Birthday Birdhouses

2/17/2016 Update: Winner in the Top Three at AHSC!








Lots of spring colors going on for the sketch challenge card at Atlantic Hearts #146 this week. I was going to make something else until I viewed a Design Team card that resembled what I was going to do. I followed the old adage, "When life gives us lemons, we make lemonade!" So here's the colorful card I squeezed from the lemons...

 






I made the birdhouses with a ruler, pencil and scissors and then added a black roof to each, decorating them with white ink. Some little circles were punched and adhered for the holes. A panel of white cardstock was dry embossed and sponged. The remaining elements were die cut and all adhered to a white card base. The birdhouses, birds and sentiment panel were popped up on foam for dimension. The inside of the card was decorated with die cut branches and a bird. The leafy branches are only adhered at the stem end.

Visit the AHSC blog and join in the challenge fun!

Techniques: Stamping, sponging, die cutting, punch cutting, fussy cutting, dry embossing
Size: A7 (5" x 7")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

Stamps: Sassy Salutations
Inks: So Saffron, Pool Party; Color Box Fluid Chalk Rose Coral & Wisteria; Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Perfect Plum, So Saffron, Pool Party, Basic Black, White Vellum
DSP: scraps from stash
Dies: Spellbinders "Wonky Rectangles", Simon Says Stamp "Leaf Column Background and Outline"; Memory Box "Nestled Bird"
Punch: 1/2" circle punch
Misc.: Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (retired), Dimensionals, Uniball Signo White Gel Pen

Butterfly and Blooms

2/17/2016 Update: This card was a Ruby winner at the Color Dare Challenge!







After deciding to participate in the Color My Heart: Color Dare #179 challenge, I realized I was missing some necessary elements and there was only one quick way to get them: go shopping in my friend's stash! She often shops through my stash so I knew she could help.

Required CTMH colors are: White Daisy, Black, Sorbet, Whisper, Slate and Champagne or close match.

Clicking on photographs of the card will provide enlarged images.

 

This designer paper is called Charlotte and I describe it as soft and sweet. It contains all the colors required. So with my neighbor's Charlotte paper packet and some of my own items, the card took shape.

A panel of DSP was edge-sponged with ink and adhered to the card base and the card was lined with a panel of white then decorated with two punched butterflies. No sentiment or verse was stamped at this time. The art piece consists a panel of Charlotte stamped with little floral "pinwheels" topped with two more panels of DSP. The black ribbon was added, the die cut images were adhered with foam to add dimension.

The light colored flower was backed with a layer of the gray stripe background paper to give it contrast with the surface. The art piece was backed with foam to lift it from the card base.

Because we crafters like odd numbers and only two flowers were used, a butterfly image was added for the third element. One in black to offer a shadow for the one punched from the champagne. My biggest challenge in making this card was incorporating the Champagne color. All I had was the butterfly, so a stripe was added on the right of the card base and Champagne colored pearls were added to the flowers. Clear
Wink of Stella was applied to the butterfly, the Champagne stripe and the flower centers. Three black gems make up the body of the butterfly. The floral leaves were popped up with Kool-Tac clear foam.

Visit the Color Dare blog for challenge fun!

Techniques: Stamping, sponging, die cutting, punch cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")









Materials:
Stampin' Up!: Smoky Slate, Basic Black & Whisper White cardstock, DSP "Best Year Ever" & "Confetti Celebrations" Collections, Crisp Cantaloupe & Basic Gray inks, Botanical Blooms Stamp & Die Bundle, Dimensionals, Bitty Butterfly punch

Close to My Heart (from friend's stash): DSP "Charlotte" Collection paper packet

Misc. from my stash: Martha Stewart pearls, ribbon, black gems, Wink of Stella (clear), Kool-Tac clear foam

You're So Sweet

For the Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #145 this week, I made a Valentine of sorts. I say that because it has no hearts on it - just happened that way.

I decided to make the card a little different by creating a flap-style card front. The card base front was trimmed away by 1" on each side and a die cut floral band was adhered to the remaining strip. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock stamped with pink and black images.


On a panel of white cardstock, five butterflies were punched out . The panel was adhered to a panel of pink and then a panel of black. The five butterflies were heat embossed with silver embossing powder, adhered to the panel with wings folded up. This panel was adhered to the front strip with Dimensionals. The sentiment was stamped on white, adhered to pink, then to black. A corner punch was used to achieve the design on the sentiment banner. It was backed with Dimensionals and adhered to the front strip. Rhinestones were added to the die cut band, the sentiment banner and the butterflies.

Click on the following photographs for an enlarged view:

For more information about the challenge, visit the AHSC blog.

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, punch cutting, heat embossing, flap fold
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: SSS Favorite Flowers, Inkadinkadoo Birthday Cupcake(sentiment)
Inks: Rose Red, Stazon Jet Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Rose Red, Basic Black
Die: Frantic Stamper Floral Card Band
Punches: Bitty Butterfly, Curvy Corner Trio
Misc.: Dimensionals, rhinestones, silver EP

You Are a Blessing

This week's Color My Heart: Color Dare #178 features some lovely colors.



 
 









The card base was cut from Soft Sky cardstock with a piece of Thistle DSP adhered at an angle. The inside was lined with a piece of white cardstock, stamped with a few tiny hearts in Thistle ink and a die cut row of hearts were adhered along the bottom edge in pink.

A panel of Soft Sky was partially stamped in a wood grain design with Versamark ink and then heat embossed with white embossing powder. White ink was sponged over the entire card front including the areas that were not embossed. The card was then wiped clean with a tissue. The hearts were die cut and heat embossed with clear powder and adhered to the panel. The leaves were die cut and heat embossed with clear powder. One set of leaves was adhered directly to the panel while the other was popped up with thin foam tape. The sentiment was stamped along with three tiny hearts.


Twenty flowers were die cut from cardstock - 12 from white and eight from pink. Four of
the white flowers were covered with Thistle ink, curled with a bone folder and adhered together to form one flower. The 8 pink flowers were sponged on the edges with Thistle ink and made into two flowers as were the remaining 8 white flowers. They were arranged and adhered on the card front and white pearls were placed in the center of the one Thistle flower and two pink flowers and pink pearls were placed in the two white flowers. The panel was backed with craft foam for dimension and adhered at an angle to the DSP on the card base.

For challenge fun, visit the Color Dare blog!

Techniques: Stamping, sponging, die cutting, heat embossing, embossing resist, handmade flowers
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials:
Stamps: SU! "Snuggles and Smooches" (heart) and "Hardwood" (background); Lil' Inker Designs "Modern Mehndi" (sentiment)
Inks: CTMH Thistle, SU! Soft Sky & White Craft, Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: SU! Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Soft Sky
DSP: CTMH Penelope Collection
Dies: SU! "Secret Garden" (leaves), Lil' Inker Designs "Perky Posies" & "Heart Parade"
Misc.: Craft foam, thin foam tape, MS pearl stickers, SU! White & Clear EP, bone folder, glue dots

Ship Ahoy! Masculine Card

2/02/2016 Update: This card was named the Diamond winner in the Color Dare Challenge #177. My thanks to the design team!






In pulling together my materials for this challenge I found that I did not have any "Whisper" cardstock but I used a color from my stash that I hope is a close match. In looking at Whisper in the product catalog and on-line it looked as if it's a combination of light gray and light sand.

My family grew up on the east coast spending lots of time on the water so this card will work well for my brothers or nephews. I have left it undefined so I can add a sentiment at a later time. I liked using the colors for the Color My Heart: Color Dare #177 - Peacock, Crystal Blue, Whisper and White Daisy because of their "beachy" appeal.



When the Sahara Sand ink was blended with the Bashful Blue ink, it created a cast of sea green. The focal scene was stamped and sponged and matted with a panel that had been sponged along the edges. The banner was hand cut, then texturized using an embossing folder and an ink pad. These two elements were backed with foam to pop them up. They were adhered to a card base texturized with the same embossing folder that had a panel of cardstock and a panel of torn DSP, that had been wrapped and tied with hemp. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and stamped with a compass image. Three candy dots were added to the front of the card.

Visit the Color Dare Challenge #177 for creative ideas!

Techniques: Stamping, sponging, fussing cutting, dry embossing, dry embossing with ink
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials:
Stamps: "The Open Sea"
Inks: Island Indigo, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand, Stazon Jet Black
Markers: Uniball white gel pen, Basic Black (non-alcohol)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Island Indigo, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand
DSP: Plaid pattern from stash
Misc.: Foam tape, Argyll TIEF, hemp (by Hemptique), Candy Dots

Take Care - Pleated Skirt or Curtain Fold

2/03/2016 Update: This card was a Top Three winner at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #144.






Today I made another card for my elderly Aunt Millie, who is recovering from surgery related to injuries she sustained as a passenger in a car crash. My card will be mailed so I kept it low profile with a little dimension for the flowers.

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #144 provided the inspiration for the card. I also decided to participate in the Aud Sentiments Challenge #147: "Anything Goes" as long as there is a sentiment. A while ago, I saw a You Tube video HERE on how to make a curtain (or drape) fold card and this sketch is perfect for that fold. There is another fold called a curtain fold or a pleated skirt fold but this is the one I preferred.

A panel of DSP was cut, scored and folded using the measurements in the instructions. It was adhered to a coordinating panel of DSP on which two corners were decoratively punched. A strip of embossed cardstock was adhered and then two stamped flowers were punched and popped up on the strip. A white pearl button was adhered with a bow of twine. The sentiment was stamped directly onto the card. This was all adhered to a panel of cardstock and then to a card base that had been dry embossed. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with two stamped flowers that had been punched.




















Join the AHSC challenge and stop by the Aud blog for lots of ideas!

Techniques: Pleating, stamping, sponging, punch cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: SU! "Flower Shop"; Just Rite "Enjoy the Day" (sentiment)
Inks: Calypso Coral, Coastal Cabana, Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Pool Party, Crisp Cantaloupe
DSP: Best Year Ever Collection (retired)
Punches: "Pansy" and "Curvy Corner Trio"
Misc.: Diagonal TIEF, Coastal Cabana Thick Baker's Twine, Dimensionals, white pearl button from stash

The Bright Spot

1/27/2016 Update: The Bright Spot was a Top Three winner!






Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #143 provided the design for this card. I looked at the sketch often, trying to decide... Lighthouse? Floral spray? Pendant? Balloons?... but these ideas were already in use. At one point I thought the circle looked like an eyeball. Enough of that!

After settling on the light bulb stamp set, rays of light beaming upward were sponged from three ink colors and pierced on white cardstock. A small panel of cardstock was texture embossed, backed with a black mat and adhered to the white panel. The sentiment was stamped twice, once in black and again in yellow. The yellow words were fussy cut and popped up on the black stamped sentiment then adhered to a white die cut image backed with black.

The decorative strip was cut with a die and adhered to the textured panel. The bulb is a two-step. The first stamp is a solid image. The second is the bulb outline. Once both images were stamped, the bulb was fussy cut, backed with foam and adhered. The finished front panel was adhered to a black mat and then to the card base. The light bulb and beams were touched up with Wink of Stella (clear). A few sequins were added to the card. The inside was lined with a panel of white and stamped and sponged with rays of light.

Take a few minutes to visit the AHSC blog for unique sketch designs!

Techniques: Stamping, sponging, fussy cutting, piercing, die cutting, dry embossing
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: Simon Says Stamp Set "Watt's Up?"
Inks: Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Crisp Cantaloupe, Stazon Black
Cardstock: Whisper White, Smoky Slate, Basic Black, Daffodil Delight
Dies: Verve Scalloped Trim Trio; SU! Labels Collection Framelits
Misc.: Craft foam, Zigzag TEIF, Wink of Stella (clear), PPP sequins

Thinking of You

My 89-yr old aunt was involved in a serious car crash as a passenger two days ago. She has undergone surgery for both a broken arm and a broken leg. Aunt Millie lives on the eastern seaboard so I will be unable to visit her from Arizona. Because she is going to have a lengthy recovery, I will be sending cards to cheer her.

I was inspired by two challenges:

1. Sunday Stamps Sketch Challenge #118:

2. Hand Stamped Sentiments Color Challenge #229:

A panel of cardstock was decorated with three pieces of die cut cardstock. The alternating pieces were popped up with foam tape. The bird was stamped in the MISTI with Elegant Eggplant but was not purple enough to my liking so was stamped over with Amethyst ink. The bird was fussy cut, edge-sponged and adhered to the raised cardstock.

An envelope image was stamped in the MISTI, fussy cut and popped up, then adhered to the card. A heart was punched and stamped with Amethyst ink. Three candy dots were added to the bottom right corner. The panel was then adhered to a card base of Always Artichoke cardstock. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of Sahara Sand, stamped in the MISTI with a
verse in Always Artichoke and adhered. A leftover piece of die cut cardstock was used to decorate the inside.

Visit the blogs for SSC118 and HSSCC229.

Techniques: Stamping, sponging, fussy cutting, die cutting, punch cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

Stamps: SU! Lovely Amazing You; Inkadinkadoo Birds & Bugs; Lil' Inker Greetings & Salutations (inside)
Inks: Always Artichoke, Elegant Eggplant; Ancient Page Amethyst
Cardstock: Sahara Sand, Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke
Dies: Reverse Confetti "Doin' the Wave"
Punch: Itty Bitty Accents (Heart)
Misc.: Craft foam, Candy Dots

A Valentine for You

St. Valentine's Day is approaching so I have been making valentines as I enter challenges. I found three challenges that ultimately influenced my card:

1. Color My Heart: Color Dare #176 - White Daisy, Black, Slate & Whisper






2. Can You Case It? #103 - Black & White - Fun or Elegant Theme







3. The Paper Players #278 - CAS Valentine

Five heart frames and one full heart (in the center) were die cut from various papers. One scalloped heart was die cut in white cardstock. Each heart frame was adhered to the white heart, popping up every other frame with craft foam and popping up the center heart. A panel of black cardstock was adhered to a panel of chevron cardstock and adhered to a white card base. The heart was adhered to the card.

I especially like the DSP that is used on the third heart from the center because of the tiny subtle hearts.



The sentiment was die cut in both foam and cardstock, adhered and popped up on the card for dimension. After adding sequins in black, white and gray, the inside of the card was decorated with two die cut hearts left over from the project.

Visit Color Dare #176, CYCI103 and PP278 to join the challenges!

Technique: Die cutting
Size: A7 (5" x 7")

Materials:
Stamp Set: Stampin' Up! "Lovely Amazing You" (inside verse)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (inside verse)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Basic Gray, Smoky Slate
DSP: Miscellaneous pieces from my stash
Dies: Spellbinders Classic Hearts & Scalloped Hearts; Stampin' Up! Thinlits Expressions
Misc.: Craft foam, Pretty Pink Posh Sequins

Congrats!

This card was made specifically for the colourQ Challenge #324. I thought the color combination was unusual so wanted to see if I could come up with something that would suit the requirements. I always find it difficult to photograph cards with foiled cardstock and this card was no exception.




Because Glorious Green is a retired product, I used Garden Green as a substitute.

A grid was die cut from all required colors except white, then adhered to a white panel. A die cut oval in silver was popped up on the front of the card and die cut flowers and leaves were also added and popped up for dimension. The sentiment was die cut and adhered to the oval. A strip of cardstock was added to the right side of the panel and the entire panel was adhered to a card base in Garden Green. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and die cut flowers were adhered.

For unique color challenges, visit the colourQ blog!

Techniques: Die cutting, stamping, sponging
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials are Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:
Stamps: MFT All Occasions (inside)
Inks: Coastal Cabana, Memento Tuxedo Black (inside)
Cardstock: Whisper White, Coastal Cabana, Certainly Celery, Garden Green, DCWV Foiled Silver
Dies: Lil' Inker Designs Perky Posies, Wrappers Delight: Lattice, Dual Dotted Ovals; Frantic Stamper Congrats
Misc.: Dimensionals