Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Wishing You A Happy Day


Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #366 is up on the blog for the current week of Monday, April 27 through Sunday evening, May 3, 2020. I was also planning to enter my card into a Tictactoe Challenge but it closed today at noon in another time zone meaning I missed the deadline.
On a panel of white cardstock, using stencils, I sponged pink clouds then the yellow butterflies. This stenciled panel was added to a gray panel and then to a light gray card base. The tag was made from die-cut labels and adhered with foam tape. A silver cord was added to the tag along with a small stamped sentiment. A metallic gem was placed in the upper right corner and inside the card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with lightly stenciled yellow butterflies.
Visit the AHSC Blog for guidelines to these fun weekly sketch challenges.

Materials
Stamp: Stampin' Up! "A Wish for Everything"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Ranger Distress Oxide in Worn Lipstick, Fossilized Amber & Spiced Marmalade
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Gray & Smoky Slate  
Dies: Stampin' Up! "Chalk Talk" & The Stamp Doctor "Happy Day"
Stencils: MFT (clouds) & Whimsy (butterflies)
Punch: Stampin' Up! "Word Window"
Misc.: Darice braided cord (silver); metal "gem" & foam tape from stash

Friday, April 24, 2020

Grateful, Thankful, Blessed - CAS


Thank you for visiting my blog today! My card is in response to the Color My Heart Color Color Dare Challenge #391, which began on Friday, April 24, and will end on Thursday evening, May 7, 2020. This is a biweekly color challenge with a twist. The required twist is to use three shades of the same color. Certain neutrals are permitted so I used black and white.
I selected three shades of blue-green to create a Clean and Simple (CAS) card. Blue-Greens are by far my favorites. The sentiments were die-cut, the hearts were created with a punch. These elements were added to a panel of black cardstock. The decorated panel was then adhered to a coordinating card base using foam tape for dimension. The card base was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with a strip of black and more hearts. 

If you like a challenge, the Color Dare Blog provides challenging color combinations with occasional twists. Our challenges are biweekly in duration and begin every Friday morning so there is always a challenge underway!

Technique: Clean and Simple (CAS)
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Soft Sky, Pool Party, Marina Mist
Die: Reverse Confetti "Grateful, Thankful, Blessed"
Punch: Stampin' Up! "Confetti Hearts"
Misc.: Foam tape   

Tuesday, April 21, 2020

Happy Birthday - Masculine


Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #365 published a new sketch on Monday, April 21. This weekly challenge will end on Sunday evening, April 26, 2020. 
In preparation for upcoming family birthdays, this sketch was just right for my masculine card. The front of the card base was texturized with an embossing folder. Because I have to mail my cards, I kept this design somewhat low profile by adding the four matted strips directly to the card front. The sentiment was stamped and adhered to the die-cut circles. This was added to the card using foam tape. The sketch called for additional embellishment with the sentiment so I added the silver metallic "gems". The inside was decorated with a die-cut deer.
If you enjoy using sketches for your cards, you'll really enjoy visiting the AHSC Blog and playing along with the weekly challenges.

Materials
Stamp: Sizzix "Circle Sentiments #662347"
Ink: Stampin' Up! Cajun Craze
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Coastal Cabana & Cajun Craze
Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up! scraps from my stash
Dies: Sizzix "Circle Sentiment #662347" & Spellbinders "Classic Circles"
Misc.: Stampin' Up Embossing Folder; foam tape; metal "gems"

Monday, April 20, 2020

Showers of Love


Update: This card was a Favorite of the Week at Splitcoast Stampers for the week ending April 25, 2020.
Double Trouble Challenge #55 is up on the blog beginning Monday, April 20, and ending Sunday evening, May 3, 2020. This is a biweekly challenge that offers you options and twists. Our theme is "Spring Things".

For specific details, visit our blog but here is a photo, which serves as a brief explanation of the requirements.

As you can see from the photo, we are partnering with Artsy Stamper Digitals, owned and operated by artist, Beverly Cole. When you post your card to Challenge #14, we urge you to browse through her Etsy shop - you won't be disappointed!


Artsy Stamper Challenge Badge

For my card, I used a stamp and die bundle that I've had for two years and never used. When I read the challenge description, I knew these were the stamps for my card. I was inspired by an artist and paper crafter named Jan Tink and shamelessly CASE'd her card. I do not have a link to her card. 
I stamped and colored the image then added the background and rain effects. The image was cut using a circle die. The clouds were created with a stencil. Once the clouds were completed, I die cut the panel with zigzag stitches. The sentiment was stamped and trimmed to size. Onto a white card base, the layers were added, mostly using foam tape. I added the banners toward the right edge to bring color to that side of the card. The inside was decorated with a sun and two ducklings, leaving sufficient space for a personal message.
Be sure to join us at Double Trouble #55 for this fun challenge and don't forget to link up with Artsy Stamper's Challenge #14 and visit the Artsy Stamper Shop

Materials
Stamps: My Favorite Things " Rain or Shine"
Inks: Stampin' Up! Marina Mist; Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, Cajun Craze, Crushed Curry
Dies: My Favorite Things " Rain or Shine"; Spellbinders Classic Large Circles; Whimsy "Stitched ZigZag Rectangles"
Misc.: Gelly Roll Pen #10 (white), foam tape

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Happy Day



My friend, Tina, has a birthday in May. Tina likes pretty things but not lots of bling. She likes to camp, hunt and fish with her husband as well as watch auto racing. She spends a lot of time in her garden, too. I thought she would enjoy this card with dark wood grain and floral paper.

This is Challenge #4 by Tracey (aka The Papercrafting Princess). Tracey has been sponsoring weekly challenges for crafty friends on her Facebook page during the period of isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Participants were given three sketches. The one below provided inspiration for my card. 
For a textured background, I embossed a panel of cardstock with the Swiss Dot pattern. I added the strip of butterflies. I die cut the focal point, added it with foam tape and then glued a shadowed sentiment. The card seemed to need a little weight on the right edge so I added the skinny strips of paper. This was all added to a white card base. The inside was decorated with a strip of coordinating paper and a fussy cut butterfly.

We may as well use this time of isolation to do what we love, so I urge you to find other paper crafters and craft together while apart.

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Chocolate Chip & Crisp Cantaloupe
Patterned Paper: BoBunny "Butterfly Kisses" & Bella "Wood Paperz"
Dies: Stampin' Up! (label) & The Stamp Doctor (sentiment)
Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug "Swiss Dots"
Misc.: Foam tape

Celebration


04/22/2020 Update: This card was a Top Three winner at AHSC #364.

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #364 began on Monday, April 13, and will end on Sunday evening, April 19, 2020. The weekly sketches are always fun to interpret. Here is the current sketch:
I recently attended a crop via Zoom and the leader chose great card layouts for us to follow. After almost completing the 10 cards, I had some scraps that were too nice to toss so following the sketch, I applied five patterned paper strips to a panel of black cardstock. By the time I finished, I had used eight patterns in total. In keeping with the sketch, I added two punched flowers, stacked them to appear as one, added a black punched center and a few hand-cut leaves. The sentiment was die-cut. The front panel was attached to a white card base. The inside was decorated with more paper scraps.

Be sure to visit the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Blog and find inspiration in their weekly sketch. 

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Basic Black
Patterned Paper: CTMH "Craft On" Collection
Die: Whimsy "Celebrate"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Punches, foam tape

Friday, April 10, 2020

Just a Note - All Occasion


It's time for another color challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare! Challenges begin each Friday and are two weeks in duration so anytime you visit the blog there is a challenge underway. This is Color Dare #389, a Tic Tac Toe challenge, which began on Friday, April 10, and will run through Thursday evening, April 23, 2020. I selected the middle column from the board - Mink, Peach, Smoothie - plus black as a neutral.
It's been a while since I used the rubber band technique but I recently saw a YouTube video HERE and I decided to do this card. Crafters are clever by coming up with ways to use common household items!

After completing the rubber band design on white cardstock, the panel was cut into five strips and adhered to black cardstock. I did not use an embossing powder tool purposely because I wanted loose particles of powder to become part of the design. 

I adhered this to the light gray card base. I used pale woodgrain patterned paper for the sentiment banner but the grain is not visible in the photos. The sentiment was cut with a die, added to the banner and adhered with foam tape. I resisted the urge to add flowers or bling, deciding the design spoke for itself.
The inside of the card was decorated with a scrap of the embossed panel set on black. No sentiment was stamped to leave sufficient space for a personal note. 
The Design Team at Color Dare #389 welcomes you to join the challenge. When you see the products below, you can see that I used a few substitutes for the required colors. You are free to do the same!

Techniques: Rubber Band, Heat Embossing, Die Cutting, Sponging, Color Blending, Emboss Resist
Size: A2 (5.5" x 4.25")

Materials
Inks: Stampin' Up! Peach Parfait (retired); CTMH Smoothie; Versamark
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Basic Black; W+9 Dove Gray (sub for Mink)
Patterned paper: CTMH "Into the Wild" Collection
Die: Spellbinders (sentiment)
Misc.: Stampin' Up! EP, foam tape, gem (black), rubber bands in various widths

Tuesday, April 7, 2020

A Little Note




Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #363 opened on Monday, April 6, and will close on Sunday evening, April 12, 2020. Here is the fabulous sketch for this fun weekly challenge.
A panel of white cardstock was adhered to a red card base, followed by a panel of patterned paper with a ribbon added. The two small cards were cut - one red and one gold. They were attached to the card front using foam tape. The sentiment was stamped and cut with a punch, matted and adhered. Two hearts were added. Pearls were placed in keeping with the sketch's design. The inside was decorated with ribbon and a butterfly punched from red cardstock.
Check out the great sketches each week at the AHSC Blog and join in the challenges!

Materials
Stamp: Stampin' Up! Butterfly Gala (sentiment)
Ink: Stampin' Up! Cherry Cobbler
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Petal Pink, Cherry Cobbler & Gold Foil
DSP: Stampin' Up! "Parisian Blossoms"
Punches: Stampin' Up! "Modern Label" & "Every Season Pack" (hearts), Itty Bitty Butterfly (inside)
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Metallic Edge Ribbon (pink); pearls and foam tape from stash

Monday, April 6, 2020

It's Hip to Be a Square!


What a fun theme for a card challenge - It's Hip to Be A Square! Rather than making a square card, I decided to decorate an A2 card with some squares - perfect and not-so-perfect. You can find this fun challenge at Double Trouble #54. Here are the requirements:

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker wants to see squares on your projects. Go to the challenge blog for suggestions and clarification.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare dares you to link your project to at least one of our previous challenge partners. A list is available on the challenge blog. I linked my card to The Crafter's Cafe "Anything Goes" Challenge #239

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister thinks you should earn an extra chance for the random draw by using a retro stamp (no digis) that is at least one year old. 



Dies were used for the true squares, wonky squares, wonky window squares, and the lone circle. The sentiment was a die-cut stamped image. A panel of black cardstock was glued to a white card base. A panel of patterned paper was then added. (Note the tiny squares in the patterned paper.) The remaining items were added to the card - some with foam tape and some directly to the card front. The inside of the card was decorated with a strip of patterned paper and a strip of black cardstock.



The Design Team hopes you'll join them on their DTC #54 Blog for this biweekly challenge, scheduled to begin on Monday, April 6, and ending on Sunday evening, April 19, 2020.

Materials
Stamps: Wplus9 "That Is All"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up!  Whisper White, Basic Black & Pacific Point
Paper: Stampin' Up! Everyday Chic Collection (retired)
Dies: Wplus9 "That Is All", Lil' Inker Designs "Wonky Stitched Squares", MFT "Wonky Windows", Simon Says Stamp Stitched Squares & Stitched Circles
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

Sunday, April 5, 2020

Silver Dragonflies


Because we are somewhat isolated during the pandemic, a Design Team friend, Tracey, decided to sponsor her own sketch challenge on Facebook for her friends. Following is the sketch:
I stuck to the measurements somewhat but admit to tweaking here and there - call it artistic license! Onto a white card base, a panel of pink cardstock and an embossed panel were adhered. The rectangle and the square were both matted with the pink cardstock and added using foam tape. The dragonflies, die-cut in silver, were also added. Using a silver metallic gel pen, the centers of the flowers were colored. The inside of the card was decorated with matching cardstock and a few additional dragonflies.
This challenge will have expired when this blog post publishes but it was a fun thing to do. I hope she does this again!

Materials
Ink: Boxun Metallic Gel Pen (silver)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Pool Party, Petal Pink & Silver Foil
DSP: Stampin' Up! "Parisian Blossoms" Collection
Die: The Stamp Doctor "Dragonflies"
Misc.: foam tape

Friday, April 3, 2020

Mosaic Mood Birthday - Masculine


This "Mosaic Mood" paper is reminiscent of a trip I took to the Holy Land. Many of the ruins of palaces and other structures had beautiful mosaics, even on the floors, still intact after several millennia. I figured if Roman kings could appreciate mosaics, so could my nephew, Dave. This is a card for his 30th birthday.

My card was based on Sketch #362 at Atlantic Hearts Challenge Blog. It begs for a clean and simple design but I needed to add a little texture and bling.
The card base front was embossed with a mosaic pattern. To the card, I adhered a strip of a "braided" mosaic design backed with green cardstock direct to paper. I wanted to keep this low profile for easy mailing. The die-cut words were added over the design. A few other bits were added. The inside was decorated with coordinating paper, lined with white cardstock. "Happy Birthday" was stamped on the inside, leaving sufficient space for a message.

I hope you'll visit the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge Blog and join in their weekly challenges. I am sure there is always room for one more project! AHSC is one of my favorite blogs for great sketches. This challenge began on Monday, March 30, and will end Sunday evening, April 5, 2020.

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar, Chocolate Chip & Mint Macaron
Paper: Stampin' Up! "Mosaic Mood"
Die: Simon Says Stamp "Dude"
Embossing Folder: Stampin' Up! "Mosaic"
Misc.: Embellishments from stash