Have A Novel Birthday ---Fusion Challenge

January 29, 2018

I just realized that I made this card almost two weeks ago and forgot to enter it in the Fusion Card Challenge!  Have you ever done that?  I am just sliding in under the wire.  

I was inspired by the sketch, but the inspiration photo is fabulous!  Coffee and reading--two of my favorites!  I also gave me the opportunity to make a birthday card for my BFF from college and use a stamp set that I adore!  I realize a lot of others used this same set, but it is perfect for this inspiration! 

 The brown texture of the blanket inspired my background.  It is hard to see in the photo, but the brown paper has a lot of texture in in.  This little girl is colored with Copic Markers.  I gave her a stack of book, coffee and  flowers.  The background is stenciled with distress inks.  Lots of Wink of Stella was added for shine! The stamps set is from MFT Our Story and the matching dies were used to cut out all of the pieces.  

SO happy you stopped by my blog today!  Have a great week!  

Hugs!

Claire

XOXOXO PP378 and SSC171

January 28, 2018

It's Sunday and time for a new challenges at The Paper Players and Sunday Stamps!

It is not often I can combine these challenges but, this week it worked out perfectly!  

The wonderfully talented Nance is our hostess at The Paper Players! She has a very versatile sketch for all of us! The color challenge at Sunday Stamps is perfect for many occasions!  We can't wait to see what you create!  

      Use a minimum of 3 colors and a neutral of your choice.

Challenge Rules: Paper Players Challenge

 1.  Create a NEW paper, or digital, project.
2.  Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us.
3.  Please provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge entry.   
4.  Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL. 
 Entries linked to more than 3 challenges, including ours, will be deleted without notification!

5.  All stamping products are welcome.
Have Fun!

Challenge Guidelines For Sunday Stamps:

• Feel free to use any brand of product you have. 
• The colors from this challenge MUST be the primary colors on your project.
• Please Link up a new project created for this challenge (no back links). 
• Feel free to combine our challenge with up to FOUR other challenges.
• We reserve the right to delete any links that do not adhere to challenge rules.
• Please provide a link to us or use the graphic above in your post. 
• Have Fun!!!

The challenge will end on Friday Feb. 9th @ 6pm EST. 

I know my card last week was created with alcohol inks, but I had so much fun making these panels and I just had to share them!  This blend of pinks and red matched the color palette perfectly.  The XOXOXO strip was cut using a Simon Says Stamp die.  The white heart and gold foil hearts are dies from Cherry Lynn Designs.  
That is all there is to this card.  No stamping!  I love the way it turned out! 

Looking for some inspiration?  Make sure you check out all the blogs of the Design Team Members.

The Paper Players Design Team

Claire Broadwater (me)

Jaydee

Joanne James

Laurie Schmidt

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Sandy Mathis

Annie Abrahamson

Elizabeth Stewart 

Jan Clothier

                                                      Sunday Stamps Design Team

Amy Koenders

Annette Elliott

Claire Broadwater (me)

Heidi Baks

Heather Heroldt

Lisa Johansen

Melissa Grant

Monika Reeck

Teresa Kline

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!

HUGS!

Claire

LoveYou! You Are One of a Kind-- Stamp Ink Paper Challenge #134

January 27, 2018

I loved the color combo at the Stamp Ink Paper Challenge.  I just received a few new items and these colors were perfect for using them.  

My card is created on a white card base.  I used a scalloped die from MFT and Berry Blast card stock for the first layer.  I love this color!  I just received the Marbled Background stamp.  I used Berry Blast, Pink and Coral inks to create this panel.  I added a piece of vellum over the top of the marbled panel to tone it down a little.  The Love You is created using the new Love You MFT dies.  I cut  out the letters three times with white paper and once with Berry Blast.  I few coral, pink and berry heart are added for fun.  The sentiment is stamped in Versa fine ink and heat embossed with white embossing powder.  

                Thanks for stopping by my blog!  

HUGS!

Claire

Sending Warm Thoughts #inspiredbylaurel

January 26, 2018

I am linking my card to the AMAZINGLY talented Laurel Seabrook's card challenge Inspired By.  

The theme is "Kitchen Love" and the colors in the inspiration photo are my favorite color palette.  

I created my card on a white card base.  The gingham paper was stamped with the cup from SSS Coffee and Tea stamp set.  I used Versa Fine Black ink and heat embossed the cups with clear embossing powder.  The red panel was cut with Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Dies.  I added a white die cut circle and a banner.  The same coffee set was used and I paper pieced the cup with red and white heart paper to match the inspiration photo.  The saucer and tea bag was colored with Copic Markers.  I added red and white twine for the tea bag string and the bow.  A few pearls and Wink of Stella was added for shine. 

Thank you very much for stopping by my blog today!  
Sending you warm thoughts for a lovely weekend! 

HUGS!

Claire

Hope You Feel Better Soon! FMS 321

January 26, 2018

I am playing along with the Freshly Made Sketches challenge today.  

Jen B.'s sketch was just perfect for the card I wanted to create.  My DIL has the flu.  She is very ill.  I am praying my son and grands don't get it.  I made a card for her and hope it lets her know how much I care.  Wish I could do something to make her feel better. 

This little nurse is so cute!  I just ordered this set from Craftin Desert Diva's.  It is called Get Well Soon.  (I counted the little stuffed toy as the third element in the sketch.)  I colored her and the doctor bag with Copic Markers and fussy cut them.  The band aid is from Papertrey Inks Stuck On You.  I added a red heart and some red enamel dots.  Wink of Stella was added for shine! 

Sorry about my photo having shadow.  It has been raining and I just can't seem to get a good picture!  

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  Hope you have a great weekend!  

HUGS!

Claire

Keeping Christmas Inspiration Blog Hop---Fa La La "Tis the Season to be Jolly" The Challenge

January 24, 2018

I am honored  to be a part of the Keeping Christmas Inspiration blog hop.  

Happy New Year!! A New Year is always about making promises and commitments to yourself to make changes! So the team and I have decided to do a monthly Keeping Christmas Inspiration Hop! We will be sharing Christmas creations on the 25th of each month!!!

The whole idea is to have some Christmas cards and projects in our stash all ready to go for December 2018!

So hop along and be sure to visit each blog. 

There is a lot of inspiration and ideas to get your creative juices flowing!

Kelly Lunceford

Lesley Croghan

Anita Madden

Broni Holcombe

Claire Broadwater (me)

Julee Tilman

Kim Heggins

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth

Rachel Bergfeld

My cards were so much fun to create.  I must admit it is much easier to use an assembly line process to put the cards together.  I started by creating five  watercolor paper panels using a variety of distress inks and water using the smooching method.  I let them dry completely and then went back and added some splatters using the same inks, water and a paint brush and then trimmed each panel with a stitched rectangle die. The card base is a 5 1/2 X 4 1/4 card.  The die cuts the panel 5 1/4 X 4.  It is a stitched rectangle die from SSS. 

I used to shy away from shaker cards because I couldn't get the sequins to stay in the correct area.  Then, I found these circle shaker pouches at MFT.  They made it all so easy!  I cut a circle out of the watercolored panels.  I filled the pouches with sequins and added Scor-Tape to secure the sequins in the pouch using a white circle I cut out with a die.  

I stamped the sentiment "tis the season to be jolly" on the front of the panel using the the Fa La La stamp set by Simon Says Stamp with Memento black ink.  The gold or silver glitter fa la la was cut using the matching dies from SSS.  I added the glitter sentiments with Nuvo Tonic Deluxe Adhesive.  

I used 2 circle frames to die cut the frames to fit around the pouch.  I selected coordinating colors to match the distress inks for the frames.  I used the ornament top die from  Reverse Confetti and cut them with silver and gold foil.  I added gold and silver twine bows with glue dots.  Now, I have five fun cards to add to my pile for next Christmas.  They really were easy to make and look so festive.  

I sure hope you enjoyed my cards today!  Thanks for stopping by!  Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.  I love to hear from you!

 Now it's time to hop along and check out all the other fabulous posts on the hop. There's sure to be a lot of inspiration and ideas to get your creative juices flowing!  The hop is hosted on the fabulous Kelly Lunceford's blog, so head over there to start from the beginning.

ENJOY the blog hop!  I hope we inspired you to make a few cards, too!

HUGS!

Claire

Happy Birthday--#tttc032

January 25, 2018


It's time for a new challenge at the Tic Tac Toe Challenge!

We have a fantastic board for all of you! 

We would love for you to take some inspiration from the challenge board above, using three elements in a row of your choice. Whatever row inspires you is what we challenge you to create! Don’t forget to link back to us, and to use our hashtags #tictactoechallenge and 

#tttc032

My card is created using the right row:  Polka Dots, Birthday, Friend

My card is created for a dear friend's birthday in January.  I used a white card base and added an Island Indigo polka dot panel using the MFT Peek-a-Boo Polka Dot cover up die.  I cut a Lemon Lime circle using a stitched die and embossed it with a polka dot embossing folder.  The little snow bird and his snow angel shape is stamped in Memento black ink.  I used the Honey Bee Snow Birds stamp set.  Copic Markers were used to color the bird and angel shape.  The matching dies were used to cut them out.  Wink of Stella and white gel pen were added for fun and shine.  The words Happy Birthday were cut 3 times with Rose Red card stock and once with Lemon Lime card stock.  I used the MFT Cause for Celebration dies.  

Thank you so much for stopping by today, please pop over and see more inspiration from the rest of the Tic Tac Toe design team and I hope you have a chance to play along with us this week!

  HUGS!
Claire

Let It Snow! FMS320

January 21, 2018

I am playing along with Kim's sketch at  Freshly Made Sketches this week.  I had a little extra time this week due to the snow it Atlanta.  It inspired my card. 

The little snow scene is created using distress inks, embossing paste and white textured card stock.  I know you can't see the snowflakes in the blue background, but they are there.  LOL!  The little penguin is from the Snow Birds stamp set by Honey Bee Designs.  The matching dies were used to cut him out.  Copic Markers were used for coloring and shading.  A few snowflakes and rhinestones were added for fun! 

Thank you for stopping by my blog today!  

HUGS!

Claire

Believe! --Merry Monday #273

January 21, 2018

I am so excited to join the Merry Monday Challenge.  I had a little extra time this week with the snow in Atlanta and when I saw Marcia's color combination, I had to play along!  Red and Turquoise are my favorite colors!

I dug through my Christmas stamps and found an old   favorite by Tim Holtz.  I love this Santa because he is so retro!  He makes me smile.  A red card base and some turquoise patterns is all I needed to pull this together.  The banner is cut with a Reverse Confetti Tall Tag dies and the Believe is from Papertrey Inks.  A big red button, white twine and Wink of Stella completed my card.  

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  

Have a great week!

HUGS!

Claire

I Love U--PP377

January 21, 2018

It's time for another challenge at The Paper Players!

Our lovely and multi talented Joanne is our hostess this week.  She wants us to create Clean and Simple Love Notes.  We can't wait to see your projects!  

I created this background with alcohol inks!  I loved the way it turned out.  I know there isn't a lot of white space, but it is clean and simple to me.  I used gold glitter paper to cut out the i and u using the retired Verve dies I heart u.  The heart is cut using the Cherry Lynn Two of Hearts dies.  That is all there is too it-- No stamping or embellishments.  

Looking for some inspiration?  Make sure you check out all the blogs of the Design Team Members.

The Paper Players Design Team

Claire Broadwater (me)

Jaydee

Joanne James

Laurie Schmidt

LeAnne Pugliese

Nance Leedy

Sandy Mathis

Annie Abrahamson

Elizabeth Stewart 

Jan Clothier

Challenge Rules:

 Create a NEW paper, or digital, project.

1. Upload your creation to your blog with a link back to us. 
2. Please provide a direct link to the post featuring your challenge entry.
3. Please link your card to no more than four challenges, TOTAL.  Entries linked to more than 3 challenges, including ours, will be deleted without notification!
4. Have fun!!

All stamping products are welcome.  Thank you for joining us at The Paper Players!

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!  Leave a comment and let me know your thoughts!

HUGS!

Claire

You Are One of a Kind--Stamp Ink Paper Challenge #133

January 20, 2018

I loved the sketch at the Stamp Ink Paper Challenge
this week!  

I love old typewriters and I found this paper in my Valentine stash.  I thought it paired up perfectly with this typewriter.  This card came together quickly and I will definitely use this sketch again!  THANKS SIP team! 

Thanks for stopping by today!  Hope you have a great weekend!

HUGS!

Claire

Sending a Whole Lot of Love Your Way! Sketch Saturday #497

January 19, 2018


It's Saturday and time for a new challenge at  Sketch Saturday!

We have one of our favorites joining us as our sponsor this week.

Fred She Said Designs!!

The super prize offered this week is a $10 Gift Certificate.

Doesn't this little girl just make you smile with her heart bouquet!  I love these Pure Innocence stamps from My Favorite Things! 

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!  Please leave a comment and let me know your thoughts.  I love to hear from you!  Don't forget to check out all the other DT members cards at Sketch Saturday.

Products:

Paper:  Real Red, White, Basic Black, Valentine Paper

Ink:  Memento Black

Stamp:  MFT 

Other:  Sequins, Ribbon, Wink of Stella, Copic Markers 

Have a wonderful week and I hope you will join us for this fun sketch challenge!  

HUGS!

Claire