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)

A Day All About You (AHSC #630)

 

The weekly AHSC Challenge is almost finished. Nearly every week, I think about creating a card, but time gets away from me, and nothing gets made. This has long been a personal favorite sketch challenge for me. This is Challenge #630, and the sketch is below.

It's a versatile sketch with many possibilities, but in the interest of time, I stuck close to the graphic, not stepping outside the parameters. 

The stamped elements were colored with alcohol markers and fussy cut. The scalloped panel was die-cut and adhered to the pink panel. A small frame was hand-cut, backed with vellum, and adhered with thin foam tape to the floral die-cut panel. Two of the fussy-cut flowers were stacked and adhered along with the leaves. The sentiment was stamped and adhered to the card front, and pale green gems were added for interest.

The completed panel was adhered to a white card base. The inside was decorated with one of the flowers and the leaves. I was going for a light-hearted mood, and I am sure I accomplished that.

I submitted my card to the Triple B Challenge.

I have also submitted my card to Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #29, which is open until Thursday, June 12, 2025.

Be sure to stop by the AHSC #630 Blog to view the cards by the Design Team. A new sketch challenge begins on Monday, May 26, 2025. Thank you for viewing my card. I appreciate your comments. 

Melanie

Materials

Stamp Set: Stampin' Up! "Birthday Blossoms"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Melon Mambo, Vellum

Patterned Paper: Echo Park "Life Is Beautiful"

Die: Lawn Fawn "Fancy Scalloped Rectangles"

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

All Occasion Card (CD653)

 

Attention card makers and paper crafters! Color Dare Challenge #653 is up on the blog. This biweekly challenge runs through Thursday, June 5, 2025. Here is the color board:

My color selections include three different shades from the purple family, plus a soft mint green print. I also used white and black cardstock. With only two required colors, I kept the card simple.

First, I die-cut two rectangles from patterned paper and two branches with filigree leaves in black cardstock and the mint patterned paper, stacking and adhering them to the purple shaded paper. The mint rectangle was adhered directly to the black panel, followed by the purple panel using foam tape for dimension. The silver metallic gem stickers were adhered. The finished panel was adhered to a white card base. The inside was decorated with a few mint die-cut sprigs. I elected not to add a sentiment at this time.

Look at the Design Team's cards and join the Color Dare Challenge #653. Thank you for stopping by to view my card. I appreciate your comments.

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Basic Black

Patterned Paper: my scrap stash

Die: Creative Expressions "Mosaic Leaves" by Sue Wilson

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Metallic Gem Stickers (silver); SBC Foam Tape (1 mm)

 

Make Today a Great Day (TSOT #670)

There is a new biweekly sketch up on the Try a Sketch on Tuesday Blog. This is Sketch #670 and runs through Sunday, May 25, 2025.

Time to craft has been scarce lately. We all know how surprises can pop up when we least expect them. I encountered that while trying to complete several cards this week. So I created a card using a shortcut for the floral edge. I used a fun fold design that is often referred to as the "Simplest Fun Fold Ever." 

After decorating the card base with patterned paper, two strips of silver holographic paper matted with cardstock were added, keeping with the sketch. The sentiment was added with foam tape, and a few silver gem stickers were adhered randomly. A small panel of white cardstock was placed inside the card so that a message could be included. 

The Design Team has posted some great cards on the TSOT670 Blog, so be sure to visit. We hope you'll play along as well. And... there is a special prize available, so check out the guidelines for a special event at Double Trouble's Seventh Anniversary Celebration Challenge.

DTC Challenge #191 Seventh Anniversary

1. Anniversary or Wedding

2. Father's Day or Masculine  

3. Birthday or Baby  

4. Graduation   

and

The optional twist: Use Kraft-type paper.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Stampendous "Floral Blooms" SSC1423 (sentiment)

Ink: Stampin' Up! Blackberry Bliss

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Blackberry Bliss

Patterned Paper: Ink 'n Splatter "Journey", SBC Holographic (silver)

Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (ovals)

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Metallic Gems (silver)

Set Sail for Adventure - Masculine (DTC #191's Seventh Anniversary)

Welcome! In my little corner of the crafting world, celebrating the seventh anniversary of a card challenge seems almost colossal. But here it is!

Double Trouble Papercrafting is celebrating seven years of card challenges. Biweekly Challenge #191 runs through Sunday, May 25, 2025, and we have prizes!

The anniversary party starts with a raffle format. You have four choices for your project and may participate in any or all of them. I chose to create a masculine card. Be sure to visit the DTC Blog #191 for participation guidelines.

An optional twist to use Kraft-type paper in any category is also available. My card base is Kraft-style cardstock, although it is not visible in my photo.

Another option is to use the sketch at Try a Sketch on Tuesday #670 beginning Tuesday, May 13. It may inspire you.

I adhered patterned paper to a Kraft-style cardstock base to create my card. The patterned edge was stamped, colored, fussy cut, and adhered to the card front. The two woodgrain

strips were cut freehand to give them a more imperfect, worn look and smudged with various ink colors. 

The sailboat was stamped and colored, then stacked on five layers of die-cut circles to provide dimension. A few bird images were added. After some stamp surgery, only "Set Sail" was stamped and fussy cut, then added with foam tape. The sentiment on the inside says, "Set sail for a Fabulous Birthday Adventure," and was decorated with cardstock bits.

So there you have it. We welcome you to try the challenges, so visit the DTC Blog and view the cards created by the Design Team. Thank you for stopping by my blog. 

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Stampendous "Nautical Anchor" SSC1261

Inks: Stampin' Up! Basic Gray, Baked Brown Sugar, Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Baked Brown Sugar, Pale Papaya

Patterned Paper: Ink 'n Splatter "Summer Breeze" & Paper Rose "Rainbow Wood"

Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (circles)

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape

Seas the Day (Masculine) (CD #651)

Welcome to Color Dare Challenge #651. Below is the color board. I created a card using the required color, plus blue as my color of choice. I added white and metallic (silver) as well.

 

This card was fun and easy to create. I decided to search my paper stash for something related to water. The cardstock panel and patterned paper panel, including the holographic silver panel, were each added to the white card base. Several layers of green and blue die-cut circles were stacked together for the base of the holographic silver circle trio and adhered to the white card front. The panel was purposely offset on the white base to add some interest. The blue smudge was not intentional.

The sentiment was stamped in blue ink directly onto the green negative scrap from the die and added back into the die-cut aperture with foam tape. The inside was decorated with some patterned paper and small silver circles. Another sentiment, "Hello Summer," was also included in blue ink. Although this card took on a masculine vibe, I decided to add the rhinestones because they depict sparkle reflecting off the water. Leaving sufficient space for a personal note, I plan to give the card to my nephew. 

The Design Team invites you to visit the CD651 Blog and join the challenge. Thank you for looking.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Stamps of Life "Sandcastle 2" (both sentiments)

Ink: Stampin' Up! Blueberry Bushel

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Coastal Cabana, Blueberry Bushel 

Patterned Paper: Ink 'n Splatter "Summer Breeze" and SBC Holographic Mirror (silver) 

Dies: Paper Smooches "Ring Trio"

Misc.: Honey Bee Gem Stickers & SBC Foam Tape