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!

Horizontal Oriental Flowers

 Hi all!

Today has been my slowest day in about 10 weeks!  I spent the day taking care of some things for my BFF's dad's estate, altered my daughter's homecoming dress, visited with my parents and re-organized half of my stamp sets...oh and made a card!

This card is for a new-to-me challenge blog I found called Papercraft Crew Challenges.  They seem to have been around for a while?  I'm glad I found their challenge, as the sketch inspired me to pull out an old stencil I have collecting dust!

The stencil is Altenew's Sphere Stencil.  Works pretty well for this challenge eh?  

I used Limestone ink for the stencil and added a die cut stamped flower from Altenew's Cupped Flowers set.  I like the combo of coral, red and gray together.  Unexpected and it gives me an Orient vibe.  I do struggle with this particular stamp set, not sure why?  It's super cute!

I finished the card off with some splatter and the stamped sentiment.

That's it for today!  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a day filled with color!

Shine On

 Hi all!

Sometimes life is crazy...really CRAZY.  When things are at their craziest, that's when I tend to excel, is anyone else like that?  .  Life has been so incredibly crazy since early July for me and I'm still plugging away, making things happen!  Maybe it's the ADHD I have...who knows.

This sentiment really spoke to me today when I was creating, so with the AAA Cards Challenge this week, I thought I'd use it to apply for their DT call.

The background color was created using layers of watercolors.  Simple to do, just add colors and let dry, then repeat.  The dry time allowed me to work on administrative things in the studio, so it's a win-win.  After the paint was dry, I added a few gold metallic splatters...which got a bit crazy...to give it a galaxy feel.

The mountains are from Altenew's Wanderlust set.  I haven't used this set in YEARS and am surprised it's still in circulation!  I added some of the stars from the stamp set to the background with gold embossing powder, and the mountains are stamped on cardstock then fussy cut.  I would normally stamp right on the card base, but was afraid I would mess it the gorgeous galaxy sky!

Like I said before, the sentiments with this set spoke to me today, so I also added it with gold embossing powder.  Simple card with a powerful message!

Thanks so much for visiting me, I hope you have a colorful day!

Die cut flowers

 Hi all!

I'm cramming a bunch of posts while I have the chance...its late at night, everyone's sleeping...except me.  Darn menopause...  Instead of staring at the inside of my eyelids pretending to sleep, I thought I'd head out to the studio to create and post.

This is another card for the September Flower Challenge and the Triple B Challenge, and while it does not match the inspiration image, it is a flower.....  I'm absolutely ADORING Altenew's Craft-a-Flower dies sets!  The Bellflower from Augusts release is AMAZING!  It's so cute!

I die cut the flowers and used my Altenew Alcohol markers to add color and texture to them.  Not the smoothest color job, as I'm still getting used to creating with markers, but the colors are *chef's kiss*.

The background is a simple ink blending with yellow to make the blooms pop right off the card.  The stem I adhered right to the card front, but used foam tape for the blossoms.

The card is finished off with a few splatters, sequins and a foil sentiment from Everyday Sentiments.

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

Playing with Stencils and Water - TIC TAC TOE #226 DESIGNERS CHOICE!

 Hi all!

Super quick post here...I've been helping a friend capture feral cats at her dad's house and while transporting it to a shelter to be fixed, one got out in my yard!!!  I've got to trap it before it reproduces...

 

This card is for the Tic Tac Toe challenge this week, and I'm using the stencil, free and foliage diagonal combo.  I just realized I tend to use the same diagonal each time I'm at their challenge...at least I'm consistent!  I am also entering this in this month's Happy Little Stampers Watercolor + Layers Challenge for September. 

This card uses Altenew's August Build-a-Garden Bougainvillia bundle.  I started with the background, using a light color to stamp the image, then inked it with the coordinating stencil and blending brushes.  I then lightly brushed water over to the image to soften the edges and give it an atmospheric background look...I think it worked?

The foreground flowers were created the with the same ink colors, stamp and stencil, but I didn't add water to give the illusion it was in the foreground.  The image was die cut and popped up on foam tape to give it dimension.

It's finished off with the coordinating sentiment from the stamp set.

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

Sneak Peek Shaker

 Hi all!

Don't you all just love a sneak peek?  Kind of like the previews of movies...it's just a little taste of what is yet to come and it gets you excited.  I hope this card will do that for you...AND it's now featured on the Altenew site...EEEKKK!!!

This is a sneak peek for Altenew's October Monthly Series, Dynamic Duo - Snowy Delight.  It's so adorable, and I love anything snow related.  This bundle will be release mid-October, so keep your eyes peeled for it...OR better yet, sign up for the subscription so you won't miss out on it!  They always sell out fast.

These snowmen and the coordinating stencil for the background are wonderful for any winter-themed project.  I also used Altenew's Create a Wreath die set to make the window for my scene.

I have to thank the Shop Our Stash challenge post for inspiring this layout.  Shakers are not really something I do often, but I love how they come out.  I should really do them more often....  I am also entering this into the Happy Little Stampers Christmas Challenge - Snow Globe....it's snow and its round, perhaps it will count?

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

Wood Cookies

 Hi all!

I am a obnoxious cookie baker for the holidays...and when I mean obnoxious...I bake over 6,500 cookies for a party we host the second Saturday of December.  I have already started, and yes, I have MANY freezers and ovens to complete my task and keep them fresh until they are served.  Do you have a favorite cookie recipe you make for the holidays?

  

When I saw this set from Altenew and the name...Wood Cookie....I knew it had to be mine!  It's adorable and the name is perfection for me.  I think this year my signs for the party may have to made from this die set this year...

I went with a very soft non-traditional color pallete, and added the Rainforest Leaves Wreath Builder set for some leaves to go with the wood slice.  I love the colors, they were inspired by my wedding colors since the card base is left over paper from it...yes, I save everything....

That adorable little lady bug goes with the die set too!  I decided to add this card to Just Add Ink - Wildlife....bugs are wildlife aren't they... the Happy Little Stampers Die Challenge, as well as the Sisterhood of Crafters challenge this week, Die Cuts-Anything Goes.  

Have a colorful week!

Altenew September 2023 Marvelous Monthly Series 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 September 2023 Marvelous Monthly Series Release Blog Hop + Giveaway!  You should have arrived here from the amazing Virginia Lu, but be sure to hit all the AMAZING artists on this hop by starting here.

I LOVE each and every piece of Altenew product I have, from stamps, to dies, stencils, pencils, SCISSORS (I really love those, can you tell?), papers, markers...I could go on forever!  What brought me over to this fantastic company were the flower dies and stamps.  I've missed out on so many and have had to wait for re-stocks, but with Altenew's monthly subscription options, I don't miss out on any more of their luscious flower products!  Being a former florist, I adore flowers, and Altenew's September Craft-A-Flower Japanese Camilla completely fills my flower hole!

The design of the completed die cut flowers look complex, but they're actually a breeze to assemble.  Especially with the new registration system Altenew developed, it seriously makes it so easy.  I had so much fun creating with this set and I'm still making more!

These flowers can be uber realistic or more 'artsy' which I posted about earlier this week here.  The flowers on this project are a mix of the two techniques.  The blossoms themselves have a little ink blending, then are highlighted with Altenew's Alcohol markers to give them a more realistic look.  The leaves I took creative liberty with and made them gray with some ink blending and finished off with markers.

The flowers hug either corner of the Simple Frame embossing folder and the script sentiment from Sweet Sentiments...which is amazing, a must have!  I guess they're all must haves...tee hee.  

That's it here!  Don't forget to comment here and on each stop of the hop for a chance to win a part of the $300 in total prizes! To celebrate this release, Altenew is giving away a $100 gift certificate to 1 lucky winner and a $40 gift certificate to 5 winners! Please leave a comment on the Altenew Card Blog and/or each designer’s blog post on the blog hop list below by 09/25/2023 for a chance to win. Altenew will draw 6 random winners from the comments left on each stop of this blog hop and announce the winners on the Altenew Winners Page on 09/27/2023. Now head on over and visit the talented Agnieszka Maylszek!

Have a colorful hop!!

Kristin

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