You're the Best!

Keeping up with a weekly challenge is a challenge on its own! I enjoy the weekly sketch challenges at Atlantic Hearts so play along when possible. This card is for Challenge #430. And I am loving this paper collection. 

To a card base, I adhered a panel of cardstock embossed with dots and die-cut with a rectangular die that embosses dashes along the edge. I stacked three small squares and added them to the card front. Next, I added a banner in blue, followed by two die-cut circles using foam tape. The peach image was fussy cut from the DSP and adhered then touched up with Wink of Stella. Finally, the sentiment and a few metallic pearls were added. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with coordinating paper.

This weekly challenge is open from Monday, July 19, through Sunday evening, July 25, 2021. If you aren't familiar with sketch challenges, now is the time to visit the AHSC430 Blog and join in the crafting fun!

Materials

Stamp: Stampin' Up! "Parcels & Petals"

Ink: Stampin' Up! Marina Mist

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Calypso Coral & Petal Pink

DSP: Stampin' Up! "You're a Peach" Collection

Dies: Whimsy (stitched circles) & Elizabeth Craft (Dashing Rectangles)

Embossing Folder: CuttleBug Swiss Dots

Misc.: ZIG Wink of Stella (clear); Stampin' Up! Metallic Pearls (gold); foam tape from stash

Christmas Cheer in a Pocket

When the movie, "Christmas in July" was made in 1940, I doubt anyone ever realized how popular the idea would become! But here we are 61 years later creating a project to celebrate that very event. It's July and time for a Christmas challenge at Double Trouble. Here are the three "Things" for Challenge #89:

1. Trouble Maker is requiring a theme of "Christmas in July" for your project.

2. Double Dare has provided the option to play along with the challenge at Heart2Heart.

3. Twisted Sister is hoping you'll "Tie It Up"  by adding a bow, ribbon, twine, etc. to your project.

I saw a tutorial HERE for this Crisscross Pocket fun fold design. It's not a difficult design. The card does not open because it's a pocket. It is perfect for a note or even a gift card or money. I cut and assembled the cardstock and glittery holiday paper as instructed in the tutorial, then die-cut the multi-layered poinsettia from cardstock. I added the poinsettia to the card front then added glitter and some small tiny gold foiled circles to the center of the flower. To add the green leaves I used green foiled cardstock that appears as almost black in the photos. The insert was die-cut from white cardstock and decorated with a die-cut poinsettia and gold metallic pearls. The sentiment was stamped with gold ink then punched to create the shape. The ribbon was run through two punched holes and tied into a bow. This aids in extracting the card from the pocket.

My card was also submitted to the Creative Creases Challenge #11. This is a challenge solely for fun folds, so check out their blog and enjoy.

In addition, I added my card to the July 2021 Winter Wonderland Challenge. Their theme is "Christmas Music or Songs". I believe the sentiment on my card expresses a song I enjoy, "Christmas Cheer Is Near".    

Finally, I included the July 2021 Challenge #52 at Two Crafty Critter Crazies because I am featuring a sweet songbird on my card. 

Be sure to visit the challenge blogs and follow the guidelines to play along at CCC11, WWCB, 2CCC52, DTC89, and H2H.

Materials

Stamp: Stampin' Up! "Itty Bitty Christmas"

Ink: Delicata ((Golden Glitz)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Garden Green.

Paper: MultiCraft Holiday Trendz "Forever in Time"; foil (gold & green)

Dies: RCD (poinsettia), 

Punches: Stampin' Up! "Modern Label" & "Word Window"

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Shimmer Ribbon (gold) & Stickles (Icicle)

Happy Birthday with Diamonds

For the biweekly color challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare #453, I decided to make a masculine birthday card. The colors lend themselves to gender-neutral but my card is intended for my nephew, whose 34th birthday is July 21. This is a Tictactoe challenge, which means that I selected three colors in a row using Glacier, Peacock, and Paprika (the center column). Once the requirement was met then I was free to select any other colors on the board. I selected Sundance.

I have had this stamp set for a while and only remember using it once before although I really like it. I should use it more. Onto white cardstock, I stamped the sentiment in the center then stamped this particular leaf image around the center 11 times with black ink. Next, I loosely colored over each leaf image with Copic Alcohol Markers. I trimmed the finished panel to size, adhering it to a black card base. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with smaller stamped images.

I urge you to visit our Color Dare Challenge Blog and view the DT cards. This challenge runs from Friday, July 16, through Thursday evening, July 29, 2021. Any brand of products is permitted as long as the colors are a close match to those on the Tictactoe board.

Materials

Stamps: Stamp of Approval (Catherine Pooler) "Say It in Diamonds"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black 

Happy Christmas

07/21/2021 Update: This card was a Top Three winner at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #429.

Atlantic Hearts has a fun sketch on their weekly challenge blog. This is Challenge #429, which began on Monday, July 12, and will end on Sunday evening, July 18, 2021. I decided to create a Christmas card using the sketch.

To a blue card base, I adhered a panel of blue wintry patterned paper. A strip of metallic paper along with a strip of the same blue as the card base was added. The pretty metallic design is the reverse side of the wintry paper. I stamped some snowflakes onto vellum using Versamark ink, then heat embossed them with silver embossing powder and die cut them. I was disappointed that the snowflakes were not as bright as I had hoped so I die-cut the shapes using white cardstock and added the embossed vellum snowflakes to the white cutouts.

I liked the snowflakes so I added a light spatter of glue and silver embossing powder to the card front. Once I applied the heat tool, the card gave off a nice shimmer. I added the snowflakes with thin foam tape. The sentiment was stamped and heat embossed with silver powder then added with foam tape. Finally, I added rhinestones in a variety of sizes because I like my Christmas cards to sparkle! The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with a vertical paper strip to match the one on the card front.

Take a look at the AHSC429 Blog for the Design Team's cards and play along with the challenge!

Materials

Stamp: Stampin' Up! "Itty Bitty Christmas", CTMH "Elegant Snowflakes"

Ink: Versamark

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Misty Moonlight, & Vellum

DSP: Stampin' Up! "Snowflake Splendor"

Dies: CTMH "Elegant Snowflakes" & Jeanine's Oval Mini-Frames

Misc.: Stampin' Up! EP (silver); CTMH thin foam tape; rhinestones

In My Garden (Bendy Fun Fold)

Bendy Cards have been around for a while but we still don't see many of them. And since Emma Fewkes (Lady and the Stamp) made the first Bendy card, other styles have been developed that are easier to cut and assemble than Emma's. I have made a few of them using Emma's basic design and find them time-consuming but rewarding.

This card is for the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #515, a biweekly challenge that began on Tuesday, July 13, and will end on Sunday, July 25, 2021. This is a "mixup" challenge where you may choose the sketch or choose to make the Bendy Fun Fold or combine them into one creation.

I gathered up a few punches and dies to create some flowers and foliage with white cardstock. As I assembled them, I colored them with Copic markers. I decided to create a garden with a stone wall and a gate of wooden slats. I cut the cardstock freehand into the shape I wanted, then added patterned paper. After designing a few flower pots and a birdhouse I began adding the bits to my card base. 

I found the little bird at a website with free digital images so I colored it like a bluebird, then fussy cut it to add to the card. Some of the bits were added using varying thicknesses of foam tape. The large branch with the leaves was hand-drawn and colored with markers.

I hope you enjoy the little peek into my garden! Please join our challenge by visiting the TSOT515 Blog.

Basic Materials:

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! "Whisper White"

DSP: Stampin' Up! "In Good Taste" (woodgrain & stone)

Ink: Copic Alcohol Markers

Dies & Punches: Stampin' Up!

A Hollyhock Birthday

It's time to create another card for the weekly sketch challenge at Atlantic Hearts. This is Challenge #428 and runs from Monday, July 5, through Sunday evening, July 11, 2021. In addition, I am adding my card to the July challenge at Die Cut Divas. Their challenge is currently active and will end Saturday, July 31, 2021. I have used this Hollyhock die numerous times and when I saw the three slender rectangles in the sketch, I knew I wanted to use it again. Note: Did you know Hollyhocks grow to 8 feet tall?

  

I was unsure about using foiled cardstock as my background but when I saw that the July challenge at Die Cut Divas was tone-on-tone, I decided to proceed with using the foil behind each of the colored Hollyhocks to create that look. I die-cut three sets of Hollyhocks, coloring them with Copic alcohol markers. Just by itself, I think the reflective quality of the metallic is tone-on-tone but the card is a bit different because I went with tone-on-tone in three colors - copper, teal, and rose. 

Here is my best attempt at capturing the colors: 

Using the foiled cardstock, I added a Hollyhock plant to each section. The plant on gold is colored with gold and yellow, the one on teal is colored in two tones of berry with teal stems and the third is colored in pink and yellow on rose foil. To give the card depth I added the flowers so the stems were not completely glued down.

In keeping with the sketch, gold and silver pearls were added along with a strip of silver foiled cardstock. The sentiment circle was also die-cut in silver but was stamped using gold metallic ink. I added another set of Hollyhocks to the inside for decoration.

Be sure to visit the AHSC428 Blog and Die Cut Divas for challenge guidelines.

Materials

Stamp: Sizzix #662347 "Circle Sentiments"

Ink: Delicata (Golden Glitz), Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White

Foiled Cardstock: Copper, teal, rose, and silver from my stash

Dies: Impression Obsession (Hollyhocks) & Sizzix #662347 (Circle Sentiments)

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Metallic Pearls; foam tape from stash

Welcome, Baby Boy!

It's time for a biweekly challenge at Double Trouble! This is Challenge #88. This challenge runs through Sunday evening, July 19, 2021. There are three "Things" to this challenge:

Thing 1 (required): Troublemaker is asking for a project for "Baby". She has provided an inspiration board. It makes no difference if it's Baby's birthday or an invitation to a shower, or even a congratulatory creation. Just give it your best shot.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare is challenging you to link your card to our partner, Bitten by the Bug2. Be sure to check the guidelines.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister is looking for die-cut or machine-cut elements. Fussy-cut elements alone will not qualify your entry for our partner so be sure to include at least one item cut by die or machine. (Cricut, Silhouette, Scan 'n Cut, etc.) 

This was a fun card to create in that it went together quickly once I decided on the boat theme. Onto the white card base, I added a dark blue panel, then an embossed panel in the lighter blue. (I thought this embossed design gave the card a little movement, i.e. water.) I die cut two squares from the dark blue, added the yellow patterned paper and a smaller square of white then built my little boat scene plus added the sentiment. I decorated the inside of the card with a similar boat that was a bit larger than the one on the front.

Visit our Double Trouble Blog to see the projects created by the Design Team and be sure to check out our partner's blog at Bitten by the Bug 2.

Materials

Stamp: Computer-generated sentiment.

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Barely Banana, Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue (all retired colors)

Paper: Stampin' Up! (from my scraps)

Dies: Lawn Fawn (zigzag squares), Spellbinders (circles)

Punch: Stampin' Up! (3/8" circle for sun)

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Embossing Folder, foam tape from stash

Just for You Triple Point

Although color challenges can be frustrating they provide an opportunity to use a different technique or fold. I found a fun fold on YouTube that I had not seen before, called a Triple Point Triangle Fold. It's unique but not difficult.

I made this for Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #451, which began on Friday, July 2, and will end on Thursday, July 16, 2021. This is a Crazy 8 Challenge. I selected Glacier, Smoothie, a neutral (Charcoal), and embellishments (pearls) as my four elements. 

I am not a fan of square cards but since this was the first time making it, I followed the directions found HERE. Note that imperial units of measurement used in the USA are added below the YouTube video. The finished card is 5.5" x 5.5".

Visit the Color My Heart Color Dare Blog for guidelines on our challenges. We have a new biweekly challenge beginning every Friday so there is always a fresh color board to try.

I am also submitting my card to Creative Creases Challenge #10. This is a fun fold challenge that you're sure to enjoy.

Happy Birthday USA!

Materials

Stamps: Stampendous "Spring Sentiments" (tiny flower) & Altenew "Dainty Swiss Dots" (sentiment)

Ink: DOX "Hickory Smoke" (Charcoal) & "Abandoned Coral" (Smoothie)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Gray (sub for Charcoal) & Pool Party (sub for Glacier)

Paper: CTMH Chelsea Gardens (Charcoal print) & Seaside (Smoothie print)

Punch: Stampin' Up! "Pretty Label" (for sentiment)

Misc.: Pearls and foam tape from stash

The Piggest Fan

07/07/2021 Update: Top Three winner at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #427.

Recently I spent some time in the hospital because of a severe allergic reaction to a prescription drug. It was a surprise because I have never been allergic to anything! Part of the treatment included a blood transfusion. I have been a blood donor for years but have rarely given it a second thought after each donation. Being a recipient, however, left me thankful and humbled that someone would do that for me. If you are able, please consider becoming a blood donor or organ donor. Your kindness could save a life.

I decided to have some fun with the sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #427 plus enter my Glamorous Pig at Two Crafty Critter Crazies. I created the card but determined it needed something more. Have you heard of the concept of turning a "now" card into a "WOW" card? That's what I tried to do. To liven up my card, I added the bejeweled pig along with the butterfly and a silly pun. I hope it makes you smile.

Following the sketch, I added panels to the card base for the background followed by the four circles in varying sizes. I added foam tape in two thicknesses to vary the dimension as well. My images were stamped, adhered, and fussy cut, followed by the stamped sentiment and the rhinestones. I almost gave her rhinestone earrings! I had a few die-cut flowers from another project so I placed one in the pig's hoof and added two to the inside of the card. The inside was also lined with a white cardstock panel and decorated with paper scraps.

I urge you to join in the weekly sketch challenges at AHSC427. and don't forget to visit Two Crafty Critter Crazies. Whether or not you have played along with these challenges before, it's always fun to challenge your creativity. AHSC427 is open through Sunday evening, July 4, 2021, and 2CCC52 is ongoing through Sunday, July 25, 2021.

Happy Birthday USA!

Materials

Stamps: MFT "Sow Much Cuteness"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Lost Lagoon

Paper: Carta Bella "Flower Garden" Collection

Dies: Whimsy (stitched circles)

Misc.: Rhinestones and foam tape from stash

The Flower Garden

Welcome to Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #513. This biweekly challenge began on Tuesday, June 29, and will run through Sunday, July 11, 2021. I enjoyed using this sketch especially with our optional theme of Gardening. 

I measured, cut, and layered the scraps of garden-themed paper that I had in my stash until the sketch design took shape.  The circle was embossed with a Dotted Swiss pattern and the sentiment tag is coordinating ephemera with a bow added. I used both thin and regular thickness of foam tape to vary the height of the elements and add interest then I added a few pink and green sequins to brighten the card. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with more paper.

If you've never visited our Challenge Blog, we hope you will. Take a look at the Design Team projects and then join in a challenge. A new biweekly sketch challenge begins every Tuesday so there is always an active challenge to try.

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Pistachio Pudding

Paper: Carta Bella "Flower Garden"

Die: Whimsy (stitched circles)

Ribbon: Stampin' Up! Grosgrain (Pretty in Pink)

Misc.: Cuttlebug EF (Dotted Swiss); foam tape and sequins from stash

Finding Joy

It's time for another biweekly challenge at Double Trouble #87. We are partnering with Try Stampin' on Tuesday #512, which includes a sketch.

 

Double Trouble has three elements:

1. Thing 1 (required) is using the theme "It's Hip to Be Square". The challenge runs from Monday, June 21, through Sunday evening, July 4, 2021. 

2. Thing 2 (optional) is to link your project to Try Stampin' on Tuesday #512 between Tuesday, June 22, through Sunday, July 4, 2021. If your project is dated no earlier than Monday, June 21, TSOT will accept your post. The sketch for this challenge is below and their option is to use embossing.

3. Thing 3 (optional) is to use dry or heat embossing anywhere in your project. Participation in Things 2 or 3 will give you an additional chance at our random draw prize.

June 21 is the first day of summer so this card represents summer celebrations. After adding panels of cardstock and patterned paper to a card base, I die cut a square and a square frame from glitter paper, added them with foam tape, and then included a die-cut butterfly coated with clear Wink of Stella. The sentiment was heat embossed with black ink and clear embossing powder and a few pearls were added. The inside was decorated with coordinating paper.

We look forward to seeing how you interpreted the sketch in your project and invite you to add your project to both challenges by visiting the DTC87 Blog and the TSOT512 Blog.

Materials

Stamp Set: Technique Tuesday "Inspired Dragonfly" 

Ink: Staz-on Jet Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Mint Macaron & Barely Banana (retired)

Paper: Stampin' Up! "Hand Penned"; WRMK Glitter (green and purple)

Dies: Rubbernecker (stitched squares), Gina Marie (fancy rectangles), RCD (Dancing Butterfly), Jillian Vance (Stitched Sentiment)

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Embossing Powder (clear), Wink of Stella (clear), pearls & foam tape from stash

Gold Galore Birthday

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #449 is open for entries through Thursday evening, July 1, 2021. If you're a fan of the color purple, then here's your chance to have some fun. Our guidelines for this biweekly challenge are to use shades of purple plus two additional colors. Black and white are free but do not count toward the two additional colors. I used green and gold as my two additional colors. My only free color is white.

I decided to create a slimline card for an upcoming family birthday. My recipient will be turning 50 next month and her favorite color is purple. I have two fairly new dies that I have been wanting to use along with a new stamp so here was my opportunity to use them. After stamping, coloring, and die-cutting the floral frame I added a panel of vellum along with a die-cut sentiment.

Next came some punched flowers and other die-cut bits. I arranged the glittered cardstock - some pieces directly to the card front and some with foam tape. The decorated floral frame was added to the card base, which had a die-cut diagonal grid adhered with thin foam tape. This was added to a white card base. The inside was lightly sponged with purple ink and a gold glitter flourish was added. Some gold pearls were added to finish the card.

The Design Team invites you to visit the Color Dare Blog and play along with our biweekly challenges. A new challenge begins each Friday morning and runs for two weeks.

 
Materials

Stamp: Pinkfresh Studio "Incredibly Grateful"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Alcohol Markers, Distress Oxide "Wilted Violet"

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Vellum, Elegant Eggplant, Perfect Plum

Paper: Stampin' Up! Glimmer (gold glitter) & WRMK (purple & white glitter)

Dies: Spellbinders (sentiment); Pinkfresh Studio "Slimline Diagonal Stripes" and "Incredibly Grateful"; MFT (large flourish on the inside); Frantic Stamper (gold branches)

Punches: Stampin' Up! "Flower Shop Pansy" & "Boho Blossoms"

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Gold Pearls & foam tape from stash