Bold, Bright, and Merry

 

December 16, 2024 Update: Double Winner of the Weekly Favorite at Splitcoast Stampers!

December 17, 2024 Update: Featured Stamper at Splitcoast Stampers!

 

Color My Heart Color Dare has a biweekly challenge that's just right for finishing up your holiday cards. Challenge #579 is open for fun, closing on Thursday evening, December 28, 2023. Below is the color board and it is bold and bright!

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I was short on time because my family surprised me with a birthday party forcing me to rush to make the card deadline. I decided to go bold and bright by adding metallic and holographic elements to my card base, using the prints and designs in the paper to reflect colors.

The circles and snowflakes were die-cut and adhered to the card base with thin foam tape. The sentiment was also adhered with thin foam tape. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with additional circles in holographic paper. 

Please join us at the Color Dare #579 Challenge Blog to view the Design Team's cards.

To add to the challenge fun, I am participating in the December challenge at If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #187 with a fourth card! This challenge ends on December 31, 2023, but I will be joining in future challenges.

Thank you for visiting my blog. Merry Christmas!

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Paper Rose (sentiment on front) & Honey Bee "Mini Messages" (inside sentiment)

Ink: Versamark

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! "Basic White" & Cardstock Warehouse "Blu-raspberry" 

Paper: SBC "Holographic" & various scraps of foiled gold and silver

Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (Circles) & Honey Bee "Lovely Layers - Large Snowflakes"

EP: Wow! Metallic Gold Rich Super Fine

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

Joy to the World (Sketch)

January 2, 2024 - Update:

This card was selected as a "Top Cookie" at If You Give a Crafter a Cookie Challenge #187.

My holiday cards are completed so I was tempted to create a birthday card but was inspired by the snowflake on this sketch. I guess I could have gone with a wintry theme but I don't live in a climate with long winters so once the holidays are finished, it's not long before my tulips and daffodils show themselves. But it's time to write about this Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge!

Onto a green card base, I added white patterned paper with a design of scattered gold fir trees. A green band backed with gold was adhered to the card front. A square was cut from the same green cardstock and also backed with a panel of gold paper. The large snowflake was die-cut from gold holographic paper and adhered to the square element, which was then added to the card front with thin foam tape for dimension. 

The sentiment was heat embossed with gold powder and adhered directly to the snowflake, and two clusters of three gold gem stickers were added. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with small die-cut snowflakes in gold holographic paper. I also added a sentiment that was heat embossed with gold powder, saying "Merry Christmas". I really like this sketch and see myself using it again, tweaking it here and there for other non-sketch challenges.

Be sure to visit the AHSC Challenge Blog #555 on Wednesday, December 13, to view the Design Team's cards and if you haven't played along, it's time to try.

I recently discovered the challenge, If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #187, so I am adding this card to their December challenge to include gold and silver.

 

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Honey Bee "Mini Messages - Holiday" (both sentiments)

Ink: Versamark

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Gold Foil; dark green (source unknown)

Paper: Honey Bee "Holiday Wishes" & Scrapbook.com "Holographic"

Die: Honey Bee "Lovely Layers - Large Snowflakes"

Embossing Powder: Wow! Metallic Gold Rich Super Fine

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

Happy Owlidays

The challenge over at Try Stampin' on Tuesday is up on the blog, awaiting your card! Following is the required sketch - remember you can turn the sketch or substitute one shape for another if you wish. This is Challenge #636, scheduled to close on Sunday evening, December 17, 2023. 

Our optional theme is "Bundle Up". It's your choice to include this theme with the sketch. I have had this cute stamp set for a time so decided it fit the optional theme perfectly. I stamped the "bundled up" owl along with a branch included in the set. After coloring the images, I fussy cut them. My Copic markers have been packed away for a long time and need to be cared for so I borrowed markers from a family member. Her markers are for Bible art and journaling and are a mix of different ink types but I made them work. In addition, an oval shape was die-cut from vellum, and three snowflakes from white cardstock. One of the sentiments from the stamp set was stamped in brown ink. I resisted the urge to use "googly" eyes because the sclera in the eyes of owls is not white. So I colored the sclera and added black gems for the pupils.

The snowflake patterned paper was adhered to a panel of dark green cardstock and the elements were arranged onto the card, following the sketch layout. The oval with the owl on a branch was adhered using thin foam tape along with the stamped sentiment including another branch. I added a few snowflakes for decoration. The inside of the card was decorated with a bit of scrap paper and a few more snowflakes. With brown ink, I added the sentiment, "Warm Wishes", which is also included in this stamp set.

Be sure to visit the TSOT Blog #636 to view the Design Team's cards and join the challenge!

Thank you for visiting my blog. Please feel free to leave a comment. Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Melanie

Materials

Stamp set: CTMH "From Owl of Us"

Inks: Stampin' Up! Soft Suede & miscellaneous assortment of markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Vellum, Evening Evergreen

Paper: Echo Park "Gingerbread Christmas"

Dies: Honey Bee "Lovely Layers" (snowflakes), Kat Scrappiness (oval with embossed rim)

Misc.: Spellbinders black gems & CTMH thin foam tape

Wishing You Joy

Note: Part of the theme is to use a  bow, ribbon, cord, twine, etc. In answer to a few questions I used Washi tape for the horizonal band with the stamped sentiment, which is permitted.

Greetings! It's almost the end of another year... where did the year go? And, as usual, it seems that nothing changes from year to year because I was still in a rush to wrap up the completion of my holiday cards for 2023. I am finally getting them in the mail.

Double Trouble Challenge suggests you use this opportunity to "wrap it up" with the holiday cards with Challenge #155. As is customary, we have three "Things" for you. In summary:

Thing 1 (required): We don't want to drive Trouble Maker "die-lerious" so use at least one item on your card that has been cut with your favorite cutting tool. You may use a die, punch, scissors, or a cutting machine. I fussy-cut some flowers and die-cut some leaves for my card. By the way, entering our challenge means your name is in for a chance at the random drawing.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare hopes to see your project posted at Use Your Stuff Challenge #481. This is our partner for this challenge and if you link up with them you will have another chance in our random drawing.

Thing 3 (also optional): This is where you can "wrap it up" and complete your to-do list. Twisted Sister is looking for some ribbon, cord, twine, etc., for your project. I used a little Scotch brand Washi tape on my card, on both the front and inside. Play along with Twisted Sister to earn another chance in our random drawing.

My card is a Slimline style and was inspired by a sketch. This sketch can be found at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #554. This weekly challenge runs through Sunday evening, December 10, 2023, so don't miss out on sharing your talent with them. Here's the sketch:

Please join us at the DTC 155 Blog and the UYS 481 Blog as we close out another year of fun challenges. Double Trouble ends on Sunday evening, December 31, 2023, but we'll be back with a new challenge on New Year's Day, Monday, January 1, 2024. 

Special Note: The Use Your Stuff Challenges will be closing down with this challenge on Sunday, December 31, 2023. This is your last chance to play along with them. You may also wish to post a farewell message on their blog.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I hope you will leave a comment. Wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Gina K "Under the Mistletoe" (sentiment)

Ink: VersaFine Clair (Green Oasis)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Evening Evergreen, Pear Pizzazz

Paper: Honey Bee "Holiday Wishes"

Die: Honey Bee "Lovely Layers" (leaves)

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape, Honey Bee gems, Scotch Washi Tape

With Love at Christmas

Welcome! It's time for another color challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare. This challenge is biweekly and runs through Thursday evening, December 14, 2023. As you can see from the color board below, the required colors are shades of blue, pink, and purple, with black, white, neutrals, and metallics being free. You must use all three of the required colors. I used the three colors and added silver holographic paper to my design.

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Using watercolor paper, I began by embossing a design. Water was spritzed onto the paper and run through the embossing machine. Recently I discovered a product called mica stain. This product is sprayed onto paper and produces a soft shine. Having no purple mica stain, the pink and blue colors were sprayed onto the embossed watercolor paper allowing them to blend and produce purple. After letting it dry for about an hour the drying process was completed with a heat tool, taking care not to scorch the paper. Next, and this is optional, the embossed paper was inserted back into the embossing folder and run through a second time. I just wanted a better impression since this was not a 3-D folder.

Using a pad of silver metallic ink, I lightly swiped the embossed piece. This is optional but I liked the result. The finished panel was trimmed to card size, saving the scraps. The embossed design was backed with a panel of silver holographic paper, and more of the silver holographic paper was placed for the sentiment. Using a cut-away scrap, I die-cut the word "hugs". Although it is cut from the background paper, it looks different in the photo. From deep blue/purple cardstock, a shadow for the "hugs" was die-cut. Onto another piece of that cardstock, a small sentiment was heat embossed with silver embossing powder. The die-cut word and embossed sentiment were adhered to the holographic strip. 

The finished design was adhered to a card base in a raspberry-colored pearlescent finish and five silver pearl stickers were added. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock, stamped with a sentiment, and decorated with a few scraps of holographic paper and background scraps. Plenty of score tape was used when adhering elements to the shiny paper.

I like the results but shiny and sparkly elements do not always photograph well. Since this is the first time I have tried this technique, other ideas popped into my head as I created my card so I am eager to experiment. 

Be sure to visit the Color Dare Blog and try our color challenge. You need not use the exact colors as long as they are a near match to what you see on the color board.

I just discovered a challenge that I plan on doing in the future so I am adding my card to If You Give a Crafter a Cookie #187. Their theme is to use silver or gold and ends on December 31, 2023.

I also decided to play along with the challenge at Use Your Stuff #480. Their theme is Shine Bright and ends on December 9, 2023.

Thank you for viewing my blog. I appreciate your comments and questions.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Honey Bee "Heart Be Light" (front and inside of card)

Inks: Stampin' Up Orchid Oasis (inside of card), Delicata Metallic (silver); Tim Holtz Mica Stain (Snow Flurries/blue & Cocktail Party/pink); Versamark

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Orchid Oasis & off-brand of Mulberry Pink Pearlescent

Paper: Strathmore watercolor paper & Scrapbook.com Holographic paper pad

Die: Altenew "Hello & Hugs"

Embossing Folder: Spellbinders

Misc.: Wow super fine embossing powder (Metallic Silver); Honey Bee Pearl Stickers; CTMH thin foam tape; score tape

Violet Garden - Thank You

 

11/26/2023 Update: Splitcoast Stampers "Favorite of the Week" 

ending 11/25/2023.

Serving on Design Teams occasionally steals a little time from participating in other challenges. I had a little spare time today so chose to use this week's sketch at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge. This is Challenge #552, ending Sunday evening, November 26, 2023. The sketch is below:

I recently created a collection of 12 cards from a 6" x 6" pad of patterned paper along with some die cuts that were included. (I have a few family members who enjoy receiving bundles of cards as gifts.) I still had a fair amount of the paper remaining and it was on my desk so I decided to use it for this card. I can always use a few extra thank-you cards in my stash during the holiday season so I duplicated the card as well.

My niece was visiting and crafting with me, making shadow boxes as gifts for family members, so I availed myself of her green cardstock because it was a great match with my floral paper. I adhered my little hand-cut squares and rectangles to the green cardstock, and with foam tape added the sentiment and the floral die-cut. A few shiny green gems were added. The holographic paper did not photograph well - it looks wonky in shape and the bright, shiny hues of silver don't show. This card layer was adhered to a white card base. I enjoy decorating the inside of my cards, so I added a matching floral die-cut leaving sufficient space for a personal message.

Be sure to visit the AHSC 552 Blog and join in their challenges! 

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments.

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White; green & lilac mirror from an unknown source

Paper: Paper Rose "Violet Garden" including cut-apart, sentiment, and ephemera; Scrapbook.com holographic paper

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

Scene of Serenity (Sympathy Card)

Upon seeing the sketch for the Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #634, I was pleased to see the optional theme was trees. In my stash, I have had an unused die with a silhouette of trees for some time so I was able to use it here.

I redesigned the orientation to be landscape to fit the die-cut image. I used the circles to represent a blue sky and a yellow sun and otherwise kept the background clean to create a serene mood so I could use this as a sympathy card in the future. The original sketch is below.

Option: Trees

The inside of the card was decorated by lining the lemon card base with a panel of white cardstock framed in green, cutting a second die-cut tree image, and adhering a few of the trees individually. I left sufficient room for a personal note.

There is always an open challenge at TSOT. Challenges are biweekly in duration, beginning every Tuesday morning. This challenge runs through Sunday evening, December 3, 2023. We welcome you to the TSOT Blog #634 to view the Design Team's cards and to try our challenge.

Please join us! Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Gingko Branch" (sentiment on front); GinaK "Natural Silhouettes" (sentiment inside card)

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Lemon Lolly, Mossy Meadow, Boho Blue

Dies: Hero Arts "Infinity Circles"; Stampin' Up! "Gingko Branch"; Kokorosa "Trees in Silhouette"

Prayers & Hugs

These challenges provided me with the opportunity to create a card for a close family friend in need of prayer and hugs. I am sure she will enjoy receiving my card. Double Trouble #154 is a biweekly challenge ending on Sunday evening, December 3, 2023. As usual, we have three "Things" for our challenge. 

In summary, Thing 1 is an acknowledgment of Pins and Needles Day with a theme of "Stay Calm and Stitch On," which requires stitching on your project. 

Thing 2 is optional. We are asking you to link your project with Tuesday Morning Sketches #734 but be sure to check their guidelines before creating your project. 

Thing 3 is also optional. This option is to use the sketch that was provided by our partner, Tuesday Morning Sketches. Their sketch is below. For complete details, visit the DTC 154 Blog.

Sketch challenges always provide inspiration even if one's interpretation creates a few variances. I found that to be true with the sketch above. I had a specific plan but as I worked through my process, I changed elements here and there. I can identify the sketch in my work so I was happy with the result. The inside of the card was lined with one layer of colored cardstock and one layer of white, decorated with a die-cut image of a Hyacinth, and stamped with a sentiment, "Prayers & Hugs".

Please join us for some challenge fun and you may win a prize in our random drawing. Just be sure to follow the guidelines for both challenges. Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments.

Melanie

Materials

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; Stampin' Up! Pistachio Pudding

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Orchid Oasis, Pistachio Pudding

Paper: Paper Rose Studio "Violet Garden"

Dies: Honey Bee "Lovely Layers Greenery", Spellbinders "Winter Borders"(double stitching)

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape

Cascading Hearts

Why do I fret over color challenges? Once completed, I am glad I played along but getting started always seems to be daunting. This is Color My Heart Color Dare #575 - an "Only Two" challenge. The color board is below and as shown, there is one required color and then one optional color.

I like colors in the pink family so I selected Ballerina as my optional color with Rosy. My pinks are the closest match using items from my stash because I don't have the precise colors as seen on the board. In addition, I used black, white and metallic gold to complete my card. It isn't my habit to make cards too far in advance of an event or holiday, but the pink hues reminded me of St. Valentine's Day in February, so I made a card about love.

Onto a black card base, I added two panels of patterned paper with a thin horizontal band of gold foiled cardstock. (It is difficult to discern the pattern on the lower panel.) Using a border die, a cascade of hearts was cut from the gold, backed with white vellum and adhered to the right side of the card front. The word "love" was die-cut from black cardstock three times and layered onto the card front. Hearts created from the gold heart border were adhered for decoration. The inside of the card base was lined with white cardstock and decorated with pink patterned paper and gold hearts. 

Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #575 is biweekly and runs through Thursday evening, November 30, 2023. A new biweekly challenge begins every Friday so there is always an active challenge underway.

Please join us for some challenge fun! Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments.

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Basic Black

Paper: Stampin' Up! vellum and gold foiled paper, 49th and Market "Art Options - Spice"

Dies: Spellbinders word die "love", unbranded heart border die

Happy Harvest

My vegetable garden is done for the season now that we've had a few nights with freezing temperatures. Only a few flowers in my flower garden are still in bloom. The trees have also shed their pretty colors. In spite of that, autumn is still my favorite season. The roadside stands where farmers are selling apples, pumpkins, and gourds along with cider and Confetti Corn (formerly called Indian Corn) are a welcome sight, and the anticipation of a traditional family gathering at Thanksgiving fills my thoughts.

We have combined two challenges that include similar themes and a sketch. The sketch is from Try Stampin' on Tuesday #632, with an optional theme of Thanksgiving and is posted below. This challenge, which has a start date of Tuesday, November 7, 2023, ends on Sunday evening, November 19, 2023. 

A description of biweekly challenge Double Trouble Challenge #153, with a start date of Monday, November 6, 2023, and closing on Sunday, November 19, 2023, follows.

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker is needing some help with her 3-2-1 Harvest Recipe. Use at least three patterned papers in your design, along with at least two embellishments, and at least one image that represents the season. You are not required to use the sketch but we hope you will.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare urges you to link up with Try Stampin' on Tuesday #632. Just be sure to follow their challenge guidelines.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister has made it easy for this challenge. She is suggesting that you utilize the sketch provided by our partner. The sketch will give you an added chance in our drawing.

In creating a fall or Thanksgiving card, I thought about using several types of images but settled on patterned paper with a trio of colorful pumpkins. I gathered other bits of coordinating patterned papers that were left from other fall cards and using the TSOT 632 sketch, included the three DTC 153 "Things" to complete my card. I elected to omit a sentiment on the card front but stamped one on the inside. The three patterned papers are all from the same paper collection. The plaid and dots are visible but the pumpkin images on the orange paper are barely visible.

Please join us for some challenge fun and you may win a prize in our random drawing. Just be sure to follow the guidelines for both challenges. Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments.

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic Black, Basic White, Just Jade

Paper: Photoplay "Fright Night" and 49th and Market "Art Options - Spice"

Misc,: Black dots and CTMH thin foam tape 

Halloween Fun - I've Got My Eye on You!

As I was writing this, I realized that by the time my blog post is published, Halloween will be over for 2023. Although I am not a big fan of the day, I make a few cards each year and pass out candy to the neighbor children. I have two grand-nephews who enjoy wearing costumes and going to neighborhood events to celebrate, so this card is for one of the boys. (The other card can be viewed HERE.) By the time this blog is published, the cards will have been mailed and received.

I made this card in conjunction with the Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #573, beginning on Friday, November 3, 2023, and closing on Thursday evening, November 16, 2023. The required colors are Pumpkin, Acorn, and Jade. Black and white plus neutrals are free to use but the three challenge colors must all be present in your project. The color board is below.

I decided to use some Halloween paper that has been taking up space in my stash. I still have plenty of it for next Halloween so perhaps I should have made more cards this year. Onto a vanilla card base, I adhered a layer of cardstock tilted to the left that matched the acorn color. Next, I added a layer of patterned dot paper in the jade color, tilting it to the right. I used a cut-apart piece with the big eyeball from the paper collection, backed it with vanilla cardstock, and then a scrap of orange-dotted black paper. This layered cut-apart was adhered directly to the card, again at a slight tilt. 

The eyeball was illustrated with spots that represent light reflection so I added rhinestones for sparkle to those spots and then a black enamel dot for the pupil. Going along with the dots, I added two more rhinestones and two more black dots just for fun. The inside of the card was decorated with more patterned paper and a stick-on spider.

We hope you will join us at Color Dare Challenge #573. The colors are ideal for an Autumn card as well as Thanksgiving or Halloween. Our challenges are biweekly, beginning every Friday morning so there is always an active challenge to join.

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

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla & Baked Brown Sugar

Patterned Paper: Photo Play "Fright Night"

Misc.: Rhinestones, enamel dots (black)

Let's Get This Par-TEA Started!

Yes, indeed, let's get this par-TEA started and win some Blog Candy!

My aunt is in her 90s and she is a great admirer of my cards, so of course, I keep mailing them to her! She is a tea drinker so I thought she would be the perfect card recipient when I came across this image of a teacup in my stash. The card layout came from a sketch that I used in a previous challenge ages ago.

Double Trouble Challenge #152 is participating in the Fall-Winter Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. It's  worth playing along! Double Trouble lasts for one week only to coincide with the Coffee Lovers Challenge.

There are specific details at the Double Trouble Blog but in summary:

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker is reminding us that the time is here to create at least one card for the Coffee Lovers Blog Hop. You are free to enter cards continually for the duration of the challenge at Coffee Lovers but no more than four cards at Double Trouble.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare is asking you to be sure to link your coffee-tea-cocoa-cider project HERE. Then watch on the days that drawings are made to see if you have won a prize.

Thing 3 (optional): Isn't it just like Twisted Sister to change things up? She wants you to include a sentiment that uses a pun. I really did not want to add my pun to the front of my card, so inside of the card, I handwrote, "Let's get this par-tea started."

We've made a change in our routine for this challenge - we have BLOG CANDY! Each Design Team member has a giveaway for those who wish to play along. We hope you'll visit each member's individual blog, view the prize, and leave a comment - BUT - this will not qualify you for the prizes. After viewing each individual blog, go back to the Double Trouble Blog and leave a comment. From those comments, we will randomly select the names of Blog Candy recipients. Please join in the fun. A photo of the items in my Blog Candy giveaway is below. 

To clarify, the Double Trouble Challenge #152 closes on Friday, November 10, 2023, along with the Coffee Lovers Challenge. Be sure to check back at both challenges to see if you have won any prizes.

Thank you for visiting my blog. I appreciate your comments and wish you good luck in winning blog candy.

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Basic Black

Paper: Paper Rose "Katie's Tea Party"

Sentiment: Paper Rose Sentiments Sheet

Misc.: Clear droplets and CTMH thin foam tape

BLOG CANDY:

La-la Land Crafts "Astronaut Marci and her Stellar Friends"

(One of the stamps has been gently used, the dies have not been used.)

Includes two stamps with four images and a variety of sentiments.

Also includes three die sets - a four-piece spaceship, a three-piece satellite, and a one-piece  moonscape.