Friday, July 31, 2020

A Little Birdie Told Me


Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #405 begins today, Friday, July 31, and runs until Thursday evening, August 13, 2020. This is a Tictactoe challenge meaning that I selected three colors in a row - Smoothie, Lemonade & Fern. Once the row was chosen I was free to use any other colors that were on the board plus neutrals. I also used Almond, Glacier, Mink & Toffee. For the focal point, I used pretty patterned papers that matched up nicely with the color grid below:
This triple easel card went together so quickly that I made several using different paper and colors. I found a tutorial on YouTube, so click HERE if you wish to view it.  I used the measurements and shapes provided in the tutorial, changing only the sentiment placement. I also added some pearls. 
When completed, this card is 4" x 5" and folds flat to fit perfectly into an A2 envelope when allowing for thickness. It requires additional postage of $0.15 because it weighs more than one ounce, then another additional $0.15 because it is rigid and thick, for a total of $0.85 in the USA.

Card folded flat:
Visit the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge Blog to learn more about the challenges and colors.

Materials
Stamp: Sentiment (computer generated)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Gray, Petal Pink & Daffodil Delight 
Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up! "Bird Ballad" Collection
Punch: Stampin' Up! "Word Window"
Misc.: Foam tape and pearls from stash

Monday, July 20, 2020

Christmas in July


Christmas in July is everywhere - even at the North Pole! The biweekly challenge at Double Trouble #62 is also celebrating Christmas, beginning on Monday, July 20, through Sunday evening, August 2, 2020. DTC#62 is comprised of three elements:

Thing 1: Troublemaker would like to know about your favorite crafting tool. As both a paper crafter and a seamstress, I favor my scissors. They are of good quality and kept very sharp.
Thing 2: Double Dare dares you to link your project at Heart 2 Heart Challenges, but remember to check out their requirements.
Thing 3: Twisted Sister will give you an extra chance at the random prize if you use an elf or gnome on your project.

I had this cute gnome in my stash of digital images so downloaded, resized, printed, and colored the little guy. Then I fussy-cut the image using my favorite tool - scissors. I added a panel of plaid patterned paper. Next, I added a panel of vellum. The gnome image was then adhered to the card front using foam tape. The front was decorated with varied snowflakes. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with matching patterned paper and snowflakes.
Be sure to visit the blogs for DTC#62 and H2H for guidelines on entering these challenges.

Size: A2 (5.5" x 4.25")

Materials
Stamp: KLM Designs "North Pole Gnome" (digital image)
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Island Indigo
Paper: CTMH Vellum & Dare 2 B Artzy "Snow Much Fun" (plaid)
Misc.: Varied snowflakes and foam tape from stash

Friday, July 17, 2020

"More of You" Thank You Card


My thank you card was created for a couple, Bruce and Joyce, who recently assisted my family. For inspiration, I used Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #403. This biweekly challenge runs from Friday, July 17, through Thursday, July 30, 2020. I selected pink and white as my companion colors to the required brown and used gold as permitted by the guidelines.

I found a fun fold HERE, known as a Tri-fold Accordion Design. I found this to be an easy design to put together, making an additional four birthday cards for my stash with other papers. After assembling the basic card, I decided to use gold foiled cardstock to mat the sentiments and for the flourishes and heart. I touched up the leaf-patterned paper with a gold-inked gel pen, heat embossed the first sentiment, then added a personal note. I refrained from adding additional embellishments to keep the card from tipping too far into the feminine side.

The glitter embossed sentiment is, "Thank You". The one in Soft Suede ink says, "The world needs more of you."
I hope you will join us for this challenge by checking in at the Challenge #403 blog page.

Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Free as a Bird" & "Love What You Do"
Inks: Versamark, Stampin' Up! Soft Suede, Boxun Gel Pen (gold)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Petal Pink & Foiled Gold
DSP: Stampin' Up! (from my stash)
Dies: Stampin' Up! (from "Hippo Happiness" bundle) & Spellbinders (flourishes)
Misc.: Gold Glittered Embossing Powder

Sunday, July 5, 2020

Maritime Birthday


When I was young, we lived within walking distance of the Gulf of Mexico where my parents moored our sailboat. There were boats of every size and style in the warm gulf waters and we grew up familiar with the sounds and smells of the ocean. (This card will be used for one of my brothers or nephews.)

There is a weekly challenge underway at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges. This is Challenge #375, ending Sunday evening, July 5, 2020. I have been using patriotic colors for a few weeks so decided to continue using the papers on my desk for just one more card.
A panel of navy cardstock was adhered to a white card base, followed by a matted panel of fish-patterned paper. The banners were cut and added with foam tape. Imagine my surprise when I realized I did not have a die to create an anchor. So two anchors were hand-drawn and fussy-cut - one from navy and one from silver. The inside was decorated with the navy blue anchor and cardstock strip.
If you have been wanting to try sketch challenges, you'll be pleased to see the great sketches each week at the AHSC Blog.

Materials
Stamp: RCD "A Little Birdie" (birthday sentiment)
Ink: Stampin' Up! Night of Navy
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Night of Navy, Real Red, Coastal Cabana & Silver
Paper: Stampin' Up! "Maritime" Collection (retired)
Punch: Stampin' Up! (used for sentiment)
Misc.: Foam tape, enamel dot, jute cord

Friday, July 3, 2020

Let Freedom Ring!


I am descended from families who arrived in the New World beginning in 1620 and from others who arrived on our shores as recently as 1930. Celebrating a 244-year birthday on Independence Day is an important occasion in our family. I am proud to be an American.

It's time for Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #401. This biweekly challenge began on Friday, July 3, and will end on Thursday evening, July 16, 2020. 
I adhered patterned paper to a panel of scrap cardstock then I created three small pinwheels from 1.5" squares. Using brads, the pinwheels were added to this decorated panel. The panel was adhered to a red card base using foam tape so there was space to allow the pinwheels to turn. Small strips of red cardstock were added as handles for the pinwheels. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with coordinating patterned paper. Using a die with the word Freedom, I hand-printed additional words to read, "Let Freedom Ring".
Be sure to join us at Color My Heart Color Dare by visiting our Challenge Blog! We'd love to have you share your project with us.

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Real Red
Patterned Paper: Doodlebug "Patriotic Parade" Collection
Die: Frantic Stamper "Freedom"
Misc.: Brads & foam tape from stash