added sparkle.

Thanks for dropping by, I appreciate it!  Take care and have a great week!

Stef

Stamps: Honeybee Stamps Bitty Buzzwords

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Taylored Expressions Sugar Cube, Concord & 9th Aqua Sky, Simon Says Stamps White Glitter, Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grape

Ink:  Versafine Morning Mist, SSS Seafoam, Surf, Peony and Amethyst

Other:  TE Snowflake Create-in-Quads Layering Stencil, Honeybee Stamps Bitty Buzzwords dies, Ellen Hutson Tag Trio die, Pinkfresh Studio Diagonal Stitched Rectangle die, Hero Arts Snowflake Confetti Fancy die, Silver twine (ret. SU), May Arts White Glitter Ribbon

Snow Happy for Just Us Girls

Hello and welcome! It's my fourth week as a Guest Designer for Just Us Girls, where it's Photo Week.

Just Us Girls #616

I'm also playing along with the Addicted to Stamps and the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

ATSC #421

For my card, I was inspired by everything in the Photo Week photo - the colors of blue and red, the winter scene and the hearts - but instead of snow people, I used cute animals.

I love this sweet scene between the bunny and deer! Like many card makers, Anita Jeram illustrations are some of my favorites.  First the scene was stamped on white cardstock, then I used a black Copic Multiliner to add additional snow in the background to give the scene more depth. Then everything was colored with Copic markers.  I grabbed the heart stamps from another AJ set, stamped, colored and die cut them.  

Next, a panel of light blue was adhered to the card base, then the main image was die cut with a scallop rectangle die and layered on two additional scallop rectangles for added dimension.  The hearts were glued to the scene, painted with a shimmer pen, then covered with Glossy Accents to make them shiny and that finished things off for this super simple card.  I opted not to add a greeting right now; I can always do that before I send it.

Thanks for visiting, I really appreciate it!  Be sure to use the link above to check out all the fabulous cards by the DT members and hopefully join in the fun this week!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Snow Happy and Hedgehog Day (both AJ/Colorado Craft Company)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Surf Blue (SSS)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black

Other:  Hedgehog Day dies, A2 Scallop rectangle die (Honey Bee), Aqua Shimmer pen (Tonic), Glossy Accents (Ranger)

Copics:  B0000, BV20, YG91, E47, 44, 47, 37, 33, 31, 30, W3, 1, R20, 24

Flurries of Fun for the Tic Tac Toe Challenge

Hello and welcome! It's time for a new Tic Tac Toe Challenge and Claire has given us this fun board to work with.

Tic Tac Toe Challenge

I'm also joining the Four Seasons January Winter Challenge and the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is Four Legged Friends.

Four Seasons - Winter

I went down the left column - snowman/girl, white, die cut, although for this card it's a snowman bunny!

This was a fun card to make, with those cute bunnies building a snowbunny.  The images were stamped, colored with Copic markers and die cut.  Next, a cloud stencil was used to create the ink blended sky, then the trees were diecut twice to create the background.  One was adhered directly to the stenciled background, then the next one was popped up with foam tape.  

The scene was completed with the bunny images added with thin foam tape, then I fiddled around trying to decide where to put the sentiment.  I had originally thought I'd add it on the snowbank below the bunnies but by the time everything was adhered, I really didn't have sufficient room, so it ended up across the trees.  And actually, I'm good with how it turned out.

Thanks so much for visiting, I appreciate it so much.  Be sure to use the link above to check out all the fabulous cards by the other DT members and hopefully be inspired to play along with us this week!

Stef

Stamps:  Flurries of Fun (Anita Jeram/Colorado Craft Company)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Milled Lavendar Distress

Other:  Flurries of Fun dies, Alpine Trees die (Memory Box), Mini Cloud Edges stencil (MFT)

Copics:  E31, 30, 0000, RV17, 55, 52, BV20, W5, 3, 1, 0, R20

Winter Mouse

Hello and welcome!  Today I have a cute card to share that I created using the sketch from As You See It Challenge and Claire's fun CAS theme of Winter Animals at The Paper Players.

As You See It #266

PP 574

I'm also joining the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge where the theme is Four Legged Friends.

I used a mini stamp that I received as a gift with purchase quite a while ago but never inked up until now.

This little mouse with her mug of cocoa is just so cute and was a snap to color with my Copic markers.  I used colors for her scarf and mug to match the patterned paper.  With the coloring complete, the sentiment was stamped in black and die cut along with the mouse.

The bokeh design patterned paper was trimmed down to 5.25" x 4", then cut in half at an angle.  I ink blended a small amount of light blue ink on the panel for a bit of contrast on the plain side then adhered the patterned paper.  After the main image and sentiment were added with foam tape, three clay hearts were added for a little whimsical touch, and I was done!

Thanks for taking time to visit, I appreciate it!

Take care!

Stef

Stamps:  Thankful Mouse (Waffle Flower), Itty Bitty Basics (MFT)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White, Blurry Flurries 6x6 paper pack (Whimsey Stamps)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Versafine Clair Nocturne, Blueberry (Altenew)

Other:  Nested Infinity Circle die (Hero Arts), Skinny Strips die (MFT), Pink Hearts Clay Confetti (Pretty Pink Posh)

Copics:  E31, 30, 0000, RV02, 01, 000, V05, 01, 000, BV20, 0000

You're the Best for Sunday Stamps

Hello and welcome!  It's time for a new Sunday Stamps Challenge and this week Annette has created this fabulous sketch.

Sunday Stamps

I'm also joining Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge and the Time Out Challenge, where both have a theme of "New", and the Four Seasons Anything Goes Winter Challenge.

TOC #204

Four Seasons Challenge - January

For my card, I created a winter scene with "new" fallen snow using some cute Stacey Yakula images from MFT. Hopefully that interpretation of "new" works for both challenges!

This was a fun card to make.  The stamped images in the foreground were all colored with Copic markers then die cut with coordinating dies.  I'd chosen the blue snowflake patterned paper before starting the card, so after the white circle was die cut for the scene, I found an almost perfect light blue ink for the sky, then the tree line was stamped and also colored with Copic markers.

All the stamped images were adhered directly to the circle, then white gouache was flicked on to create the falling snow. I also used a white gel pen to add snow to the tree branches.  Next I worked on the base, trimming down and adhering the patterned paper.  Two additional circles were die cut and added to the back of the main image before adhering to the card along with the greeting.  Lastly, I added some snowflake embellishments that seemed made for this card.

Thanks for taking time to stop by, I really appreciate it!  Be sure to use the link to SSC above to check out the fabulous cards by the other DT members and hopefully join us for this great sketch challenge!

Stef

Stamps:  Frost-Loving Friends (SY for MFT), Itty Bitty Basics (MFT)

Paper:  Neenah Solar White Specialty Holiday Card Pack patterned paper (Honey Bee)

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, Polar Bear (Altenew)

Other:  Frost-Loving Friends matching dies, Nested Infinity Circle die (Hero Arts), Skinny Strips die (MFT), White Gouache, Sakura White Gelly Roll pen; Copic markers