Spring Delights (CD #692)

There are some great colors to use over at Color Dare Challenge #692! This biweekly challenge ends on Thursday, March 5, 2026. The color board is below, and you must use at least two of the three colors shown. No additional colors may be added unless they are neutral or metallic. I used all three colors, plus white and metallic gold.

In my continuing quest to reduce the amount of paper in my stash, I used four different prints and one sentiment from an ephemera collection, and layered the matted shapes into a comfortable layout on a card base. The inside of the card was lined with a white cardstock panel and decorated with floral paper scraps matching the card front. A few gold gems were added to match the sentiment and for a bit of sparkle.

The Design Team at Color Dare invites you to join in the fun. If you visit their Blog, you will see a lovely array of sample cards and the guidelines.

Thank you for stopping by to view my card. Your comments are welcome.

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: SU Basic White and Basic Gray

Patterned Paper: Digi Doodle Studios Ink 'n Splatter "Honey Bee Sweet Collection"; SBC "Joyful" (free gift) and SBC scraps from stash

Die: Kat Scrappiness (oval)

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1mm and 2mm) & Honey Bee Gem Stickers

Size: A2

Hey Good Lookin' (TSOT #689)

Welcome to my blog. This is Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge #689, a biweekly sketch challenge that runs through Sunday, March 1, 2026, at noon ET.

Below is the sketch:

The card creation is self-explanatory. The balloons are die-cut from gold holographic paper. The inside of the card was lined with a white cardstock panel, then decorated with a trio of balloons like the one on the card front.  A stamped birthday sentiment was also added to the inside.

The TSOT Design Team has created an array of lovely cards, each with its own interpretation of the sketch. Visit the TSOT 689 Blog to view the cards and guidelines.

Double Trouble Challenge #210 is also open. If you use the TSOT sketch above and enter your work at Double Trouble, you will earn a chance in their random drawing. Just be sure to read their guidelines before creating your card.

Thank you for stopping by.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: SU 

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (inner sentiment)

Cardstock: SU Basic White & Garden Green

Patterned Paper: SBC (several collections, including Holographic) and the cut-apart outer sentiment

Die: Paper Rose "Balloon Trio"

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1mm and 2mm)

Treat Yourself (DTC #210)

Welcome! A new challenge is open at Double Trouble Challenge. 

Challenge #210 is a biweekly challenge ending on Sunday, March 8, 2026. Double Trouble always uses a theme requiring the 3-2-1 Recipe, and there is a random drawing for participants. There are also options in order to qualify for additional chances in the drawing. 

Trouble Maker is crazy about tortilla chips and guacamole, so she is paying tribute to her favorite snack by celebrating National Tortilla Chip Day on Tuesday, February 24, 2026.  I am a fan of cold treats, so below is how I took on the required elements.

Thing 1's 3-2-1 Recipe - "Scrapper's Guacamole"

INCLUDE AT LEAST 

3 Colors from Color Wheel #1

A variety of colors are included within the patterned paper. (Shades of pink, green, yellow, blue, and more.)

2 Patterned Papers

Four patterned papers were included to complete the design.

1 Dry or Heat Embossed Element

The layer of patterned papers adhered to the green cardstock mat were dry-embossed with an Arabesque design.

OPTIONS

Twisted Sister wants to see your favorite snack on your project.

Ice cream or fruity popsicles are my favorite treats. One of the patterned papers depicts cold treats.

Double Dare is offering a sketch from Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge #689, shown below. This biweekly challenge runs from Tuesday, February 17, through Sunday, March 1, 2026, at noon (ET).

The sketch was perfectly suited for this challenge. You will be eligible for yet another chance in the random drawing if you also use this sketch for the Double Trouble Challenge.  

The Design Team is eager to see your creations, so visit the Double Trouble Blog and take in the inspirational card samples by our Design Team.

Thank you for looking!

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: SU Basic White & Green, 

Patterned Paper and sentiment ephemera: SBC (scraps from my stash)

Dies: Spellbinders (hexagons)

Embossing Folder:  Stampin' Up! (Arabesque design)

Misc.:  SBC Foam Tape (2 mm)

The Perfect Day! (CD #690)

Feb 8, 2026 Update: This card was selected as a Weekly Favorite at Splitcoast Stampers.

The weather has been so rainy and cold, with a mix of ice, sleet, and snow, that I was pleased to see the cheerful color board for Color Dare #690. This biweekly challenge runs through Thursday, February 19, 2026, and requires that you use at least three of the four colors. Other than neutrals and metallics, no other colors may be added. I selected all four colors, then added white cardstock and black ink as neutrals.

Using a mask with an oval shape cut from a die, the inside of the oval was brushed with the four colors directly onto a white cardstock panel. It's always interesting to see how blended colors create new ones. The pink and yellow look a little peachy, and the pink and blue have presented a hint of purple.

Next, green die-cut leaf images, touched up with Copics, were adhered across the oval, followed by three flowers that were colored with Copics. The sentiment was added, the front panel edges were lightly brushed with blue ink, and the piece was mounted on a white card base. The inside of the card was decorated to coordinate with the card front. 

The Design Team invites you to view their card display. We hope you'll join us at Color Dare #690.

Thank you,

Melanie

Materials

Ink: SU Daffodil Delight, Flirty Flamingo, Bashful Blue, & Pistachio Pudding

Cardstock: SU Basic White & Pistachio Pudding

Patterned Paper: Doodlebug "Hello Again" (sentiment)

Dies: Kat Scrappiness (Oval), Creative Expressions "Mosaic Leaves"

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1 mm & 2 mm)

Make a Wish Birthday Card - CAS (DTC #209)

Greetings! A new challenge is up on the Double Trouble Blog.

Double Trouble Challenge #209 features Trouble Maker giving kudos to the US Postal Service in observance of National Postal Carrier Day on Wednesday, February 4th, by creating clean and simple cards. 

Her 3-2-1 Recipe is ready for your projects, and she is eager to see how you use your ingredients.

Thing 1's 3-2-1 Recipe - "The Mail Must Go On"

AT LEAST 

3 Layers (may include card base)

Three layers of cardstock and a layer of images were used.

2  Images

Two floral die-cut silhouettes were added. (A small heart was also included at the request of our Crazy Cousins, Sabra & Holly.)

1  CAS Technique

The Clean & Simple Technique was used.

OPTIONS

Twisted Sister is looking for the one-color twist on your project.

One cardstock color with matching ink was selected.

Double Dare is offering a sketch from Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge #688, shown below. This biweekly challenge runs from Tuesday, February 3, through Sunday, February 15, 2026, at noon (ET).

I did not use the sketch for this challenge, but if you do, you will be eligible for yet another chance in the drawing.  

In creating this card, I stuck very closely to the rules for CAS cards. We often forget that the "white space" for this technique does not refer specifically to the color white, but rather to the "blank space" remaining clean and simple.

The inside of the card was lined with a white cardstock panel, decorated with another die-cut floral silhouette and hearts.

The Design Team at Double Trouble has an array of cards to inspire your creativity, so stop by, take a look, and join the challenge. You could win a prize in the random drawing.

Thank you,

Melanie

Materials

Ink: SU Soft Sky

Cardstock: SU Basic White & Soft Sky

Dies: Kokorosa (Floral Trio) & Creative Expressions Mini #CEDME104 (sentiment), Kat Scrappiness (Ovals)

Punch: SU Border Hearts

Size: A2