I love stencils!

Welcome back,

Today I would like to share another favorite technique of mine:  
working with stencils!

I loved stencils ever since I was a child, because they give you the precise outlines without being a particularly gifted painter - yet it always looks perfectly hand-drawn or hand made.
What an awesome product!! = )

What I particularly like when using stencils for backgrounds is the fact that you can really go wild and essentially create your own patterned paper - only custom made!

This is exactly what I've been doing for this card here: The intention was to create a very powerful background, yet combined with a little bit of green to "ground" my little fury friend without any extra fuzz. 

I'm a great fan of Simon Says' stencils and that's why I would like to dedicate this card to the latest "Simon Exclusives Challenge". 

Material's used:
- SSS stencil
- Stacey Yacula stamps (Purple Onion Designs)
- Ranger Distress Inks (barn door, wild honey, shabby shutters) 
- Watercolor pencils (for the bunny, check out how I drew the fur, I'm so proud of the result)
- Wink of stellar (inside of the ears)
- Glossy accents (on the flower)

Happy crafting & see you again soon!
Yours, Steph

Doppelter Geburtstag (buchstäblich) - double birthday (literally)!

Hallo liebe Papier-Freunde,

Ich hatte letztens eine neue Herausforderung: Eine Karte für neugeborene Zwillinge!
Und da Zwillinge bekanntlich im Doppelpack kommen, hab ich gedacht ich probiere das Spiegel-Stempeln aus (damit sich die 2 Häschen anschauen können). Nicht ganz einfach muss ich sagen... aber nach etwa 5 Probedurchläufen ists es mir endgültig *schön* gelungen :o)

Hier die Karte auf die ich besonders wegen dem 3D-Hintergrund (durchsichtige Embossing-Paste gemischt mit Distress Inks) stolz bin: 

verwendete Materialien:

- SSS Schablone

- Durchsichtige Embossing-Paste

- Distress inks (wild honey, spiced marmelade)

- Stempel von Stacey Yacula (Purple Onion)

- Klebeperlen

- "Baker's twine" grau

- Wassermalstifte

Mit dieser Karte mache ich bei den folgenden Challenges mit:
- SSS Wednesday Challenge - Birthday (buchstäblich Geburtstag)
- SSS Monday Challenge - *A* is for... (*adorable bunnies*)
- Virginia's View Challenge - Layers & Dimensions (viel 3-D hier mit der Paste & den Häschen auf dicken "foam pads")
- Friday Mashup Challenge - 203 (Häschen & Farb-Kombi)
- Always Playing with Paper - Challenge #29 (Sketch)

Bis bald,
Eure Steph

* * * * *

Hello dear paper-friends,

Lately I faced a new challenge: Making a card for newborn Twins! And because twins always come in a pack of 2, I thought I'll try to do some 'mirror-stamping' (to make these cute bunnies face each other). Not quite so easy I must admit... but I managed to get a *proper* result after 5 attempts :o)

I'm particularly proud of this card because of the 3-D background (translucent embossing paste mixed with distress inks).

Supplies used:

- SSS Stencil

- Translucent Embossing-Paste

- Distress inks (wild honey, spiced marmelade)

- Stamp from Stacey Yacula (Purple Onion)

- Sticky pearls

- "Baker's twine" grey

- Watercolor pencils

With this card I participate in the following challenges:
- SSS Wednesday Challenge - Birthday (literally birthday)
- SSS Monday Challenge - *A* is for... (*adorable bunnies*) 
- Virginia's View Challenge - Layers & Dimensions (lot's of 3-D here with the embossing paste & the bunnies on thick foam pads)
- Friday Mashup Challenge - 203 (bunnies & color combo)
- Always Playing with Paper - Challenge #29 (Sketch)  

Until next time,
Yours Steph

Ein Geburtstagsfrosch - a birthday frog?

Hallo zusammen,

Ich hoffe ihr hattet erholsame Ostertage & ein paar kreative Minuten übrig übers Wochenende!
Heute zeige ich euch eine meiner neuen Geburstags-Kreationen (in meinem Freundes- und Verwandtenkreis gibt es im Frühling sehr viel zu feiern). 
Dieses Mal: ein Geburtstagsfrosch!

Ich muss gestehen, sog. '1-layered cards' (also wo man nicht mal auf einem separaten Blatt Papier stempelt, sondern direct auf der Basis), sind immer noch extrem schwierig für mich, aber ich werde immer besser! Ja, ja, Übung macht bekanntlich den Meister. 

Also nicht vergessen: Nicht zu viel Wasser verwenden (da kein Wasserfarbenpapier), und alles immer schön trocknen lassen bevor man weiterarbeitet!

Verwendete Materialien:
- Weisses Papier (als Basis)
- Frosch von Stacey Yacula
- Glossy Accents (für die Augen)
- Lawn Fawn: Critters Down Under ('hoppy birthday')

Zu guter Letzt muss ich noch eins loswerden: Ich finde Stacey Yacula's Stempel (Purple Onion Designs) einfach so unfassbar süss!! Geht's euch nicht auch so? :o)

Bis zum nächten Mal,
Eure Steph

P.S.: Mit dieser Karte mache ich auch bei der folgenden Challenge mit: Simon Say Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Birthdays & der Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - A (für den April Geburtstag) & der Addicted to CAS Challenge - Cute

* * * * *


Hello everyone,

Hope you had some relaxing Easter holidays and a few creative minutes to spare over the weekend! Today I show you one of my latest Birthday creations (there is so much to celebrate in Spring with my family and friends).
This time: A birthday frog!

I must admit, I'm still struggling with those so called '1-layered cards' (i.e. where you don't even stamp on a separate panel of card stock but on on the base layer itself), but I'll get better by time. Ya, ya practice makes a master!

So never forget: Don't use too much water (because I didn't use water color paper), and always let every section dry completely before working on!

Supplies used:
- White card stocl (as a base)
- Frog from Stacey Yacula
- Glossy Accents (for the eyes)
- Lawn Fawn: Critters Down Under ('hoppy birthday')

Finally I need to say one more thing: I absolutely adore the Stacey Yacula stamps (Purple Onion)! Aren't they so super cute??

Until next time!
Yours, Steph

P.S.: I also participate in the Simon Say Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Birthdays
& der Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - A (this is an April Birthday card) & the Addicted to CAS Challenge - Cute

Love penguins!!

Hello again,

I would like to share my new love with you: adorable 'Walter' from Stacey Yacula's (Purple Onion) latest collection! I have only recently discovered Stacey's incredible talent on Therese's blog (LostInPaper) and I immediately fell in love with these cute stamps.
I am now the proud owner of a few of these lovely critters & absolutely addicted to making cards with them!!

Here my first attempt for a love-themed card:

A bit of masking technique, some heat embossing & distress markers... that's it!

See you soon & thanks for your visit!
Take care,
Steph

Supplies used:
- Walter the pinguin from Stacey Yacula (Purple Onion)
- Distress Inks (tumbled glass, peacock feathers, pumice stone, faded jeans)
- White & Seafoam embossing powder
- Watercolor pencils
- Black & white card stock

I participate in the following challenges with this card:
Cas-ual Friday Challenge: Love Watercolor







SSS Wednesday Challenge: bright & beautiful













Stempelküche Challenge #12: von Herzen







Inspiration Journal: Love is in the air

RIC Challenge #77 - Jenny Packham