Coloring Fun

It's the fifth Monday in March and that calls for a special event at Double Trouble Challenge Blog! While we always have a biweekly challenge beginning on the first and third Mondays of each month, when there is a fifth Monday in the month, we enjoy having a one-week challenge themed as "Something, Anything, Everything". 

As usual, there are three "Things":

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker has set the theme as indicated above, which is Anything Goes.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare encourages you to link your project to any previous partner.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister hopes you'll demonstrate your coloring skills with any medium.

This challenge begins on Monday, March 29, ending on Sunday evening, April 4, 2021. Check out our Challenge Blog for guidelines and specific information.

For my project, I adhered some die-cut rectangles cut from pink cardstock and silver foiled cardstock to a pastel card base. I stamped and colored an image then fussy cut it and adhered it with foam tape. I finished it off with some tiny silver pearls in the centers of the roses. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock, also die-cut to match the front panels. I added some additional stamped and colored elements for decoration. The sentiment will be added when I am ready to use the card.

I linked my card to The Paper Funday Challenges #27, which is currently underway and ends on Sunday, April 4, 2021.

Visit the DTC80 Challenge Blog to play along and you could win a prize!

Materials

Stamps: Simon Says Stamp "Floral Bliss"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Pool Party, Strawberry Slush & Silver foil

Dies: Kat Scrappiness "Fancy Scalloped Rectangles"

Misc.: Silver pearls (2 mm.) & foam tape from stash

Pleated Curtain Technique

It's time for another biweekly challenge at Color My Heart Color Dare. Challenge #437 begins on Friday, March 26, and ends on Thursday evening, April 8, 2021. What makes this challenge a little different from our usual challenges is that you get to pick the colors. All you have to do is follow the 3-2-1 Recipe pictured below. I selected tones of pink, yellow, and green as my Three colors, vanilla and brown (woodgrain) for the Two neutrals, and pink glitter paper for my One item.

I have been trying to use paper from my stash so selected paper that gave me my colors for the challenge. The three main colors and the two neutrals can be found in the paper's design. The pleated curtain technique is an old favorite of mine and having recently seen it demonstrated again I decided to revive one of the many styles. This is also called Pleated Drape or Pleated Skirt in addition to other terms. (Click HERE to see another style.) 

For this card, I simply pleated a strip of patterned paper then adhered it to the woodgrain panel and finished the top edge of the pleating with a pink glitter punched border. The rose, leaves, and butterfly were fussy-cut from the patterned paper and added with foam tape along with a few embellishments. The entire piece was added to a vanilla card base. The inside was decorated with additional fussy-cut images. I decided not to add a sentiment until I am ready to use the card.

Visit our Challenge Blog to see the cards made by our Design Team. We'd enjoy seeing your interpretation of our challenge, too!

Materials
Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla
Paper: Stampin' Up! "Mosaic Mood", CTMH Glitter Paper (Ballerina), & woodgrain from stash
Punch: Martha Stewart Loopy Border
Misc.: Foam tape & enamel dots from stash

Fancy Butterflies

For crafting fun, join us at Try Stampin' on Tuesday Biweekly Challenge #499. This challenge begins on Tuesday, March 23, and runs through Sunday evening, April 4, 2021. While the challenge requires the use of a sketch, there is an optional element to include butterflies in your project. I tilted the sketch and created my card with a landscape orientation.

             Original                          Tilted

 

Using a patterned paper collection that has been stored in my stash for several years, I added a gray panel to a white card base. Next, I added a die-cut stitched rectangle in a yellow print directly to the gray panel. Using foam tape, I added a smaller die-cut rectangle in a gray, white, and yellow design. In keeping with the sketch, I added some angled strips of silver glimmer paper to represent the banners. For the optional theme, I die-cut two butterflies - one from the yellow paper and another from silver glimmer paper, adhering them so the wings are slightly lifted. A few rhinestones were also added. The inside was decorated with a smaller yellow butterfly and some silver glimmer paper. No sentiment was required by the sketch, so I omitted a stamped greeting until I use the card.

We hope you'll take a look at the TSOT499 Blog and join our challenge!

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Smoky Slate & Silver Glimmer

Paper; Stampin' Up! Eastern Elegance (retired)

Dies: Paper Rose (stitched rectangles) & RCD (Large Fancy Butterfly)

Misc.: Foam tape and rhinestones from stash

Happy Day Flowers

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #413 is live beginning on Monday, March 22, and ending on Sunday evening, March 28, 2021. 

Onto a white card base, I added a lavender die-cut stitched panel. Using the same die set but a slightly smaller die, I added a panel of dotted paper. I stamped three of the floral "bunches", colored two of them with Copic markers, and then fussy cut them, adhering them to the top and bottom edges of the card with foam tape. Using the third bunch, I colored three flowers then fussy cut them to decorate the inside of the card. The sentiment was die-cut from yellow cardstock and the shadow was cut from black cardstock. It was adhered to the center of the card also using foam tape.

You won't be disappointed with this challenge so visit the AHSC413 Blog for details and a look at the Design Team samples.

Materials

Stamp: Little Acres "Lots of Poppies"

Ink: Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Basic Black, Wisteria Wonder & Daffodil Delight

Paper: LDRS Creative "Pastel Patterns" (yellow dot)

Dies: The Stamp Doctor (sentiment and shadow) & Paper Rose (stitched rectangles)

Misc.: Foam tape

Big Pink Bow

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #412 is underway. This weekly challenge began on Monday, March 15, and will run through Sunday evening, March 21, 2021. Following is the fun sketch for this week:

Onto a white card base, I added a die-cut panel in green, then a rectangular panel in pink, and then topped with a panel of patterned paper. I thought of a myriad of items to use on my card other than a bow but then I came across a small roll of pink burlap in my stash and my bow for the card was born! I added the pink and white striped ribbon to the card, followed by the burlap bow. The sentiment was stamped then cut with an oval die. A few pink pearls were added and the oval was added to the card with foam tape. The inside was decorated with a small pink bow cut from pink cardstock.

Visit the AHSC412 Blog for details on entering this challenge.

Materials

Stamp set: Stampin' Up! "Parcels and Petals"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Mint Macaron & Melon Mambo

Paper: CTMH "Lovely"

Dies: Sunny Studio (scalloped rectangle), Jeanine's (oval mini frame), Frantic Stamper (small bow inside card)

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Striped Organdy Ribbon (Melon Mambo) & pink pearls from stash

Have a Blast

We're celebrating a magical event at Double Trouble Challenge #79, beginning on Monday, March 15, ending on Sunday evening, March 28, 2021. As usual, there are three "Things" to know about the challenge. Thing 1 (required) is to include something magical in your project. This includes fantasy items such as unicorns, fairies, mermaids, etc. Thing 2 (optional) is to link your project to our partner's challenge at Dies R Us #165, which runs concurrently. Thing 3 (also optional) is our twist. We're asking you to use at least one die. In addition, DTC79 will be selecting a randomly-drawn winner so you could win a prize!

Onto a gray cardstock base, I adhered the constellation map paper. The space dragon, the planet surface, and the tiny Planet Earth with the moon circle were all stamped, colored and fussy cut. The images were adhered to the patterned paper using foam tape. Some small stars were cut with a punch from silver glimmer paper and adhered to the card. The sentiment was stamped and cut with an oval die (that was purchased in the DRU store the last time I played in their challenge). The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with a few stamped and colored planets.

We hope you'll join us for this biweekly challenge. Visit the DTC79 Blog and the DRU165 Blog for all the details.

Materials

Stamps: Whimsy (Space Dragon & planet surface)

Inks: Distress Oxide (chipped sapphire) & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Smoky Slate & Silver Glimmer

Paper: CTMH "Aurora"

Die: Jeanine's Art "Frame with Ovals" (JAD10052)

Punch: Stampin' Up! "Confetti Stars"

Misc.: Foam tape

Happy Birthday to Joyce

Color My Heart Color Dare Biweekly Challenge #435 is open as of Friday, March 12, ending on Thursday evening, March 25, 2021. We're giving St. Patrick's Day a nod by challenging you to create a project using shades of green with one color of your choice. Black, white, most neutrals, metallics, and glitter are free to use. You are not required to create something specific for St. Patrick's Day. I used various greens with pink as my color of choice, adding metallic gold.

I have a friend, Joyce, whose birthday is February 29th. Except for Leap Years, she celebrates on the 28th. This is for her. I saw a fun fold on YouTube that was new to me and liked the card but the presentation did not include measurements for the specific card so I just guessed my way through so the card would fold into A2 size. Once the card base was folded and decorated with various patterns in green, three flowers were stamped, colored, and fussy-cut. The foliage was die-cut from gold foiled cardstock and gold-toned stick-on gems were added for the floral centers. I elected not to use a sentiment on the front, but stamped one inside and decorated the inside with more gold foiled foliage.

We hope you'll join us for this biweekly challenge by visiting the Color Dare Blog!

Materials

Stamp: Ranger "Letter-It Birthday"

Ink: DOX Rustic Wilderness & Abandoned Coral

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Garden Green & Gold Foil

Paper: Stampin' Up! "Forever Greenery" & CTMH "Mix-in"

Dies: Frantic Stamper "Wreath & Swag Components"

Misc.: Foam tape and gold "gems"

Latched Hearts Gatefold Card

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge # 411 is underway. This is a weekly challenge that began on Monday, March 8, and will end on Sunday evening, March 14, 2021. I always enjoy participating in AHSC challenges because it was the first challenge I ever attempted and it was the first challenge where I eventually won a Top Three designation. I was so new to card making!

This sketch just begged to be used for a gatefold design so I obliged. I also created the card with a portrait orientation rather than a landscape. Inspired by the heart in the sketch, I went with a heart motif as well. The die-cut hearts interlock when the card is closed, creating a latch. I found using a heart shape requires patience when unlatching the card. I created a standard A2 card base with the double gate closing in the center, embossing each door to add texture. 

Using a set of heart nesting dies, I cut five images, alternating between a solid color and a Hound's Tooth check pattern and attaching them to the front gates. The three solid-colored hearts were added to the left gate with glue applied to the left half of each heart. Likewise, the two patterned hearts were added to the right gate with glue applied to the right half of the heart. Carefully nestle the hearts so they fit together. In keeping with the sketch, I added a sentiment but placed it below the focal image so it would not interfere with the latch. The sentiment banner is attached only to the left gate. Because the card is in soft colors, I added a few white pearls for interest and dimension. The inside of the card was decorated with coordinating die-cut hearts.

If you're looking for a card challenge I hope you'll visit the AHSC Blog. The Design Team always contributes plenty of inspiration to get you going.

Materials

Stamp: Concord & 9th "Say Hello"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White, Perfect Plum & Pale Plum

Paper: LDRS Creative "Pastel Patterns" 

Dies: Spellbinder's Classic Hearts

Misc.: Stampin' Up! Embossing Folder ("Parisian Flourish") & pearls from stash

A Really Big Greeting!

Try Stampin' on Tuesday Challenge #497 begins today, Tuesday, March 9, and ends on Sunday evening, March 21, 2021. This biweekly challenge is usually based on a required sketch with an optional theme except when we have a "Mix-Up" Challenge. This "Mix-Up" Challenge gives you the opportunity to choose either the sketch provided or the suggested theme. You may combine them as well, so that provides you with three choices. We hope you'll play along with us!

I elected to use the sketch and the theme together while keeping the card simple. I tilted the sketch onto its side for a landscape orientation rather than a portrait. The sentiment is so large, that I created an A6-sized card rather than the usual A2. Onto a white card base, I added the inverted scalloped frame with a yellow mottled background paper. Then I die-cut the floral paper to say, "hi". In keeping with the sketch, I added the background paper bands using the same floral paper. The inside of the card is decorated with additional coordinating paper with sufficient space to add a personal message.

We hope you'll join us at the TSOT497 Challenge Blog for the challenge fun!

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White and Elegant Eggplant

Paper: Stampin' Up! "Painted Blooms" Collection (retired)

Dies: Lawn Fawn (inverted scalloped rectangles) & Winnie & Walter (sentiment)

You're Out of this World

Update 03/10/2021: What fun! This card was named a Top Three winner at AHSC #410.

Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #410 has been luring me to participate all week but I was unable to respond. Late today I managed to create a card for my grand-nephew using the AHSC sketch for inspiration so decided to add it to the challenge. This challenge opened on Monday, March 1, and closes on Sunday evening, March 7, 2021.

One of my nieces has two wonderful sons, ages 5 and 7. I enjoy making them fun cards and they are always excited to receive snail mail. This card is a companion to a similar card I made for another upcoming challenge. That card is for the 7-year old and won't be published until March 15. This card is for the 5-year old. 

I stamped a few images, colored them with Copic Alcohol Markers and fussy cut them. I added a panel of purple patterned paper to a slimline card base, then with thin foam tape added a die-cut slimline stitched rectangle with wonky squares cut from a celestial map pattern. I did some stamping of stars and the sentiment then added my fussy cut images using thin foam tape. With a punch, I created some star confetti from silver glimmer paper, attaching the stars randomly to the card front. The inside was decorated with stamped stars and two additional images.

Left and center images:

Right and center images:

Be sure to visit the AHSC Blog for fabulous sketches and inspiration. I hope you enjoy my silly card - I know that my grand-nephew will!

Materials

Stamp set: Whimsy "A Boy's Dream"

Inks: Distress Oxide "Dusty Concord", Delicata "Silver Metallic", Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Silver Glimmer
Paper: CTMH "Taste of Summer" (purple) & "Aurora" (celestial map)

Die: Whimsy "Slimline Marquee"

Punch: Stampin' Up! "Confetti Stars"

Misc.: Thin foam tape

Believe in Magic

It's almost time for the annual "wearin' o' the green" on March 17. When I was a youngster, everyone celebrated St. Patrick's Day, Irish or not. Double Trouble Challenge #78, a biweekly challenge, begins on Monday, March 1, and ends on Sunday evening, March 14, 2021. There are always three "Things" with this challenge:

Thing 1 (required) is to create a project using the color green. Thing 2 (optional) is to link your card with the challenge at Use Your Stuff #417. Thing 3 (optional) is the special twist, which is to include tartan plaid or checked paper in your design. Your project is not required to have a St. Patrick's Day theme.

Onto a white card base, I adhered a panel of green cardstock that I embossed with a folder that had a tartan plaid design. Next, a panel of white cardstock, then plaid paper, then a red dotted paper, and then white cardstock again. The gnome was part of the ephemera that was included in the paper pack so I simply added him to the design. I hand-drew, colored, and fussy-cut a shamrock for the gnome to hold, attaching it with foam tape. The sentiment was a sticker included with the ephemera. I added a few enamel dots just for fun. The inside of the cards was decorated with a rainbow (also ephemera).

Be sure to visit the Double Trouble Blog #78 to check the challenge guidelines and to view the Design Team projects. If you want to play along with Thing 2, visit the Use Your Stuff Blog as well. By the way, Double Trouble makes it more interesting my randomly selecting a winner who will receive a great prize!

Materials

Stamps: Shamrock (hand-drawn)

Inks: Copic Alcohol Markers (to color the shamrock)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Whisper White & Just Jade

Paper: Photoplay "Tulia & Norbert" (Gnomes)

Embossing Folder: Darice (plaid design)

Misc.: Enamel dots & foam tape

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