Fancy Birthday Wishes

It seems as if I always need birthday cards so I used the color board from the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #343 for reference while making my card. The colors need not be exactly as named but should closely resemble the colors. This challenge permits three or more colors from the grid plus neutrals of gray, black or white but no additional colors. I selected Linen, Sage, Sugarplum and Silver, adding gray as a neutral. For the Linen color, I used a SU! paper, Naturals White. It has little slubs in the paper, much like linen fabric has. In the photos, you may see these tiny flecks.

I used a die to cut out the pieces from various colors of cardstock. I assembled the card by adhering the elements, using foam tape to provide dimension, to the Linen card base. The sentiment was stamped and die cut. The tiny rose was adhered. The inside was decorated using matching cardstock to decorate.

If you're looking for a color challenge, this could be the one. Beautiful colors and flexible guidelines keeps it fun so visit the Color My Heart Color Dare Blog. This challenge runs from Friday, May 17, through Thursday, May 30, 2019.

Materials
Stamp: Sizzix Phrases #658838
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: SU! Naturals White, Basic Gray, Pistachio Pudding, Sweet Sugarplum; Bazzil Silver Foil
Dies: Sue Wilson's "Lisbon"
Misc.: Foam tape, rose from stash

Hugs with Vellum

My card was made for the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #315. I have been wanting to use vellum for a while so I thought the sketch would lend itself to using it. This challenge consistently has great sketches.

A card base was cut from heavyweight vellum. Patterned paper and cardstock in two colors were cut to fit the required angle. One of them was die cut for a wavy look. The flourish was also die cut along with the sentiment. The elements were assembled and adhered onto the vellum. The sentiment includes a second die cut as a shadow. I elected to place the sentiment differently than the sketch so it would not get lost on the floral paper.

Because vellum is somewhat transparent, great care was taken to cover where evidence of glue or tape was visible. To finish the card, a few candy dots in lime were adhered and the punched butterfly was added.

Visit the Atlantic Hearts Blog - you'll be glad you did!

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry, Lucky Limeade & Vellum (43-lb.)
Paper: Stampin' Up! "Painted Blooms"
Punch: Stampin' Up! "Bitty Butterfly"
Dies: SSS Hugs; Mama Elephant border die; MFT Flourish
Misc.: Candy Dots

Where's My Coffee?

Double Trouble Challenge #28 is getting an early start in order to play along at the 2019 Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers Challenge AND the monthly Three Amigos Challenge #26 "Food & Drink".

For DTC #28, all you need to do is create a project for spring or summer. The added twist is to include a favorite beverage then submit your project to DTC #28 and Three Amigos. If you use coffee, tea or cocoa, be sure to consider the playing along at the Coffee Challenge. All three challenges offer great prizes!

I downloaded this cute digi image from Wink Wink Ink, then resized, colored and fussy cut it. Onto the card base, a large panel of cardstock was adhered with a strip of brown cardstock on the right edge. Two die cut labels, the larger of which was dry embossed, were also adhered after the edges were sponged with ink. The image was adhered using foam tape for dimension. The sentiment was computer generated, adhered to a cardstock banner and backed with foam tape. The brown candy dots were added. The inside of the card was decorated with a strip of patterned paper matching the die cut label.

So we hope to see you at one or all of the following challenges:

1. Double Trouble #28       

2. Three Amigos #26             

3. 2019 Spring/Summer Coffee Lovers 

Materials
Stamps: Wink Wink Ink Designs "Teacup Chihuahua" & computer generated sentiment
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers & Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Peach Parfait; Spectrum Noir for alcohol ink
Paper: Stampin' Up! (retired)
Dies: Spellbinders Labels
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Candy Dots (Chocolate Chip) & Dimensionals (foam tape); Cuttlebug EF (Dotted Zigzag)

Feliz Cinco de Mayo

Update: CAS Favorite of the Week ending 05/04/2019 at Splitcoast Stampers!

It's almost Cinco de Mayo and we're starting the celebration early at the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #341. The challenge is usually a grid with specific colors but this time an inspiration photo of a serape was provided.

I went searching to find out about serapes and found inspiration on the Internet for my little hombre. He is enjoying his siesta so must be tired from all the celebrating! I drew him freehand using a pencil, then colored with Copic Alcohol Markers. Next, I drew the serape and added colors with Copics. Finally, I downloaded a free digi image of a sombrero, colored and fussy cut it and plopped it onto his head. Keeping it simple, I used foam tape and adhered the elements to a red card base. A little shadowing was added with a Copic marker. The inside was decorated with a cactus stamp, some adobe houses and the computer-generated sentiment, "Feliz Cinco de Mayo".

My card has already been mailed to some friends of ours in California who are of Mexican descent and love to celebrate with Margaritas and plenty of good food!

Be sure and join us at the Color Dare Challenge #341 from Friday, May 3, 2019, through Thursday, May 16, 2019.

Materials
Stamps: Cactus on inside by Scraps of Love; other images and sentiment hand-drawn or computer-generated
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Real Red; Spectrum Noir for Alcohol Ink
Misc.: Foam tape

Mother's Day for Aunt

It's time for the May 2019 Brown Sugar Monthly Challenge #290. This challenge begins on Friday, May 3, 2019, and runs through Tuesday, June 4, 2019. Our theme for May is Flowers! May also brings Mother's Day in several countries so this is the perfect time to create something special.

I enjoy honoring my Aunt Millie on Mother's Day. She is 91 and such a sweet lady! Because I will be mailing the card, I designed it to be low profile.

My image, Old Roses Frame, was provided by the challenge sponsor, Morgan's Art World.

I downloaded, resized and printed the image on Copic-friendly paper. I also turned it, using a different orientation from the artist's original. I inset the sentiment using my computer. After coloring with Copics, the image was fussy cut, adhered to a die cut fancy frame cut from a water colored scrap, backed with a panel of white cardstock and adhered to a gray card base. The green rhinestones were added. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with more water colored paper.

Everyone is welcome to join the challenge - you could win a prize! Stop by the Brown Sugar Challenge Blog and play along with us.


Size: A2 (5.5" x 4.25")
Techniques: Water Color ("smooshing")

Materials
Stamp: Morgan's Art World "Old Roses Frame" (digital image)
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Smoky Slate; Spectrum Noir for Alcohol Ink
Die: Gina Marie Rectangle Frames
Misc.: Gems from stash; water colored scrap using red & yellow paints

It's Your Day... Celebrate!

Double Trouble Challenge #27 began this morning and runs through Sunday, May 5, 2019. Our biweekly challenges occur on the first and third Monday of each month but when there is a fifth Monday, we opt for Anything Goes and the challenge lasts only one week. I decided to participate with Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #314 by using their weekly sketch.

The optional twist is to use words on the backgrounds of our cards. I used my PC to create a page with a repetitive birthday sentiment and printed it onto white cardstock using lavender ink. Because the background design I created is covered in sentiments, I elected to omit an additional sentiment. I turned the page for cutting so the words would be at an angle that matches the angles on the sketch I selected. I stamped and colored a floral image then assembled the card.

A panel of Wisteria Wonder cardstock was die cut with scallops and adhered to the white card base. Onto that I added a panel of Elegant Eggplant then the sentiment page. The ribbon was added in keeping with the sketch design. The floral image was fussy cut and adhered using foam tape and finally, the gems were adhered. The inside was decorated with additional colored flower images from the same stamp set.

Be sure to visit AHSC #314 and Double Trouble #27 for lots of inspiration.

Materials
Stamp: Altenew Striped Flowers& computer generated sentiment
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder & Elegant Eggplant
Die: Waffle Flower stitched scalloped rectangles
Misc.: Purple ribbon and gems from stash

Floral Just for You

With barely enough time, I entered a card into Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #313 just before it closed for the week. I needed a few feminine cards for numerous occasions so the sketch provided the push I needed to make two cards alike.

Using a favorite scalloped rectangle die, I cut several pieces to stack onto the card. I also used the die to create a rectangle, which I adhered to the white card base. The additional pieces to achieve the turned part of the sketch were stacked, then adhered with foam tape. Tiny glittery flowers in three shades were added. The sentiment was die cut in two colors and adhered so the darker is a shadow for the lighter color. The inside was decorated with coordinating paper. I resisted the urge to add clear droplets or pearls because of the busy patterned paper.

If you're seeking some great sketches, I encourage you to visit the AHSC blog and play along with their challenges.

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Pool Party & Lost Lagoon
Paper: Echo Park "Spring Fling" and Carta Bella "Paris Girl"
Die: Waffle Flower scalloped rectangle and Penny Black "Just for You"
Misc.: Foam tape and flowers from stash

Celebrate Spring!

Today begins the a sketch challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #405. This is a biweekly challenge that runs through Sunday, May 5, 2019. As is my usual practice, I did not copy the sketch precisely but instead went with my own interpretation.

 

Onto a card base of Lost Lagoon, a panel of patterned paper trimmed with yellow die cut scallops was adhered to the card base. A strip of yellow patterned paper was adhered. The kites were fussy cut from patterned paper and adhered with foam tape. The ovals were die cut and the stamped sentiment was added. The sentiment unit was adhered with foam tape. Three pink pearls were added. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock decorated with a fussy cut kite.

The Design Team at TSOT #405 invites you to play along at this biweekly sketch challenge.

Materials
Stamp: Sizzix Layered Ovals (#663510)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, Barely Banana (retired)
Paper: Echo Park "Spring Bloom" & "Rainboots" (kites), Lawn Fawn "Spring Fling", Dare 2B Artzy "Honey Bloomz"
Dies: Sizzix Layered Ovals Framelits (#663510) & Lawn Fawn Border Scallops
Misc: SU! Dimensionals & pink pearls from stash

Thank You Card

My Color Dare DT card is late - oh, my! I simply lost track of the due date, which is easy to do since I retired.

You have two weeks to join in the challenge fun at Color My Heart Color Dare #339 using the tic-tac-toe grid below. Don't lose track of the dates! The challenge starts today, Friday, April 19, and runs through Thursday, May 2, 2019. Once you select the desired row of three you may also add other colors as long as they appear on this grid. I selected Raspberry, Sugarplum and Lagoon then by using the patterned paper, included all except the Fern and Gold. All the materials were from my stash so similar colors were used where I did not have the precise colors.

My plan was to create a masculine card but I decided to use pink. My design comes from a new sketch I have from Try Stampin' on Tuesday #405. I thought the simple layout worked well with the busy feathered paper. Onto the blue card base, I adhered dotted paper and the feather paper. The silver "ties" were adhered. The sentiment was stamped with coordinating blue ink and adhered to die cut layers. The sentiment oval was adhered using foam tape and the silver "gems" were added. The inside was lined with white cardstock and a decorative strip of the dotted paper.

Be sure to visit the Color Dare Challenge Blog so you can enjoy the challenge along with us! If you enjoy challenges, you will also enjoy Try Stampin' on Tuesday #405.

Materials
Stamp: Sizzix Layered Ovals (#663510)
Ink: Stampin' Up! Not Quite Navy
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Not Quite Navy; P-E-T Textured Foil (silver)
Paper: Making Cards "Feathers" & Lawn Fawn "Spring Fling" (dots)
Dies: Sizzix Layered Ovals Framelits (#663510)
Misc.: foam tape & gems from stash

Splish-Splash Umbrella Challenge

After a futile attempt to fold a perfect origami umbrella I switched my method to something simpler when making this card for the challenge at Double Trouble #26, "Splish-Splash". The challenge requirements include showing water in some form plus a twist - adding an umbrella. There is also an option to hook up with the Joy of Sets Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge #004. I selected the third vertical column - ribbon, floral, pearls.

 

I found the raindrop patterned paper in cheerful colors so adhered it to a panel of black cardstock and then onto a white card base. I drew an umbrella template and fussy cut two umbrella shapes from heavyweight cardstock. Using the template, I cut the pink patterned papers for the umbrella and adhered them. I added black cardstock so the umbrella would stand out from the raindrops background. Two pieces of patterned paper were cut and adhered to the inside of the umbrella. A crafting straw was flattened with a bone folder to depict the handle. I stamped the sentiment, hinged the two pieces then adhered with foam tape. The sheer ribbon and pearls were added and the inside of the card was decorated with coordinating paper.

No additional sentiment was stamped on the inside, leaving adequate space for a personal message.

We hope you'll play along at both challenges and browse what others submit as well. The challenges begin on Monday, April 15, through Sunday, April 28, 2019. Click HERE for DTC #26 and HERE for JOS #004.

Materials
Stamp: Sizzix #662347 Circle Sentiments
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Basic Black
Paper: Echo Park "Springtime - Puddle Jumper" & Lawn Fawn "Spring Fling"
Misc.: Taylored Expressions (heavyweight paper drinking straw); pearls & ribbon from stash

Fearless - CAS

Who knows what I was thinking when I purchased a word die, "fearless". But then a younger member of my family was faced with battling breast  cancer along with the surgery and treatments required of her. I am so proud of her for facing this disease with such strength so "fearless" seems appropriate!

A sketch at Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #403 provided the inspiration for this design. There is also an option to use embossing, either heat or dry. I turned the sketch on its side in making my card.

 

  

 

A panel of white cardstock was dry embossed with a floral design then adhered to the card base. A strip of cardstock was cut and the ends were punched to achieve a design. The word was die cut. A second punched design was added for color. This was adhered to the card front using foam tape. A couple of metallic "gems" were also adhered. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with coordinating cardstock. I enjoy writing a personal message in my cards so there is not sentiment on the inside.

We would enjoy seeing your card at Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #403. The challenge runs from Tuesday, April 9, 2019 through Monday, April 22, 2019.

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Gray, Tempting Turquoise
Die: Stamplorations/Cut-plorations word die
Punch: Stampin' Up!
TIEF: Stampin' Up!
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); gems from stash

Sending Hugs

 

Color challenges are such a... well, a challenge! Most of us don't like making masculine cards but for me, it's color limitations that are perplexing. But I don't let those color requirements stop me. This card is made for a  challenge at Color My Heart: Color Dare #337. Below is the color grid. The requirement for this challenge is to use at least three of these colors. Black and white are also permitted as long as at least three colors from the grid are used. I selected Ballerina, Glacier and Silver as my colors, then went to my stash to find what I had that could be used. I also added a wee bit of Sugarplum.

Using a set of oval dies, four ovals were die cut using four different colors or patterns of cardstock or paper. The Glacier and Ballerina ovals were edge-sponged. The smallest oval was stamped with a sentiment. The little hearts were simply colored with Copic markers to appear as Sugarplum and Ballerina. Onto a white card base, I stamped the Glacier leaves so they would surround the ovals. A die cut strip of Ballerina was adhered to the card base and then a strip of silver. The set of ovals was backed with foam tape and adhered to the card base. The inside was stamped with leaves to match the card front.

Color My Heart: Color Dare #337 begins on Friday, April 5, and lasts through Thursday, April 15, 2019. Be sure to visit the blog and play along.

Materials
Stamps: Sizzix Layered Ovals (#663510)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! Soft Sky & Pretty in Pink; Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White (thick), Soft Sky, Pretty in Pink; P-E-T textured foil (silver)
Paper: CTMH "Seasons Mix-in" Collection
Dies: Sizzix Layered Ovals Framelits (#663510); Mama Elephant border die
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)