Celebrate - Masculine Card (TSOT 646)

It's time again to try a sketch over at the Try a Sketch on Tuesday Blog #646. This semi-monthly challenge began on Tuesday, May 7, 2024, and ends on Sunday, May 19, 2024.

I have three brothers and five nephews so masculine cards are in demand. After searching my stash I found a bit of ephemera and patterned paper that I liked and then simply followed the sketch, making two identical masculine cards. 

Thanks for checking out the TSOT Challenge and for stopping by.

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Peacock

Paper: Photoplay "Birthday Bash" Collection with Ephemera & Scrapbook.com "Pinstripes & Polka Dots"

Misc.: Honey Bee Pearl Stickers & CTMH thin foam tape

Lovely Amazing You (DTC #166)

It's another Double Trouble Challenge. This biweekly Challenge #166 runs through Sunday evening, May 19, 2024. Our challenge has three "Things".

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker has decided we need to celebrate "Lost Socks Memorial Day". This occurs annually on May 9. The point is to honor all the socks that have disappeared and are no longer with us. Crazy, right? Take a look at the DTC #166 Blog for the details.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare would like to see your project posted at our partner's challenge. Visit Tuesday Morning Sketches #756 for their requirements.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister has suggested you create your card using our partner's sketch (below) for inspiration.

In honor of "Lost Socks Memorial Day", I used a favorite paper collection that is almost depleted. I was sure I needed more paper to follow the sketch successfully but I used a few tricks in piecing to complete the card. I was thinking, "Missing paper = missing sock." I know... it's a stretch, but it's fun.

Scraps were layered in keeping with the sketch. Each layer was backed with cardstock scrap to add dimension rather than using foam tape. (Most of my cards are mailed so I keep them low profile.) The layers were adhered to a white card base decorated with a panel of wood grain paper. The top layer was stamped, adhered, and decorated. The inside of the card was decorated with a coordinating paper scrap.

Here's hoping you'll join us for these challenges so be sure to include the sketch. For all the details, visit the blogs for DTC #166 and TMS #756!

Thank you for stopping by.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Stampin' Up! "Lovely Amazing You"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White

Paper: Honey Bee "Modern Spring" Collection

Misc.: Honey Bee "Winter Pearl" sticker gems

Silver Dragonfly (CD 599)

For years I dreaded color challenges, avoiding them at every turn. A friend encouraged me to try them and I have grown to enjoy them. Below is the color board for Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #599, a biweekly challenge that runs through Thursday, May 16. I used colors from my stash that most closely match the required colors. I also included silver foiled cardstock.

A design was die-cut into a cardstock panel and the resulting opening was backed with darker cardstock. Next, the leaf cluster was stamped and colored using alcohol markers. The dragonfly was die-cut from silver foiled cardstock and adhered to a piece of vellum that had been colored with a marker. The vellum was fussy-cut to fit the dragonfly. The elements were adhered to the panel and then to a white card base. A hole punch was used to cut a few bits from silver scraps and added to the card. The inside was decorated with a small dragonfly die-cut and additional silver bits.

I hope my card has inspired you to play along at Color Dare Challenge #599! Thank you for looking.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Altenew "Leaf Canopy"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Elegant Eggplant (for Royal), Wisteria Wonder, Foiled Cardstock (silver)

Dies: Altenew "Leaf Canopy", Sizzix Thinlits #660220, Unbranded Dragonflies

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape

¡Salud! Cheers! (DTC 165)

It's interesting to learn that Cinco de Mayo is not a big celebration in Mexico, but is recognized more in the USA than elsewhere. In fact, the largest celebrations occur in Los Angeles, CA. Double Trouble is giving Cinco de Mayo an optional nod with Challenge #165. Because this is the fifth Monday of the month, it's an Anything Goes event and lasts one week, ending on Sunday evening, May 5, 2024. Here is a summary of the challenge:

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker says this is a "Something, Anything, Everything" challenge. Specific details are available at the DTC 165 Blog.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare hopes you will share your project with at least one of our previous partners. A list is available at the DTC 165 Blog.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister has provided an inspiration board for Cinco de Mayo (below). Playing along with the board will give you an extra chance in our random drawing. In addition, if you include the image of an avocado in your project, you will be eligible for an additional randomly drawn prize.

I selected five colors from the board for my card - green, yellow, purple, orange, and red. To create the background, strips of cardstock were hand-cut into fringe and adhered to a white card base. A piñata image was stamped, colored with markers, and fussy cut, then adhered to a white die-cut circle. This was adhered to another die-cut circle in red. The sentiment was hand-printed and cut into a banner, backed with red cardstock. The sentiment and the pinata were adhered to the card using thin foam tape. A few gold pearl stickers were adhered. The inside of the card was decorated with a touch of the fringe, leaving sufficient space for a personal message.

I shared my card at The Paper Funday Challenges #64, an Anything Goes challenge.

Thank you for visiting my blog.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Lawn Fawn "Year Seven"

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Mint Macaron, Hello Honey, Pale Plum, Real Red

Dies: Hero Arts Infinity (circles)

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape, Honey Bee pearl stickers

Thinking of You... So Very Much! (CD #597)

It's time again for Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #597. This biweekly challenge ends on Thursday evening, May 2, 2024. Over time I have learned to enjoy color challenges although I found them daunting in the early days of my card-making. Below is the color board. The colors remind me of my emerging tulip garden. The challenge requires using at least three of the colors shown and there is also a selection of free options. I used all four colors plus black and white.

I have recently been thinking about creating Clean and Simple (CAS) cards more often, so this card attempts to accomplish a CAS design. The important element seems to be keeping a significant amount of "white space". The space does not actually mean the color white. In graphic art, white space refers to blank space, not color. I could not resist adding a bit of bling so my card may be just outside the realm of a true CAS design.

After die-cutting the leaf image, it was colored by blending three colors, Ballerina, Sundance, and Limeade. The leaf was adhered to a white card base. The sentiment was stamped. I selected this for the simple, small font. The color, Rosy, was introduced by adding gems. The inside of the card was decorated with a coordinating stamp of the leaves in green ink, leaving sufficient space for a personal message.

I plan to mail this card to my Aunt Mildred. She is 98 years old and recently broke her leg. I have already sent her a few cards but I know she will enjoy receiving another while she is rehabilitating. 

Please visit the Color Dare Blog #597 and enjoy our color challenge. Thank you for stopping by.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Altenew "Leaf Canopy" (sentiment and leaves inside of card)

Inks: Stampin' Up! Parakeet Party (for Limeade), Blushing Bride (for Ballerina), Crushed Curry (for Sundance); Memento Tuxedo Black (sentiment)

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White

Die: Altenew "Leaf Canopy"

Misc.: Honey Bee Gem Stickers

Hello... Love You (TSOT 645)

 

Thank you for visiting my blog. Today's card was inspired by a sketch from Try a Sketch on Tuesday Challenge #645. Sometimes my interpretation doesn't follow the sketch precisely but for me, the sketch is for inspiration, and not necessarily to be copied exactly, unless that is what the cardmaker is inspired to do.

Challenge #645 is a semimonthly event that began on the third Tuesday, April 16, 2024, and runs through Tuesday, April 30, 2024.

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Just about every card I make these days is with existing items from my stash. I have so many beautiful patterned papers that I have resisted purchasing more until I reduce my current inventory. I thought this paper was sweet when I saw the tiny pink birds and the coordinating floral paper. After die-cutting and adhering the double-stacked branch along with the sentiment and its shadow I used scraps of pink cardstock and adhered it to a white card base. A few silver pearls completed the card front. The inside was decorated with the die-cut words "love you" and a leafy pink branch.

Last week I received word that my 98-year-old Aunt Mildred had broken her femur (thigh) in a fall so this card with a long overdue letter enclosed, is already on its way to her in Virginia. I will be sending her cards regularly while she is in rehab for this fractured leg.

Please visit the TSOT Challenge Blog 645 and thank you for stopping by!

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Pink Pirouette

Paper: Spellbinders "Love Grows Here"

Dies: Altenew "Decorative Swirls" (Leaf) & "Sweet Expressions" (sentiment)

Misc.: 3M foam tape & Honey Bee pearl stickers

Just for You - Less but Better aka CAS (DTC 164)

 

Thank you for joining in Double Trouble's Challenge #164. This challenge runs through Sunday evening, April For this challenge, we are partnering with The Crafter's Cafe #307. As is customary, there are three "Things" to the Double Trouble Challenge. 

Thing 1 (required): Trouble Maker is waiting to see your Clean and Simple (CAS) project. For details about CAS, visit the Double Trouble Challenge Blog.

Thing 2 (optional): Double Dare suggests you link your project to the CAS challenge at The Crafter's Cafe #307.

Thing 3 (optional): Twisted Sister wants you to tweak your CAS design. CAS usually means your card should have plenty of uncluttered "white" space. In graphic art, white space means uncluttered blank space regardless of color. So her optional twist is to use a color other than white for that uncluttered blank space. I chose to use pink with silver accents and a black sentiment.

To create my CAS card, a floral image was die-cut from pink cardstock and adhered to a pink card base along with a few additional flowers, also in pink. For a bit of interest, a stencil was used to add silver embossed accents. In addition, the centers of the small flowers were heat embossed with silver. The sentiment was stamped with black ink for contrast. The inside was lined with a panel of white cardstock and several small flowers were added for decoration.

As usual, photography seems to be the bane of my existence. The silver embossing was difficult to capture and there is a "funny" spot in the photo that is not present on my card. The camera lens is clean so who knows where that spot came from? Oh, well. 

Be sure to visit the challenge blogs for DTC #164 and The Crafter's Cafe #307 to view the Design Team projects.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Stampin' Up! "Picture Perfect" (sentiment)

Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black & Versamark

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Pink Pirouette

Die: Spellbinders "Kaleidoscope Floral"

Stencil: A Colorful Life "Rippling Squares"

Embossing Powder: Wow! Metallic Silver Super Fine

Thinking of You (CD 595)

 

It's time to create Challenge 595 at Color My Heart Color Dare Challenges. The color board below is a Fancy Five Challenge meaning you have five colors from which to choose. You may use three, four, or five colors from the board. I selected Peach, Flamingo, Glacier, and Sage, including black and gray. This challenge is biweekly and runs through Thursday evening, April 18, 2024.

I used a stamped image - a freebie from Honey Bee Designs, to create my card. After coloring it with Copic alcohol markers, it was fussy cut and adhered to a black and gray patterned paper panel. This was matted asymmetrically with Glacier-colored cardstock and adhered to a card base in a peachy hue. The sentiment banner provided with the image was adhered with thin foam tape and a few pearls were added. The inside was lined with white cardstock and decorated with patterned paper. 

We look forward to seeing your project in our challenge, so visit the Color Dare Blog and play along!

A few days after creating this card, I received word that my 98-year-old Aunt Mildred had fallen and broken her leg so I mailed the card to her with a personal message included. 

Thank you for stopping by.

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Honey Bee Designs (freebie image & sentiment)

Ink: Copic Alcohol Markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Pool Party (sub for Glacier), Crisp Cantaloupe (sub for Peach)

Patterned Paper: Paper Rose "Katie's Tea Party"

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape, Honey Bee pearl stickers

The Tea Party (TSOT 644)

 

A warm hello to you! Thanks for stopping by. Challenge #644 for Try a Sketch on Tuesday is up on the blog and ready for you to post your project. Below is the sketch for this challenge, which will close on Sunday, April 14, 2024.

In my continuing effort to use items from my stash, I selected a few coordinating patterned papers along with bits of matching ephemera. I followed the sketch and finished off the front with a sentiment heat embossed in silver and a few silver pearls. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with ephemera matching that on the card front. 

Please join us at the TSOT 644 Blog to see their lovely projects, and share your creation.

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Altenew "Elegant Sayings"

Ink: Versamark

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Mint Macaron & Basic Gray

Paper & Ephemera: Paper Rose "Katie's Tea Party"

Die: Hero Arts Infinity (circles)

Embossing Powder: Wow! Silver Metallic Super Fine

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

Let's Get Krafty on Earth Day (DTC 163)

 

It's time for another biweekly challenge at Double Trouble. This is Challenge #163 and runs through Sunday evening, April 14, 2024. As is customary, we have three elements to our challenge.

Did you know Monday, April 22, 2024, is Earth Day? In observance, Trouble Maker's requirement is to use Kraft-type paper in your project. Kraft is biodegradable and breaks down very quickly, absorbing into the environment.

Double Dare hopes you'll take the option to link your project to our partner's challenge. Inspiration Station Challenge #60 is suggesting using their photo prompt of Planet Earth (below) to energize your creativity and then tell your readers about it in your personal post.

Twisted Sister has an optional twist for you! Planet Earth is often called "The Blue Planet" because of its appearance from space. Did you know that about 71% of Earth is covered in water? Our twist is to focus on the color blue. This photo energized me by encouraging me to look up the details of our Blue Planet and Earth Day's history and create a card depicting our unique and beautiful planet.

To create the card I used part of a die from my stash. This die depicts a globe that is mounted in the semi-meridian style. I only used the mounting cradle portion of the die. I hand drew the rough outlines of five continents, fussy cutting them from the green mirror cardstock. (Australia and Antarctica are not within view from this angle.) Texture was added to the green pieces and were adhered to the blue mirror cardstock. 

The flowers and leaves were die-cut and colored with Copic markers. Much of the North American continent is covered with flowers but you can still see Florida. The background is patterned paper adhered to a Kraft-type cardstock. The inside of the card was lined with a panel of white cardstock and decorated with additional flowers and leaves. In the photo the lighting has played a trick showing Asia as a lighter green than the other continents.

I have two grand-nephews who enjoy receiving cards so I will make another but different card for Earth Day so each will have one. It's never too late for them to learn about caring for the Earth!

I hope you will stop by the DTC 163 Blog and Inspiration Station #60 to enjoy the challenges.

Thank you for visiting my blog...

Melanie

Materials

Inks: Copic alcohol markers

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Baked Brown Sugar (for Kraft), Basic White, & Silver; Tonic Mirror in  blue & green

Paper: Reminisce "In the Clouds"

Dies: Spellbinders "Be Bold Blooms", Hero Arts Infinity (circles), Kokorosa (globe cradle)

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape

Just Because (CD #593)

It's Friday and that means we have a new Color Dare challenge underway. This is Challenge #593 and it runs through Thursday, April 4, 2024. Below is the color board for this challenge. I decided on the color Capri to go along with the Honey Butter. I used substitutes that are very close matches to the specified colors. 

A die set that has been sitting in my stash unused has been calling my name. I decided that it was well-suited to the two-color challenge. I was a little disappointed because the dies required a variety of shims to get them to cut cleanly. The word dies are included in this set and are kind of flimsy. It was an exercise in patience to use the words. 

I created the card to my liking, stacking the words in white onto the words in Honey Butter. I also add 23 gem stickers! Out of character for me but I was content with doing it. After all of the rich colors, the card needed the color white so I could say it was finished. The inside of my card was lined with white cardstock and decorated with extra die-cut flowers, leaving sufficient space for a personal message.

Please visit our Color Dare Blog #593 for some challenge fun. Each challenge begins on Friday and is two weeks in duration so we always have an active challenge in the works.

By the way, I will use this die set again despite the cutting issue. If you look at the black filigree design eight "hidden" flowers would be fun to feature so there are other possibilities.

Thank you for visiting my blog. It makes my heart happy if you leave a comment. Enjoy!

Melanie

Materials

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Basic Black, Hello Honey, & Tempting Turquoise

Die set: Spellbinders "Floral Butterfly Card Front" (includes words and flowers)

Misc.: Honey Bee Gem Stickers

Thinking of You (TSOT 643)

 

Welcome to my blog! Here is my card for Try a Sketch on Tuesday #643. This semimonthly challenge will end on Sunday afternoon, March 31, 2024.

I have been trying to use items from my stash so I used some leftover ephemera and die-cut elements. I prefer to make handmade items but these were too pretty to waste. I used three die-cut circles, adhering images to them. Due to the size of the images, I elected to make this a Slimline card.
The panels were added to a white card base and green gems were adhered to dress up the card. The inside was decorated with floral ephemera, leaving sufficient space to add a personal message.

I hope you'll play along with the sketch challenge at TSOT 643. Thank you for visiting my blog. 

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Simon Says Stamp "Orchid Rose Bouquet" (sentiment)

Inks: Stampin' Up! Pistachio Pudding & Blackberry Bliss

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White, Pale Plum, Blackberry Bliss & Pistachio Pudding

Paper & Ephemera: Paper Rose "The Violet Garden"

Misc.: CTMH thin foam tape & Honey Bee sticker gems

Spring Florals - Anemone Easter Card (DTC #162)

 

Double Trouble Challenge

Thank you for viewing my Spring Floral Easter card and welcome to Double Trouble Challenge #162. This biweekly challenge ends on Sunday evening, March 31, 2024. As always, there are three elements to this challenge. Be sure to visit the DTC162 Blog for specific details. Our partner for this challenge is Beautiful Blossoms #15.

Since purchasing a new die set with pretty Anemones I was eager to use it for this challenge. The style of the flowers appealed to me - sort of Art Deco. Although not required, our partner's Mood Board provided direction for my selection of colors, however, the layout is directly from the Spellbinders packaging but adding the textured background was my personal choice. 

After die-cutting the images and assembling the flowers the items were brushed with ink. A panel of cardstock was embossed and the elements were adhered. A layer of scrap cardstock was added behind each flower to elevate them slightly. (Even thin foam tape would have been too thick for the look I wanted.) For my optional Easter element, I simply added a meaningful sentiment in keeping with the solemnity of Easter.

In keeping with one of the challenge options I am linking my card with Beautiful Blossoms Challenge #15. Here is their Mood Board. 

Did you know that Anemones have deep meaning in many cultures? They symbolize love, affection, and good luck. The ancient Greeks thought they were the tears of Aphrodite and Adonis. Since my Anemones are purple, they also symbolize royalty.

Be sure to visit the Blogs for DTC #162 and Beautiful Blossoms #15.

Enjoy!

Melanie

Materials

Stamp: Stamps of Life "Easter Statements"

Inks: Stampin' Up! Shaded Spruce & Rich Razzleberry

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White (card base), Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Pale Plum, Elegant Eggplant, Mint Macaron, Just Jade

Die Set: Spellbinders "Fresh Picked Anemones"

Embossing Folder: Spellbinders "Optical Arches"

With Love (Color Dare 591)

 

Thank you for stopping my to see my card for Color My Heart Color Dare Challenge #591. The color board is below and demonstrates that this challenge requires the use of the colors black and white with the addition of only one color. I chose an orange color. I originally planned to use a soft peach but decided to use a stronger color.

The image was stamped onto white cardstock, partially fussy cut then placed onto a panel of black cardstock. The sentiment was then stamped. The ink was brushed onto the flowers and sentiment. This was adhered to a white card base. The ink was also brushed onto white scraps to create the striped elements.

The inside was stamped with another sentiment and a smaller flower that coordinates with the larger image on the front. This was also brushed with ink.

Because this is a large image, the card was created using an A6 size so that the image would not appear crowded.

Enjoy!

Melanie

Materials

Stamps: Gina K "Sweet Memories"

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up! Pumpkin Pie

Cardstock: Stampin' Up! Basic White & Basic Black

Size: A6 (4.75" x 6.5")