Sympathy with Silhouettes II

Crops can be fun and inspirational. I attended one this past weekend with a plan to complete a card for an upcoming color challenge and also four sympathy cards. In the end, two of my sympathy cards worked for the color challenge and two of them will be added to my personal card stash. (It's so much better to have a sympathy card already made when someone passes.) Following is what I made that are not for the color challenge and have been added to my personal stash. The challenge cards made at the crop can be viewed HERE.

A panel of embossed cardstock was added to the black card base. Using a masking technique the circle was sponged. The image was stamped over the moon, die cut then backed with scalloped die cut circles. This was adhered using foam tape for dimension. The sentiment was stamped, trimmed, backed with a scrap of black cardstock and popped up with foam tape. Two black gems were added. The inside was decorated with coordinating paper plus a stamped design and sentiment.

 

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, dry embossing, sponging, masking
Size: A2
 

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Serene Silhouettes" & "Simply Sketched" (sentiment)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! Crisp Cantaloupe
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Crisp Cantaloupe

Dies: Gina K stacking & nesting dies

Misc.: Stampin' Up! TIEF, Dimensionals (foam tape); black gems from stash

Sympathy with Silhouettes I

Crops can be fun and inspirational. I attended one this past weekend with a plan to complete a card for an upcoming color challenge and also four sympathy cards. In the end, two of my sympathy cards worked for the color challenge (one portrait, one landscape) and two of them (both portrait), which did not suit the challenge, will be added to my personal card stash. (It's so much better to have a sympathy card already made when someone passes.) To view the additional cards made at the crop go HERE.

Here is another photo with portrait orientation:

The color challenge can be found at the Color My Heart Color Dare blog. This is #331 and is open now through Thursday, March 7, 2019. The required colors are brown and white plus another of the maker's choice. I selected Lost Lagoon.

A panel of embossed cardstock was added to the card base. I then embossed a smaller panel of Lagoon cardstock using my scoring board and a bone folder. The image was stamped and die cut than backed with scalloped die cut circles. This was adhered using foam tape for dimension. The sentiment was stamped, trimmed, backed with a scrap of Lagoon and popped up with foam tape. Three candy dots were added. The inside was decorated with coordinating paper plus a stamped design and sentiment.

Here is the second card in landscape orientation:

The color challenges at Color Dare are always fun and the Design Team appreciates your participation. Be sure to visit!

 

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, dry embossing, hand embossing,

 

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Serene Silhouettes" & "Simply Sketched" (sentiment)

Ink: Stampin' Up! Baked Brown Sugar

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar, Lost Lagoon

Dies: Gina K stacking & nesting dies

Misc.: Lawn Fawn EF; Stampin' Up! candy dots, Dimensionals (foam tape)

Magical Unicorn Valentine

Over at the Double Trouble Blog Challenge #22 we are partnering with Use Your Stuff Challenge #347 through March 3, 2019. The DTC #22 is based on a Tic Tac Toe grid shown below. I used the center row (sentiment, stamped image, sparkle). To achieve the "Magical" theme, I used this cute card that I made after taking a Copic class. The Copic instructor provided the image for coloring along with a variety of die cut panels and frames to be used as each individual student wished.

The panels were embossed and layered onto the white card base. The heart borders were added for color. The label die cut was raised using foam tape. The Copic-colored, die cut unicorn and the fussy cut shooting star were adhered using foam tape. Finally, the pink heart was adhered to the unicorn along with the die cut sentiment and rhinestones were added for sparkle. Afterwards, I added Wink of Stella to the shooting star.

Be sure to visit the challenge blogs for Double Trouble #22  and Use Your Stuff #347. Join the challenge fun!

Materials
Stamp/Die Unicorn Bundle: Paper Smooches "Spectrum"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pool Party & Sweet Sugarplum
Other Dies & Embossing Folder: Provided by Copic instructor
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); ZIG Wink of Stella (clear); rhinestones from stash

It's a Girl!

Baby cards are something I rarely make but I recently found some pretty patterned paper in my stash and decided to use them for Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch Challenge #395, with the optional theme to use ribbon or twine. The challenge runs through February 25, 2019, so take a few minutes to visit the blog and join in.

A panel of cardstock and two panels of patterned paper were die cut to achieve the lacy scalloped edges. These panels were adhered to the white card base. Two strips of glittery ribbon were added. The focal image was cut from patterned paper and adhered using foam tape for dimension. In keeping with the sketch, three rhinestones were added along with a satin bow. The inside was decorated with coordinating patterned paper and the word Congrats! was die cut and adhered.

Be sure to visit Try Stampin' on Tuesday for the sketch challenges. There is a new challenge each week lasting for two weeks.

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe
Paper: Lawn Fawn "Birthday Candles" (blue) & Graphic 45 "Cuddle Time" (plaid and focal image)
Dies: Peachy Cheap "Congrats!" and Lawn Fawn Fancy Scalloped Rectangle Stackables (LF1322)
Misc.: CTMH glittery ribbon (Glacier) and Stampin' Up! ribbon ( Whisper White); rhinestones from stash

Criss Cross Birthday

It's time for a new challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare #329. The requirement is to select at least three colors from the grid below. Gray and white are permitted to be used as neutrals if desired. The bi-weekly challenge continues for two weeks, closing on February 21, 2019.

I selected Peach, Smoothie, Mint and Gold for my card, matching the challenge colors closely from my existing stash. I used dark gray and white as permitted for neutrals. A leaf stamp with mint ink was used on the mint card base to add interest. The gold criss-cross background was die cut and adhered to the card front. The flower was stamped and colored with Copics using several markers to achieve a blend of Peach and Smoothie. Gold glitter glue was used for the center of the flower. The flower was fussy cut and adhered with foam tape to the

gold die cut background piece. The sentiment "best wishes" was die cut from cardstock in three colors - charcoal, peach and white and adhered to the card front.

 

The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock, stamped with a few leaves and decorated with a partial image of the same flower used on the front of the card. In addition, I added a die cut "Happy Birthday" in peachy cardstock.

 

 

The Color Dare Design Team invites you to play along at the challenge. Visit our blog to learn about us and Challenge #329.

 

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Bloom with Hope" (flower); Uniko "Originally Organic" (leaves)

Ink: Stampin' Up! Mint Macaron; Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Mint Macaroon, Crisp Cantaloupe; CTMH Charcoal; P-E-T textured foil (gold)

Dies: Paper Smooches "Criss-Cross"; Peachy Cheap words

Misc.: Stickles (gold); foam tape

Floral-in-Oval Birthday

Thank you for stopping by! I have made this card for two challenges. Double Trouble Challenge #21 requires a floral design to include a "B" item. I selected a butterfly but a bee, bug or bird would have worked just as well. In addition, Double Trouble, a biweekly challenge, is partnering for the week of February 4 through 10, 2019, with Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #302 and then the following week of February 11 through 17, 2019, with Sketch #303. This card meets the conditions of Sketch #303. To view the card for Sketch #302, click HERE.

A panel of cardstock was dry embossed for texture and then an oval opening was die cut. This panel was adhered to a card base using foam tape for depth. The flower was stamped, colored and fussy cut with the center decorated with gold glitter glue. The flower was adhered inside the oval with doubled foam tape for height. The leaves were die cut, touched up with a white gel pen and added under the flower. The butterfly was punched from cardstock, decorated with Stickles and adhered. The sentiment was stamped and backed with cardstock. The inside was stamped with a birthday sentiment and decorated with a punched butterfly.

I hope you'll visit the challenge blogs and play along at DTC #21 and AHSC #302 and #303. You could be eligible for a prize!

Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Bloom with Hope"; Hero Arts "Find Joy"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Lost Lagoon, Crisp Cantaloupe
Die: Stampin' Up! (leaves); Spellbinders Classic Ovals
Punch: Stampin' Up! Elegant Butterfly
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape) & TIEF; Uniball Signo Gel Pen (white); Stickels (gold)

Floral Birthday

Welcome to my blog! I have made this card for two challenges. Double Trouble Challenge #21 requires a floral design to include a "B" item. I selected a honey bee but a butterfly, bug or bird would have worked just as well. In addition, Double Trouble, a biweekly challenge, is partnering for the week of February 4 through 10, 2019, with Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #302 and then the following week of February 11 through 17, 2019, with Sketch #303. This card meets the conditions of Sketch #302. To view the card for #303, click HERE.

Panels of cardstock and patterned paper were trimmed along one edge with a scalloped border die then adhered to a white card base. The center of purchased flowers were colored with a yellow Copic marker and adhered to the card front. The leaves were cut freehand and lined with white ink then tucked under the flowers using foam tape on several of them. The honey bee was fussy cut from patterned paper and adhered with foam tape. The sentiment was stamped then backed with a die cut mat and adhered using foam tape. The inside was stamped with a birthday sentiment and a flower fussy cut from coordinating patterned paper.

I hope you'll visit the challenge blogs and play along at DTC #21 and AHSC #302 and #303. You could be eligible for a prize!

Materials
Stamps: Altenew "Shadow Play" (front) &Uniko "Originally Organic" (inside)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Marker
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Lost Lagoon
Paper: Dare 2 Be Artzy "Honey Bloomz" Collection
Die: Mama Elephant stitched scalloped border
Misc.: Flowers from stash (white); Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); Uniball Signo Gel Pen (white)

A Silver Celebration

Here's a card for a couple who are celebrating a silver anniversary. The layout was inspired by the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #301. AHSC is my favorite source for sketches and taking part in the challenge is always fun. I made this card while at a cardmaking crop.

The gingham panel was cut using a scalloped border die borrowed from another crafter at the crop. The floral panel was trimmed and backed with cardstock. These panels were adhered to a vanilla card base. A strip of vellum with tiny silver foil hearts was adhered. I added a silver foil die cut heart using foam tape and attached a taffeta bow. The sentiment was also die cut and added. The inside was decorated with a strip of gingham paper and a silver foil heart.

Join the challenge at Atlantic Hearts and you'll be glad you did!

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Wisteria Wonder, Silver Foil
Paper: Stampin' Up Silver Fancy Foil Vellum & Jen Hadfield "Simple Life"
Dies: Spellbinders Scalloped Hearts; Stampin' Up! Large Scalloped Border; Peachy Cheap Celebrate
Misc. : Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape) and Taffeta Ribbon (Smoky Slate)

Teddy Bear Valentine

The February monthly challenge is available at Brown Sugar Challenge Blog through February 26, 2019! Our theme this month is "Love and/or St. Valentine's Day". There are no restrictions as to the brands of products. Our sponsor, Morgan's Art World, has provided us with the digital images.

A panel of patterned paper was adhered to a Pool Party card base. Another panel in a woodgrain pattern was adhered at an angle directly to the patterned paper. A strip of cardstock was added for color. The image was downloaded, resized, printed, colored with Copics then trimmed into a rectangle. It was backed with patterned paper, then with foam tape and adhered to the front of the card. The inside was lined with white cardstock and trimmed with woodgrain paper. A sentiment can be added at any time.

Morgan's Art World has an ongoing challenge and a store so be sure to visit Morgan's blog. The Brown Sugar Design Team would be so pleased if you visited the Brown Sugar Challenge #287 to take part in our challenge. You could win a prize!

Materials
Stamp: Morgan's Art World "Teddy Home #10"
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Pool Party; Spectrum Noir for alcohol ink
Paper: Carta Bella "Flora" Collection & Bo Bunny "Felicity" Collection
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

You Are Purrr-fect

Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #393 is ready for you! Follow the sketch and play along. The optional theme is "Tiny Things".

My favorite tiny things are pets - cats and dogs especially. I had this cute patterned paper in my stash so decided to use it by fussy cutting the heads of the cats, adhering them to circles and ovals and then adhering to the decorated card base. To decorate the card base, the panel of red cardstock and two strips of blue cardstock were adhered to the white card. The inside was decorated with a strip of cardstock and a seventh cat. The sentiment was computer generated.

If you've never joined in a challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday, I urge you to visit the blog and give it a try. Challenge #393 is open through Sunday, February 10, 2019.

Materials
Stamp: Computer-generated sentiment
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Marina Mist, Cherry Cobbler, Basic Black
Paper: Photo Play "Here Kitty Kitty"
Dies: Gina K nesting/stacking dies in circles and ovals
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

My Heartful Cat Valentine

After completing this card, my cat, Sluggo, was later found pawing the foil along the edge, causing it to be torn a bit. I decided to leave it without attempting any repair. People who know me also know I love cats and dogs. At present I have only Sluggo but I have had many, many pets. My stepdaughter also shares my love of cats and has three. When I made this Valentine card I knew it would be mailed to my stepdaughter to enjoy.

The colors were selected by using Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #327. This is a Tic-Tac-toe challenge so I selected the bottom row (Willow, Raspberry, Carolina) then added Lemon-, Pewter- and Ballerina-like colors by using the floral print. I hope you'll visit the challenge and check out how you can use anywhere from three to nine colors from the Tic-Tac-Doe grid and still be following the rules. This challenge lasts from Friday, January 25 through February 10, 2019.

The cat image was die cut from patterned paper and adhered to Pewter cardstock. The heart and swirly cut-outs were inlaid with Raspberry foil cardstock along with some other embellishing. Onto a black card base, a panel of white cardstock was adhered. The Pewter panel was trimmed along one edge with the Raspberry foil cardstock and adhered to the card base. The inside was decorated with a scrap of the designer paper used for the cat. The inside will also be stamped with a Valentine greeting.

The Design Team at Color My Heart Color Dare would enjoy seeing your project and how you used the colors, so be sure to visit the blog and consider joining the challenge.

Techniques: Die cutting, Inlay
Size: A2

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Whisper White; CTMH Pewter; WRMK Foil in Amaranth
Paper: Doodlebug "Cream & Sugar" Collection
Die: Tutti "Hearted Cat"

National Hugging Day 2019

Time for another new challenge at Double Trouble Challenge Blog! For our 20th challenge, we're celebrating National Hugging Day on January 21st.  Make someone feel special and give them a hug today! Encourage love, peace and kindness.

 

For Challenge #20, Trouble Maker has asked for some love by using the theme, Love Is in the Air. Double Dare has asked that projects be linked to a challenge partner, The Paper Girls Challenge #168. Twisted Sister is looking for some sparkle and shine.

 

I went with a quick and easy card this time. After adhering three patterned papers to a card base of white, I fussy cut the butterflies from patterned paper and popped them up with foam tape. I used a punch to get a variety of hearts from three colors of glitter paper, which I randomly adhered. The strip of hearts was die cut from pink glitter paper. The inside was trimmed with pink glitter paper and decorated with some of the tiny hearts. A sentiment could easily be added at any time.

Please visit the Double Trouble Challenge #20 and The Paper Girls Challenge #168 to play along. You could be eligible for a prize!

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White
Paper: Doodlebug "Spring Things" & Photo Play "Encourage"; WRMK glitter paper
Die: Verve "Scalloped Trim Trio"
Punch: Stampin' Up! "Confetti Heart"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

Honey Bloomz

1/21/2019 Update: Top Three winner at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #299.

When I first saw this Dare 2 Be Artzy "Honey Bloomz" paper collection I was smitten. I purchased a fair amount of it and keep going back to use it because there are so many pattern variations and versatile colors. And I recently added the coordinating stamps. On this card I used background paper that was more soothing than usual and am pleased with the "quiet" vibe of the card.

What luck to find two challenges with similar sketches occurring at the same time! This card was made for Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #391 and Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #299. Here is the original TSOT mix-up sketch:

 

I selected the sketch only and turned it on its side:

 

And here is the similar sketch from AHSC:

A panel of patterned paper was adhered to a cardstock panel of the same size for stability. Onto this, a strip of patterned paper matted with gray cardstock was adhered diagonally across the card. A scalloped circle was die cut from yellow cardstock and scraps of coordinating patterned paper were adhered to a white die cut circle. The bee was fussy cut from paper and adhered using foam tape. A panel of yellow cardstock was adhered to a gray card base. The entire focal piece was adhered to the yellow panel with foam tape. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and a strip of coordinating paper. No sentiment is required by AHSC and is an option at TSOT so I decided not to use a sentiment although one could be added easily.

Be sure to visit the challenge blogs and consider playing along at Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #391 and Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #299. TSOT went live on Tuesday, January 15 and will run two weeks. AHSC is a weekly challenge and began on Monday, January 14.

Materials
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Barely Banana (retired)
Paper: Dare 2 Be Artzy "Honey Bloomz" Collection
Dies: Gina K stacking/nesting classic circle and scalloped circle
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)