School Days

 



 

Who doesn't remember those early school days... new hair cut, new shoes, the excitement of meeting a new teacher and of seeing classmates, old and new? Those were happy days for me because I loved school. For the next two weeks, we're celebrating the new school season with two challenges.

The first is Double Trouble Challenge #9. "Trouble Maker" is looking for a School Days theme, "Double Dare" challenges you to link up with a sketch challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #378 and "Twisted Sister" is insisting that you include a bookmark along with your card.

Here is the TSOT #378 sketch with Double Dare:

 

 

 

 

For my card, I made a square in order to accommodate the extra borders on each side. I rarely make a square but it seemed to work for my design. Using some die cut images and a few stickers from my stash, I assembled the card. The schoolhouse and sun are adhered with thin foam tape. I made this card at a crop and only one attendee had cloud dies to lend so I used these huge die cut clouds. At the time I was looking for smaller clouds but had to make the best of it. In the end, I think they are quite whimsical and work well with the overall design. The inside was decorated with a school bus sticker. If you look carefully, there is a bookmark tucked away into a raised pocket in the card. I backed the card with an extra panel of cardstock using thick foam tape and the bookmark slides in and out.

 

I hope you enjoyed visiting my blog and that you will give our fun challenges a try. You could win a prize! Visit Double Trouble Challenge Blog and Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge Blog to get the details.

 

 





Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Marina Mist, Mossy Meadow, Gumball Green, Real Red, Basic Black

Paper: Vertical borders and sun were stickers & bookmark elements were papers, all from my stash

Dies: Lawn Fawn Landscape; borrowed clouds & trees

Misc.: 3M foam tape - thin and thick 



Hoot No Evil

09/06/2018 Update: This card was named as a "double" Favorite of the Week for the week ending September 1, 2018, at Splitcoast Stampers.

Time for another challenge at Crafter's Café. This challenge begins on Saturday, September 1. The challenge theme for #203 is to use THREE of something. This digital image was provided by one of our sponsors, Knitty Kitty Digis, and has three owls. Remembering the three wise monkeys, Kikazaru, Mizaru, and Iwazaru, famous for "Hear no evil, see no evil, speak no evil," look closely at these three owls. So cute! (The watermark covering the digi image is required by our sponsor.)

We hope you'll play along at our Crafter's Café Challenge #203 and perhaps browse in Knitty Kitty's Digi Shop.

 

 

A panel of cardstock was die cut to achieve the night sky, then adhered to a white card base. The tree trunk was fussy cut and colored then adhered. The image of the owls on the branch was downloaded, resized, printed and colored. After fussy cutting, the owls on a branch were adhered using foam tape for dimension. The leaves that were not part of the original image were die cut from white cardstock, colored and adhered. Some are adhered directly to the card's surface and some are popped up with foam tape. A sprig of colored leaves was also used to decorate the inside of the card.

 

Please join us at the Crafter's Café Challenge #203 with your project that uses THREE of anything!

 

 

Techniques: Digital image processing, fussy cutting, die cutting, coloring

Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

 

Materials

Stamp set: Knitty Kitty Digital Image "Hoot No Evil"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Not Quite Navy (retired); Spectrum Noir for Alcohol Markers

Dies: Stampin' Up! (leaves); Lawn Fawn (background)

Misc.: 3M foam tape

Pinwheel Card

Some things are annoying and being late is one if them. I am late for this challenge! This is for a fun color challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare #307. Please visit our challenge and give it a try. We'd love to see your creation. You may use any brand colors and ink you wish but for ease of reference, they are identified here using CTMH colors:

 

I decided to make a square card - a rarity for my style. I have some unloved cardstock in the charcoal color that has a white core. I don't care for white-core cardstock but I distressed the edges of all papers to give each of them a slim, white frame. I curled the edges on the upper right corner for some interest. Pinwheels get flattened when sent through the mail so I flattened it anyway when I added it to the card. Everything was adhered to a white card base. The heart was punched and added to the center where typically a brad would fit on a working pinwheel.

Hope to see you at Color My Heart Color Dare #307. You could be eligible for a prize!

Materials
Cardstock: CTMH Charcoal; Stampin' Up! Whisper White
Paper: Stampin' Up! Designer Series Paper from stash - retired
Punch: Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Accents (Heart)

Derek Clapton - A Limited Edition

I was given this image, called Derek Clapton, for a music theme at Creative Moments Challenge #151. My husband asked me for a birthday card for a friend so I used this image from Dr. Digi House of Stamps.  To join the challenge and make a card about music, visit the Creative Moments Blog.

Note: I purposely colored him looking through rose-colored glasses after my marker bled onto the card.

Onto a card base of light gray, panels of white, dark gray and patterned paper were adhered. The image was downloaded, resized, printed and colored with alcohol markers. The image was trimmed and backed with a gray mat then backed with foam tape and adhered to the card front. The sentiment was fussy cut from patterned paper and adhered. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with coordinating patterned paper.

I hope you'll join us at Creative Moments #151 and make a project for our music-themed challenge. There are prizes!

Materials
Stamp: Dr. Digi Digital Image "Derek Clapton"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Smoky Slate & Basic Gray; Spectrum Noir for Alcohol Markers
Paper: Moxie "Music in Me" & Photo Play "Empower" (sentiment)
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

You're the Sweetest - Reveal Wheel



After seeing this stamp and die set I just could not resist making a purchase. I think the idea of the reveal wheel is great fun and it can be used with other stamps for other themes. This is a birthday card for my friend, Tracey. She loves glitter and glam so I used glitter paper to depict the flavors on the reveal wheel and plenty of clear Wink of Stella on the ice cream cones.

This card fits the new theme at The Double Trouble Challenge #8 and the Summer Birthday Party Challenge at Pause Dream Enjoy. Pause Dream Enjoy begins on Wednesday, Aug 22, but they will accept projects back-linked to 08/20 provided you are also posted at Double Trouble. We hope you'll check out these fun challenges!

  

I followed the instructions HERE in order to create my card. I made mine a little different than the samples in the tutorial but the basic method is the same. It takes three sets of dies to make the cards as in the tutorial and I only have two of them so I compensated by simply fussy cutting. Once the reveal part of the card was completed, I stamped, colored and fussy cut the ice cream cones and adhered three of them using foam tape. The cherries were directly stamped and colored. Clear Wink of Stella was added. A panel of dotted glitter paper was adhered to a black card base and the reveal card was adhered to that. The inside of the card was decorated with stamped cherries and a Happy Birthday sentiment.

The Double Trouble Challenge is quite unique and I urge you to explore the blog. Don't forget to link your card at Pause Dream Enjoy as well.

Just for fun, I also submitted this card to the Three Amigos Monthly Challenge #17, whose theme is "A Blast from the Past". I used the "Nom-nom" theme from a previous challenge.

Techniques: Stamping, coloring, fussy cutting, die cutting
Size: A2

Materials
Stamp set: Lawn Fawn "Sweetest Flavor"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Basic Black; Spectrum Noir for Alcohol Markers
Paper: The Paper Studio "Brights Glam-Glitter" (thin, flexible glitter paper)
Dies: Lawn Fawn "Sweetest Flavor Add-on" (coordinates with stamp) & Lawn Fawn Basic "Reveal Wheel"
Misc.: 3M foam tape & one brad from stash; ZIG Wink of Stella (clear)

Family Fun!

The die, borrowed from a friend, is a depiction of childhood and a reminder of family fun. I wanted my card to exude the fun that children have doing the simple things.

My card fits into two challenges. I used the sketch from Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #277 and the colors were inspired by Try Stampin' on Tuesday Color Challenge #4.

   

On a black card base, a panel of orchid paper was adhered with a bit of green in the upper left corner. The die cut image was adhered to the yellow panel, matted with black and backed with foam tape for dimension. The banners were added in keeping with the sketch, also backed with foam tape. The sentiment was hand-written. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white and decorated with coordinating banners. The black gems were adhered to the front.

I hope you'll visit the challenge blogs and enjoy some challenge fun! Try Stampin on Tuesday Color Challenge #4 and Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #277.

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Barely Banana, Pistachio Pudding, Sweet Sugarplum
Die: Peachy Cheap Set "Spring & Easter"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); gems from stash

Sympathy Card (Double Point Fold)

I needed a sympathy card and have been wanting to do this quick and easy fun fold. I added the challenge colors as an afterthought and I'm glad I did. I urge you to visit Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #305 for some paper crafting enjoyment. You could win a prize!

 

 

 

My fun fold is known as a Double Point fold and was not complex. There is a tutorial HERE. After cutting the cardstock and stamping the sentiments and flowers, I colored the images using Copic markers. I elected to color the images but the card would be fine left in black and white. A few pearls were added. I think it would be fun to add more embellishments but because this is a sympathy card, I kept it clean. The inside was also stamped with a floral image and a sentiment using a masking technique, then lightly colored.

I hope you'll join us at Color My Heart Color Dare #305.

Technique: Fancy or fun fold, CAS, stamping, coloring, die cutting, masking
Size: A2

Materials
Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Bloom with Hope" (florals) and "Heartfelt Blooms" (sentiments)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White and Basic Black
Paper: Stampin' Up! "Modern Medley" Collection (retired)
Dies: Stampin' Up! Labels Collection Framelits
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Pearls

Wonderful Birthday - Acetate

After days of thought about this sketch challenge with a stripe theme, I ended up tearing apart my first card and making another. The only element that made the cut was the piece of striped acetate. This resulted in my having to scramble to get my card made for Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #375. But I like the new card so much more!

 

I cut a panel of striped acetate on the diagonal and inset it into a white card base. I actually made two card bases and adhered them to both sides of the acetate. I knew the card would need strength and I didn't want the raw edges of the acetate to show. Because I cut the striped material on the diagonal from one continuous piece, notice that when the card base is folded, it is possible to see the striped acetate creating a trellis look when it's closed.

The patterned papers were adhered and the flowers, which were fussy cut from the same paper, were enhanced using Copic markers and adhered with foam tape. Clear Wink of Stella was also added to the flowers. A simple sentiment was stamped and adhered and a few droplets were added. The inside of the card was decorated with coordinating paper trim. Although my card is not identical to the sketch it is possible to recognize the sketch and I also followed the stripe theme.

I invite you to come by and join the challenge fun at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #375!

Materials
Stamp set: Lawn Fawn "Reveal Wheel Sentiments"
Inks: Stamping Up! Crumb Cake; Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White; WRMK Acetate
Paper: Bo Bunny Collections "Felicity" and "Butterfly Kisses"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); Pretty Pink Posh Droplets; ZIG Wink of Stella (clear)

Driftng Away

You are invited to Double Trouble Challenge #7. The theme is "The Dog Days of Summer" and the optional twist is to include a summer beverage or food. The Dare is to link up to the HeARTful Stamping Challenge. There is a prize for the winner of DTC #7!

Did you know?

The Dog Days have to do with the ancient study of the stars. The Greeks determined the Dog Star looked to be "following" the constellation, Orion, during a certain period each year. This period coincided with the hottest, most uncomfortable part of summer in the Northern Hemisphere. In modern times, these days have been determined to be from about July 30 to September 7. 

I recently came across this cute summer stamp and was eager to use the dog image. I decided he was probably doing what I do at the beach and that is drift away and doze a little. My dog is dreaming of summer beach food while his worries drift away.

Two panels of cardstock, one blue, one white, were adhered to a white card base. The background was created with masking, sponging and dusting with a brush. The palm tree is clip art and was added by printing it directly onto the background. I touched it up with some Copic markers. (Make sure the background ink is completely dry.) This was all adhered to the card base stack. The dog was stamped, colored and fussy cut. His "coat" was very lightly texturized using blending solution and terry cloth. He was adhered to the card using foam tape. The food elements were adhered to white cardstock for stability, then fussy cut and added to the card front with foam tape. The sentiment was stamped directly onto the card. The inside was decorated with a strip of the patterned paper.

We look forward to seeing your creation so stop by in the next two weeks and check out our blog at Double Trouble!

Techniques: Stamping, coloring, sponging, ink dusting, masking, fussy cutting
Size: A6

Materials
Stamp Set: Little Acres "Doggone Vacation"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic for the dog image; Stampin' Up! White Craft, Marina Mist, Pacific Point, Hello Honey
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Pacific Point; Spectrum Noir for Alcohol Ink
Paper: Doodlebug Designs "So Much Pun"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape)

Meet Dragonfly Fairy

Welcome to the Brown Sugar Monthly Challenge #281 for August 2018! The theme for the challenge is Fairies and Fantasy and the Design Team images were provided by Ching Chou Kuik Fantasy Art. The challenge began on the first Friday in August, which was August 3 and ends on Tuesday, September 4.

On a white card base, a panel of glitter paper was adhered. Using a panel of white cardstock a piece of gold embossed vellum was wrapped at each edge and adhered to the glitter panel. The image was downloaded, resized, printed and colored with Copics. The image was fussy cut along with two flowers and a hummingbird, which were taken from patterned paper. The flowers and bird were enhanced using Copic markers. One flower, the bird and the digital image were backed with foam tape and adhered. The inside of the card was decorated with an additional fussy cut flower. Wink of Stella was added to the dragonfly and bird. The sentiment will be added later.

Visit the Brown Sugar Challenge Blog and enter your creation. You could win a prize!

Materials
Stamp: "Meet Dragonfly" digital image from Ching Chou Kuik
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White; DCWV Glitter Cardstock (aqua); SN for alcohol markers
Paper: Stampin' Up! Winter Wonderland Designer Vellum (retired) & other paper from stash for bird and flowers
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape); Wink of Stella (clear)

Aug 2018 Technique Challenge - Add Dimension

Once a month at Try Stampin' on Tuesday, the Design Team features a technique. For August, our technique is adding dimension to our projects. We also have a tutorial on our blog. My card was made using several techniques. First, I layered and glued cardstock together to add dimension. In addition, I added foam tape to some of the decorative elements and I allowed the die cut foliage and flowers to curl up off of the card. Finally, uncharacteristically for me, I added plenty of layers.

The "Leaves" coverall die was used to cut six layers - five layers of white cardstock and one of the light green. I glued all of these layers together, adhering the green one on top. After ensuring the glue was thoroughly dry, the top layer was sponged with green ink and the layered panel was adhered to a card base. Die cut flowers and foliage were arranged and adhered with foam tape onto the card. The sentiment was die cut six times and stacked with glue before being adhered to the center circle. A tiny dragonfly was added. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with dragonflies. Wink of Stella was added to the flowers and dragonflies but does not also photograph well.

Please join us at Try Stampin' on Tuesday Monthly Challenge for August 2018 beginning on Thursday, August 2, and give our challenges a try. We're sure you'll like us!

Techniques: Adding dimension, die cutting, stamping
Size: A2

Materials
Inks: Stampin' Up! Soft Sea Foam; DOX Lucky Clover
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Soft Sea Foam, Bravo Burgundy (retired)
Paper: Stampin' Up! DSP from stash
Dies: Reverse Confetti "Leaves" Coverall, The Stamp Doctor "Tiny Dragon Flies" & "Happy Day"; Frantic Stamper "Wreath and Swag" & "Swirly Things"
Misc.: Stampin' Up! Dimensionals (foam tape) and candy dots; ZIG Wink of Stella (clear)