Tuesday, October 27, 2020

Swanky Snowdude


Sketch #481 is up on the blog at Try Stampin' on Tuesday. This sketch is a biweekly challenge, which began on Tuesday, October 27, and ending Sunday evening, November 8, 2020. In addition to the sketch, there is an optional color twist as well. The colors are navy, teal, and pink.

I stamped the Swanky Snowdude image, coloring it with Copics and fussy cutting it. Onto a white card base, I added the background papers. The white pearlized paper with a gold pattern represents snowfall. The "Snowdude" was added with foam tape to one of the rectangular cuts and covered in Wink of Stella for shimmer. The rectangles were then added to the card along with the die-cut snowflake. The inside was decorated with more snowflakes. The card does not have a sentiment because there is not one indicated on the sketch. I will be adding one to use the card for the upcoming holidays.

The TSOT Design Team invites you to join our challenges. There is a new challenge every Tuesday and each lasts for two weeks. Click HERE to review the guidelines for entering.

Materials
Stamps: Paper Smooches "Swanky Snowdudes"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copics
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Gold Foil
Paper: CTMH "Ballerina" (pink glitter paper), Gold Foil Patterns, "Blue Skies" Collection (teal & navy patterned papers)    
Die: Spellbinders (snowflakes)
Misc.: ZIG Wink of Stella (clear) & foam tape

Friday, October 23, 2020

Have a Happy Day


Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #417 opened Friday, October 23, and will run through Thursday, November 5, 2020. This biweekly color challenge offers a twist this time to use one color + one metal + one neutral on the project you submit. I elected to use aqua (color) + silver glitter paper (metal) + gray (neutral). Black and white are "free" to use but neither can count as the neutral.





The aqua cardstock was cut with the Butterflies die and the butterflies removed. The aqua panel was backed with black cardstock. The same die was used a second time to cut the silver glitter cardstock. The butterflies were removed and inlaid on the aqua cardstock. The flowers were die-cut from the gray neutral color and decorated with white pearls. The entire panel was added to a white card base. The inside was decorated with the aqua butterflies and a sentiment, "Have a happy day."


The Color Dare Design Team welcomes you to play along at Challenge #417!

Materials
Stamp: Stampendous "Brushed Wishes" (inside sentiment)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Coastal Cabana & Silver Glimmer
Dies: RCD (Butterflies in Flight, Flowers)
Misc.: Pearls from stash

Monday, October 19, 2020

Halloween Jack O'Lanterns

It's time to get my Halloween cards together. I only make two cards each year, one for each of my grand-nephews, Oliver and Carpenter. They live in another state and are always so excited to receive snail mail. I have used one of the cards for this challenge.


Several challenges inspired this card. The first, Double Trouble #69, is a biweekly challenge. This time, we have been given a color board to use for guidance along with a twist to exclude using bats. In addition, the challenge is partnering with The Paper Girls Halloween Challenge #210.

Halloween Theme

Use at least three bat colors from the Double Trouble clipart below. I used orange, purple, and green.

In addition, inspiration came from the weekly sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #391 so am submitting my card there.

Onto a black card base, I adhered a panel of green cardstock cut with a die followed by a panel of patterned paper. Next, I die-cut the banner and matted it with black cardstock, adhering it with foam tape. The sentiment was die-cut and adhered to a white oval surrounded by a green die-cut oval ring. The pumpkins were fussy cut from patterned paper, touched up with Glossy Accents, and adhered with foam tape. The inside of the card was lined with a white panel and decorated with more fussy cut pumpkins.

I hope you will give all three challenges a try:
    Double Trouble #69 (Fall Colors)
    The Paper Girls #210  (Halloween)
    Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #391 (sketch)

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black & Old Olive
Patterned Paper: CTMH "Got Candy" Collection
Dies: Whimsy (Zigzag Rectangles) & Tutti (Cross-stitch Ovals); Elizabeth Craft (Word "Boo" from the set "Ghosts")
Misc.: Glossy Accents & foam tape

Saturday, October 17, 2020

Bright Birthday!

10/21/2020 Update: This card was a Top Three winner at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #390.
 

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #390 is about to slip by without my project! This card has been on my desk all week in need of a sentiment, which is required by the sketch. I often omit a sentiment until I actually use the card except when the challenge calls for one. My niece will be 43 years old in a few weeks so I decided this will be her birthday card. This is a weekly challenge that began on Monday, October 12, and will end on Sunday evening, October 18, 2020.

My eye coordinated all of my purple hues perfectly but the camera's eye sees them differently. The mirror cardstock is tricky and I need to learn how to work with lighting. When I finish my new "crafty" space, I think I will add a small lightbox.

I borrowed and stamped this image ages ago while at a crop and then tucked it away. When I saw this challenge sketch, I remembered the stamped image and found it stashed in my travel bag. I colored it with Copic markers and Wink of Stella then fussy cut it. I then proceeded to stack four die-cut rectangular layers of cardstock onto the card base. Using a die, I also cut the patterned paper and added it to the stack. I die-cut some branches and leaves from foiled cardstock and tucked them around the bouquet, which was adhered with foam tape. The sentiment was stamped direct-to-paper and few rhinestones were included. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with additional die-cut stems and leaves.

AHSC always has great sketches so if you're looking for a challenge, visit their Blog.

Materials
Stamp: Bouquet (borrowed); Stampendous "Brushed Wishes" (sentiment)
Ink: Stampin' Up! Rich Razzleberry, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Crisp Cantaloupe, Coastal Cabana & Rich Razzleberry; Tonic Mirror Card "Purple Mist"
Paper: Stampin' Up! "In Good Taste" Collection
Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (rectangles); Paper Rose (stitched rectangles); Dare 2 B Artzy (wavy pierced rectangles); Frantic Stamper "Wreath & Swag Components"
Misc.: ZIG Wink of Stella (clear), rhinestones & foam tape from stash

Tuesday, October 13, 2020

Side-Step Schommelkaart with Sketch




Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #479 is a biweekly challenge beginning on Tuesday, October 13, and running through Sunday, October 25, 2020. This time we have a unique challenge called a "Mix-Up". Our challenges usually require the use of a sketch and then there is an optional element that can be added if you choose. With a Mix-Up Challenge, the choice is either the sketch or the element or a combination of both

I decided to do the full Mix-Up. When you look at my card you can see evidence of the sketch. Schommelkaart is believed to be a Dutch technique. It's not difficult to make in that it is simply a side-step card shaped like a circle. "Schommel" means to sway or rock and "kaart" means card. So here it is - a swaying or rocking card. I am providing two links to YouTube (in English) that were helpful in providing me with measurements.

Circle Step Card           Circular Side Step Card

I had no circle dies as large as 6" in diameter, which is the starting point. I cut a 6" square and went about turning that into a circle with a ruler and a pencil. Once the shaped card base was completed from white card stock, I added the patterned papers. The images were stamped, colored, and die-cut along with other elements. The elements were added to the card, sometimes with foam tape for dimension. Once the card was completed, the blue enamel dots were added to provide the necessary balance so the card would stand evenly. (After all that, my photograph is off-kilter and the card looks slightly crooked!) There is sufficient space on the back of the card to leave a message for the recipient.

We would enjoy seeing your creations at our TSOT Challenge Blog.

Materials
Stamps: Sunny Studio "Plane Awesome"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Hello Honey & Chocolate Chip
Paper: CTMH "Penelope" scraps & Photoplay "Twila & Norbet" scraps
Dies: Sunny Studio "Plane Awesome", Paper Smooches (zigzag circles), & Memory Box (clouds)
Misc.: Enamel dots & foam tape

Friday, October 9, 2020

Organic Slimline Birthday


The colors for this biweekly challenge is a bit different than expected because they are not Autumn colors. That's okay because I've been using Fall colors ad nauseam and am ready for a change. Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #415 begins on Friday, October 9, and ends on Thursday, October 22, 2020. From the color board below I selected Toffee, Linen, Ballerina, Bluebell, and Sage. To play you must use at least three colors from the board. There is an allowance for neutral colors. Using a color or neutral that is not on the board will result in your project being disqualified. 

I have always been a fan of "tall and skinny" cards so am pleased to see that they are trending right now. That means there are stamps and dies in abundance designed for the new size. Onto the card base, I added a panel of paper and another of cardstock. Using patterned paper, I die cut three scalloped holes then framed them with blue scalloped circle frames. The flowers were stamped, die-cut, and colored with markers then added to the card front with foam tape. The sentiment was stamped on the middle circle. The inside of the card was decorated with stamped images, colored to match the flowers on the front of the card.


The Color Dare Design Team welcomes you to join their color challenges. We have a biweekly color challenge beginning each Friday so there is always a challenge underway. Visit our Blog for details.

Materials
Stamp Set: Uniko "Originally Organic"
Inks: Stampin' Up! Baked Brown Sugar & Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Baked Brown Sugar & Bashful Blue
Patterned Paper: CTMH "Lovely" (pink dot) & "Celebrate Mix-In" (blue stripe)
Dies: Pink Fresh (slimline) & Uniko (flowers)
Misc.: Pearls & foam tape from stash

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Say It with Patterned Paper


Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #389 is live as of Monday, October 5, closing in one week, on Sunday evening, October 11, 2020. They have fabulous sketches with which to work. 

I used three patterned papers for this card, four if you count the flower. The background paper is obvious but the yellow and pink papers have patterns that are more difficult to discern because they are color-on-color designs. I have tried to show the patterns in my photos. The multi-color patterned paper was added to a black card base. Onto this, I added the pink triangle with the one edge of black trim, as I interpret the sketch. I die-cut the two long hexagonal pieces - one in black and one in yellow, adding them with foam tape for dimension. The whimsical flower was fussy cut from a scrap of paper and adhered with foam tape. I added the green gems to balance the colors of the leaves. The sentiment, required in the sketch, was stamped and punch-cut from white cardstock. The inside was lined with white cardstock and trimmed with patterned paper.

If you're new to sketch challenges, this is the place to play along and enjoy the fun, and if you like sketches, be sure to visit the AHSC Blog for inspiration and a new sketch each Monday. I also submitted my card to an Anything Goes challenge at Crafting Happiness #69.

Materials
Stamp: Hero Arts "Greetings" (CM351)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Basic Black
Paper: CTMH "Blue Skies" Collection & "Craft On" (flower)
Dies: Stampin' Up! "Stitched Nested Labels"
Punch: Stampin' Up! "Petite Curly Label"
Misc.: Gems and foam tape

Monday, October 5, 2020

Tails of Love

It's time for another biweekly challenge at Double Trouble #68. The challenge, which began on Monday, October 5, runs through Sunday evening, October 18, 2020. There are three elements to play:

Thing 1 (required) - Create a slimline card.

Thing 2 (optional) - Link your project to one of our previous partners' challenges. I entered my card at Crafting Happiness #69 and Two Crafty Critter Crazies Challenge #43, both with an Anything Goes theme. A list of all partners is available with links at the DTC#68 Blog

Thing 3 (optional) - Include a critter, real or fictional, that has a tail. My card has four poodle tails - two on the front and two on the inside! Visit DTC#68 for information.


Onto a white card base cut to a slimline (tall-and-skinny) size, the dotted paper was die cut and added. (3 7/8" x 8") Before adding the die-cut Eiffel Tower image, I thought the large white oval needed background elements. I remembered from my trip to France that the Eiffel Tower has rows of trees on either side so I die cut a tree from white cardstock to add a bit of interest to the white background. I also added a white flourish. The Eiffel Tower die-cut image was added along with the die-cut word, "Amour", in black cardstock. The poodle images were stamped and colored with Copic markers then fussy-cut. I also added a little texture to the fur of the poodles. Two dogs were added to the card front with foam tape. A stack of white hearts was also added for dimension. The inside was decorated with the two remaining poodle images - one colored in lavender and one in yellow. Wink of Stella was added for some soft shimmer.

Every night, every hour on the hour, the Tower is illuminated with lights for five minutes while the beam from the top of the Tower lights up the city of Paris. I added a blue gem to represent the beam at the top. The Eiffel Tower was one of the highlights of my trip to France, especially when we were able to take the elevator all the way to the top level, where Gustave Eiffel constructed a secret apartment for himself.

We hope you'll join our "Tall Tails" challenge. Guidelines and inspirational cards are available at our Blog and please visit Two Crafty Critter Crazies and Crafting Happiness #69 as well.

Note: Slimline size of this card is 4" x 8".

Materials
Stamps: La La Land Crafts "Poodles of Love"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black & Silver Foil
Paper: CTMH "Celebration" (mix-in)
Dies: Stampin' Up! "Parisian", Elizabeth Craft "Wisteria" (tree) & Hero Arts Infinity (nesting ovals)
Punch: Stampin' Up! "Itty Bitty Accents" (heart)
Misc.: ZIG Wink of Stella (clear) & foam tape