It's Time to Seal-ebrate! (CD #700)

My niece's delightful husband, Kyle, has a birthday this month, and I made this for him using the Color Dare Challenge #700 color board for inspiration. This is a biweekly challenge that began on Friday, April 17, and ends on Thursday, April 30, 2026. 

I decided to use three of the required colors: navy blue, bright green, and teal. Quite possibly, the fourth color, a light grayish-green, is hidden in the patterned paper design. I used "free" colors - beige on the ephemera and a panel of white cardstock so the sender (that's me) can find a spot to write a message. Here is the color board:

Another view:

I enjoy making "Z-folds", so that's what I used for Kyle's card. And I know he enjoys the beaches in Florida, so I was looking for beachy items.

I mixed patterned paper and cardstock from several sources, including my scrap stash. I also had a few "beachy" items of ephemera that coordinate with the shell-patterned paper. The front reads, "It's time to Seal-ebrate," and the inside sentiment features a few shells in a bottle and reads "happy birthday." The aforementioned white cardstock panel is on the back of the card. By the way, there are no seals or sea lions in Florida except at the theme parks.

Be sure to review the challenge guidelines HERE. Thank you for visiting my blog.

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: SU Basic White, Night of Navy; Club Scrap (green linen texture)

Patterned Paper: Club Scrap "Beachcomber" and scraps from my stash

Ephemera: Club Scrap "Beachcomber" 

Size: A2

Good Fortune and Prosperity (DTC #214)

Welcome to Stitches and Smudges. I am inviting you to join our latest biweekly challenge at Double Trouble. This is Challenge #214, which runs through Sunday, April 26, 2026. The only requirement is to use the 3-2-1 Recipe for your project. The remaining elements are optional - and you could win a prize in our random drawing. 

I was off to a slow start in creating my card. I went to my scraps and pulled out papers that I thought would offer inspiration - pretty colors, whimsical gold rainbows in a pink sky, brushed gold metallic cardstock, and so on. I was still feeling no motivation to continue. 

As I was deciding on an image, the dragonfly die drew my attention. Dragonflies have been around for more than 250 million years and have come to exemplify spiritual awakening and enlightenment, as well as good fortune and prosperity. They are also seen as protectors, indicating that something positive is on the way. So this dragonfly image inspired me to continue with the card.

Following is a summary of the 3-2-1 Recipe and how I incorporated the elements into my card.

INCLUDE AT LEAST 

3  "Specialty" or patterned papers

There are three patterned papers plus one "specialty" paper.

2  Colors from the designated Color Wheel

There are more than two colors on the card.

 

1  Image

The die-cut metallic dragonfly is the focal image.

OPTIONS

Twisted Sister wants to see something that flies aloft.

The dragonfly fulfills that option.

Double Dare is offering a sketch from Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge #693, shown below. This biweekly challenge runs from Tuesday, March 14, through Sunday, March 26, 2026, at noon (ET). You will be eligible for yet another chance in the random drawing if you use this sketch for the Double Trouble Challenge.

The sketch was used.

Thank you for visiting my blog, and I hope to see your entry at the Double Trouble Card Challenge #214.  

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: SU Basic White & Crisp Cantaloupe

Specialty Paper: SU Brushed Metallic Gold

Patterned Paper: Ella & Viv Paper Co. "Paradise 1"; SBC scrap stash (clouds/rainbows), & SBC Pinstripes

Die: Kokorosa (Dragonfly)

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (1 mm); SU Metallic Pearls (gold)

Techniques: Layering and Die-cutting

Size: A6  (4.75" x 6.5")

Just 4 You (CD #698)

Greetings! It's time to visit Color Dare Challenge #698 and play along! The color board below requires three shades of pink, plus one color of the maker's choice. I chose shades of green from the paper collection - as you can see in the photo, there are two shades of green. This is a biweekly challenge, and you have until Thursday, April 16, 2026, to share your project with us.

The metallic layer is gold with accents of pink. That is how the paper is made, and, like most metallic surfaces, the result is peculiar when photographed.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Your comments are appreciated.

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: SU Basic White & Pretty in Pink

Patterned Paper: SU Specialty (gold metallic dry brushed with pink); Digi Doodle Studios Ink 'n Splatter "Summer Breeze"; Doodlebug "Hello Again" Collection

Ephemera & Sentiment: Doodlebug "Hello Again" collection

Misc.: SBC Foam Tape (2mm); gold cording