Feel Better Soon

It's time again for another weekly challenge at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges. This is AHSC #559, closing on Sunday evening, January 14, 2024.

Several weeks ago, a family member, Susan, age 82, fell down the stairs in her home, resulting in a concussion, broken shoulder, and numerous bruises and sprains. She recently returned home from her stay in the hospital and is undergoing a long recovery. A few family members decided to send her cards or call her every few days. My turn to send a card is next week, so this sketch presented the perfect opportunity to make my card for Susan.

From patterned paper, the image was die-cut into an arched window shape, then backed with black cardstock, also die-cut. The background panel was embossed for texture, and then three strips of coordinating patterned paper were adhered. This was added to a vanilla card base. The image was added with thin foam tape. To finish, the pearls were added along with the pink die-cut bow and a sentiment. The inside of the card was decorated with paper scraps and another pink bow.

If you enjoy sketch challenges then AHSC #559 is for you!

Thank you for visiting my blog and I enjoy reading your comments. 

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Sweet Sugarplum, Boho Blue

Patterned Paper: Altenew "Enjoy the Ride" Collection

Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (Nesting Arches), Kokorosa (Bows)

Embossing Folder: Spellbinders "Loops"

Other: Paper Rose preprinted sentiment

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape, Honey Bee (pearls)

Fall Birthday Card

 

This morning I found I had some spare time so decided to spend a while making a card. I went to one of my favorite challenges, the Atlantic Heart Sketch Challenge, a weekly challenge that begins on Monday mornings and ends on Sunday evenings. This is Challenge #548, which is scheduled to close on Sunday, October 29, 2023. Below is the sketch:

Several weeks ago, I cut some patterned paper into strips with a plan to create a card but changed my mind and used a different technique. This morning, I took those strips out of the scrap heap and created my challenge card. I aligned each strip so the patterns were obvious and adhered them to cardstock. I added copper-toned foil strips in between the spaces of the strips. I recently saw someone use these foil strips but found the recommended source to be a bit pricey. I found less expensive ones at Amazon but experienced "Caveat Emptor". The metallic strips didn't adhere as well as I had hoped. All I can say is perhaps I should have paid the greater price!

The sentiment was stamped and added with foam tape. I die-cut two bows, backing the dark one with the white so it would stand out on the page. Foam tape provided additional dimension. Three hexagon-shaped dots were also added. The inside of the card was decorated with a few leftover diagonal strips.

Be sure to visit the AHSC 548 Blog and play along with this challenge.

I appreciate your comments...

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Gina K "Natural Silhouettes" (sentiment)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Scrapbook.com Harvest Collection (rust color)

Patterned Paper: Scrapbook.com Harvest Collection

Dies: Unbranded Bow Collection

Misc.: SU! hexagon dots & CTMH thin foam tape

Size: A2 (5.5" x 4.25")

Field of Wildflowers - Birthday

 

It's always fun to play along at Double Trouble Challenges. Challenge #150 began on Sunday, October 15, 2023, and will close on Sunday evening, October 29, 2023. As usual, our challenge has three "things". For details, be sure to visit our Blog for Challenge #150.

Thing 1, which is required, is to create a project using flowers but patterned paper is NOT permitted on the project. My card is shown above and has no patterned paper. Everything is made from solid color cardstock with stamping, die cutting, and ink blending. I elected to keep the elements simple with little adornment.

Thing 2, which is optional, is to link your project to our partner's challenge. Our partner for this challenge is Crafter's Cafe #302. Be sure to follow their requirements before linking.

Thing 3, also optional, is to add a special twist to your project. The twist is to include at least one garden insect in the project. I added two bees to the front and a bee to the inside by stamping, coloring the bees, fussy-cutting, and then adhering them.

I also decorated the inside of my card with a flower, some leaves, and a sentiment, "May your day be as beautiful as a field of wildflowers."

We look forward to welcoming you to our biweekly challenge and hope you'll play along so you will qualify for chances in our random drawing. Visit our Blog for Challenge #150 to enter your project.

I appreciate your visiting my blog and thank you for your comments.

Blessings...

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Concord & 9th "Delicate Blossoms" (sentiment on front); SSS "Sunflower Garden" (sentiment inside); MFT "We Beelong" (bees)

Inks: Stampin' Up! Orchid Oasis, Blushing Bride, Garden Green

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White (inside of card base), Lemon Lolly, Orchid Oasis, Parakeet Party

Dies: Stampendous "Floral Bouquet"

Misc.: Foam tape & Rhinestones

Size: A2

Fabulous - Yes, You Are!

Card 1 of 2

Card 2 of 2

We hope you'll join us at Double Trouble Challenge #106. This biweekly challenge runs through Sunday evening, April 3, 2022. Our theme is "Less Is More" - as in Clean and Simple. The Design Team has made two samples of each card and mine are both posted above. 

As is our custom, we have three "Things" for you:

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker has decided on Clean and Simple (CAS) projects. Visit our Blog for details about creating CAS cards. You will receive one chance in our random draw for submitting a CAS project.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare is challenging you to link your cards to Use Your Stuff Challenge #444. Linking will give you another chance in our random draw.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister has decided if you wish to earn another chance in the random draw, use one color - no more, no less - on your project. You may, however, use multiple shades of one color.

The Design Team members have each created two sample cards for you to view at the DTC106 Blog. The first card I created for my aunt. My Aunt Millie, who is still sharp as a tack, will be celebrating her 95th birthday by the time this post is published so the card will have already been mailed to her. 

Using a white card base and gray ink, I stamped both a floral image and a sentiment onto the front of the card. I chose pink as my one color and used only one shade of pink. Pink just seemed to be perfect for my sweet aunt. I also stamped a coordinating tiny flower plus a birthday sentiment using gray ink on the inside and added a tiny bit of pink ink to the image. I left sufficient space to write a personal message as well.

The second card is a duplicate of the first except it was stamped in black ink and colored with Copic Alcohol Markers. I added a panel of pink patterned paper to the inside of the front flap because alcohol markers applied on the front panel leave stains when they bleed through the cardstock. This additional step really added a pretty touch to the inside of the card. 

We hope you enjoy our "Less Is More" Challenge. For guidelines be sure to visit the DTC106 Blog and the UYS444 Blog. We look forward to seeing your entries!

Materials

Stamp Set: Altenew "Engraved Flowers"

Card #1 Inks: Stampin' Up! Smoky Slate and Pink Pirouette (retired)

Card #2 Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: SU! Basic White

Card #2 Patterned Paper inside: SU! DSP from stash (small pink floral print)

To My Friend

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #471 is open! This biweekly color challenge runs through Thursday, December 2, 2021. Here is the color board for the challenge:

The image was stamped with black ink and the flowers were colored with Copic markers. I selected bright pink as my color of choice. I added a panel of gray cardstock to a pink card base, followed by a panel of white with a torn edge. The cardstock with the colored image was matted in pink then added with foam tape. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with a flower and leaves, stamped and colored to coordinate with the front of the card. The word "Friend" was stamped and adhered. A few gems were added as well.

We hope you'll join us at Color My Heart Color Dare #471. A new challenge begins every Friday and runs for two weeks so there is always an active challenge.

Materials

Stamp set: Stampin' Up! "Forever Blossoms"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: SU! Basic White, Basic Gray & Strawberry Slush

Punch: SU! (sentiment)

Misc.: SU! Rhinestones & foam tape from stash 

Season of Harvest

Autumn has always been my favorite season. It seems as if we were just creating summer cards yet here we are assembling our materials for the fall. Beginning on Monday, September 20, Double Trouble Challenge #93 will run for two weeks, ending on Sunday evening, October 3, 2021. There are always three "Things" to consider when taking on our challenges:

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker has established that the challenge theme is Anything Goes. We all love that!

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare hopes you'll take a few minutes to link up with any active challenge where we have previously partnered. Check out the DTC challenge blog for a list. I shared my card at The Paper Funday Challenge #33.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister would like you to include a Harvest item in your card design. This can be anything from an apple pie to a scarecrow. I included a patterned paper with fruits and vegetables that are abundant in the fall.

Keeping the layout simple but including extra layers to add dimension, a panel of gingham, cut on the diagonal and matted with vanilla cardstock, was adhered to a green card base. Next, the panel of fall foods was matted with green cardstock and adhered to the card using foam tape. Finally, the sentiment was added, also with foam tape, and a few gold metallic studs. The inside was lined with a panel of vanilla cardstock and decorated with coordinating paper plus a fussy cut eggplant.

For a chance at the random prize, be sure to join our challenge. Additional chances are available if you also participate in the options offered by Things 2 and 3. Visit the DTC93 Blog for guidelines and PFC33 Blog to link your entry.

Materials

Stamp: Carta Bella "Gather Together"

Ink: Stampin' Up! Mossy Meadow

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Mossy Meadow, Tangerine Tango

Paper: Stampin' Up! DSP Farmer's Market Collection (retired)

Misc.: Metallic studs and foam tape

Falling Leaves

It's your option to welcome Autumn at Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #523. This biweekly challenge begins on Tuesday, September 7, and runs through Sunday, September 19, 2021. Our required sketch is below and the optional theme is Falling Leaves. I elected to tilt the sketch as shown.

                       original sketch                       tilted sketch

  

Onto the card base, I added a strip of fall-colored cardstock then a panel of gold patterned paper imprinted with falling leaves and acorns. Any dies I have that depict leaves are large so I decided to "make it work". Dies created the two-layered leaves as well as a few extra bits for the inlay technique. The leaves were added to the card using foam tape for dimension. I elected to omit the squares and let the large leaves stand on their own. A few metallic gold gems were added. The inside was lined with a panel of vanilla cardstock and another die-cut leaf image.

Join us at TSOT 523 for our sketch challenges. A new biweekly challenge begins every Tuesday so there is always an active challenge.

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Peach Parfait, Rich Razzleberry & Hello Honey

DSP: Stampin' Up! "Gilded Autumn" Collection

Dies: RCD (leaves)

Misc,: Metallic gold gems and foam tape from stash

The Flower Garden

Welcome to Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #513. This biweekly challenge began on Tuesday, June 29, and will run through Sunday, July 11, 2021. I enjoyed using this sketch especially with our optional theme of Gardening. 

I measured, cut, and layered the scraps of garden-themed paper that I had in my stash until the sketch design took shape.  The circle was embossed with a Dotted Swiss pattern and the sentiment tag is coordinating ephemera with a bow added. I used both thin and regular thickness of foam tape to vary the height of the elements and add interest then I added a few pink and green sequins to brighten the card. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with more paper.

If you've never visited our Challenge Blog, we hope you will. Take a look at the Design Team projects and then join in a challenge. A new biweekly sketch challenge begins every Tuesday so there is always an active challenge to try.

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Pistachio Pudding

Paper: Carta Bella "Flower Garden"

Die: Whimsy (stitched circles)

Ribbon: Stampin' Up! Grosgrain (Pretty in Pink)

Misc.: Cuttlebug EF (Dotted Swiss); foam tape and sequins from stash

Finding Joy

It's time for another biweekly challenge at Double Trouble #87. We are partnering with Try Stampin' on Tuesday #512, which includes a sketch.

 

Double Trouble has three elements:

1. Thing 1 (required) is using the theme "It's Hip to Be Square". The challenge runs from Monday, June 21, through Sunday evening, July 4, 2021. 

2. Thing 2 (optional) is to link your project to Try Stampin' on Tuesday #512 between Tuesday, June 22, through Sunday, July 4, 2021. If your project is dated no earlier than Monday, June 21, TSOT will accept your post. The sketch for this challenge is below and their option is to use embossing.

3. Thing 3 (optional) is to use dry or heat embossing anywhere in your project. Participation in Things 2 or 3 will give you an additional chance at our random draw prize.

June 21 is the first day of summer so this card represents summer celebrations. After adding panels of cardstock and patterned paper to a card base, I die cut a square and a square frame from glitter paper, added them with foam tape, and then included a die-cut butterfly coated with clear Wink of Stella. The sentiment was heat embossed with black ink and clear embossing powder and a few pearls were added. The inside was decorated with coordinating paper.

We look forward to seeing how you interpreted the sketch in your project and invite you to add your project to both challenges by visiting the DTC87 Blog and the TSOT512 Blog.

Materials

Stamp Set: Technique Tuesday "Inspired Dragonfly" 

Ink: Staz-on Jet Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Mint Macaron & Barely Banana (retired)

Paper: Stampin' Up! "Hand Penned"; WRMK Glitter (green and purple)

Dies: Rubbernecker (stitched squares), Gina Marie (fancy rectangles), RCD (Dancing Butterfly), Jillian Vance (Stitched Sentiment)

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Embossing Powder (clear), Wink of Stella (clear), pearls & foam tape from stash

Find Joy in the Ordinary

My card was made for the weekly sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges. These sketches are always a great source of inspiration. A week or two ago, I made a card for a color challenge and liked what I created on the inside of the card so when I saw this sketch, I decided to use the same products and colors to create this card. (Click HERE if you are interested in viewing the other card.)

The Atlantic Hearts Challenge began on Monday, May 24, and will end on Sunday evening, May 30, 2021. Here is their sketch:

Onto a card base, I added a white die-cut rectangle with scallops that was stamped with some tiny butterflies in yellow and pink. Using dies, I cut the flowers and leaves, which were arranged onto the card front, some with foam tape and some without. The stamped sentiment was added with foam tape. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with additional flowers and leaves.

You can join the challenge by visiting the AHSC422 Blog.

Materials

Stamps: Technique Tuesday "Inspired Dragonfly" (sentiment) & Sunny Studio "Spring Showers" (butterfly)

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & DOx Scattered Straw and Victorian Velvet

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Cajun Craze, Barely Banana, Blushing Bride, Mossy Meadow, Pistachio Pudding

Dies: Sizzix Thinlits #665078 (flowers, leaves), The Frantic Stamper (additional leaves) & RCD (scalloped rectangles)

Misc.: Foam tape

Life Is Better in Flip Flops

Update on 05/26/2021: Top Three Winner at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #421. 

I grew up at the beach. From the time I could walk I have loved the sea. I have been fortunate to have lived near the sea much of my life. It's no wonder I have been wanting to create a beachy card for a while so using the weekly sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #421 provided the opportunity.

I assembled the card using patterned paper on a Kraft card base without regard to directional patterns because I wanted the card to look casual and weathered. I stamped the flip flops, starfish, and shell, colored them with markers and fussy cut them. I hand drew the sand dollar because I don't have a stamp or die of one, sponging on a little ink for color. I matted the sand dollar image with fussy-cut Kraft cardstock and added it to the card with thin foam tape.

Next, I added the flip-flops using thin foam tape onto the sand dollar and then the starfish directly to the paper. The sentiment was stamped and die-cut then added with regular size foam tape. The tiny shell was added and a few clear droplets were adhered, in keeping with the sketch. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with stamped flip flops and coordinating paper.

The challenge at AHSC421 will end on Sunday evening, May 23, 2021, so there is still sufficient time to add your project.

Materials
Stamps: Stampendous "Ocean Frames"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Alcohol Markers, DOx Picked Raspberry, Tea Dye & Pumice Stone
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Baked Brown Sugar
Paper: CTMH "Seaside" Collection
Dies: Whimsy "Wavy Frames" 
Misc.: Clear droplets & foam tape (thin & regular) from stash

Sending Flowers Your Way

Who doesn't love pretty papers? This sweet paper collection fits the color challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare #445 perfectly. This biweekly challenge is called "Crazy 8", which means there are eight blocks - seven with color and one for embellishments. You pick any four blocks and create your project around those elements. You may add additional elements as long as they appear on the chart. If it's not on the chart then don't add it! This challenge runs through Thursday, June 3, 2021.  

I started with Paprika, Canary, Mink, and Blue Belle but added Flamingo and New England Ivy as I went along. I used white as my neutral. (Black and white are free to use.) I also had a set of dies that I wanted to use so that dictated the floral theme. All of the flowers and leaves were die-cut and the butterfly was from a punch.

 

I made the blue envelope then began adding the flowers and leaves somewhat randomly. Some of the flowers were popped up with foam tape while others were added directly to the card base. Once everything was stacked and glued, I added the tiny blue gems. The inside of the card was lined with a die-cut scalloped rectangle from white cardstock then decorated with additional flowers and leaves. The sentiment will be added when I am ready to use the card.

Check out our biweekly challenges at the Color My Heart Color Dare Blog. A new biweekly challenge begins each Friday morning so there is always an active challenge.

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Cajun Craze (Paprika), Barely Banana (Canary), Blushing Bride (Flamingo) & Mossy Meadow (New England Ivy)

Paper: CTMH "Hillside Cottage" (Mink & Blue Belle)

Dies: Sizzix Thinlits #665078 (flowers, leaves), The Frantic Stamper (additional leaves) & RCD (scalloped rectangle)

Punch: Stampin' Up! "Bitty Butterfly"

Misc.: Blue gems and foam tape from stash

Flowers, Always, and Always

One of my favorite artists, Claude Monet (1840 - 1926), is often quoted as having said, "I must have flowers, always, and always." His work certainly conveys that message. Most of us don't give flowers a second thought but they truly add so much to our world. I think that is why we enjoy creating with them. Here in the Sonoran Desert of Arizona, many of the cacti are in bloom and the desert is alive with signs of spring so I am using flowers to celebrate with a birthday card for a friend.

My card was inspired by two specific challenges. The first is Double Trouble #82, running from Monday, April 19, through Sunday evening, May 2, 2021. There are always three "Things" to this challenge. And participating in each Thing gives you additional chances toward winning the random prize.

1. Thing 1 (required) is to include flowers in your project. This is a perfect challenge to create something special for Mother's Day or another special occasion. I chose to create a birthday card.

2. Thing 2 (optional) is to link your card to "Make the Cards #13". This is a fun card challenge with a twist so you may wish to review their guidelines before you create. This challenge begins on Monday, April 19, and ends on Saturday, May 1, 2021, at 7:00 pm, Eastern Daylight Time.

3. Thing 3 (optional) is our fun twist. In this case we are presenting a "Candy-Coated" color board below designed by "Make the Cards". 

I decided to go with a Slimline design. Onto a white card base, I added a panel of bright aqua cardstock, followed by a die-cut stitched scalloped panel cut from Kraft. The flourishes, flowers, and sentiment were all die-cut from white cardstock and then colored with Copic markers. I used the two red-violet colors for the flowers and the two blue-green colors for the flourishes. I purposely gave the flourishes a worn look hoping it would resemble verdigris.  To break up the color a bit, I kept the sentiment white. 

The elements were added to the card base. A few flowers were added directly to the card, a few were added with thin foam tape and a few with regular foam tape to achieve varying heights. To finish, white pearls were added. The inside was decorated with a flower and flourish. With the naked eye, my colors are a good match to the Color Board but my photography seemed to affect the colors. After the photos were taken, I added Wink of Stella to the flowers. I have found it does not photograph well so waited to add it.

We hope you'll join us at the DTC82 Blog and also at the MTC13 Blog for these challenges. You could win that random prize!

Materials

Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Baked Brown Sugar & Tempting Turquoise

Dies: Spellbinders (flowers & sentiment), MFT (flourish)

Misc.: Pearls and foam tape from stash