The Voice of the Garden (TSOT #661)

 

Happy New Year! This is the first TSOT Challenge of 2025, and we have changed a few things, so be sure to take a look at our TSOT Blog. The sketch for Challenge #661 is below. 

I am looking forward to spring, although it will be a while yet. One of the signs of spring that is essential to the vegetables and flowers in the garden is the BEE. They are the biggest reason for the success of any garden. So my card pays homage to these industrious flying insects, who have been around for about 124 million years. 

My card was created using a 6x6 pad that was a gift. It's full of pretty patterned papers. The flowers were die-cut from the paper using hexagon dies. The background paper depicts a honeycomb. The gems were added for a bit of sparkle and the inside was decorated with scrap paper and a few small fussy-cut bees. I elected to omit a sentiment for the time being.

Be sure to visit the TSOT #661 Blog for some challenging fun! The next time you enjoy fruits and vegetables, thank the BEE, and thank you for stopping by my blog. 

“The hum of bees is the voice of the garden."  --  Elizabeth Lawrence

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White

Patterned Paper: Panalisa "Honey Flowers"

Dies: Spellbinders (hexagons)

Misc.: Honey Bee Designs "Gem Stickers"

Warm and Cozy Wishes (DTC #182)

Welcome to the first challenge in 2025 at Double Trouble! We have made some changes to our process so I hope you will take the time to read about them at the Double Trouble Blog.

To begin, I selected my image - a warm and cuddly critter. I love most animals but I selected one of my favorites - a cat - and he's making friends with a Bluebird. He doesn't resemble any cats of mine from the past or present but I enjoyed coloring the image with my Copics. I also stamped and colored the Bluebird.

I then went to the paper to create at least a two-layered card with a wintry scene. And finally, as I colored the images, I made sure I used at least three colors.

As for the optional sketch, I had just completed making a card for TSOT from this sketch so the sketch wasn't in my head when creating this DTC card. I will, however, be submitting my card to Ellie's Critter Crazy Challenge #94, "Anything Goes with a Featured Critter" for January. Check the rules for their challenge to make sure you have met their requirements and eligibility dates and be awarded yet another chance in our random drawing.

Funny thing - when I first read the theme at Critter Crazy I thought it said, "Anything Goes with a Feathered Critter." I spent a while deciding how to create a warm and cuddly bird!

If you are looking for additional inspiration to use with our 3-2-1 Recipe, check out the current sketch at our Sister Challenge, Try a Sketch On Tuesday #661. If you use their sketch and link your card to their challenge you will be awarded TWO chances in our random drawing.

After coloring the images, I fussy-cut them, gathered all of the patterned paper, cardstock, dies, etc., and completed the card with an aperture for the cat and bird to view the cold scene. I finished off the card with clear droplets for icy sparkles and decorated the inside with scrap paper and a second bluebird.

Be sure to visit the DTC182 Blog to see the Design Team's cards and to join the biweekly challenge. I am so glad you stopped by my blog, and I hope you left a comment. Many thanks. 

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Stampendous "Cat Friends" & Waffle Flower "Winter Wishes" (sentiment)

Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers; Stampin' Up! Boho Blue; Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Boho Blue

Patterned Paper: Honey Bee "Winter Wonder", Echo Park "Life Is Beautiful"

Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (Nesting Arches)

Misc.: SBC thin foam tape (1 mm.) and Honey Bee clear droplet stickers

Size: A7 (5" x 7")

Thank You Very Mush (CD #633)

It's time to play along with Color Dare! This is Challenge #633 and runs through Thursday, January 16, 2025. The color board is below. Simply pick one color from each "Group" for your creation. You may pick more than one from each but you should not include colors unless they are on the board. You are free to use white, black, neutrals, and metallics to enhance your creation. 

To get started, the colors were numbered from left to right, #1 through #9 for my own use, to more easily identify the colors. I used colors #1, #3, #4, #5, #6, and #9. The card design was taken from an old sketch. The four mushrooms were stamped in dark brown ink, fussy cut, and colored with markers. Before placing the mushrooms down with foam tape, I stamped a bit of background. Then I promptly covered most of that stamped background with three of the fussy-cut images. 

To finish, the sentiment was added and the inside of the card was lined with a panel of white and decorated with the fourth fussy-cut mushroom. Be sure to stop by the Color Dare Challenge Blog and check out the cards made by the Design Team.

Thank you for visiting and I appreciate your comments. 

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Maymay Made It "Fungi" (A244)

Inks: Stampin' Up! Early Espresso & Coastal Cabana; Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Coastal Cabana

Patterned Paper: Spellbinders "Handmade Holiday"; Craftsmith "Fall Plaids"

Misc.: SBC thin foam tape (1 mm.)