Dream

There's an inspirational photo waiting for you at the Color My Heart Color Dare Blog for Challenge #477. This challenge requires you to use at least three colors from this pretty photo so feel free to use as many as you see but don't add colors that are not shown in the photo. Use your products with the closest color matches. You may also include black and white as long as you have included at least three colors. I selected purple, pink, and green from the photo but my paper includes every shade of color found in the photo. 

I have this gorgeous paper in my stash and when I saw the photo I knew this paper was just right. I went with a simple layout because the paper has a busy pattern. First, I die-cut a fancy rectangle from pink cardstock then cut the word, "Dream," also using a die with blue-green cardstock. I adhered the word to pink cardstock and created a shadow by fussy cutting around the word. With foam tape, the word was added to the front panel. I added rhinestones for sparkle then adhered the entire panel to a white card base.

I hope you'll drop by and visit our Color Dare Blog to play along. Our challenges vary from week to week but always include color. This biweekly challenge ends on Thursday evening, January 13, 2022. We have a new biweekly challenge beginning every Friday morning so there is always an active challenge in play.

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Melon Mambo & Bermuda Bay

Paper: SU! Lily Impressions DSP

Dies: Kat Scrappiness (Fancy Stitched & Scalloped Rectangles) & Frantic Stamper (word die)

Misc.: Foam tape and rhinestones from stash

Bright and Bold

Sometimes I have difficulty finding inspiration for a project. In this case, I was provided with a pretty color board for Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #475 but nothing was developing and I missed the Design Team deadline. But a few days ago I was sorting through some old patterned paper in my stash and it reminded me of the color board. So, keeping it simple, I used the paper to create my card for the challenge, albeit late.

So the patterned paper was die cut then added to a blue card base. I die-cut the vertical sentiment from blue cardstock and added it to coordinating patterned paper and pink cardstock. This was added to the card front with foam tape and a few blue gems were added. The inside of the card was lined with Cashmere cardstock and decorated with coordinating patterned paper.

This biweekly challenge runs through Thursday evening, December 30, 2021. A new challenge begins every Friday so there is always an active challenge underway. Visit our Color Dare Blog to play along with the Bright and Bold Challenge!

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Dapper Denim & Watermelon Wonder; W+9 Cashmere

Paper: Cosmo Cricket "Material Girl"

Dies: Spellbinders (words), Lawn Fawn (zigzag rectangles)

Misc.: Gems & foam tape from stash

Very Merry 25th

We have just enough time in 2021 for one more challenge! Double Trouble Challenge #99 is underway and the duration of the challenge has been extended through Sunday evening, January 2, 2022. As usual, we have three "Things" for you to consider:

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker says that the theme is, "It's Up to You." Be sure to check the guidelines at the DTC99 Blog.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare suggests you link up with The Paper Funday Challenge #36 to earn a chance at our randomly drawn prize. They'll be looking for your project.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister is hoping to find a number on your project that represents a special age or date. Adding the optional twist will earn you another chance at the randomly drawn prize.

My card was inspired by the fact that December 12 is Poinsettia Day (and my birthday). Once I had the card nearly finished, I decided to use "25th" on my card because I have a Christmas theme.

The Design Teams have cards for you to view at the DTC99 Blog and The Paper Funday Challenge #36 so we hope you'll submit your project, too!

(All materials are Stampin' Up! except for the computer-generated "25th".)

Have a Joyous Holiday

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #473 is up on the blog. This biweekly challenge, which runs through Thursday evening, December 16, 2021, is a Tictactoe challenge. You select three colors that are arranged in a row - vertical, horizontal, or diagonal. If you add any colors other than black and white that are not on the board, your card will not be considered for the top-four selection. I chose column #1 - Wisteria, Mulberry & Rosemary, using patterned paper that also included Glacier & Charcoal. Then silver can be found in the snowflake embellishments.

The front of the peach card base was dry embossed with a pattern of snowflakes. Various shapes were die-cut and added to the peach card base, some with thin foam tape. Then two banners were added along with three tiny silver snowflakes embellished with mini rhinestones. The sentiment was computer-generated. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated.

Be sure to visit the Color Dare #473 Blog for the challenge guidelines and to view the Design Team's cards!

Materials

Cardstock: SU! Basic White, Crisp Cantaloupe (sub for Peach), Wisteria Wonder (sub for Wisteria), Pool Party (sub for Glacier) 

Paper: CTMH "Wonderland" Paper Packet

Dies: Spellbinders (classic circle), Whimsy (stitched circle), MFT (stitched rectangle)

Embossing Folder: Sizzix (snowflakes)

Misc.: Snowflakes, rhinestones & CTMH thin foam tape

Joy to the World

There's a new biweekly challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #535. Our challenge is usually based on a required sketch with an optional twist but with this challenge, you are free to use only the sketch or only the theme or combine both. Below is the challenge board showing the sketch plus the theme of "Keep It Off-Center". This challenge runs through Sunday evening, December 12, 2021.

I also added my card to Creative Creases Challenge #20, which uses an "Anything Goes with a Fun Fold" theme. This challenge ends on Thursday, December 9, 2021, at 6:00 pm, Eastern time.

I saw an off-center Angled Trifold card and decided to adapt the sketch to the fun fold. The link for a card tutorial can be found HERE. After cutting the panels of cardstock and patterned paper to size, I die-cut some greenery, decorating the front and the inside. The pine cones were layer-stamped and added with foam tape. The sentiment was stamped and die-cut with a circle.

 

I thought about making a belly band for the card but instead, I die cut a zigzag-edged circle, added the circle with the sentiment adhering it with foam tape, and placed it so the top card flap could be tucked underneath the edge. Wink of Stella was added to the pine cones and greenery and glitter enamel dots were added. I also had an extra pinecone so placed it inside the card.

The Design Team invites you to visit the TSOT535 challenge blog and play along with our challenges. Be sure to visit the Creative Creases Challenge Blog, too.

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Itty Bitty Christmas" (sentiment) & "Christmas Season" (pinecones)

Inks: SU! Pretty Peacock, Soft Suede & Early Espresso

Cardstock: SU! Basic White, Cherry Cobbler, Soft Sky, Baked Brown Sugar & Mossy Meadow

Paper: Photo Play "Winter Dwellers" (both sides)

Dies: SU! Seasonal Labels (pinecones), Spellbinders (circles), Lawn Fawn (zigzag circles) & Sizzix #661597 (greenery)

Misc: SU! Glitter Enamel Dots & foam tape

Christmas Cheer

It's time for our last fifth Monday challenge of 2021 at Double Trouble's Something, Anything, Everything Challenge. Challenge #98 runs for only one week so will be closing on Sunday evening, December 5, 2021. The three "Things" are:

Thing 1 (required): Troublemaker says it's time for an Anything Goes theme so enjoy! You will be awarded one chance for our random draw.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare hopes you will link your card with at least one of our previous partners. There is a list on the challenge blog HERE. I linked my card to Crafting Happiness Challenge #117, an Anything Goes challenge. An additional chance will be awarded for the random draw for each previous partner. Be sure to include it in your own blog post.

Thing 3 (optional): Take a look at Twisted Sister's card (see below). She is hoping you will use her card as inspiration by using at least one element from her card - a color, an image, twine, dry embossing, etc. I love the French macarons but did not have an image for them. I used her card as a sketch to develop the layout for my own design. An additional chance will be awarded for the random draw if you take on the twist.

 

Twisted Sister's twist:

French macarons (not to be confused with coconut macaroons) are so delicious! I first enjoyed them when I was in Paris in 2005.

I split a packet of pretty holiday paper with a crafty friend so used it for this challenge. I added a panel of red cardstock to a white card base, followed by a panel of patterned paper. Although I only needed to copy one item from Twisted Sister I also added a gold-edged ribbon in place of twine and instead of the sweet macarons, I die-cut this cute image of the deer from coordinating patterned paper. Taking more of the same paper collection, I created the banner. Finally, a few gems were added.

We hope to see you at our DTC98 Blog and Crafting Happiness #117 for the challenge!

Materials

Stamp: Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Christmas

Ink: SU! Pretty Peacock

Cardstock: SU! Basic White, Real Red & Pretty Peacock

Patterned Paper: CTMH "Holly & Ivy" Collection

Dies: Hero Arts Infinity Dies (ovals)

Punches: SU! (Modern Label & Word Window)

Misc.: SU! Glitter Enamel Dots (red), gold-edged ribbon & foam tape from stash

To My Friend

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #471 is open! This biweekly color challenge runs through Thursday, December 2, 2021. Here is the color board for the challenge:

The image was stamped with black ink and the flowers were colored with Copic markers. I selected bright pink as my color of choice. I added a panel of gray cardstock to a pink card base, followed by a panel of white with a torn edge. The cardstock with the colored image was matted in pink then added with foam tape. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with a flower and leaves, stamped and colored to coordinate with the front of the card. The word "Friend" was stamped and adhered. A few gems were added as well.

We hope you'll join us at Color My Heart Color Dare #471. A new challenge begins every Friday and runs for two weeks so there is always an active challenge.

Materials

Stamp set: Stampin' Up! "Forever Blossoms"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: SU! Basic White, Basic Gray & Strawberry Slush

Punch: SU! (sentiment)

Misc.: SU! Rhinestones & foam tape from stash 

Coffee Makes Life Mer-mazing

Just one more day and the 2021 Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop will be finished! And then we will know which participants have won the random draws for the wonderful gifts from the sponsors. This is my seventh card in seven days (entry #861) and I still need to submit one more on the final day, which is tomorrow, Friday, November 19, 2021. 

I've had this stamp set in my stash for a while but have only used one of the stamps a few years ago. I decided to select a different stamp from the set - the cheerful mermaid in a to-go cup is so cute. I stamped the image, colored it, and then fussy-cut it. (There are dies but I don't have them.)

I selected a panel in green cardstock and added it to a white card base. On a panel of white cardstock, I stenciled dots in different sizes and colors, then die-cut the panel with a pretty border and adhered it to the green panel. I backed the mermaid-in-a-cup image with foam tape and added it to the center of the stenciled panel then stamped the sentiment and added it to the card. As usual, I decorated the inside of the card.

Be sure to check out the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop! You may be one of the lucky winners.

Materials

Stamp set: Pink and Main "Mermazing Coffee"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Markers; Stampin' Up! Flirty Flamingo, Pool Party & Granny Apple Green

Cardstock: SU! Basic White & unknown green

Die: Gina Marie Designs

Misc.: Enamel dots & foam tape from stash

Happy Coffee!

Thank you for visiting my blog!

I have another card for the Coffee Lovers Fall/Winter Blog Hop. Today is the seventh day of the challenge and I was surprised to learn that I won a prize on Wednesday from Stamplorations. Yay! Thanks to the sponsors of this Blog Hop.

I am such a fan of colors in the green to blue-green family and enjoy mixing an unexpected color with them. I die-cut a large oval in soft lavender and backed it with white cardstock then added it directly to the green panel and the white card base. Then I die-cut a smaller oval in white, backed it with thin foam tape, adhering it to the lavender oval. The image of the coffee cup was stamped, colored, and fussy-cut then added with thin foam tape. A few enamel dots were added.

If you haven't been playing along, it's not too late because the Blog Hop runs through Friday, November 19, 2021. (My card is entry #847.)

Materials

Stamp: Impression Obsession "Happy Coffee"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Just Jade & Wisteria Wonder

Dies: Pinkfresh "Braided Ovals"

Misc.: SU! Enamel Dots & foam tape from stash

The Way I Look at Coffee

It's the fifth day of the 2021 Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop and I am truly astonished that I've made it this far. A friend gave me this A2-sized coffee cup in white cardstock. It was cut from her Cricut along with the sleeve and lid. Using patterned paper and glittered cardstock, I decorated the cup and chose to use it as a shaped card that stands on its own (like a tent card). My card is entry #551.

In addition, I die-cut the ovals, stamping the sentiment and adhering to the cup with foam tape. The inside of the shaped card was decorated with coordinating paper.

I hope you're having as much fun creating your projects as I am. Click HERE to return to the Blog Hop.

Materials

Stamps: Stampendous "Coffee Frame" (sentiment)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: CTMH White Daisy, Stampin' Up! Glimmer (silver) & WRMK Glitter (pink)

Paper: Apple Blossom "Fireworks Flowers"

Dies: Jeanine's mini-ovals 

Coffee - Sloffee Break

A sloth is such a unique animal! The sloth on my coffee card has the right idea. He's deep in the forest where he makes a home in a tree. He has emerged from his sleep to peek out from his hiding place. 

Inspired by Double Trouble Challenge #97-B in partnership with Try Stampin' on Tuesday Sketch Challenge #533, I decided to add a coffee element with this cute sloth image and enter my card at the 2021 Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. My card is entry #461.

Panels of cardstock and paper were trimmed to size and layered using double-stacked foam tape. The image was stamped and colored with Copic markers. After fussy cutting the image, it was added to the card with thin foam tape. In keeping with the sketch, I added two thin strips to the left side of the "circle" and instead of a bow, I added two leaves. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with a few die-cut leaves.

The Double Trouble Challenge #97-B is a biweekly challenge, ending on Sunday evening, November 28, 2021. Try Stampin' on Tuesday #533 is also a biweekly challenge and closes on the same date. Because I used a "coffee stamp" this card was entered at the 2021 Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. The Blog Hop will close on Friday, November 19, 2021. Click on the highlighted challenge names to visit the blogs and review their specific guidelines. 

Materials

Stamp: Art Impressions "Sloth-Some"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Cajun Craze, Garden Green & Hello Honey

Paper: SU! DSP "In Good Taste" & "Botanical Garden"

Dies: Whimsy (Wavy Frames) & Spellbinders (leaves)

Misc.: Foam tape - regular and thin

Coffee - Stay Grounded

It's Sunday and the third day to play along with the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. The theme is, of course, coffee! 

The image was stamped with gray ink and then colored with alcohol markers. Using an oval die, I cut the image at an angle so it would fit on the gray A2 card base. I added a few shapes for color and interest, then adhered the image to the card. A few enamel dots finished it off. I decorated the inside with coordinating cardstock and paper.

This card was also submitted to Coffee Loving Cardmakers for the Caffeine-Fueled Paper Play Challenge.

Be sure to visit the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop - you could win a prize! My card is entry #304.

Materials

Stamp set: Stampendous "Coffee Frame"

Inks: Stampin' Up! Smoky Slate & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: SU! Basic White, Smoky Slate,

Dies: Hero Arts (infinity ovals), RCD (scalloped rectangles), Rubbernecker (dotted squares)

Misc.: Enamel dots & foam tape

Coffee Is My Spirit Animal

Welcome to Stitches and Smudges! 

Playing along with the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop is a new experience for me. I have crafty friends who have been encouraging me to play along since the beginning. This is my second card (entry #215) for this blog hop and it's been fun to develop ideas when not having a big supply of coffee stamps. This Blog Hop runs from Friday, November 12, through Friday, November 19, 2021. Here is my entry for Saturday, November 13.

I have also submitted this card to Coffee Loving Cardmakers for the Caffeine-Fueled Paper Play Challenge.

I went through my paper stash and found this paper with a few cute images of girls. This girl appeared to be meditating and I had a coffee stamp that suited the image. I cut a few panels of cardstock based on colors from the image and layered them onto a black card base. The sentiment was stamped in two parts and added with foam tape for dimension. I also stamped the coffee mug directly to the image. The inside was lined with a die-cut scalloped rectangle.

I look forward to continuing throughout the week with the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop!

Materials

Stamp set: Altenew "Coffee Talk" (sentiment) & Newton's Nook "Newton Loves Coffee" (black mug)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black & Just Jade

Patterned Paper: Making Cards Magazine

Dies: Jeanine's (oval mini-frames), Waffle Flower (scalloped rectangles) & Frantic Stamper (deckle edge rectangles)

Misc.: Foam tape and enamel heart

Deja Brew

It's time for another "special" challenge at Double Trouble #97-A. Here are the usual "Three Things" that we include in each challenge:

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker's theme is "Deja Brew." Create a project that includes a coffee, tea, or cocoa item.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare is hoping you'll play along at the 2021 Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop from Friday, November 12, through Friday, November 19, 2021. (My card is entry #76.)

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister would like to see the following sketch used as inspiration for your project. Try Stampin' on Tuesday #532 runs through Sunday, November 21, 2021.

 

Here is what makes this challenge "special": 

We are including two partners rather than only one and the dates have been adjusted for this challenge only.

AND

We have Double Trouble Perks! In addition to our usual randomly drawn prize, Things 1, 2, and 3 have each added "Blog Candy" to their individual blogs. 

Thing 2 (Double Dare - Melanie) - If you enjoy winning "Blog Candy", leave your comment below and your name will be entered for a randomly drawn prize.

Simply comment on the blogs below if you wish to submit your name for their Blog Candy drawings.

Click HERE for Thing 1: Trouble Maker (Suzanne)

Click HERE for Thing 3: Twisted Sister (Tracey)

First, I stamped the cat image and colored it with Copic markers. I fussy cut and added the image to a small pink panel embossed with coffee beans. Using the sketch for TSOT532, I cut panels of cardstock and patterned paper to size, and layered them all onto the gray card base. A greeting was not indicated on the sketch but I added one. The coffee-themed sentiment was stamped with gray ink, die-cut, and added with foam tape. The inside was stamped with the words, "Coffee is always a good idea." A few pink enamel hearts were also added. 

I also submitted my card to the challenge at Coffee Loving Cardmakers.

 

Be sure to visit these Blogs for guidelines to participate: DTC97A, TSOT532, Coffee Loving & 2021 Fall/Winter Coffee Lovers.

Materials

Stamps: Newton's Nook "Newton Loves Coffee"

Inks: Stampin' Up! Basic Gray & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: SU! Basic White, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate & Strawberry Slush

Paper: SU! DSP "Playful Pets"

Die: Whimsy (stitched circles)

Misc.: Darice Embossing Folder (coffee beans), enamel hearts, foam tape

Hearts and a Flourish - Happy Birthday

You're invited to play along at the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge! This is Challenge #469, a biweekly color challenge that runs through Thursday evening, November 18, 2021. Here is the color board:

You must use at least three of the colors. Colors not on the board may not be used. Black, white, gray, and silver may be added as neutrals. I elected to use four colors - Wisteria, Ballerina, Lemonade & Sage plus neutrals of white, gray & silver. (The silver photographed as black.)

I cut the various shapes using dies and my trimmer and layered them onto a silver panel. The sentiment was stamped and added with foam tape. The card front was added to a white card base and the inside was decorated with coordinating patterned paper.

Please visit our Color Dare #469 Blog for inspiration from the Design Team and to see our guidelines. We hope you'll join our challenge!

Materials

Stamp: Sizzix #662347 (Circle Sentiments)

Ink: Stampin' Up! Basic Gray

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Mint Macaron (for Sage), (for Ballerina) & Silver foiled cardstock

Paper: CTMH Mix-In for prints in Wisteria and Lemonade

Dies: Whimsy (stitched circle), Gina Marie (pink panel & white trim), Sizzix #662347 (scalloped circle); MFT (flourish)

Misc.: Gems and foam tape

Hello with a Modern Vibe

Join us for another biweekly sketch challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #531. The required sketch is posted below. There is also an optional element to create your project using either a vintage or modern design. I selected modern.

I tilted the sketch to create a landscape orientation rather than a portrait simply by changing the placement of the band and the circle. The images were stamped onto Kraft cardstock, then the band was added. The stamped sentiment was added with a die-cut stitched circle shape and foam tape. The decorated Kraft panel was added to a white card base. The inside was decorated by stamping a few images but leaving space for a personal message. I believe this card is suitable for any gender.

For inspiration and guidelines, please visit our TSOT 531 Blog. This challenge will end on Sunday, November 14, 2021. Our biweekly challenges begin every Tuesday morning so there is always an active challenge ongoing.

Materials

Stamp Set: Altenew "Dot Art"

Inks: Distress Oxide in Walnut Stain, Carved Pumpkin & Blueprint Sketch

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Crumb Cake, Night of Navy & Pumpkin Pie

Die: Whimsy (stitched circles)

Misc.: Enamel dots & foam tape