Fancy & Feminine Floral Card

Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #477 is open for entries as of Tuesday, September 29, closing on Monday evening, October 12, 2020. Along with the sketch, there is always a fun option for the entrant. This time, the option is "Coloring". I changed the orientation of the sketch from portrait to landscape.

I stamped the images, colored them with Copic alcohol markers then fussy cut each image. (There are dies available from the manufacturer.) The front of the card base was texturized with an embossing folder and in keeping with the sketch, a horizontal strip was added to the card base. Layers of cardstock were glued to one another and the stack was added to the card base with foam tape. The images were placed onto the stacked paper along with shiny seafoam-colored pearls. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with a remaining colored fussy-cut image.

Try Stampin' on Tuesday has a new biweekly challenge beginning every Tuesday, so check out the challenge blog!

Materials

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp "More Spring Flowers"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Coastal Cabana & Rich Razzleberry

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Embossing Folder "Parisian Flourish"; foam tape & pearls from stash

Season's Greetings (Shaker)

Christmas will be here before we know it and I am creating a few cards here and there to prepare for the 2020 holiday season. The weekly challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #388 is not only perfect for any occasion but also ideal for a shaker card.

Taking photos of foiled or sparkly cards can be frustrating. In this case, the shaker bits are all silver but some of them reflect the blue foil and others reflect the pink shirt I was wearing. How crazy is that? 

A panel of blue mirror cardstock was adhered to a white card base, followed by a panel of winter paper. I cut the "film strip" from the mirror card, adding foam tape and shaker bits of glitter, beads, and snowflakes. Once adhered, I stamped the sentiment, die-cut the ovals, and added it with foam tape. In keeping with the sketch, I added a few tiny snowflakes for decoration. Another verse was stamped on the inside of the card, decorated with more of the blue mirror card.

For fabulous sketches, visit the AHSC Blog! No matter your level of paper crafting experience, this is the place to enjoy great sketches.

Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! Peaceful Boughs (sentiments)
Ink: Distress Oxide "Blueprint Sketch"
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Tonic Mirror Card (blue)
Paper: Stampin' Up! "Feels Like Frost" Collection
Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (nested ovals)
Misc.: Foam tape, shaker "bits" (glitter, beads, snowflakes) from stash

Blessings of the Season 2

Thank you for visiting my blog!  This card was made for a biweekly tic-tac-toe color challenge. Color My Heart Color Dare #413 starts on Friday, September 25, and runs through Thursday evening, October 8, 2020. The Tic-Tac-Toe challenge guidelines require that an entrant select three colors in a row from the board below. As long as there are three in a row then any additional colors on the board may also be used along with permitted neutrals. Using colors not on the board will disqualify the project. I selected the first column using Sangria, French Vanilla, and Fern. In addition, I used Canary. 

I took this opportunity to create a Christmas card for the challenge. I added a panel of black cardstock to the green card base. Then I stamped the images along with a dotted background onto vanilla cardstock and colored the images with Copic markers. The sentiment was also stamped, colored, and matted then adhered using foam tape. This was added to the card front. The inside of the card base was lined with vanilla cardstock and decorated with more stamped and colored images. A greeting was also stamped on the inside.

Sometimes I find these color boards to be quite challenging but I enjoy them nonetheless. Our Design Team invites you to join in the challenge by visiting the Color My Heart Color Dare Blog.

Materials
Stamps: Stampendous "Cardinal Border"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Cucumber Crush
Paper: Foiled paper (Wine) from stash
Misc.: Foam tape

Autumn Blessings

Participating in sketch challenges is one of my favorite activities. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #387 begins on Monday, September 21, and runs through Sunday, September 27, 2020. I enjoy using their sketches for inspiration, often adding additional elements to complete the design.

I decided to make a few Thanksgiving cards for family members since we will not be together this year. I kept this design somewhat low profile for easy mailing. A panel of mint cardstock onto a vanilla card base was added, followed by a patterned paper and brown cardstock. I added three pieces, creating the angular strip required by the sketch. The sentiment was stamped and added with foam tape. The various leaves and branches were die-cut, punched, and arranged around the sentiment. The enamel dots finished off the front. The inside was decorated with additional die-cut branches.

If you haven't tried a sketch challenge, here's your chance! Visit the AHSC Blog and give it a try. 

Materials
Stamp: Reverse Confetti "Autumn Blessings"
Ink: Stampin' Up! Cajun Craze
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Mint Macaron & Cajun Craze
DSP: Stampin' Up! "Gilded Autumn" Collection
Punch: Stampin' Up! Autumn Punch Pack (Maple leaf)
Dies: Frantic Stamper: Wreath & Swag Components
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Enamel Dots & foam tape

Totally Bananas!

Interpreting a sketch can be a challenge in itself. I took some liberty with this sketch but I like my results and hope you do too! The card is multipurpose because it includes the collaboration between Double Trouble Challenge #67 and Try Stampin' on Tuesday #476. TSOT #476 has a sketch with an optional twist, "Off the Edge". This coordinates with the elements required to play along at DTC #67.

On the first attempt, I stamped the images directly onto the card with the die-cut front edge. I started coloring my stamped images then remembered that alcohol ink soaks through the cardstock. I had a choice to make - either continue coloring and then cut a duplicate piece with which to line the inside front of the card, or to cut a new card base with the die-cut edge and then place the die-cut, colored images onto the unstained card front. I chose the latter.

  

On a white card base, I sponged the clouds with a stencil. Using the die that coordinates with the monkey holding balloons, I partially cut out the shape of the image. I removed the edge of the card base so the die-cut edge remained. Using my take on the sketch, I stamped all of the images, colored them with Copics, and then die cut them. As mentioned above, the image should be stamped directly onto the die-cut edge of the card but alcohol markers bleed through the cardstock so I did them separately. I adhered the branch of hearts directly to the card front but used foam tape for the remaining images. The sentiment was stamped and Wink of Stella was added to the balloons and a few other small elements. The inside was decorated with additional vines and a strip of blue cardstock on the right edge.

This "Off the Edge" technique is a nice addition to any card and can be used with about any image. There are excellent tutorials on YouTube and can be found by searching for "off the edge" or "partial die cutting".

Please join us at these challenges and show us your interpretation of the sketch using the "Off the Edge" technique. Here for the blog links to DTC67 and TSOT476.

Materials

Stamps: Sunny Studio "Love Monkey"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Marina Mist & Daffodil Delight
Dies: Sunny Studio "Love Monkey"
Stencil: My Favorite Things (MFT)
Misc.: Wink of Stella (clear), Boxon Gel Pen (white), and foam tape

Blessings of the Season 1

The weekly challenge is open at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges. This is Challenge #386, beginning on Monday, September 14, and ending on Sunday evening, September 20, 2020.

I decided to use the sketch for a Christmas card. A panel of green cardstock was added to the white card base, followed by a panel of plaid paper. The tree was stamped, colored, and fussy-cut before being placed onto red foiled cardstock with foam tape and then adhered to the card front. The sentiment was stamped and adhered along with a few Christmas presents to the bottom right of the tree, in keeping with the sketch. Gold pearls were also added. The inside was decorated with the same style of gifts.

I think that AHSC has some of the very best sketches available for challenges. Visit their Blog and take a look at their guidelines for playing along.

Materials
Stamps: Stampendous "Blessings" (sentiment) & Penny Black "All Wrapped Up" (tree)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Green, Foiled Red & Foiled Gold
DSP: Stampin' Up! (plaid) from stash
Die: Stampin' Up! "Stitched Nesting Labels"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Metal Pearls & foam tape

Elegant Christmas

There is a biweekly sketch challenge beginning at Try Stampin' on Tuesday! TSOT #475 begins on Tuesday, September 15, ending on Sunday, September 27, 2020. In addition to the sketch, there is always an option. This challenge's option is "Metal". Just use something that represents metal on your card. 

I had quite a time with the photographs. I kept seeing my reflection and that of my camera in the gold foiled cardstock when I looked at the results. I took a few more shots from a different angle and am posting the newer photos.

I used gold foiled cardstock on my card as a mat and for the focal point. Using some patterned paper from my stash along with black and white cardstock, a white die-cut sentiment, and some narrow ribbon, I created a holiday card. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and trimmed in gold.

The Design Team welcomes you to the TSOT475 Blog and hopes you'll play along.

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black & Gold
Patterned Paper: Reminisce "Elegant Christmas"
Die: RCD "merry"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Metallic Pearls, ribbon & foam tape

For You

As Fall approaches, I am eager to make a few Autumn cards. Living in Arizona means that there are few visible signs of any seasonal change until later in the year. The biweekly challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare #411 offers some colors that work perfectly to depict autumn leaves. This is a tic-tac-toe challenge so my project must include at least colors that align in a row on the board below. Once I select three colors, I am free to choose as many as appear on the grid plus any neutrals as permitted. The challenge stipulates that colors not on the grid may not be added. This challenge began on Friday, September 11, and ends on Thursday, September 24, 2020. 

I selected the bottom row from the color board, Goldrush, Ruby, Julep, then added Eggplant and Pixie. I used a shade of brown as a neutral. I stamped the images with brown ink onto cardstock then blended the challenge colors. I die-cut the leaves and then heat-embossed them with clear embossing powder. The clear powder gives the leaves a soft shine. Using a julep card base, I added a panel of the brown cardstock and some wood grain paper. The leaves were placed with foam tape along with the sentiment. Three enamel dots were added. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with wood grain paper and a small color-blended leaf.

We hope you'll join us for our challenge by visiting the Color Dare Blog to learn more about taking part.

Materials

Stamps: Dare 2B Artzy "Tangle Leaves" 

Inks: Versamark; Distress Oxide Gathered Twigs, Fossilized Amber, Candied Apple, Evergreen Bough, Wilted Violet & Worn Lipstick

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Hello Honey, Baked Brown Sugar & Just Jade

Paper: Stampin' Up! from stash (wood grain)

Dies: Dare 2B Artzy "Fall Leaves"

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Embossing Powder (clear) & foam tape

Live It Up! - Masculine

Tic-Tac-Toe challenges can be fun! When I saw the game board for this week at TicTacToe Challenge #080, I was drawn in by the elements on the top row - Stripes, Masculine, Blue.

I recently "rediscovered" a masculine stamp in my stash and decided to use it. I stamped the image on gray cardstock matted with white and added it to a white card base with blue striped patterned paper. I used foam tape to attach the image. The sentiment stamp is from the same stamp set. It was stamped onto white cardstock and then die-cut. A few enamel dots were added. The inside was stamped with tire tread for decoration.

This weekly challenge began on Thursday, September 3, and will end on Thursday, September 10, 2020, at noon CDT. Take a look at the TTTC080 Blog for details.

Materials

Stamps: Power Poppy "Move the Soul"

Ink: Distress Oxide "Blueprint Sketch"

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Smoky Slate

DSP: Stampin' Up! from stash

Die: Sizzix # 662347

Misc.: Enamel dots and foam tape

Christmas Peace Dove

This a new stamp and die bundle for me. I think it's pretty as well as suitable for more than Christmas cards. I am entering this card at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #385, which began on Monday, September 7, and ends on Sunday, September 13, 2020. I am always pleased with their sketches.

I cannot call this a CAS (Clean and Simple) design but it is a QAE design. (My own acronym for Quick and Easy.)

Using a few of the dies, I cut the bird from silver foiled cardstock and the olive branch from green cardstock. In keeping with the sketch, I added two strips of blue cardstock across the center of the card. Because the Dove gives off the movement of flight, I thought the strips held more interest by cutting them with angles to convey an idea of moving with the bird. With foam tape, the bird's body and wings were added at slightly different heights to patterned paper that had been placed onto a blue card base. I stamped the sentiment with coordinating blue ink. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with an olive branch and some of the patterned paper.

For great sketches, visit the AHSC385 Blog and consider joining the weekly challenges.

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Dove of Hope"

Ink: Stampin' Up! Pacific Point

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Pacific Point, Mossy Meadow & Silver

DSP: Stampin' Up! "Snowflake Splendor"

Dies: Stampin' Up! "Detailed Dove"

Misc.: Foam tape

Up, Up and Away

 

There is a new biweekly challenge at Double Trouble #66. This challenge begins on Monday, September 7, and ends on Sunday evening, September 20, 2020. As always, this challenge has three elements:

1. Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker would like to see a project that depicts a scene. This can be a scene anywhere you wish - a favorite vacation spot or a place you dream of visiting. 

2. Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare is hoping you will link your project to The Paper Girls Challenge #207, provided you have met their requirements, too.

3. Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister is eager to learn about your mode of transportation when you travel (real or fictional). I have shown a hot air balloon on my card.

In addition, I have added my card at Moving Along with the Times Challenge #122. Their monthly challenge for September is to "Create a Scene". 

Onto watercolor paper, I sponged a blue sky then painted a winter scene. The fir trees are also watercolored but the deciduous tree was stamped then touched up with a wet brush. I stamped the tiny red cardinal in the tree then added the balloon silhouette with a black pen. Because I used watercolor paper, I decided to distress the image piece on all four sides then added it to a card base along with gold foiled cardstock and patterned paper. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock. A white gel pen was used to add a bit of snow to the tree.

The Design Teams For DTC66, The Paper Girls #207, and Moving Along with the Times #122 welcome you to join the challenges!

Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Snow Front"
Inks: ZIG watercolors, Stampin' Up! Soft Sky, Baked Brown Sugar & Real Red
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Island Indigo (card base) & Gold
Patterned Paper: From stash
Misc.: Boxom Gel Pen (white) & Sakura Micron Pen (black)

Regal Power

The optional theme for the biweekly Challenge #473 at Try Stampin' on Tuesday is to use "Regal Colors" with the required sketch. This challenge runs from Tuesday, September 1, through Monday, September 14, 2020. Here is the sketch:

Using gold and jewel-tone cardstock along with gems and coordinating patterned paper translated to "Regal Power" in my mind. I layered the panels then added a few die-cut elements - a vellum shape, a pink flower, the small pink circle, and the gold butterfly. The gems were added in keeping with the sketch. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and a small die-cut flower. 

If you like sketch challenges, this is the one for you! The challenges begin weekly and last for two weeks so there is always an open challenge to join. Click HERE for the TSOT Blog.

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant, Island Indigo, Melon Mambo, Gold, & Vellum

Paper: Stampin' Up! "Lily Impressions" Collection

Dies: All from RCD

Misc.: Gems from stash