Floral Thank You

When I first saw this Tictactoe color board for Color My Heart Color Dare TicTacToe Challenge #433 I was sure I would not be able to meet the requirements because I thought the colors would not coordinate well. To my surprise, I was able to complete my card without difficulty so now I don't know why I was dreading it. This biweekly challenge began on Friday, February 26, and will end on Thursday evening, March 11, 2021.

I selected the three colors in the first column - Lilac, Sage, and Lemonade, then added the color Grape to the floral image, using Sangria for the card base. I selected a creamy vanilla cardstock for the image. The flowers were stamped in Lilac with some Grape shading added, followed by Lemonade in the centers. Sage was used for the leaves and Grape with an occasional touch of Lemonade was used for the small flowers. Ensuring the ink was dry, I embossed the cardstock image panel so it would have the texture of linen but I tore the paper and made a mess of it. I turned to fussy cutting the texturized image and adhering it to a vanilla panel, also texturized with an embossing folder. The stamped sentiment was adhered with foam tape and a few rhinestones were added. The inside of the card was stamped with a single flower with leaves in the same colors. I planned on using the card immediately and wrote in it before I photographed it. A quick look at the photo and you can see the edge of my written note.

Note: The camera picked up the blue tones in the lilac flowers. The inks I used are listed below.

If you've never joined us at Color My Heart Color Dare we invite you to visit our Blog and play along with our challenges!

Size: A6 (4.75" x 6")

Materials

Stamps: Stampin' Up! "Blossoms in Bloom"

Inks: Distress Oxide Shaded Lilac, Dusty Concord, Squeezed Lemonade & Bundled Sage

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla & Rich Razzleberry (sub for Sangria)

Punches (sentiment): Stampin' Up! Lovely Labels & Modern Label

Embossing Folder: Stampin' Up! "Subtle"

Misc.: Foam tape and pearls from stash

With Deepest Sympathy

Welcome to Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #495! This is a biweekly challenge beginning on Tuesday, February 23, and ending on Sunday evening, March 7, 2021. The challenge sketch is below and the optional theme is "Sympathy".

Lately, I have been trying to use up small pieces of patterned paper that are retired or discontinued and found these old favorite designs. Onto a card base, I added a die-cut rectangular gray panel, followed by two smaller panels and a horizontal strip of coordinating paper. In keeping with the sketch, I added a butterfly, fussy-cut from the paper. The sentiment was stamped and cut with oval dies then added with foam tape. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with coordinating paper and a small butterfly. The last item was to add Glossy Accents to the butterfly.

Try Stampin' on Tuesday has great sketches for biweekly card challenges beginning each Tuesday so there is always an active challenge. Check out the Challenge Blog!

Materials
Stamps: Stampin Up! "Peaceful Moments"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Gray & Soft Sky
Paper: CTMH "Chelsea Gardens"
Dies: Hero Arts Infinity Ovals & Paper Rose Infinity Rectangles
Misc.: Glossy Accents & foam tape

You're the Whirl to Me

Today holds a new challenge at Double Trouble. This is Challenge #77. There are three "Things" to Double Trouble Challenges. Thing 1, a required element, is to make a layered card with at least three layers. Thing 2, which is optional, is to enter your project into Challenge #260 at The Crafter's Cafe. To top it off, Thing 3, also optional, is to play along with the twist. The twist is to add lace and/or pearls.

To meet the requirements I created my card with a card base plus six layers, depending on how you count them. I know there are more than three. I added a panel of cardstock and a panel of patterned paper to the card base. Using circle dies, I used a technique called Layered Circles. There are numerous ways to layer the circles to achieve different results. The sentiment was stamped on a banner of cardstock and decorated with pearls and a small bit of die-cut lacy trim. The inside was decorated with a few scraps of cardstock. I found this sentiment in my stamp stash and thought it would work with the "whirled" circles.

We hope you'll join us for this fun challenge, which ends on Sunday evening, February 28, 2021. Be sure to view the guidelines for these challenges at DTC77 and Crafter's Cafe #260.

Materials

Stamps: Lil' Inker "Pinwheel Sentiments"

Ink: Distress Oxide Seedless Preserves

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Crisp Cantaloupe, Rich Razzleberry & Bermuda Bay

Paper: Stampin' Up! "Birthday Basics" Collection (retired)

Dies: Whimsy (Stitched Circles), Lawn Fawn (Fancy Scalloped Rectangles) & Mama Elephant (Tiny Scalloped Border)

Punch: Stampin' Up! Lovely Labels (sentiment)

Misc.: Pearls and foam tape from stash

Hearts Slimline Valentine

We are so pleased to have you join us for another biweekly challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare. This is Challenge # 431, beginning on Friday, February 12, and ending on Thursday, February 25, 2021. Below is the Challenge Board. I used pink with vanilla as my color of choice plus gray as a neutral and metallic gold as a free color.

With St. Valentine's Day falling on Sunday, the 14th, I decided to use this pink challenge to make just one more Valentine. On a panel of vanilla cardstock, I used a "just-stitching" die set of hearts to create the random design. Because I usually make a terrible mess when I splatter ink, I decided to try a stencil, using both pink and gray ink. I added a gold-bordered ribbon and adhered the die-cut panel to a rectangle of gray with only a bit showing. This was added to the pink card base. The sentiment was die-cut from gold paper and two shadows were die-cut - one pink, one gray, then stacked and adhered to the card front. The inside was lined with a die-cut scalloped vanilla panel embossed with the just stitching heart dies. A die-cut "you" in gray was added along with a punched gold metallic heart in gold metallic.

Be sure to stop by the Color Dare Blog to view the challenge guidelines and the inspiring cards created by the Design Team.

Materials

Inks: Stampin' Up! Petal Pink & Basic Gray

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Basic Gray & Petal Pink

Dies: Lawn Fawn "Just Stitching Hearts"

Stencil: Stamperia Mixed Media

Punch: Stampin' Up! (small heart on the inside of the card)

Dies: Pink & Main ("love" with shadow) & SSS ("you" on the inside of the card)

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Gold Metallic Edge Ribbon (Petal Pink) & foam tape

A Clowder of Cats Just for You

Try Stampin' on Tuesday #493 is up on the blog. This is a biweekly challenge that opens on Tuesday, February 9, and ends on Sunday evening, February 21, 2021. There is always a sketch and this time there is an optional theme of Peekaboo. These cute images are giving off a party vibe and I placed a few of them hoping they would look as if they were playing a little peekaboo.

After stamping and coloring five little cat images, I fussy cut them. I die cut five circles in a panel of patterned paper, backing it with foam tape and adding to the red card base. The cat images were tucked inside each of the circles. The sentiment was die cut from cardstock and added to the card. Finally, the inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with coordinating patterned paper. 

For a great sketch challenge visit the TSOT493 Blog!

Materials

Stamps: Newton's Nook "Newton Makes Plans"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black & Real Red

Paper: Stampin' Up! "Playful Pets"

Dies: Spellbinders Classic Circles & RCD "Just for You"

Misc.: Foam tape 

My Valentine for You

Thanks for visiting my blog! It's time to join in some crafting fun by combining three challenges. Here they are:

1. Double Trouble #76 has three parts. The first part is required and uses what is called the 3-2-1 Recipe. Use at least three embellishments, at least two patterned papers, and at least one image. The second part, which is optional, is to add your card to the Heart2Heart Challenge. The third part, also optional, is to add hearts for St. Valentine's Day. This challenge is open from Monday, February 1, through Sunday, February 14, 2021.

2. Heart2Heart Challenge is partnering with Double Trouble #76. This challenge runs for the entire month of February. If you used at least one CTMH product and showed some love, you may be eligible to enter the H2H Challenge.

3. I also chose to use the sketch from Atlantic Heart Sketch Challenge #406 as inspiration for my design. This weekly challenge is open from Monday, February 1, through Sunday, February 7, 2021.

I thought this might be a fun masculine Valentine. I wanted a "Big Foot" but only had a Yeti stamp set so that had to do. For my card, I adhered a panel of gray cardstock to a Kraft-type card base, followed by a panel of wood grain patterned paper. Using the sketch, I made a tag from red plaid paper, adding the stamped, die-cut image that I had colored with Copic markers. The little speech bubble serves as my sentiment. I added the jute tied in a simple bow to the tag and then added the tag to the card with foam tape. I also added a heart die-cut from red foiled cardstock. In keeping with the sketch and the 3-2-1 recipe. I added three embellishments. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and another heart die-cut from plaid.

We hope you'll play along but it's up to you. I have added the blog links for your convenience.  We know you'll enjoy all three and Double Trouble offers a prize decided by a random draw of participants.

DTC#76  --  H2H  --  AHSC406

Materials

Stamp: Hello Bluebird "Yeti or Not"

Inks: Distress Oxide Walnut Stain and Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: CTMH Toffee, Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Basic Gray

Paper: Whimsy (plaid) & Stampin' Up! (wood grain)

Punch: Stampin' Up! Tag Topper Scallop Punch

Dies: Hello Bluebird "Yeti or Not", Whimsy (heart)  & Frantic Stamper (zigzag bottom edge on tag)

Misc.: Jute, heart stickers, and foam tape from stash

Thanks with a Flip Fold

The new biweekly Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #429 is up on the challenge blog beginning today, Friday, January 29, and will end on Thursday evening, February 11, 2021. It's easy to play along - just pick three colors from the color board below. You may use more than three colors but no colors are permitted unless they appear on the board. Notice that you may also use black, white, neutrals plus gold and silver metallics so there is the opportunity to create something colorful. My card was created with pastel colors of Ballerina, Mint, and French Vanilla.

Using an old favorite die set, this card was made from die-cut paper elements. Once the elements were cut and assembled, I added a die-cut sentiment on the flip-it circle along with tiny flowers and pearls. Wanting to dress up the card a little I added an ivory ribbon simply tied in a square knot. I will be using this card right away and adhered a panel of vanilla cardstock to the back of the card to write a personal message. 

I hope you'll visit the Color Dare #429 Blog and give our challenge a try!

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla and Mint Macaron; CTMH Ballerina

Paper: CTMH "Boutique"

Dies: Stamps of Life "Scalloped Edge Circle Flip-it"; MFT "Twice the Thanks" (sentiment); Frantic Stamper "Contemporary Flowers"

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Ribbon (Very Vanilla) and pearls from stash

Slimline Valentine

The biweekly challenge at Try Stampin' on Tuesday #491 began on Tuesday, January 26, and will run through Sunday, February 7, 2021. This is a sketch challenge with an optional twist. This optional twist is to make your card into a Slimline design. Here is the sketch:

Using slimline dies, I added a panel of vanilla cardstock onto a gray panel, followed by a rectangular panel die-cut from pink heart-patterned paper. I have been trying to use up some of my smaller scrap pieces so the three required elements are fussy cut from an old paper collection. I sponged pink ink onto the rose. The elements and die-cut sentiment were attached with foam tape. A few creamy colored pearls were added. The inside of the card was decorated with additional paper scraps.

Visit the TSOT491 Blog to join the challenge!

Materials
Ink: Distress Oxide "Picked Raspberry"
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla & Basic Gray
Paper: CTMH "Feels Like Home" Collection
Dies: D2BArtzy Wavy Framelits & Cutplorations (XOXO)

Misc.: Pearls and foam tape from stash

Bee Mine Valentine

Feb 3, 2021 Update:  Top Three Winner in AHSC Challenge #405.

Early this morning my cat awakened me protesting about his need to be fed. He has me well-trained so I got up, fed him, made coffee, and decided to catch up on some card making. On Mondays, I enjoy looking at the weekly sketch for Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenges and was immediately drawn to use the new weekly sketch for another Valentine. I had materials on my desk from a card I made yesterday (click HERE to view it) so decided to see what I could do with the leftover bits. Below is Sketch #405, running from Monday, January 25, through Sunday evening, January 31, 2021.

First, the bee image was stamped, colored with Copic markers, and then die-cut. The heart was also die-cut from red foiled cardstock. The edges of the foiled honeycomb paper were die-cut with a border die and the black/gold stripe paper scrap was trimmed to fit. All of the elements were added to a black card base. The heart and the bee image were popped up with thin foam tape. Googly eyes were added to the bee image for a fun element. The sentiment was stamped and added using foam tape and a small punched heart was added. The inside was lined with white cardstock and a few small punched hearts. 

If your looking for a great sketch challenge visit the Atlantic Hearts Blog and join the fun!

Materials

Stamps: Paper Smooches "Bee Mine"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black & Foiled Cardstock (red)
Paper: CTMH "Gold Foiled Patterns" & Stampin' Up! "Golden Honey" Collections
Punch: Stampin' Up! (small hearts)
Dies: Paper Smooches "Bee Mine", Lawn Fawn (perforated stitched heart), MFT (stitched zigzag border die)
Misc.: Googly eyes and foam tape from stash

Bee My Love Valentine

01/27/2021 Update: 

Top Three Winner at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #404.

Today is the last day for the weekly sketch challenge at Atlantic Hearts. I have been making a few valentines for family and friends and was inspired to use this week's sketch for one of them. 

Using a black card base, a panel of striped black and gold metallic patterned paper was added. Next, I added a smaller rectangle of white with gold metallic patterned paper using foam tape. The red metallic heart was cut using a punch and added with foam tape. The bees and sentiment were stamped, colored with Copic markers, and then die-cut. I added the bees with foam tape and adhered the sentiment directly to the heart. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and stamped with a large Copic-colored bee. Small punched hearts of red metallic paper were also added.

Atlantic Hearts Challenges is a great place to find fun sketches and inspiring DT cards so be sure to visit their blog!

Materials
Stamps: Paper Smooches "Bee Mine"
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Alcohol Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Foiled Cardstock (red)
Paper: Stampin' Up! "Golden Honey" Collection
Punches: Stampin' Up! 
Dies: Paper Smooches "Bee Mine"
Misc.: Foam tape

Happy Belated Birthday

Double Trouble Challenge #75 is partnering with Try Stampin' on Tuesday #490. Both challenges are biweekly. DTC75 begins on Monday, January 18, ending on Sunday evening, January 31, 2021. TSOT490 begins on Tuesday, January 19, also ending on Sunday evening, January 31, 2021. 

Here is what you need to know for the challenges. TSOT490 has a sketch and DTC75 has three "Things" plus a prize!

Thing 1: Trouble Maker learned that January 28 is Kazoo Day so our required Thing is to include a music theme in your project. (I used fun sheet music for my background.)

Thing 2: Double Dare is providing an option whereby you use the TSOT490 sketch when designing your project and link it to their challenge. (I followed the sketch and linked.)

Thing 3: Twisted Sister was a little confused as to a Kazoo and would like to see you use a zoo animal in your design! (I used a sloth image because I am slow in getting this birthday card to the recipient.)

A panel of black cardstock and another of colorful sheet music was adhered to a green card base. I stamped, colored, and fussy cut the image, adding the Googly Eyes and texturizing the coloring on the sloth's body. Using foam tape I adhered the image to a green rectangle matted with a zig-zag edged rectangle. I drew the sentiment, matted it, and added it with foam tape. I added a few black gems for interest. The inside of the card was lined with vanilla cardstock, decorated with music paper, and another hand-written sentiment, "Sorry I missed your party."

We hope you'll double your challenge fun by joining both biweekly challenges! For information, visit the DTC75 Blog and the TSOT490 Blog.

Materials
Stamp: Inky Antics "Silly Sloths"; sentiments are hand-printed
Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers & Micron Pen
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla, Basic Black & Just Jade
Paper: Echo Park "Party Time"
Dies: Lawn Fawn "Zigzag Rectangles"
Misc.: Googly Eyes, "gems", foam tape from stash

Friendship

There aren't many tic-tac-toe color challenges for paper crafters but one is available at Color My Heart Color Dare #427, a biweekly event beginning Friday, January 15, and ending on Thursday evening, January 28, 2021. Select a direction of colors and create a project for our challenge. Once you have selected three-in-a-row colors you may add additional colors provided they are on the tic-tac-toe board. Also permitted are black, white, neutrals, and metallic gold. Colors that are not designated on the board below may not be used for this challenge. If you do not have the exact color, you may use one that is a very close match. I selected Peach, Blue Belle, and Sage then added Canary and Paprika plus a "freebie" of white.

The card base was die-cut from blue cardstock. A patterned paper was also die-cut to fit on the front of the card base. On white cardstock, I stamped three flowers in two colors, fussy cutting them and then adding a few yellow dots to the flower centers with yellow cardstock. The flowers were adhered using foam tape for dimension. The sentiment was stamped and matted then added using foam tape. A few pearls were added as well. The inside of the card was decorated with a white scalloped rectangle and a pink patterned paper. A large block-lettered "THANKS" was die-cut from pink patterned paper and adhered along with another stamped flower.

If you haven't tried one of our challenges, visit CD427 to see the inspirational cards created by the Design Team, and to review our guidelines.

Materials
Stamp Set: Stampin; Up! "Gorgeous Posies"
Inks: Distress Oxide Spun Sugar (for Peach), Fired Brick (for Paprika), and Faded Jeans (for Blue Belle)
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Daffodil Delight; CTMH "Blue Belle"
Paper: CTMH "Happiness Lives Here"

Dies: Stamps of Life

Misc.: Pearls & foam tape from stash

Sending XOXO

St. Valentine's Day will be here before we realize it! I have an aunt who is in her nineties and who loves to receive cards and letters. She is the last of her generation in our family and a generous, loving woman. I include her on my card list for every occasion so this is a Valentine for her.

I was inspired by a sketch at Try Stampin' on Tuesday's biweekly challenge. Below is the required sketch for Challenge #489. The optional twist is to include die cuts on your project. This biweekly challenge runs from Tuesday, January 12, through Sunday evening, January 11, 2021. A new biweekly challenge begins each week so there is always one active challenge underway.

Using a circle die I cut a floral image from a sheet of patterned paper, adhered it to the pink card base, and added a bit of faux stitching with a white gel pen. A strip of metallic gold cardstock was added next and decorated with a tiny scalloped edge along the edge. The backside of the floral image had these casual hearts printed on white, so I matted a strip with dark red cardstock and adhered it to the card using foam tape. With a gold gel pen, I colored in a few of the hearts. To finish the card I added the die-cut xoxo sentiment and some gold metallic pearls. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with the same floral paper.

There are always inspirational cards created by the Design Teams to encourage you to enter the challenges. Check out the TSOT489 Blog for the sketch and guidelines.

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Blushing Bride, Gold Metallic

Paper: Simple Stories "Kissing Booth"

Dies: Spellbinders Classic Circles, Cutplorations (XOXO), Memory Box (scalloped border)

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Metallic Pearls (gold), Boxun Gel Pens (white & gold metallic), foam tape

Celebrating Your Day

Having missed a few weekly challenges at Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge, I was eager to submit a card for Challenge #403. This challenge began on Monday, January 11, and ends on Sunday evening, January 17, 2021. Here is the sketch:

Onto a white card base, I added a panel of lavender cardstock and then another slightly smaller panel in purple. The patterned paper was cut to size and adhered as well as a color-coordinated ribbon. I stamped the sentiment and then die-cut the label shapes. The sentiment was added with foam tape for dimension. The butterfly is a vellum image (ephemera) from the same collection as the patterned paper, colored with Copic markers. In addition, I die-cut the flourish using more of the patterned paper and added it with the butterfly using foam tape. In keeping with the sketch, a few pearls were added. The inside of the card was decorated with paper scraps, a butterfly, and another flourish.

Visit the AHSC403 Blog and join the weekly challenge!

Materials
Stamp: Stampin' Up! "Gorgeous Posies" (sentiment)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Markers
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Elegant Eggplant & Wisteria Wonder
Paper: CTMH "Every Little Thing" Collection
Dies: Whimsy Stamps (sentiment labels) & MFT (flourish)

Ribbon: Stampin' Up! "Scallop Dots" (Elegant Eggplant)
Misc.: Mermaid Rainbow Pearls & foam tape from stash