Make Today a Great Day (TSOT #670)

There is a new biweekly sketch up on the Try a Sketch on Tuesday Blog. This is Sketch #670 and runs through Sunday, May 25, 2025.

Time to craft has been scarce lately. We all know how surprises can pop up when we least expect them. I encountered that while trying to complete several cards this week. So I created a card using a shortcut for the floral edge. I used a fun fold design that is often referred to as the "Simplest Fun Fold Ever." 

After decorating the card base with patterned paper, two strips of silver holographic paper matted with cardstock were added, keeping with the sketch. The sentiment was added with foam tape, and a few silver gem stickers were adhered randomly. A small panel of white cardstock was placed inside the card so that a message could be included. 

The Design Team has posted some great cards on the TSOT670 Blog, so be sure to visit. We hope you'll play along as well. And... there is a special prize available, so check out the guidelines for a special event at Double Trouble's Seventh Anniversary Celebration Challenge.

DTC Challenge #191 Seventh Anniversary

1. Anniversary or Wedding

2. Father's Day or Masculine  

3. Birthday or Baby  

4. Graduation   

and

The optional twist: Use Kraft-type paper.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Stampendous "Floral Blooms" SSC1423 (sentiment)

Ink: Stampin' Up! Blackberry Bliss

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Blackberry Bliss

Patterned Paper: Ink 'n Splatter "Journey", SBC Holographic (silver)

Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (ovals)

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Metallic Gems (silver)

Set Sail for Adventure - Masculine (DTC #191's Seventh Anniversary)

Welcome! In my little corner of the crafting world, celebrating the seventh anniversary of a card challenge seems almost colossal. But here it is!

Double Trouble Papercrafting is celebrating seven years of card challenges. Biweekly Challenge #191 runs through Sunday, May 25, 2025, and we have prizes!

The anniversary party starts with a raffle format. You have four choices for your project and may participate in any or all of them. I chose to create a masculine card. Be sure to visit the DTC Blog #191 for participation guidelines.

An optional twist to use Kraft-type paper in any category is also available. My card base is Kraft-style cardstock, although it is not visible in my photo.

Another option is to use the sketch at Try a Sketch on Tuesday #670 beginning Tuesday, May 13. It may inspire you.

I adhered patterned paper to a Kraft-style cardstock base to create my card. The patterned edge was stamped, colored, fussy cut, and adhered to the card front. The two woodgrain

strips were cut freehand to give them a more imperfect, worn look and smudged with various ink colors. 

The sailboat was stamped and colored, then stacked on five layers of die-cut circles to provide dimension. A few bird images were added. After some stamp surgery, only "Set Sail" was stamped and fussy cut, then added with foam tape. The sentiment on the inside says, "Set sail for a Fabulous Birthday Adventure," and was decorated with cardstock bits.

So there you have it. We welcome you to try the challenges, so visit the DTC Blog and view the cards created by the Design Team. Thank you for stopping by my blog. 

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Stampendous "Nautical Anchor" SSC1261

Inks: Stampin' Up! Basic Gray, Baked Brown Sugar, Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Baked Brown Sugar, Pale Papaya

Patterned Paper: Ink 'n Splatter "Summer Breeze" & Paper Rose "Rainbow Wood"

Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (circles)

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape

Seas the Day (Masculine) (CD #651)

Welcome to Color Dare Challenge #651. Below is the color board. I created a card using the required color, plus blue as my color of choice. I added white and metallic (silver) as well.

 

This card was fun and easy to create. I decided to search my paper stash for something related to water. The cardstock panel and patterned paper panel, including the holographic silver panel, were each added to the white card base. Several layers of green and blue die-cut circles were stacked together for the base of the holographic silver circle trio and adhered to the white card front. The panel was purposely offset on the white base to add some interest. The blue smudge was not intentional.

The sentiment was stamped in blue ink directly onto the green negative scrap from the die and added back into the die-cut aperture with foam tape. The inside was decorated with some patterned paper and small silver circles. Another sentiment, "Hello Summer," was also included in blue ink. Although this card took on a masculine vibe, I decided to add the rhinestones because they depict sparkle reflecting off the water. Leaving sufficient space for a personal note, I plan to give the card to my nephew. 

The Design Team invites you to visit the CD651 Blog and join the challenge. Thank you for looking.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Stamps of Life "Sandcastle 2" (both sentiments)

Ink: Stampin' Up! Blueberry Bushel

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Coastal Cabana, Blueberry Bushel 

Patterned Paper: Ink 'n Splatter "Summer Breeze" and SBC Holographic Mirror (silver) 

Dies: Paper Smooches "Ring Trio"

Misc.: Honey Bee Gem Stickers & SBC Foam Tape

 

Just a Little Note (TSOT #669)

It's time again at Try a Sketch on Tuesday to create a card using the new sketch below. This is TSOT #669, ending on Sunday, May 11, 2025. 

The card came together using the sketch and continuing to use elements from my stash. Foam tape was used to give dimension to the sentiment and the glass flower pot with the hyacinth inside. Tiny rhinestones were added for a bit of sparkle. The inside was lined with a white panel and decorated with coordinating ephemera. 

The sketch may also provide ideas for the Double Trouble Challenge #190, so be sure to visit their blog.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Paper Rose "Bird Day" (sentiment)

Ink: Stampin' Up! Gorgeous Grape

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Old Olive, Perfect Plum

Patterned Paper & Ephemera: Paper Rose "Violet Garden"

Dies: UNB Open Scalloped Rectangles

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1 mm & 2 mm); Recollections Bling Stickers (tiny rhinestones)

A Day All About You (DTC #190)

Double Trouble Challenge #190 is open for your projects. This biweekly challenge requires the use of a 3-2-1 Recipe and also offers two options. Below is a graphic providing a summary of the challenge.

Thing 1: The only requirement from Trouble Maker is to follow the recipe below:

3-2-1- Recipe "For Someone Special"

Servings - Unlimited Portions of Fun

Ingredients

USE AT LEAST

     3  Layers - This does not include the card base.

There are four layers.

     2  Colors of Choice from the Clipart Color Wheel.

Purple, yellow, and blue were the colors used.

     1  Background - Must use Patterned Paper. 

I created my own patterned paper. 

Thing 3:  Twisted Sister 

says, "My optional twist is simple - use floral images."

My project has two styles of floral images, and the inside of the card is also decorated with florals.

Thing 2: Double Dare's optional dare is to use Try a Sketch on Tuesday Sketch #669 as inspiration for the DTC card. The TSOT challenge opens on Tuesday, April 29, 2025.

The TSOT sketch provided inspiration for the DTC #190 project.

Alternate Challenge:  If you have met our 3-2-1 recipe and have included florals, visit the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #28 through Monday, May 12, 2025. Check the rules for their challenge to ensure you have met their requirements and eligibility dates, and you will be awarded yet another chance in our random drawing.

In addition, my card was submitted to the Die Cut Divas Challenge for April 2025 and Make It Girly at Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge.

To view the Design Team's cards, visit the DTC190 Blog. Thanks for stopping by.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Birthday Blossoms"

Ink: Stampin' Up! Fresh Freesia & Berry Burst; Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Berry Burst

Dies: Gina Marie Fancy Edge Rectangles

Misc.: Recollections Bling Stickers (tiny rhinestones), SBC foam tape

Size: A2

Welcome, Easter Morning! (TSOT #668)

Welcome to my blog. I miss the peaceful transition from winter to spring that I remember from my time in Arizona. But I am pleased that in southeast Tennessee, signs of spring are popping up everywhere. My yard is a riot of color with tulips and hyacinths, and the irises will not be far behind. The rain followed by sunshine has done its work. And Easter will be here soon! 

My card for TSOT Challenge #668 has a springlike Easter theme, although it is not required. I used the sketch below for inspiration. This biweekly challenge runs through Sunday, April 27,2025.

Using green cardstock for the card base, a matte of white was adhered, followed by panel of pink patterned paper. A triangle was cut from paper with colorful pastel butterflies matted with a green print. The stamp set that has been unused for a while came to mind when I was looking for floral inspiration for my card. I liked the "wonky" flowers. The leaves and flowers were stamped, colored, fussy-cut, and adhered with foam tape to the patterned layers.

The sentiment was stamped directly to the card front and the inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with another flower. A coordinating greeting was included inside the card as well.

To view the Design Team's cards and join the challenge, visit the TSOT 668 Blog and be sure to look at our sister challenge, Double Trouble #189, too.

In addition, I submitted my card to Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #28. 

Wishing you a happy spring!

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Stampendous "Floral Pieces" & "Floral Parts"; Paper Smooches "Easter Blessings"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Pistachio Pudding

Patterned Paper: Echo Park "Life Is Beautiful" Collection

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (2 mm.)

Size: 3" x 6" (Mini-Slimline)

Have a Joyous Easter (DTC #189)

Double Trouble Challenge #189 is up on the blog. The challenge is open through Sunday, April 27, 2025. Guidelines can be found at the DTC 189 Blog.

Here are Trouble Maker's 3-2-1 Recipe requirements for "Hippity Hoppity." You are not required to use an Easter theme.

Ingredients

USE AT LEAST

     3  Pastel Colors

Lavender, green, and orange were used.

     2  Words in the sentiment

The sentiment has four words. 

     1  Slimline-styled card

The mini-Slimline card measures 3" x 6".

Twisted Sister's optional twist is to include at least one decorative or colored egg in your project.

An Easter egg has been added to the sentiment banner.

Double Dare's optional dare is to use Try a Sketch on Tuesday Sketch #668 as inspiration for the DTC card.

The sketch provided inspiration for the DTC #189 project.

I found this card fun to create, and I hope you do, too. Visit the DTC189 Blog to view the Design Team's cards.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps:    Sunny Studio "Chubby Bunny" (small Easter egg)

                 Paper Smooches

                        "Easter Blessings" (small cross)

                        "A Little Lovin' " (rabbit)

                        "Spring Fling" (sentiment)

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! Peach Pie & Pistachio Pudding; Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Glimmer (green)

Patterned Paper: Ink & Splatter "Summer Breeze" & Sunny Studio "Gingham Pastels"

Die: Hero Arts Infinity (ovals)

Stencil: Jaded Blossom "Carrot"

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1 mm. & 2 mm.)

Size: Mini-Slimline (3" x 6")

 

Spring - New Life & New Beauty (CD #647)

04/13/2025 Update: This card was a Weekly Favorite at Splitcoast Stampers.

Thank you for stopping by my blog. This is my card for a Color Dare Challenge. There are only two colors for this challenge, as shown on the color board below. I added gold foiled cardstock as an optional third color, in addition to using white. For guidelines, check out the Color Dare 647 Blog. This is a biweekly challenge running through Thursday, April 24, 2025.

The background was created with a stencil and adhered to an orange panel. Dies were used to cut the fancy gold ring, and the remaining elements were stamped, colored with Copic markers, and fussy-cut. A bit of green ink was applied to the edge of a plain white die-cut circle. 

Once everything was adhered to the stenciled panel, the sentiment was stamped directly onto the card front. Three gold gems were added. A white card base was used. The inside of the base was decorated with coordinating fussy-cut flowers.

I also added this card to the Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #27.  

Stop by the Color Dare Challenge Blog to see the cards by the Design Team.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: LDRS "Flower Doodles" & Spellbinders "Spring Quotes"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! Lucky Limeade; Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Tangerine Tango, Foiled (gold)

Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (circles), Kat Scrappiness "Stitched Fancy Scalloped Circles"

Stencil: Prisma

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1 mm.), Gethpen Highlighter Pen (gold), Jolee's Boutique Gems

Blue Elephant's Happy Day (TSOT #667)

Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge #667 is now available on the blog for your card-making pleasure. This biweekly challenge runs through Sunday, April 13, 2025, at noon, Eastern Time. Below is the sketch. 

I took to the air to celebrate one of my favorite pastimes, flying, and to create a birthday card for my grandnephew. I chose to substitute other elements for the rainbow, heart, and splash.

Did you know there are blue elephants on our planet? I thought it would be fun to color him some other color than gray, so I looked it up.

To begin, a panel with clouds was created using a stencil, and small birds were stamped directly onto that panel. The images were stamped, colored with Copics, die-cut, and then adhered to the panel of clouds using foam tape. 

The cloud panel was matted with orange cardstock and added to a blue card base. The interior was lined with a white panel and adorned with a small, free clip art image of an aircraft in silhouette. 

For additional ideas, visit our sister challenge, Double Trouble #188, and you may win a prize in their random drawing.

The Design Team invites you to visit the TSOT 667 Blog and share your own interpretation of our sketch.

Thank you,

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Pink & Main "Plane Sweet" & Paper Rose "Bird Day"

Ink: Stampin' Up! Bashful Blue, Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Marina Mist & Tangerine Tango

Dies: Pink & Main "Plane Sweet"

Stencil: MFT Clouds

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (2 mm.)

Make a Splash (DTC #188)

Double Trouble Challenge #188 is now open for paper crafting fun. This biweekly challenge runs through Sunday, April 13, 2025.

Here are Trouble Maker's 3-2-1 Recipe requirements for "April Showers."

Ingredients

     3  Colors of the Rainbow

A rainbow has been included.

     2  Die-Cuts, Ephemera, or Punched Items

More than two die-cut items have been used. 

     1  Scene

The background scene was created using

 stencils and muted colors.        

Twisted Sister's option is to enhance your scene by adding a representative of April showers or water. I included a puddle made with Glossy Accents. The child, colored with Copics, is wearing a slicker and rainboots, and carrying an umbrella. She is splashing in the puddle with a yellow duckling.

Double Dare hopes you will use the TSOT #667 sketch. The sketch inspired my card.

The inside of the card was decorated with three tiny die-cut ducks, clouds, and a sun, all colored with Copics.

It seems that sometimes my blog posts sound like "True Confessions," and this post is no different. As I was placing the elements onto the card front, I dropped the black ink pad lid onto the card, leaving black lines. The elements above the image had not yet been adhered. Determined not to destroy the card, I resorted to rearranging the clouds, rainbow, sun, and sentiment to cover the mess and called it done.

Please note that TSOT #667 starts on Tuesday, April 1st. 

 

Don't forget to stop by the DTC#188 Blog for details on the "April Showers" challenge. Thank you.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps:  MFT "Rain or Shine" & Reverse Confetti "Sealiously" (sentiment)

Inks: Stampin' Up! Smoky Slate, Evening Evergreen, Misty Moonlight & Azure Afternoon; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Smoky Slate, Basic Gray & Misty Moonlight

Dies: MFT "Rain or Shine"; Hero Arts Infinity (ovals)

Stencils: MFT (cloud background), Newton's Nook (Evergreens)

Other: SBC foam tape, Glossy Accents, PPP clear droplets

Size: A6

Thanks a Lot (CD #645)

This Color Dare Challenge #645 begins on Friday, March 28, 2025, and ends on Thursday, April 10, 2025. The color board below gives four colors, of which three must be used, but four may be used. Except for the "free to add" colors, no additional colors may be included.

I saw these colors as yellow, sage, pink, and dark green. I chose to use all of them. The striped paper was adhered to a panel of dark green cardstock. The sentiment was stamped, colored with markers, and die-cut. The die-cut elements were added directly to the panel. The tags were added using foam tape. The card panel was added to a white card base. The inside of the card was decorated with coordinating leafy branches.

Discover what our Design Team did with these spring colors at the CD 645 Blog. The Team hopes you will be inspired to create a project for our challenge.

Thanks for stopping by.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Paper Smooches

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Blushing Bride; LUX dark green

Patterned Paper: CTMH "Postcard Perfect" (sage), and Apple Blossom Designs "Firework Flowers" (yellow)

Dies: Birch Press "Fun Floral," UNB Floral Leaves, Paper Smooches (banner), Lil' Inker (tags) 

Misc.: SBC foam tape

Hexagon Hello (TSOT #666)

The time changed from Standard to Daylight time last weekend (except in Arizona and Hawaii), and I figure we all lost an hour that could have been spent making a card. Now we will have to wait until Autumn to find that hour.

Let's find time to take on another fun sketch at Try a Sketch on Tuesday #666. This challenge runs through Sunday, March 30, 2025, at noon Eastern Daylight Time. I liked this sketch and considered many possibilities, but then I landed back at the starting point and went with hexagons. I think the hexagon is my favorite shape. It is interesting in many ways in nature, science, industry, and more.

Knowing I had patterned paper with hexagons, I went through my stash of scraps and found just enough to use for this card. On a panel of coordinating floral paper, the fussy-cut hexagons were arranged following the sketch design. For dimension, one hexagon was added using foam tape. To create the required sentiment, the word "hello" was die-cut. 

To add interest, the sentiment was adhered to slender cardstock strips mounted on foam tape. The inside was decorated with coordinating paper. 

To view the Design Team's cards and join the challenge, visit the TSOT 666 Blog and be sure to look at our sister challenge, Double Trouble #187, too. 

Melanie 

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black & Crushed Curry

Patterned Paper: Panalisa "Honey Flower" Collection

Dies: Paper Rose Stitched Rectangles & Paper Smooches (sentiment)

Other: SBC foam tape (1 mm.)

Tweets Just for You (DTC #187)

It's been two weeks, and we're back today to introduce our next challenge. This is Double Trouble Challenge #187, ending on Sunday, March 30, 2025.

Following is a summary of the challenge:

Here is what I did to create an Anything Goes project using our 3-2-1 recipe below. 

Servings

Unlimited Portions of Fun

Ingredients 

You must pick at least:  

     3   of SomeThing from your stash. 

(I used four die-cut birds.)

     2   of AnyThing from your stash.

(Three branches were included on the card.)

     1   of EveryThing else from your stash.

(One sentiment was added.)

 

Thing 3: Twisted Sister 

says, "Use the following sketch for inspiration and enter your card at TSOT #666." This challenge is effective on Tuesday, March 18. (I used the sketch below as inspiration for Double Trouble.)

 

Thing 2: Double Dare is joining with Twisted Sister to remind you to join in the sketch-inspired project at TSOT or find another challenge to use as an alternative. 

Special Note: When using the TSOT sketch and/or the Alternate Challenge, enter your project(s) and include TSOT's name and/or your preferred Alternate's name next to the DTC link in your post to be eligible for the extra chances in our random drawing.

I had fun creating this card while playing outside of the box. I also added another card to the sketch challenge. The card can be viewed HERE, effective on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.

Take a look at the DTC #187 Blog to see complete guidelines for this challenge and to view the cards created by the Design Team. Thank you for visiting my blog.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Stampin' Up! "Rooted in Nature" (sentiment)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black & Island Indigo.

DSP: Stampin' Up! "Thoughtful Journey"

Dies: CAS-ual Fridays (frame), Kokorosa "Bird Family"

Misc.: SBC foam tape & Honey Bee gems