Thinking of You... So Very Much! (CD #597)

It's time again for Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #597. This biweekly challenge ends on Thursday evening, May 2, 2024. Over time I have learned to enjoy color challenges although I found them daunting in the early days of my card-making. Below is the color board. The colors remind me of my emerging tulip garden. The challenge requires using at least three of the colors shown and there is also a selection of free options. I used all four colors plus black and white.

I have recently been thinking about creating Clean and Simple (CAS) cards more often, so this card attempts to accomplish a CAS design. The important element seems to be keeping a significant amount of "white space". The space does not actually mean the color white. In graphic art, white space refers to blank space, not color. I could not resist adding a bit of bling so my card may be just outside the realm of a true CAS design.

After die-cutting the leaf image, it was colored by blending three colors, Ballerina, Sundance, and Limeade. The leaf was adhered to a white card base. The sentiment was stamped. I selected this for the simple, small font. The color, Rosy, was introduced by adding gems. The inside of the card was decorated with a coordinating stamp of the leaves in green ink, leaving sufficient space for a personal message.

I plan to mail this card to my Aunt Mildred. She is 98 years old and recently broke her leg. I have already sent her a few cards but I know she will enjoy receiving another while she is rehabilitating. 

Please visit the Color Dare Blog #597 and enjoy our color challenge. Thank you for stopping by.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Altenew "Leaf Canopy" (sentiment and leaves inside of card)

Inks: Stampin' Up! Parakeet Party (for Limeade), Blushing Bride (for Ballerina), Crushed Curry (for Sundance); Memento Tuxedo Black (sentiment)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White

Die: Altenew "Leaf Canopy"

Misc.: Honey Bee Gem Stickers

Thinking of You (CD 595)

 

It's time to create Challenge 595 at Color My Heart Color Dare Challenges. The color board below is a Fancy Five Challenge meaning you have five colors from which to choose. You may use three, four, or five colors from the board. I selected Peach, Flamingo, Glacier, and Sage, including black and gray. This challenge is biweekly and runs through Thursday evening, April 18, 2024.

I used a stamped image - a freebie from Honey Bee Designs, to create my card. After coloring it with Copic alcohol markers, it was fussy cut and adhered to a black and gray patterned paper panel. This was matted asymmetrically with Glacier-colored cardstock and adhered to a card base in a peachy hue. The sentiment banner provided with the image was adhered with thin foam tape and a few pearls were added. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with patterned paper. 

We look forward to seeing your project in our challenge, so visit the Color Dare Blog and play along!

A few days after creating this card, I received word that my 98-year-old Aunt Mildred had fallen and broken her leg so I mailed the card to her with a personal message included. 

Thank you for stopping by.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Honey Bee Designs (freebie image & sentiment)

Ink: Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Pool Party (sub for Glacier), Crisp Cantaloupe (sub for Peach)

Patterned Paper: Paper Rose "Katie's Tea Party"

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape, Honey Bee pearl stickers

The Tea Party (TSOT 644)

 

A warm hello to you! Thanks for stopping by. Challenge #644 for Try a Sketch on Tuesday is up on the blog and ready for you to post your project. Below is the sketch for this challenge, which will close on Sunday, April 14, 2024.

In my continuing effort to use items from my stash, I selected a few coordinating patterned papers along with bits of matching ephemera. I followed the sketch and finished off the front with a sentiment heat embossed in silver and a few silver pearls. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with ephemera matching that on the card front. 

Please join us at the TSOT 644 Blog to see their lovely projects, and share your creation.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Altenew "Elegant Sayings"

Ink: Versamark

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Mint Macaron & Basic Gray

Paper & Ephemera: Paper Rose "Katie's Tea Party"

Die: Hero Arts Infinity (circles)

Embossing Powder: Wow! Silver Metallic Super Fine

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape, Honey Bee gem stickers

Thinking of You (TSOT 643)

 

Welcome to my blog! Here is my card for Try a Sketch on Tuesday #643. This semimonthly challenge will end on Sunday afternoon, March 31, 2024.

I have been trying to use items from my stash so I used some leftover ephemera and die-cut elements. I prefer to make handmade items but these were too pretty to waste. I used three die-cut circles, adhering images to them. Due to the size of the images, I elected to make this a Slimline card.
The panels were added to a white card base and green gems were adhered to dress up the card. The inside was decorated with floral ephemera, leaving sufficient space to add a personal message.

I hope you'll play along with the sketch challenge at TSOT 643. Thank you for visiting my blog. 

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Simon Says Stamp "Orchid Rose Bouquet" (sentiment)

Inks: Stampin' Up! Pistachio Pudding & Blackberry Bliss

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Pale Plum, Blackberry Bliss & Pistachio Pudding

Paper & Ephemera: Paper Rose "The Violet Garden"

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape & Honey Bee sticker gems

Thinking of You - Autumn Card

11/05/2023 Update: Weekly Favorite at Splitcoast Stampers!

Thank you for visiting my blog. I used a sketch from the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #549, which began on Monday, October 30, 2023, and is a one-week challenge, closing on Sunday, November 5, 2023. The sketch is below.

In keeping with the sketch, the card design is square. Two layers of cardstock, white and tan, were adhered to the jade-colored card base, followed by patterned paper and a gold foil strip through the center. To create the center image, a die-cut square was backed with orange cardstock. The pumpkins were fussy-cut from patterned paper and adhered. The sentiment was stamped on white and backed with patterned paper. 

The focal image and the sentiment were popped up using foam tape over the center gold strip. Instead of using a tied string element across the top of the center square, I decided to add two banners to the upper left corner, and three gold dots to the sentiment to achieve more balance with my color choices. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with a scrap of the foiled gold and another fussy-cut pumpkin.

To learn more about this sketch challenge, stop by the AHSC 549 Blog for details.

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

Melanie

Materials

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

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Just Jade, Baked Brown Sugar, Pumpkin Pie, Foiled Gold

Patterned Paper: 49th and Market "Art Options - Spice"

Die: Hero Arts Infinity (circles), Kokorosa (Slotted Edge Squares)

Misc.: Metallic dots (gold) & CTMH thin foam tape

Size: Square (5" x 5")

Thanks So Much - Fall Card

It's been a very long time since I have been able to join my teammates on Team A in creating a challenge card at Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenges. I am eager to resume my activity beginning with TSOT Challenge #628. For this challenge, participants have the opportunity to choose one of three options:  1. Use only the sketch, or 2. Use only the inspirational photo, or 3. Combine numbers 1 and 2. For my project, I elected to combine the first and second options.

Original Challenge Photo

My Revised Sketch Photo

I took the liberty of tilting the sketch by 90 degrees to the left as shown in the revised sketch photo. I did not have access to the sketch because my Internet was unavailable so depended on my memory (what a risk!) resulting in a card that is not precisely correct but I think it's close enough.

Onto a white card base, cardstock and various patterned papers were trimmed, layered, and adhered. The sentiment was stamped onto a die-cut circle and popped up with foam tape. The inside of the card was decorated with additional patterned paper.

If you enjoy challenges, please visit our TSOT Blog #628 and join in the fun. Our challenges are biweekly, beginning every Tuesday, so there is always an active challenge underway. This challenge, which began on Tuesday, October 10, 2023, will end on Sunday, October 22, 2023.

I also am submitting my card to I Spy with My Little Eye #8, Shades of Autumn.

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

Blessings...

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: CTMH "Botanical Shadows" (sentiment)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White

Paper: Harvest Collection by Scrapbook.com

Die: Our Daily Bread "Fancy Circles"

Other: CTMH thin foam tape and metallic stick-ons

Card Size: A2

Thanks for Being You (Double-Z Fun Fold)

It's a while yet before we can "officially" say it's spring in the Northern Hemisphere but there's always Hoodie-Hoo Day, which was celebrated on Sunday, February 20 - so we are a day late beginning our Hoodie-Hoo party. We encourage you to play along with us at Double Trouble Challenge #104. 

To start, all you do is step outside, raise your arms in celebration, and call out, "Hoodie-Hoo," as loudly as you are able. This will chase away the winter blahs and help to bring in spring. If you don't believe me, just give it a try!

As is customary, we have three "Things" for our challenge:

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker would like us to acknowledge Hoodie-Hoo Day by creating a project that promotes springtime.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare would like you to link your project to Creative Creases Challenge #26 or #27. Be sure to check out their guidelines but in general, their challenge theme is "Anything Goes" as long as it's a fun fold. There are additional details about these challenges at our DTC104 Blog.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister hopes to see you use a fun fold design with your project. It makes no difference whether it's a simple or complex design as long as it's a fun fold.

To begin, two card bases were required so they were cut in two different sizes from cardstock and scored. I used different colors but one color is fine - the choice is up to you. Six various rectangles were cut from two different paper patterns and adhered to the two card bases. The bird and leaves were stamped, colored, and fussy cut then added to a hand-cut tree branch with foam tape for added dimension. A sentiment was stamped and punched from white cardstock and backed with another punched label in black cardstock. To finish, pale green dots were added.

Side View of Double-Z Fun Fold

My card is a variation based on a Double-Z fold and once the pieces were cut and scored, they went together easily. The finished card size is A2, albeit slightly bulky.

View of Inside -  

the card is laid almost flat

This biweekly challenge ends on Sunday evening, March 6, 2022, so it's time to create your spring fun-fold project. Visit the DTC104 and CCC Blogs for additional information.

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Free As a Bird"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: SU! Basic White, Basic Black, Pale Plum & Perfect Plum (both plum colors are retired)

Paper: SU! "Hand-Penned" DSP

Punches: SU! "Modern Label" & "Word Window"

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape & SU! "Genial Gems"

Celebrate Good Times!

Thank you for visiting my blog. Today's challenge is from Color My Heart Color Dare #483. This biweekly challenge runs through Thursday evening, February 24, 2022. Our challenges always use color but we like to mix it up once in a while. Based on the "Fancy Five" color board below, this challenge requires you to select at least three of the five colors shown. We have used Close to My Heart colors but you may use any brand as long as they are a close match to the board. Once you have selected at least three colors you are free to include black, white, and metallic gold or silver in your design.

I selected Mink, Raspberry, Nectarine, and Carolina (both light and dark) then decided to add Green Apple. For free colors, I used black and silver foiled cardstock. Using a die-set that's been sitting in my stash for a while, the colored shapes were cut. Realizing they were a wash-out against the Mink background, each element was backed with black cardstock and a black frame was added. To finish, the silver stars were die-cut and added with thin foam tape. The finished panel was adhered to a Mink card base and the inside of the card was decorated with coordinating colors and silver stars. I added a die-cut sentiment in black cardstock to the inside (Celebrate) as well.

We encourage you to join our challenges. A new biweekly challenge begins every Friday morning so we always have an active challenge for you to try. Visit our Color Dare Blog for the guidelines.

Materials

Cardstock: CTMH Carolina (both sides) & Mink; Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Peach Parfait (for Nectarine), Strawberry Slush (for Raspberry), Cucumber Crush (for Green Apple) & Silver

Paper: SU! (raspberry pattern from stash) & CTMH "BooCrew" (nectarine check)

Dies: RCD (background) & Whimsy "Primitive Shaker Shapes" (stars) and word (Celebrate)

Misc.: Foam tape from stash

Thankful for You

There's another challenge underway at Double Trouble! This fun Challenge #96 is biweekly and will close on Sunday evening, November 14, 2021.

As usual, we have three "Things":

Thing 1 (required): Troublemaker thinks it's time for a Tall card that includes at least one die-cut, machine-cut or punched shape. 

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare hopes you will link your project and play along with Ellibelle's Crafty November Challenge.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister says she is dancing her way through the alphabet so is asking you to include the letter "T" in your sentiment or card design. You may elect to use an item that begins with the letter "T". I created a Tall card, selected a Thanksgiving Theme, used the word Thankful, and included papers with Tree branches and autumn droppings (acorns and leaves).

The card I made is a Super Slimline Lapel fun fold. It's skinnier than a standard Slimline and it has lapels. The finished card folds to 3" x 8". Click HERE for a tutorial. This is not a difficult fun fold as long as you don't mind precise measuring. I followed the tutorial electing to use two patterned papers although more patterned papers could be used.

Card interior:

The sentiment was stamped on vanilla cardstock and die-cut into an oval then matted with a larger oval. A few gold crystals were added to the sentiment. I placed a slim panel of vanilla for a future sentiment or personal message to be added when I am ready to send the card. In the photo above, you can see the panel. I purposely placed it so the green patterned paper is visible at the top when the card is closed.

I also added my fun fold card to a unique "Anything Goes with a Fun Fold" challenge at Creative Creases # 18.  Be sure to visit the Blog and play along. This challenge is open through Thursday evening, November 11, 2021.

We invite you to view the Design Team's projects and our guidelines at our challenge blogs - DTC96 and Ellibelle's November Challenge.

Materials

Stamp: Carta Bella "Gather Together"

Ink: Stampin' Up! Cajun Craze

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Chocolate Chip & Very Vanilla

Paper: SU! DSP "Gilded Autumn" 

Dies: Jeanine's (Oval Mini-Frames) & Elizabeth Craft (Dashing Rectangles)

Misc.: Gold Crystals

A Garland of Pumpkins

We are enjoying Autumn at Double Trouble Challenges and you're Invited to a Pumpkin Carving Party. This is Challenge #94, a biweekly challenge running through Sunday evening, October 17, 2021. We usually have three "Things" so here they are:

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker wants to see your best shot at creating a Fall card. You will be entered in the Random Drawing for a fabulous prize.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare is hoping you'll link your project with our partner at Use Your Stuff Challenge #432. Doing this will give you an additional chance at winning the Random Draw.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister is inviting you to join her pumpkin carving party by including a pumpkin on your project. This provides another chance at winning our Random Draw. (The pumpkin only needs to be carved with your scissors, a die, a punch, or by machine. Jack O'Lanterns are not required.)

Using a three-piece set of dies, first I cut two layers of cardstock. I colored the vanilla layer using blending brushes for the pumpkins and the red highlights. The top layer was cut from Kraft cardstock and adhered to the colored vanilla layer. Instead of using the third die for the bottom layer, I cut pieces from scraps of cardstock to add more color and interest to my card. Using a vanilla card base, the inside was decorated with a few punched leaves. The sentiment was die-cut and added.

Suggestion: The next time I use these dies, I will probably inlay the pumpkins or raise them with thin foam tape.

We hope to see you at our challenge. There is plenty of inspiration at DTC94 and UYS432 Blogs. So take a look, check out our guidelines, and join the fun!

Materials

Inks: Stampin' Up! Real Red, Highland Heather, Pumpkin Pie, Pool Party & Mango Melody

Cardstock: SU! Very Vanilla, Baked Brown Sugar, Pool Party, Daffodil Delight, Blushing Bride, Night of Navy & Granny Apple Green 

Die: Birch Press (Autumn Breeze Plates) & Reverse Confetti (word)

Punches: SU! (Autumn Punch Pack) 

Thankful for You Autumn Card

It's time for another biweekly challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare #463. This challenge runs through Thursday, October 7, 2021. Inspiration has been provided by the photo below and requires that we use at least three colors from the photo. I was overwhelmingly inspired to create a fall card by using colors of green, gold and red. 

Using some old paper from my stash, I layered two panels of coordinating patterned paper onto a third panel with foam tape for dimension. I selected a green card base and adhered the stack of panels to it. Finally, I added the top panel, which was from the ephemera in the paper packet. All I had to do was stamp the sentiment and the leaf. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with patterned paper. A few enamel dots were added to finish the card.

The Design Team welcomes you to view our challenge by visiting our Challenge Blog. Our challenges are biweekly with a new challenge beginning each Friday so there is always an active challenge.

Materials

Stamps: Carta Bella "Gather Together"

Inks: Stampin' Up! Old Olive & Cajun Craze

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Old Olive

Patterned Paper: CTMH "Grateful Heart" Paper Packet

Misc.: Enamel dots and foam tape

Say Thanks with a Slimline

The Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #436 is still open through Sunday evening, September 5, 2021. This weekly challenge begins every Monday morning with a fresh sketch and runs for one week. This week's challenge sketch suggests a Slimline card.

First, I cut a panel of green cardstock and adhered it to a white card base. Using some striped paper in my stash, I cut a panel on the diagonal and adhered it to the green panel. I die cut some images, adding some of them with foam tape. Then the sentiment was stamped with green ink, die-cut, and also adhered with foam tape. The inside was decorated with a few die-cut images.

I used summery colors because I wanted my card to look fresh. I live in Arizona where it's still like summer. We have at least several more weeks before we notice even a subtle change in season.

Visit the AHSC436 Blog for new sketch challenges.

Materials

Stamp: Sizzix Circle Sentiments #662347

Ink: Stampin' Up! Old Olive

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Old Olive

Paper: Kaiser Craft

Dies: RCD (flowers & leaves) & Sizzix Circles #662347

Misc.: Pink pearls & foam tape from stash

So Tweet Fun Fold

Fun fold cards are... well... fun! I enjoy sending and receiving them so I made a Fold-back Pop-up card. I found tutorials of several examples on YouTube. The planning, cutting, and stamping took a little time but the assembly went quickly.

This card marks the first day of Double Trouble Challenge #92, which runs through Sunday evening, October 3, 2021. As usual, there are three "Things" to consider when playing along with this challenge:

Thing 1 is a required element. Trouble Maker says your project must include a fun fold. This is the only requirement to enter your project. The degree of difficulty for the fun fold is up to you. I like the KISS method - Keep It Simple, Stamper!

Thing 2 is optional. Double Dare will grant you an extra chance at the random draw prize if you link your card to the Creative Creases Challenge #14 so be sure to check out their guidelines.

Thing 3 is also optional. Twisted Sister had a sudden desire to use Play-Doh (maybe it's the scent) so she would like you to use at least one of six Play-Doh colors found in our clip art. At first, I chose orange, then included green but while I was coloring my stamped images, I added yellow and purple and then I ran amok by adding teal and pink. If you give in to Twisted Sister's whim this will earn you an extra chance at our random draw prize. I also added a panel of white cardstock to the back of the green card base for signatures or a personal message. The final touch was adding Glossy Accents to the balloon and the "googly" eyes to the birds. 

Creative Creases Challenge #14 is our partner. Be sure to join Debbie Mageed's challenge by submitting your fun fold project to her blog when you post your project to DTC92.

Materials

Stamps: CTMH "So Tweet"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Just Jade

Paper: CTMH "Mix-In" (floral pattern) & Stampin' Up! scrap (dotted pattern)

Misc.: Ranger Glossy Accents (on the balloon), foam tape, googly eyes from stash

Thankful Gilded Autumn

With a new season just around the corner, I decided to use some Autumn paper left in my stash from last year to take on this sketch challenge from Atlantic Hearts #435.

I added a panel of the patterned paper to a brown card base, followed by a stitched vanilla rectangle, and then by a strip of gold metallic cardstock and another of the cinnamon and gold patterned paper. With foam tape, the die-cut, embossed scalloped circle was added to the card, followed by a vanilla banner topped off with a gold metallic die-cut sentiment. The inside was lined with a panel of vanilla cardstock and decorated with coordinating paper. I resisted the urge to add gems or sequins because there were none indicated in the sketch.

Be sure to join the challenge fun at AHSC #435!

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Mint Macaron, Chocolate Chip & Metallic Gold

DSP: Stampin' Up! "Gilded Autumn"

Dies: RCD (scalloped circle) & Peachy Cheap (word)

Embossing Folder: Stampin' Up!

Misc.: foam tape from stash