"MERRY" - Pinecone Spotlight (DTC #197)

How I enjoyed creating my card for this challenge! It's been a few years since I used the Spotlight Technique. (Click here to see it.) There are several styles considered to be spotlight cards, so I just picked the one I preferred. 

This was going to be an Autumn card, but it developed into a Christmas card. I used red and gold glitter cardstock to achieve that. I get too many ideas cooking in my head when I make cards for challenges, and the result is usually quite different than the original vision.

Double Trouble Challenge #197 is live today and will run through Sunday, August 17, 2025. Following is a summary of the challenge titled "You're in the Spotlight," and what I did to play along. 

Trouble Maker is ready to stir up trouble with her 3-2-1 Recipe:

Servings - Unlimited Portions of Fun

Use AT LEAST

3 - Colors of your choice

My card includes gold foiled paper, gold and red glitter paper, and several shades of green. Neutrals include black, white, and shades of brown.

2 - Layers

There are five layers, excluding the card base.

1 - Spotlight Technique

This technique is included. The pinecone image was colored with Copic markers. The Ruby Red gems were added for color.

Twisted Sister wants to recognize that August is "Happiness Happens" month. Happiness is contagious, so let's promote happiness by using at least one of the following or any combination of birds, butterflies and/or blooms ... it's your choice. (My card was completed, photographed, and posted before I realized that I had overlooked the optional twist.)

Double Dare: Take a look at the Triple B Challenge. It's all about Birds, Butterflies, and Blooms and fits perfectly with our spotlight challenge. The challenge began on Sunday, August 3, 2025, and ends on Sunday, August 31, 2025, at 8:00 PM (ET).

The inside of my card was decorated with a small, stamped, colored, and fussy-cut pinecone image and a die-cut bow in red glitter paper.

Thanks for visiting my blog.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Colorado Craft Co. "Pinecone Branch" (BB264)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black, Foiled (gold), Glimmer (gold), and from my stash, pearlescent green and red glitter cardstock

Dies: Whimsy (stitched circle), SBC word die "Merry"

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (2 mm); Honey Bee red gems

Live, Love, Sparkle (CD #662)

It's time again for a biweekly challenge from Color Dare. This is Challenge #662 and runs through Thursday, August 7, 2025. The inspiration photo is below. The instructions indicate that White and Gold Metallic must be used plus one additional color of your choice. I selected pink. Additionally, I included black and white, which are 'free-to-add' colors.

You can see my card is made up of nine rectangles. I just cut them to size as I went along, layering the various elements until I achieved what was satisfactory to me. Except for the gold glimmer paper and the card base, all of the remaining papers came from my scrap stash.

After layering the rectangles, I used a cut-apart for the sentiment and added it with foam tape for a little dimension. Seven tiny gold pearls were added to the card front along with a heart stick-on. The finished card front was adhered to a white card base. The inside of the card base was decorated using paper scraps. No sentiment has been added to the inside yet, leaving sufficient space to write a message..

The Color Dare Design Team invites you to visit the Challenge #662 Blog to learn more about our challenges. Thank you for stopping by. Your comments are always appreciated.

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black, & Glimmer (gold)

Patterned Paper: Stampin' Up! Dry Brushed Metallic and KaiserCraft "Sparkle" Collection

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Metallic Pearls (gold),  SBC Foam Tape (2 mm), Cloud 9 Design "Heart Rain Drops"

CELEBRATE (TSOT #675)

Try a Sketch on Tuesday is now available on the challenge blog, featuring Sketch #675. This biweekly challenge runs through Sunday, August 3, 2025.

Many ideas came to me as I thought about the sketch - flowers were the obvious choice, followed by clouds, which ultimately led me to settle on balloons. Instead of creating a sky background for the balloons, A scrap of patterned paper that resembled a misty sky was used. This sketch is suitable for a few fun fold designs, but instead, I chose to decorate the card front in the standard manner, keeping the fold on the left. Blue glitter paper was trimmed to size and adhered to the patterned paper. 

The balloons were die-cut from metallic paper and stacked with a few layers of cardstock to add dimension.. The next step was to add the balloons, but I had a dilemma. What to do about adding strings to the balloons? After deciding to let the balloons be free-floating, the "strings" were added using a black Micron pen. The sentiment was stamped onto a banner and added to the card front.

The inside was decorated with more free-floating balloons and a bit of the misty sky paper. 

You are invited to visit the TSOT 675 Blog. Original cards designed by our team are on display. We hope they will inspire you to join the challenge.

Thanks for looking!

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: SU Basic White, Recollections Glitter (blue)

Paper: Reminisce by Ella & Viv "Watercolor Paradise 1", metallic variety from stash

Dies: Paper Rose Studio "Balloon Trio", Spellbinders (sentiment)

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (2 mm)

Hello Bluebird (AHSC #639)

Thank you for stopping by my blog. 

Today, I am participating in Challenge #639, a weekly challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. This challenge runs through Sunday, July 27, 2025.

Three years ago, I relocated from Phoenix, AZ, to Chattanooga, TN, after my husband, Bob, passed away. I enjoyed our retirement home in Arizona, but family was urging me to come back east since I had no immediate family living nearby. So here I am in Eastern Tennessee, where there are no Roadrunners - my favorite bird in Arizona. There is a large area of forest behind my home, and my bird feeders abound with many birds. My favorite is the Eastern Bluebird, a native of Tennessee, although not the "official" state bird.

I came across a small die set called "Bluebird" while going through a collection of my "Long-Ignored Possibilities" (LIPs? LOL) and thought the images were adaptable for this week's AHSC sketch. I was eager to use the dies since I enjoy Bluebird watching. (There is no matching stamp set.)

Two sets of die-cut images were used in case I needed an extra set of cut flowers & branches to fill the card front and decorate the inside. After coloring the pieces with alcohol markers, I assembled the card, keeping to the sketch as closely as possible. The bird image was added with foam tape, but the remaining elements were adhered directly to the card. 

The inside was decorated with a few scraps of paper and the extra die-cut images. A few shiny pearls were added in keeping with the sketch. If you're looking for quality sketches, AHSC is the place to go.

I also found another fabulous challenge for my card - Triple B. A challenge all about Birds, Blooms, and Butterflies. This monthly challenge closes on July 31, 2025, so be sure to visit their challenge before it's too late!

Melanie

Materials

Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black, Calypso Coral

Patterned Paper: Ella & Viv Paper Co. "Watercolor Paradise 1"

Dies: Cottage Cutz "Bluebird", Jaded Blossom "Scalloped Rectangles", Momenta "Hello"

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1 mm), Honey Bee pearl stickers

Let's Patch Things Up (DTC #196)

Greetings!  It's time for Double Trouble Challenge #196. This biweekly challenge runs through Sunday, August 3, 2025. For fun, we're observing "National Thread the Needle Day" on Friday, July 25, 2025.

THING 1: Trouble Maker has given us the requirements to play along with this new 3-2-1 Recipe:

3-2-1 Recipe "Keep Us in Stitches" 

Servings - Unlimited Portions of Fun

Ingredients

AT LEAST

3 Layers

There are actually ten layers added to this card base, using three solid colors and three patterned papers.

2 Images - Stamped or Die-Cut

Two die-cut dragonflies were included, plus one on the inside.

1 Stitched Element

I added stitching to four elements on the card front and to one inside of the card. I added the stitching the "old-fashioned" way, with a fine-tipped black marker.

THING 3:  Twisted Sister 

says, "My optional twist is to include a fun pun as your sentiment."

Thankfully, at the moment, I don't need a card to "patch things up" with anyone, but at least I'll have one in my stash. 

THING 2: Double Dare

says, "The TSOT #675 sketch is below if you wish to participate. Their challenge opens on Tuesday, July 22, so be cautious not to unintentionally publish your card before that date."

This sketch was not the inspiration for my card.

A layer of green was adhered to a pastel-colored card base, then a panel of wood-grain paper was added diagonally. Next, I cut a rectangle from the same cardstock used for the card base, layering a panel of green and then a panel of floral paper. Finally, a skinny rectangle was cut from bright pink cardstock to serve as a mat for the gold-striped patterned paper. Once the stitches were completed, the layered rectangles were arranged on the wood-grain with foam tape. This totaled seven layers. The two dragonfly images were also added. 

This card required a sentiment, preferably a pun about stitching or sewing. After running a bunch of words through my head, I arrived at "Let's Patch Things Up..."  I created it on my laptop, then added it to two layers of cardstock, bringing the total layers to ten. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and scraps of patterned paper. Stitching was added, and a die-cut dragonfly was included, leaving space for a personal message. 

Thank you for stopping by. Please visit the Double Trouble Challenge #196 Blog to view the Design Team's creative cards.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: computer-generated sentiment

Inks: Sakura Archival Ink - black (Micron Pen)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Pool Party, Old Olive & Melon Mambo

Paper: CTMH "Happy Times" & Ink 'n Splatter "Summer Breeze"

Die: Paper Smooches "Silhouette Flowers" (dragonflies)

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1 mm & 2 mm), Honey Bee Gems

 

Thinking of You (AHSC #638)

Since my personal supply of cards is constantly raided by family members, it needed replenishing. Armed with a 6"x6" paper pad and Sketch #638 from the Atlantic Hearts Challenge Blog, I decided to enter this week's challenge. I made six cards using this sketch, but they are all similar, so I picked one for the challenge. (I will need to create more cards, so I am now waiting to see next week's sketch.)

Because the sketch includes a leaf or sprig of some type, a die-cut sprig in turquoise, backed with white, was adhered, and then the sentiment was added with foam tape. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock, decorated with coordinating paper and another die-cut sprig.

Visit the AHSC Blog #638 to view their Design Team cards and to take on the card challenge. This weekly challenge closes on Sunday, July 20, 2025, and a new sketch is released every Monday morning.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Melanie 

Materials

Stamp: Stampin' Up! "Botanical Layers" (sentiment)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Tempting Turquoise

Patterned Paper: GCD Studios - "Journeys" by Kathy Davis

Dies: Kokorosa (sprigs), Hero Arts Infinity (circles)

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1 mm)

Celebrate - It's Your Day! (CD #660)

It's time for another Color Dare Challenge! The colors on the board are so bright and bold. This is biweekly Challenge #660, running through Thursday, July 24, 2025.

These pretty colors were pointing me in the direction of flowers, lots of flowers, and as I explored my paper stash, I wanted something more contemporary yet still fun. So, after cutting a few strips of cardstock and adhering them to a small black panel, I found them to be satisfactory for a modern card.

I grew up in a family of aviators. As I laid this out, it reminded me of an aviation chart—a very simple one, so I turned it into a scrap-busting interpretation of an aerial view of an airport. 

Attaching the white panel to a black card base, I elected to leave it without texture, preferring the contrast of the bright white. After adding a few strips directly to the white background, the rectangle of strips was adhered using foam tape. A few shiny black gems were added, and the sentiment was stamped directly onto the card front.

The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white, decorated with a few strips and stamped, "Today is YOUR Day!" One member of my family fits the "nerd" description, so it will go to him.

Because I was experiencing difficulty with computer access, I was frustrated and did not realize I had forgotten to adhere the little silhouette images of aircraft until after the card was posted.

The Design Team invites you to participate in this color challenge HERE.  

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: MFT "Many Thoughts"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Calypso Coral

Patterned Paper: SBC Merry Patterns Collection

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape, Honey Bee gems

DTC #195 Inky Pinkies Monday, July 7

Double Trouble has some challenging fun lined up for you! 

Biweekly Challenge #195 is up on the blog through Sunday, July 20, 2025.

THING 1: Trouble Maker has given us the requirements to play along with this 3-2-1 Recipe:

Inky Pinkies Challenge #195

Servings - Unlimited Portions of Fun

Ingredients:

AT LEAST

    3 Colors of your choice

Pink, yellow, and aqua, with gray and white, were chosen.

    2 Images - Must be hand-stamped 

One floral and one leaf image were stamped and adhered to the card front. The inside was stamped with a coordinating bundle of flowers.

 

    1 Sentiment 

One sentiment has been added.

THING 3:  Twisted Sister 

says, "How about shine, shimmer or metallics? My optional twist is to include foil, splatter, metallic ink or metallic embossing powder.

The card was decorated with gems for a bit of sparkle.

THING 2: Double Dare

says, "The TSOT #674 sketch is below if you wish to participate. Their challenge opens on Tuesday, July 8, so be cautious not to unintentionally publish your card before that date. 

This sketch was not used for my card.

Every time I create a card, I reduce my paper stash, but it isn't getting any smaller. There is still enough paper in my card room to last a very long time!

Choosing three patterned papers from a 6 x 6 pad gave me the three required colors. I chose pink, yellow, and aqua. I also added gray and white. An old sketch provided the design layout.

The process is self-explanatory, especially if you're a card maker; however, here is information about the circles. The two circles were created by using two sets of nesting dies. Ages ago, I purchased a set of double-stitched circle dies. I discovered that they only pierced the stitches into the paper, but did not cut any circular shapes, which were known as 'Just Stitching' dies. I paired them with nesting dies to create the circles for this card.

You are invited to join Double Trouble Challenge #195. There is nothing complex about the requirements or options, and you could win a great prize in our random drawings. Please add a comment if you choose. It makes my heart happy!

Thank you for taking a look.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Peaceful Petals"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Basic Gray

Patterned paper: Ink 'n Splatter "Summer Breeze"

Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (circles), Lawn Fawn #2066 "Just Stitching Double Circles"

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1 mm); Honey Bee Gems

Thinking of You (CD 658)

This was an interesting color challenge! Check out Color Dare Challenge #658. The color board is below. 

I selected the colors pink and green to go with two shades of gray. My neutral choice was white. I don't usually make square cards, even with square dies, but the symmetrical design worked out well. The front was matted with white and then adhered to a light gray card base. The sentiment was die-cut three times and stacked before being added. The inside was decorated with scraps from the card front.

The Design Team invites you to visit the Color Dare #658 Blog for guidelines and to view their lovely cards. This biweekly challenge ends on Thursday, July 10, 2025.

Thanks!

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate, Petal Pink & Just Jade

Dies: A Pocket Full of Happiness "Swirl Background" & Sizzix "Thinking of You" #661578

Lovely (TSOT #673)

Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge #673 is open! This biweekly challenge will run through Sunday, July 6, 2025. Although a fun fold is not required, this design lends itself well to a gatefold card. In fact, you could use this sketch as inspiration for Double Trouble Challenge #194, so check out their guidelines and play along.

I kept the making of my card quite simple. Into a white card base, I added a full panel of foiled gold cardstock as a mat, then added the two strips of foiled specialty paper I found in my stash. 

The gold flowers, acquired from 'who-knows-where', were adhered staggered down the front of the card. Five gems were added - three in the flower centers and two randomly placed. The sketch requires a sentiment, so "lovely" was stamped using Stazon ink on a small die-cut gold oval and adhered with foam tape.

The inside of the card was decorated with the same papers used on the card front, along with a companion sentiment, "Thank you for your kindness."

Thank you for taking a look.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Pink Fresh Studio "Just a Little Lovely" 

Ink: Stazon Jet Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White and Foiled Gold

Paper: Stampin' Up! Specialty Foil (name unknown)

Die: Hero Arts Infinity (ovals)

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (2 mm); gems from stash; gold metallic flowers from stash

Celebrate... the best day ever! (DTC #194 )

I love Independence Day in the USA! As Americans, we should remember it's more than just the date, "Fourth of July." Descended from immigrants and raised in a military family, it's pure and simple for me—I love my country and am proud to be an American. We aren't perfect, but we are blessed.

So Thing 1 has given us the following recipe for Double Trouble Challenge #194. This biweekly challenge, "Summer Fun Fold", runs through Sunday, July 6, 2025.

Summer Fun Fold Challenge #194

Servings - Unlimited Portions of Fun

Ingredients:

     3  Red, White + One Other Color

I used blue as my additional color and substituted vintage ivory paper for white. I also used silver holographic paper for the optional twist.

     2  Shapes 

Shapes depicting stars and an oval were used.

     1  Fun Fold

This is "Interlocking Gatefold". The card "locks" when the red oval is inserted into the blue oval frame. This card will stand up for display. 

View while slightly open.

THING 3:  Twisted Sister 

says, "My optional twist is for you to add fireworks, glitter, or sparkle to your project..."

Silver die-cut elements and sparkly rhinestones were added.

THING 2: Double Dare

says, the TSOT #673 sketch is below if you wish to participate. Their challenge opens on Tuesday, June 24, so use caution that you don't unintentionally publish your card before that date. Although the three elements are aligned differently, this sketch inspired me to make an 'interlocking gatefold' card.

The card was decorated inside by lining the blue card base with a white panel and stamping a companion sentiment. Additionally, two cut-aparts were added and a few small stars. 

We also have an Alternate Challenge. Creative Creases "Anything Goes Fun Fold" is a monthly challenge starting on the 1st Friday of each month and ending the Thursday before their next challenge begins. Use the links below according to your post date for your Fun Fold entry:

     June 23 - July 3rd - Click HERE for June Challenge #104 

     July 4th -  July 6th - Click HERE for July Challenge #105 

Please join our challenge at the DTC194 Blog, and check out TSOT673  and Creative Creases 104/105. 

Thank you for looking. I appreciate your comments. Thinking about Independence Day, I have included a personal photo below that I enjoy. 

My Dad's Aircraft (B-52) 

Now celebrate your country's specialness!

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Birthday Blossoms" (sentiments)

Inks: Stampin' Up! Night of Navy

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Real Red & Night of Navy

Patterned Paper: Authentique Collection "Glory"; SBC Holographic

Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (ovals)

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape, gems from stash

Cone Flowers for You (CD #656)

Color Dare Challenge #656 is up on the challenge blog, and I loved the color trio. It hinted at the autumn season but I did not go in that direction. I have been sorting some items in my card room and wondering, "How many floral stamps and dies does one card maker need?" 

When I rediscovered this Cone Flower die set, I decided to use it. I used the closest color matches from my stash. My photography never portrays the colors well. I have been working on reducing the paper volume and was glad I had the cardstock. In addition, I added black and white, which are "free" to add. Here is the color board:

After die-cutting the elements, I added the white petals to the pink so they would stand out against the black background. I also intended to add texture by embossing the black panel but forgot about it until my card was fully assembled. The butterfly was adhered, then the sentiment was stamped and added with foam tape. 

A few "peachy" colored pearls were added to coordinate with the flower centers. The inside was lined with a white cardstock panel and decorated with another cone flower and a smaller butterfly.

I invite you to visit the Color Dare #656 Blog and view the fabulous cards on display by the Design Team. This biweekly challenge runs through Thursday, June 26, 2025.

Thank you for visiting.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Altenew "Extra Special" (sentiment)

Ink: Stampin' Up! Pretty Peacock

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black, Pretty Peacock, Melon Mambo & Pumpkin Pie

Dies: UNB "Flutter-by" & "Cone Flower Garden"

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1 mm), Honey Bee Pearl Stickers

Have an Epic Birthday, Dude (TSOT #672)

 

There is a new sketch waiting for you at Try a Sketch on Tuesday #672. This biweekly challenge runs through Sunday, June 22, 2025.

Because the sketch includes a plaid design, it inspired me to create a masculine card. Father's Day is less than a week away, but I really needed a birthday card for my nephew.

      

Following a sketch almost always requires a few tweaks so the card fits my interpretation and preferences. I added the balloon in place of the top panel and included two sentiments on the front.

In my continued quest to reduce my paper stash, I have a folder of Photoplay paper scraps from two different collections that I combined for this project.

I found that this sketch worked perfectly for Double Trouble Challenge #193, so check out their guidelines and play along.

Be sure to stop by the TSOT #672 Blog to view the cards created by the Design Team. This may inspire you to play along! Thanks for looking.

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Hello Honey

Patterned Paper: Photoplay "Birthday Bash" & "Explore" Collections

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1 mm)

You're So Special to All of Us (DTC #193)

Father's Day - USA falls on Sunday, June 15, 2025. I usually use the occasion to show appreciation to one of my brothers, David, who has two sons, Dave and Dan. My nephews are grown adults, but they still enjoy getting together with their dad for a day of fishing. Later, they can guzzle Mountain Dew soda pop while cooking those fish for supper with grits, fried okra, and hushpuppies.

Our biweekly Double Trouble Challenge #193 is a chance to recognize a special guy in your life - father, son, brother, nephew, etc. We encourage you to create a card or project with us and let him know he is appreciated. Your project doesn't have to be for Father's Day... any occasion for your favorite guy is acceptable. 

Here's what I did to stir up some trouble in Double Trouble's Kitchen for Trouble Maker: 

                          

3-2-1- Recipe for "My Guy"  

Ingredients:  

AT LEAST

   3  Layers - Do not count the card base. 

I have five layers - count 'em!

   2  Different patterned papers

There are three different patterns. 

   1  Kraft or color similar to Kraft.

My card base and sentiment are both Kraft-type.

Twisted Sister hopes you will use an element representing how your guy enjoys spending time. Be sure to mention it in your post. See my introduction to read about "My Guy".

Double Dare has a great sketch from our sister challenge, Try a Sketch on Tuesday #672, shown below. I tilted the sketch on its side and used it for my fishing theme. If you use the sketch, you will be awarded an extra chance in our random drawing.

Original sketch:                     Tilted Sketch:

   

Here's a second glimpse of my card:

Join us for card-making and paper-crafting fun at the DTC #193 Blog, where our Design Team has created their own cards for you to see. 

Thank you for visiting, and I hope you'll leave a comment!

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Paper Smooches "Baby Birds" (sentiment)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Baked Brown Sugar (for Kraft), & Cajun Craze

Patterned Paper: CTMH, Stampin' Up!, and Photoplay scraps from my stash

Die: Hero Arts Infinity (circle)

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (2 mm)

Size: A7 (5" x 7")

Hello in Pink and Black (CD #654)

 

There's a fun color challenge awaiting at Color Dare #654. Who doesn't like pink and black together? The real challenge for me was selecting that color of choice. I could have gone with a metallic but they were already free and I wanted something that would add a punch of color. After trying several colors I decided that this bright green worked for me.

Just about every element was die-cut, keeping it simple. The pieces were layered on, and foam tape was used for the stacked sentiment. The inside was decorated with another green dragonfly and a bit of the watercolor pink paper. 

Visit the CD 654 Blog to review the guidelines and the design team's cards. I know you will find inspiration to play along. This biweekly challenge runs through Thursday, June 12, 2025.

Thanks for dropping in.

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: SU Basic White, Basic Black, Parakeet Party

Patterned Paper: Colorbok "Bright Splash"

Dies: PinkFresh Studio "Curvy Foliage", Lawn Fawn "Fancy Scalloped Rectangles", Kokorosa (dragonflies), Spellbinders "Handwritten Sentiments"

Misc: SBC Foam Tape (1 mm)