Floral Valentine

Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #441 is underway, effective Tuesday, January 21, through Sunday, February 2, 2020. In addition to the sketch, the optional twist is to use foil. I don't have any foiling equipment so used foiled cardstock. Here is the sketch:

I elected to use a mix of patterned papers along with the glitter paper in two colors and the foiled cardstock. The various papers were cut to follow the sketch and adhered to a white card base. I die cut directly from the patterned paper for two of the hearts. The edges of the hearts were lightly sponged for definition and stacked onto the card front with foam tape. The inside was decorated with a few small hearts. The card was finished off with a few pearls and a spritz of shimmer mist.

How disappointing that I was unable to capture the pretty teal color of the foil. Shiny objects are always difficult to photograph.

Challenges at TSOT are biweekly and a new one begins each Tuesday. You are cordially invited to play along any time. Visit our challenge blog for details.

Materials

Ink: Stampin' Up! Crumb Cake (for sponging)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White

Paper: Mintay "Lovely Day" (floral & wood grain); CTMH "Craft On", WRMK foiled cardstock (teal) and Glitter Collection (light aqua & soft pink)

Dies: Reasonable Craft Dies "Stacking & Nesting Scalloped Hearts"

Misc.: Altenew Shimmer Mist; pearls and foam tape from stash

Yummy for the Tummy

Cheese + kernels of corn = delicious popcorn!

On Monday, January 20, the biweekly Double Trouble Challenge #48  began and will continue through Sunday, February 2, 2020. There are three "things" to know about this challenge:

1. Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker says, "Say cheese." This challenge requires you to use something that makes you smile - humorous, babies, pets, a joke, comfort food, etc.

2. Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare challenges you to link up with our partner, Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge, for two weekly challenges. AHSC is a weekly sketch challenge so you may choose to create two cards, one for AHSC #352 (January 20 through 26) and another for AHSC #353 (January 27 through February 2). There is an extra chance to win a prize if you submit a project to each challenge. This blog post is for AHSC #353. (Click HERE for my post for AHSC #352.)

3. Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister wants you to show her your favorite cheesy comfort food. One of my favorites is popcorn with freshly grated cheese. Yummy!

Here is the sketch for AHSC #353: 
                                                                              Double Trouble #48

  

A panel of white cardstock was dry embossed to give it a linen texture, which doesn't show well in the photos. The digital elements were downloaded, resized, printed, colored with Copics and fussy cut. First the film strip was added to depict the curve in the sketch. The three food items were adhered with foam tape for dimension and the silhouette of an old movie projector was adhered directly to the card front. The sentiment was computer generated and adhered with foam tape. The card front was adhered to a panel of black cardstock and then onto a yellow card base. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with more of the film strip.

Please join us at Double Trouble #48 and AHSC #352 and #353!

Materials
Stamps: Digital images; computer generated sentiment
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Crushed Curry
TIEF: Stampin' Up! "Subtle"
Misc.: Foam tape

Say Cheese

I never met a cheesecake I didn't like! On Monday, January 20, the biweekly Double Trouble Challenge #48  began and will continue through Sunday, February 2, 2020. There are three "things" to know about this challenge:

1. Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker says, "Say cheese." This challenge requires you to use something that makes you smile - humorous, babies, pets, a joke, comfort food, etc.

2. Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare challenges you to link up with our partner, Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge, for two weekly challenges. AHSC is a weekly sketch challenge so you may decide to create two cards, one for AHSC #352 (January 20 through 26) and another for AHSC #353 (January 27 through February 2). There is an extra chance to win a prize if you submit a project to each challenge. This blog post is for AHSC #352. Click HERE to see my post for AHSC #353.

3. Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister wants you to show her your favorite cheesy comfort food. One of my favorites is cheesecake. 

Here is the sketch for AHSC #352:

                                                                                Double Trouble #48

      

My card was put together beginning with two digital images. Both the cheesecake and the reaching hands were downloaded, resized, printed and colored with Copic markers. The hands were printed directly onto the card front to depict the emanating lines on the sketch. The cheesecake was fussy cut and adhered to the die cut scalloped circle. The pink topping was heat embossed using clear powder and Glossy Accents was added to the strawberry. This was adhered to the front with foam tape. The sentiment was computer generated and also adhered with foam tape. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock trimmed with the lemon-lime cardstock.

We hope you'll join us for the two sketch challenges at AHSC as well as Double Trouble #48.

Materials
Stamps: Digital images, computer generated sentiment
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers & Versamark pen
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Lemon-Lime Twist, Pacific Point
Die: Sizzix (scalloped circle)
Misc.: Stampin' Up! EP (clear), Glossy Accents, foam tape

For You

A week ago I made a card for a sketch challenge planning to use it for a color challenge as well until I realized that I could not submit it to both challenges because the dates did not coincide. So my card was entered into the sketch challenge only. 

I liked the papers and the sketch well enough that I decided to use them again to make this card but for the color challenge only. Color My Heart Color Dare #377 is a tic-tac-toe challenge that began today, Friday, January 17, and runs for two weeks through Thursday, January 30, 2020. Using the color board below, the challenge to to use three colors in a row. Once that has been decided, any or all additional colors on the grid can be used. The only colors not on the board that may be used are black and white. 

I selected the third column - French Vanilla, Julep and Sangria then included all of the others except Gold. 

The elements were die cut and adhered with various panels of patterned paper and cardstock. To dress up the plain heat-embossed sentiment, a die cut frame of the same color as the background was added. The inside of the card was decorated with coordinating paper.

If you've never played along at one of our color challenges, you're missing out on the challenge fun. Visit our Color Dare Blog and give the challenge a try!

Materials

Stamp: Sizzix #658838 "Phrases" (w/dies)

Inks: Versamark

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Mint Macaron, Rich Razzleberry & Mossy Meadow

Patterned Paper: CTMH "Spruced Up"

Dies: Spellbinders Classic & Scalloped Ovals; Paper Smooches "Laurels"; Sizzix #658838 "Phrases" (w/stamps)

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Embossing Powder (white), enamel dots, foam tape

For You

1/15/2020 Update: Selected as a Top Three winner in the AHSC #350 challenge.

The weekly Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge is underway for the week of January 6 through 12, 2020. Here is the sketch for Challenge #350:

My card was also inspired by a color challenge but I confused the dates so the color challenge card will have to be made in a few weeks and this card cannot be used. The elements were die cut and adhered with various panels of patterned paper and cardstock. To dress up the plain heat embossed sentiment, a die cut frame of the same color as the background was added. The inside of the card was decorated with coordinating paper.

If you enjoy sketch challenges, you will love visiting the AHSC #350 Challenge Blog and playing along.

Materials

Stamp: Sizzix #658838 "Phrases" (w/dies)

Ink: Versamark

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Mint Macaron, Rich Razzleberry & Mossy Meadow

Patterned Paper: CTMH "Spruced Up"

Dies: Spellbinders Classic & Scalloped Ovals; Paper Smooches "Laurels"; Sizzix #658838 "Phrases" (w/stamps)

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Embossing Powder (white), enamel dots, foam tape

Warm Wishes

Welcome to the newest biweekly challenge at Double Trouble! Our theme is "Hot or Cold". This is Challenge #47, which begins Monday, January 6, and closes on Sunday, January 19, 2010.  This challenge includes the following:

Thing One (required): Troublemaker insists you use embossing on your card in the form of dry, heat or embossing paste. 

Thing Two (optional): Double Dare hopes you'll double up with the Stinkin' Inkers Challenge.

Thing Three (optional): Twisted Sister is enjoying a warm Caribbean vacation so she wants you to show us something that warms you on these cold January days.

 I can always be sure that a cup of cocoa will warm me instantly. Although I live in Arizona, we still have some cool weather in January and cocoa is great to have on hand. Using a free digital image, I resized it by extending the cup so it was taller than the original. I liked the way it elongated the polka dots. I printed and colored the image then fussy cut it. Onto a white card base, I adhered patterned paper resembling a sweater. Using foam tape I added a smaller cardstock panel, embossed and distressed. I also rounded the corners of this smaller panel. My bright red cup was adhered with foam tape. I topped it off with fake snow to resemble whipped cream. I resisted the urge to add bits to the topping so used Wink of Stella instead. The sentiment was stamped and backed with cardstock. A few candy dots were added. The inside was decorated with part of a smaller coffee mug, matching the one on the card front, and includes the sentiment, "Happy sweater weather."

I hope you'll play along with both Double Trouble #47 and Stinkin' Inkers.

Materials
Stamps: CTMH (sentiments)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Coastal Cabana
Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up! "Sweater Weather"
TIEF: Stampin' Up! "Zigzag"
Misc: ZIG Wink of Stella (clear), enamel dots & foam tape from stash; Aleene's True Snow; sanding block

Thanks - Split Card

Again, I am sliding under the wire with my card for the Atlantic Hearts Challenge #349, which closes in 12 minutes. Whew!

Attending a crop gathering today was great fun and I actually completed several cards. I had spotted a split card technique on YouTube last week and decided to try it for this sketch, hoping I would be home in time to post the card to the challenge blog. 

I found the paper in my stash and have no idea from where it came but decided to use what little I had. Click HERE to view the tutorial. In the end I made mine a little differently than this but the end result is basically the same.

The tomato-red flowers were taken from some uncolored coordinating paper, colored with a Copic marker, fussy cut and adhered to the narrow end of the split. The sentiment was stamped, then cut with an oval die. The little flower was punched and the small leaf was colored with a Copic marker then fussy cut. The gems were added. The inside was decorated with coordinating paper.

Atlantic Hearts has fabulous sketches each week. Be sure to take a look at their blog to view Challenge #349 and share your interpretation of the sketch.

Materials
Stamp: CTMH (sentiments - a retired stamp of the month)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Basic Black
Patterned Paper: source unknown
Die: Spellbinders Basic Ovals
Punch: Stampin' Up! Boho Blossoms
Misc.: Gems and foam tape from stash

Birthday Wishes

At the Brown Sugar Challenge Blog the January 2020 Challenge #297 opens today, Friday, January 3, through Tuesday, February 4, 2020. We hope you'll join the challenge with your "Anything Goes" card.

Our sponsor is DRS Designs. We hope you'll browse their on-line store and blog for inspiration. I used the cupcake image for my birthday card. The image was downloaded, resized, printed and then colored with Copics and fussy cut. I added very fine glitter to the icing on the cupcake and Glossy Accents (liquid glass) on the cherry. I selected a pastel floral paper for the background, framed it with scallops and adhered it to a white card base. I stamped the sentiment directly onto the cupcake so as not to cover the pretty paper. The cupcake was adhered to the card with foam tape. The pearl flourish was added and a few spritzes of shimmer mist finished the card front. The inside was decorated with a few random birthday candles, also from DRS Designs.

If you've never played along at Brown Sugar, you're missing out on the chance of winning a generous gift certificate from our sponsor. You are not required to use an image to qualify for the gift. We hope you'll share your paper crafted project with us.

Here are the images I used:

Cherry Top Cupcake - 463E                          Single Birthday Candle - 258B
                                                                                  

Materials
Stamps: DRS Designs (digital images) & Sizzix #658838 (sentiment)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Sweet Sugarplum
Patterned Paper: Mintay Papers "Lovely Day" Collection by Karola
Die: Sunny Studio "Frilly Frames - Polka Dots"
Misc.: Glossy Accents, pearl flourish, foam tape, Shimmer Mist, very fine glitter

Sending Hugs - Tall & Skinny Shaker

Happy New Year - it's time for a color challenge! Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #375 begins on Friday, January 3, and runs through Thursday, January 16, 2020. This time you are challenged with creating a monochromatic paper crafted project in blue.

I recently acquired two dies especially made for creating tall and skinny cards so wanted to use one right away. The windows seemed perfect for a shaker card. The die was used on blue mirror cardstock. The background was stenciled with light blue to achieve the look of clouds then butterflies were stenciled with navy blue ink. The shaker bits and blue sequins were added and the card was adhered to a white card base. The entire size of the card is 3.25" x 8.25" based on the size of the die cut (3" x 8"). The sentiment was stamped in blue ink, then die cut and adhered to the card front. The inside was decorated with a few stenciled butterflies in blue.

Note: The stenciled clouds are most effective as a background but do not show well in the photos. 

Check us out for some challenge fun and give this monochromatic theme a try! We'd love to see your project posted at Color My Heart Color Dare #375.

Materials
Stamp: Sizzix Oval Greetings #663510
Ink: Stampin' Up! Dapper Denim (sentiment), Night of Navy (butterflies), Soft Sky (clouds)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Tonic Mirror Card (blue); Window Pane Acetate
Stencils: MFT Clouds & Whimsy Stamps Butterflies
Dies: Whimsy Stamps "Slimline Marqee", Sizzix Oval Framelits #663510
Misc.: Sequins, shaker bits & foam tape

Something New!

The Monday challenge at Double Trouble #46 falls on the fifth Monday of the month so lasts only one week, from Monday, December 30, 2019, and ending Sunday, January 5, 2020. As usual, our "Fifth Monday" Challenges are a SomeThing, AnyThing, EveryThing theme. Here are the requirements:

Troublemaker says Thing 1 is required and requires you to make something new. Easy enough!

Double Dare says Thing 2 is optional but if you participate by linking up with one of previous challenge partners you receive an additional chance in the random draw. (A list is available at the Double Trouble Blog.)

Twisted Sister says Thing 3 is optional but if you add her twist to your project, you will receive an additional chance in the random draw. Her twist is to use something new you received in your stocking or under the tree OR create a card celebrating something new (new baby, new year, new home, etc.)

   

I decided to do something celebrating a new baby. I found this digital image so downloaded, resized, printed and colored it. The image was backed with black card stock and then added to a die cut panel. This scalloped panel was adhered to a white card base, cut slightly smaller so it is not visible through the eyelets in the scallops. The inside was decorated with the bluebird image from the original digital file. In order to meet Double Dare's requirement, I entered this card at the Anything Goes challenge at Brown Sugar Challenge #296. 

We hope you'll join us at both Brown Sugar #296 and Double Trouble #46!

Materials
Stamp: Whimsy "Wee One" digital image; sentiment computer generated
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers; Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Strawberry Slush
Die: Sunny Studio "Frilly Frames - Polka Dots"
Misc.: Candy Dots from stash

Birthday

12/18/2019 Update:  This card is a Top Three winner at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #346! 

Here's my card for the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #346. I don't participate as often as I like because I stay busy with Design Teams. During the DT holiday break, I turned to this challenge because it's a favorite of mine.

I made this card at a crop with limited supplies but I liked it well enough that I'll be using it for a friend's birthday on January 6. Using dies, punches and patterned papers, I assembled the card while following the sketch, did a little sponging, then finished it with a few pearls and some Wink of Stella. The inside was stamped with "Happy Birthday" and decorated with matching papers and a butterfly.

Be sure to give Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge a visit - they have good sketches and are a weekly challenge, beginning each Monday.

Materials
Stamps: Sizzix #658838 "Phrases" (w/dies)
Ink: Stampin' Up! Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana; Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party
Patterned Paper: Mintay by Karola "Farm Life Collection"
Dies: Sizzix #658838 "Phrases" w/stamps; Lawn Fawn border (scallops); Sue Wilson #CED-1468 ("Swirly Leaf Trio")
Punches: Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Butterfly & Elegant Butterfly
Misc.: Gelly Roll gel pen (white), ZIG Wink of Stella (clear); foam tape; pearls

Winter Flowers Birthday

12/28/2019 Update: This card was selected as a Favorite of the Week at Splitcoast Stampers for the week ending December 21, 2019!

There is a new challenge at Double Trouble Challenge Blog beginning on Friday, December 13 . This is a departure from the usual Monday start but it was necessary in order to partner with Color My Heart Color Dare Challenges #373, beginning on Friday, December 13 and  and #374, beginning on Friday, December 20, 2019. The challenges end on Sunday, December 28, 2019. 

Here are the challenge requirements for Double Trouble #45:

Troublemaker's Thing 1 (required) - Use black & white stripes.

Double Dare's Thing 2 (optional) - Link to Color Dare #373 or #374.

Twisted Sister's Thing 3 (optional) - Use three colors.

I elected to use reds, pinks and yellows with the black and white stripe to create a feminine birthday card. The image was downloaded, resized, printed and colored with Copic markers. After fussy cutting, the image was adhered with foam tape to the card front, where black and white striped paper was adhered. The sentiment was stamped then die cut, backed with black cardstock and adhered with foam tape. A few pink pearls were added. The inside of the card was decorated with the same striped paper. 

Be sure to visit the challenge blogs for DTC #45 and Color Dare #373 and #374 to join in the challenge.

Materials

Stamp: Digital image from Alex Syberia Design "Winter Flowers" & Sizzix  (sentiment)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Basic Black; X-cel for alcohol markers

Patterned Paper: The Paper Studio

Die: Sizzix

Misc.: ZIG Wink of Stella (clear), pearls & foam tape from stash