Just Pure Love

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #497 is up on the blog with the latest colors! This biweekly challenge runs through Thursday evening, June 2, 2022. This is a tic tac toe challenge so to play along choose three colors in a row and complete your project. You may use all of the colors as long as you start with three in a row from the color board. If you use a color that is not on the color board, your card may be disqualified. I selected the third column - Lemonade, Capri, and Flamingo but actually used all colors except Kraft and Gold.

I was out of town when I created this card. I had no supplies with me but was given the opportunity to use products from a friend's stash. I kept it simple. Onto a black card base, I added a panel of turquoise cardstock followed by the patterned rainbow-colored paper, beautifully spattered. To finish I added a large piece of ephemera to the card front, expressing "love" in bright red and closely matted with black cardstock. This was popped up with foam tape. A few gems were also added.

I hope you'll visit the Color Dare Blog and give our challenge a try!

Materials

Cardstock: CTMH Black & Capri

Patterned Paper: CTMH "Fresh Paint" Paper Packet

Misc.: gems and foam tape from stash

So Beautiful

Double Trouble Challenge #111 is up on the blog. This challenge runs through Sunday evening, May 29, 2022, and, as usual, there are three "Things" to our challenge.

Thing 1 (required): If you're like most crafters, you are probably a packrat - even just a tiny bit. Trouble Maker would like you to use a paper bag you've been hoarding (or Kraft paper) to create your project.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare is thinking that while you're working with that old paper bag, you may consider linking up with our partner, The Crafter's Cafe Challenge #285. Be sure to read their guidelines.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister has come out from under her stash after finding patterned paper in spotted and striped designs. Be sure to use spots or stripes on your project so we can all keep her happy.

I recently spent a long weekend away from home at a friend's summer cabin in the mountains of northern Arizona. The fresh air and mountain scenery was wonderful. I had no craft supplies for this card so used what I found in my friend's stash at the cabin.

Onto the Kraft card base, I added a die-cut oval using foam tape then added some lovely ephemera from a paper packet. The banners are cut from patterned papers with spots and stripes so I could enter my card at our partner's challenge. 

We look forward to seeing your entries on our DTC111 Blog and at The Crafter's Cafe #285.

Materials

Cardstock: CTMH Toffee & New England Ivy

Paper: CTMH "Hope and Kindness" Paper Packet

Dies: Kat Scrappiness (ovals)

Good Times

The biweekly challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #555 is underway and scheduled to run through Sunday, May 22, 2022. Our challenges are always based on a sketch but we also offer an option. The option for the sketch below is using pastel colors.

Using a pretty collection of paper, my card went together quickly. I stamped, colored, and die-cut the image of the "farting" unicorn, which was borrowed from a friend. I also used some crafting license with the sketch due to the size of my focal image. I trimmed the paper to size, matted some of the pieces with black cardstock, and adhered them to the card base with foam tape. The sentiment was cut from ephemera that matched the paper. The black card base was lined with white cardstock.

We hope you will join us at the Try Stampin' on Tuesday blog. We have a new biweekly challenge beginning every Tuesday so there is always a challenge to try.

Materials
Stamps: Rubbernecker "Unicorns"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Close to My Heart
Paper: CTMH: Tutti Frutti"
Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape

Happy Birthday to Jean

Another color challenge is awaiting your project at Color My Heart Color Dare #495. This challenge runs through Thursday evening, May 19, 2022, and it's an easy one! Start with the colors black and white and add one color. If you wish, add gold or silver to your project.

I decided to use the color blue with some gold pearls. I adhered a panel of black cardstock and another of white to a blue card base. The circle and hexagon were die-cut. The circle was added directly to the white panel and the hexagon was added with foam tape. The floral image was stamped, fussy cut, and adhered so it's peeking out of the hexagon. A sentiment was stamped and the gold pearls were added. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with a coordinating stamped floral image.

We welcome you to our challenge - a new biweekly color challenge begins every Friday morning so there is always a current challenge to join. Visit our Color Dare Blog for details.

Materials

Stamps: Altenew "Frosted Garden" & SU! "Wildflower Path" (sentiment)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black & Ballet Blue

Paper: SU! "Everyday Chic"

Dies: Spellbinders Classic Circles and Classic Hexagons

Misc: SU! Metallic Pearls (Gold) and foam tape

Make Each Day Magical

It's the first Monday in May and that means a new biweekly challenge! Double Trouble Challenge #109 runs through Sunday, May 15, 2022. As is customary, there are three "Things" to the challenge.

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker cannot get the song, "Over the Rainbow," out of her head. It keeps playing over and over again. She would like you to create a project that includes a rainbow or rainbow colors, or... a project that features the color pink. That's a great choice! Just complete this one requirement and your entry will be submitted for our random draw. 

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare is introducing a new partner, Colorful Options. Be sure to visit their blog to review the guidelines. If your project qualifies we hope you'll link it to their monthly challenge for May 2022. This will earn you another chance in our random draw.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister believes every rainbow should be accompanied by a touch of fantasy. If you include something make-believe like a pot of gold, or unicorns, fairies, mermaids, gnomes, wizards, dragons, etc., you will earn another chance in our random draw. 

I am preparing to move 2,000 miles across the country in a few weeks so many of my craft tools and supplies are packed. I borrowed this cute fairy stamp set and die from a team member. I stamped the image, colored it with Copic markers then used the coordinating die to cut it. The front of the card base was dry embossed for texture.

I think we all know the traditional rainbow colors but in my "card world" I think any colors work so I chose colors based on the glitter paper I had on hand. A set of circle dies was used to create the rainbow. A tree-builder punch provided the shape for the clouds. Finally, the elements were arranged and adhered to the card base. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with clouds. Gems were added for the final touch.

There's a new challenge in town! I played along with Can You Handle the Pressure? as well. This challenge always requires the use of an embossing folder plus there is an optional twist. This challenge runs through

We hope you will join us for some fun at the DTC109 Blog and Colorful Options for May. You could be the winner of our random draw!

Materials

Stamp Set: CTMH "Fairy Tale Magic"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Coastal Cabana

Paper: SU! Glimmer (white), other misc. glitter paper

Punch: SU! Tree Builder (to create clouds)

Die: CTMH "Fairy Tale Magic" & Spellbinders Classic Circles (to create rainbow)

Embossing Folder: Stampin' Up!

Misc.: Gems and foam tape from stash

Gratitude

Challenges are so inspiring - I wish I had more time to participate in them! So it's time to play along with the biweekly Challenge #553 at Try Stampin' on Tuesday This challenge runs through Sunday, May 8, 2022. This is a sketch challenge with an option. The optional theme is "Things that Fly". I chose two flying insects - a bee and a moth because they are images found in the paper I used.

Onto a gray card base, I added a panel of teal cardstock followed by a panel of patterned paper. I thought this paper needed a little color so using a marker I touched up the centers of the flowers with yellow ink. I added additional coordinating patterned paper for the horizontal decoration at the bottom of the card front. The two flying insects were fussy cut and adhered with foam tape. The sentiment was stamped and die-cut then backed with an offset oval in coordinating yellow print paper. Foam tape was used to adhere the sentiment to the card and an enamel heart was affixed. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with a yellow heart.

We look forward to seeing your creations at our TSOT Challenge #553. A new biweekly challenge begins every Tuesday morning so there is always an active challenge available to you.

Materials

Stamp: Pinkfresh Studios "Incredibly Grateful"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Marker (Y15)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Smoky Slate & Lost Lagoon

Paper: Dare 2 B Artsy "Honey Bloomz" Collection

Die: Kat Scrappiness (oval)

Misc.: Illustrated Faith Enamel Hearts & foam tape

Grateful for Your Kindness

 
It's time to play along at Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #493. There are three required colors as seen on the color board below. Black, white and neutral colors are also permitted. You may use any brand of products but the colors should match closely.

I selected pink and orange cardstock and yellow dotted paper. First I cut the papers into strips of varying widths. Using score tape, I adhered the strips onto a small square of acetate, leaving a small space between the edges of each strip. Next, with a die, I cut a circle from the acetate. The butterfly was die-cut from black cardstock and adhered to the circle. I offset the circle, adhering with foam tape. I trimmed off the excess from the circle. To finish I added some black gems.

I hope you'll join us at the Color Dare Challenge Blog. A new biweekly challenge begins every Friday morning so there is always a challenge to try. This challenge runs through Thursday, May 5, 2022.

Materials

Stamp: Pinkfresh Studios "Incredibly Grateful"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black, Watermelon Wonder, Peach Parfait

Paper: from stash

Dies: Spellbinders (circle) & RCD (butterfly)

Misc.: SU! Acetate, Scrapbook.com score tape, black gems and foam tape from stash

Your Big Heart

Here it is again - the third Monday of the month and time for a Double Trouble Challenge. This is biweekly Challenge #108. As is customary, there are three "Things" to consider when you play along with our challenge.

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker needs to see a basic shaped frame on your project that has been cut from a die.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare knows you'll be happy to have used a die so you can link up with our partner, Dies R Us #191.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister would like you to celebrate Mother's Day or another special occasion with flowers and/or butterflies. I chose to create a thank you card.

I was in the mood to create a simple card from a sketch today. It's not CAS but it's basic. I selected an old sketch from the past and a few patterned papers from my stash. After embossing the front of my card base to add texture, I added a floral panel with a die-cut border in dotted yellow paper. The sentiment was stamped on white cardstock and die-cut using a scalloped frame, then matted with pink cardstock. The butterfly was punched from dotted yellow paper and adhered to the sentiment frame. This was added to the card with foam tape. A few pearls were added to the butterfly and the sentiment. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with a pink punched butterfly.

We hope you'll join us at the DTC108 Blog and the DRU191 Blog for our challenges. Double Trouble runs through Sunday evening, May 1, 2022, and Dies R Us runs through Thursday, April 28, 2022.

Materials

Stamp: Pinkfresh Studio "Incredibly Grateful"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Pretty in Pink & Lost Lagoon

Patterned Paper: from stash

Embossing Folder: SU! "Painted Texture"

Punch: SU! "Itty Bitty Butterfly"

Dies: Lawn Fawn (scalloped border) & Waffle Flower ("Lacy Layers 2")

Misc.: Pearls and foam tape from stash

What a Day!

Thank you for visiting my blog! Today begins a new biweekly challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday. This is Challenge #551 and runs through Sunday, April 24, 2022. This time we're challenging you to select the following sketch OR to create a project with photographs OR to combine both elements. I used only the sketch but I think this would be a great layout to use for a scrapbook page.

I used a stamp set of Newton (the cat) enjoying his day. There are 16 small stamps showing Newton engaging in various activities. The stamps fit the squares nicely. I selected four - Newton exercising in the morning, then practicing his guitar in the afternoon, and finally reading at bedtime. The stamped images were colored to resemble my cat named Taffy, and then fussy cut. Inside the card, I lined the black card base with white cardstock and added Newton enjoying a burger. Whew! What a day for Newton! I added a little color to the patterned paper by using a Copic marker to color the little fish.

We welcome you to try our challenges. A new biweekly challenge opens every Tuesday so there is always one underway. Visit our TSOT#551 Blog for our sketches and guidelines.

I also added my card to the April challenge at Two Crafty Critter Crazies #61.

Materials

Stamps: Newton's Nook "Newton Makes Plans"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black, Real Red, Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Ballet Blue

Paper: SU! DSP "Playful Pets"

Dies: Rubbernecker (stitched rounded-corner squares) & Sizzix (sentiment)

Misc.: Foam tape

Adventure Awaits

Thank you for visiting my blog. Feel free to browse. I needed some inspiration for my nephew's birthday card. He's a grown man and enjoys several hobbies, one of which is hunting so using the sketch from this week's Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #467, I decided to go for a masculine, "woodsy" vibe. 

I looked through my paper stash and found this old paper collection. The vertically aligned triangles reminded me of fir trees. I layered a panel of cardstock and the panel of fir trees onto a vanilla card base. A piece of coordinating patterned paper was added for the horizontal panel across the center of the card front. For the tilted panel, paper with a woodgrain pattern was selected. Using punches, I created three trees and a moose. I added the moose then sponged the edges of the trees with ink and popped them up with foam tape. The ricrac trim was added to mimic mountains and the sentiment was also added. The inside was decorated with coordinating paper.

I waited until the last minute to play along with AHSC #467, so there isn't much time left for this sketch. Their weekly challenges begin every Monday morning so be sure to visit their blog for future sketches.

Materials

Stamps: Computer generated

Ink: Stampin' Up! Bermuda Bay

Cardstock: SU! Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Bermuda Bay, Cajun Craze

Paper: SU! DSP from stash (name unknown) & In Good Taste (woodgrain)

Die: MFT (ricrac)

Punches: SU! (Moose & Pine Tree)

Misc.: Foam tape

Butterfly Burst

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #491 is up on the blog. This biweekly challenge runs through Thursday, April 21, 2022. Below is the inspiration photo from which you can select three colors of your choice. Black and white are free colors. You may use additional colors as long as they are present in the photo. I used a variety of colors.

The design was die-cut from white card stock and the ink was added with brushes. I wanted to use silver foil as the background for the butterflies but silver is not a permitted color. Instead, I went with white glittered cardstock and adhered the butterfly panel to it. Next, I adhered the panel to a white card base and added a few gems. The inside was decorated with butterflies punched from glittered cardstock. I decided not to add a sentiment at this time.

We invite you to join us at Color Dare Challenge #491. Our challenges are biweekly. We have a new challenge beginning every Friday morning and running for two weeks so there is always an active challenge to try.

Materials

Inks: DOX Dusty Concord, Salty Ocean, Lucky Clover, Spiced Marmalade & Picked Raspberry

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Glittered (white) 

Die: RCD "Butterfly Burst" (w/stitching)

Punch: SU! "Itty Bitty Butterfly" (inside of card)

Misc.: Gems from stash

Celebrate His Love - Easter

Although the "official" first day of spring was March 20, I always think of Easter as the beginning of spring. Easter falls on April 17 this year and while I was making my family's Easter cards, I came upon a frame die that I thought would work for my simple scene at Double Trouble Challenge #107 - and it had two bunnies!

Double Trouble Challenges are always comprised of three "Things":

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker has asked us to watch a YouTube video. Click HERE to see it. Cute - right? We're hoping you are inspired to create a simple scene using the KISS method. (Keep It Simple, Stamper.) An Easter theme is not required but you are free to use Easter if you wish. All you really need is a simple scene to earn a chance in our random draw.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare is suggesting we partner with Cupcake Inspirations Challenge #541. Isn't their cupcake photo (below) cute? Check out their guidelines and if you link your card to their challenge, you will earn another chance in our random draw.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister is all excited about hopping down the Bunny Trail, so include at least one rabbit on your project and you will be eligible for another chance in our random draw.

A scrap of pretty paper provided the background. I brushed on a little ink to enhance the colors to resemble an Easter sunrise scene. The frame was die-cut from purple cardstock and adhered to the scene panel. I wanted the bunnies to stand out so using the original die I cut just the rabbits from a tiny scrap of white cardstock, added eyes, touched up the nose and ears with a pink marker then overlaid them onto the purple die-cut panel. To finish, I adhered the completed panel to a white card base and added a sentiment. As is customary, I decorated the inside of the card with additional coordinating paper.

We welcome you to our biweekly DTC107 challenge and hope you will link up with CIC541, too.

Materials

Stamp: Computer generated sentiment

Inks: Stampin' Up! Highland Heather & Crushed Curry

Cardstock: SU! Basic White & Pale Plum

Paper: Lavinia (scraps from stash)

Die: RCD (Forest Scene)

Scrapping with Banners

Dig the scraps out of your stash for this one!  Try Stampin' on Tuesday has a fun sketch with an option for their biweekly Challenge #549. This challenge runs from Tuesday, March 29, through Sunday, April 10, 2022.

I was glad to be able to use paper from a small bundle of scraps that were previously cut into 3/4" strips. I wanted to use silver glitter paper as a background but was concerned that the strips would not stick well to the glitter. Instead, I adhered the strips to a panel of clear acetate using high-tack two-sided tape. A panel of silver glitter paper was cut and added behind the strips, glued to the acetate, facing forward. I elected to add a strip of pearls across the card. The acetate adds a pretty sheen to the card front along with the glitter.

If you have been thinking about trying a sketch challenge, then this is for you. Visit our TSOT549 Blog for our guidelines and to view the inspiring cards from the Design Team. Our challenges begin every Tuesday morning and last two weeks so there is always a challenge ready for you to join.

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & CTMH Bluebell

Paper: SU! & CTMH patterned paper from scraps

Misc.: Judi-kins (window sheets); pearls and high-tack tape from stash

Hey, Gorgeous!

The struggle is real... it's never quite clear to me why it takes me so long to develop a card for a color challenge. Maybe I overthink it. Here is my card for Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #489. The decision to use the inlay technique required even more time than usual but I am pleased with the results. 

Below is the Tictactoe board to guide you through the colors. Select three colors in a row, column, or diagonally to create your card. You may use as many of the colors on the board as you wish as long as you form a Tictactoe. Do not use any colors that are not on the board. Take note that Black and White may be used freely.

I selected a diagonal direction - Desert Rose, Sage, and Foiled Gold. I also used Ballerina, Glacier, and Rosemary. To a panel of black cardstock, I adhered a large gold foiled die-cut. I left some of the pieces intact but others I removed so I could inlay colored cardstock. I did not have anything close to Desert Rose in my cardstock or dye inks so made my own using a blend of Copic alcohol markers. I added the die-cut sentiment, plenty of sparkly gems, and attached a white card base. The inside was decorated with a small flower from the die-cut scraps.

We welcome you to our challenges. You are not required to use CTMH colors as long as your substitutes are very close. A new biweekly challenge begins every Friday morning so there is always an active challenge to join. This challenge ends on Thursday evening, April 7, 2022, and here is our Color Dare Blog #489. We hope to see your project!

Materials

Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers (R22 & E23) - sub for Desert Rose

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Basic White, Foiled Gold, Soft Succulent (sub for Rosemary), Mint Macaron (sub for Sage), Pool Party (sub for Glacier), Pink Pirouette (sub for Ballerina)

Dies: RCD (flower garden), Pink Fresh (sentiment)

Misc.: SU! Champagne Rhinestones

Fabulous - Yes, You Are!

Card 1 of 2

Card 2 of 2

We hope you'll join us at Double Trouble Challenge #106. This biweekly challenge runs through Sunday evening, April 3, 2022. Our theme is "Less Is More" - as in Clean and Simple. The Design Team has made two samples of each card and mine are both posted above. 

As is our custom, we have three "Things" for you:

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker has decided on Clean and Simple (CAS) projects. Visit our Blog for details about creating CAS cards. You will receive one chance in our random draw for submitting a CAS project.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare is challenging you to link your cards to Use Your Stuff Challenge #444. Linking will give you another chance in our random draw.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister has decided if you wish to earn another chance in the random draw, use one color - no more, no less - on your project. You may, however, use multiple shades of one color.

The Design Team members have each created two sample cards for you to view at the DTC106 Blog. The first card I created for my aunt. My Aunt Millie, who is still sharp as a tack, will be celebrating her 95th birthday by the time this post is published so the card will have already been mailed to her. 

Using a white card base and gray ink, I stamped both a floral image and a sentiment onto the front of the card. I chose pink as my one color and used only one shade of pink. Pink just seemed to be perfect for my sweet aunt. I also stamped a coordinating tiny flower plus a birthday sentiment using gray ink on the inside and added a tiny bit of pink ink to the image. I left sufficient space to write a personal message as well.

The second card is a duplicate of the first except it was stamped in black ink and colored with Copic Alcohol Markers. I added a panel of pink patterned paper to the inside of the front flap because alcohol markers applied on the front panel leave stains when they bleed through the cardstock. This additional step really added a pretty touch to the inside of the card. 

We hope you enjoy our "Less Is More" Challenge. For guidelines be sure to visit the DTC106 Blog and the UYS444 Blog. We look forward to seeing your entries!

Materials

Stamp Set: Altenew "Engraved Flowers"

Card #1 Inks: Stampin' Up! Smoky Slate and Pink Pirouette (retired)

Card #2 Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: SU! Basic White

Card #2 Patterned Paper inside: SU! DSP from stash (small pink floral print)

Happy Day

Sketch challenges are a personal favorite so here is my card for Try Stampin' on Tuesday #547. This biweekly challenge ends on Sunday, March 27, 2022. The sketch is below and our fun option is to include metallic elements. 

To create the card, I die-cut a floral panel from gold foiled cardstock and added it to a black cardstock panel. Another die was used to create the pink foiled stitched square, which was added with foam tape. The sentiment and dragonflies were also cut from dies. The completed black panel was added to a panel of pink foiled cardstock and then to a white card base. A few additional dragonflies were used to decorate the inside of the card. 

We hope to see your entry at our challenge - only the sketch is required - the metallic is for fun. We have a new biweekly challenge beginning every Tuesday so there is always an active challenge available. Visit our TSOT547 Blog for details.

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black, Foiled (gold); PET Textured Foil (pink)

Dies: Stamp Doctor (sentiment), Frantic Stamper ("Floral Band"), Rubbernecker (stitched squares), RCD (dragonflies)

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape