Myasperations-April Twofer

One of my favorite monthly challenges is called the "Twofer Card Challenge" which requires use of the exact same stamp or die to make two cards with distinctly different designs for two different occasions. The April Challenge is "Leaves.” After a bit of thought, I decided to use one of my favorite stamp sets. Named “Decorative Grapes” from Stampin’ Up, it is actually one of the first stamp sets I ever bought way back in 1996!  

Supplies: 
·   Stamp Set- Decorative Grapes from Stampin’ Up (Retired)
Entered into: 

Twofer Card Challenge- #37 Leaves

My first card features the leaves, draped on vines heavy laden with luscious bunches of grapes… which inspired the computer-generated sentiment on the inside. A die-cut greeting on the front, some stenciling plus a matching envelope and “TaDa”… done!

 

Supplies: 

·   Stamp Set- Decorative Grapes from Stampin’ Up (Retired)
·   Stamp Pads- Dark Green and Burgundy from my stash
·   Love Die- Stampin Up Thinlits Expressions Dies (Retired)
·   Stripes Stencil- Printworks (No longer available)
·   Inside Sentiment- Computer Generated
·   Stencil sponge, cardstock, and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Cute Card Thursday- Challenge #683 Green
Polkadoodles Challenge- Week #17 Anything Goes                      
Createful Heart Designs- Challenge #31 (April)
STAMPlorations- Stencil Challenge (April)  
Let’s Craft and Create- Ch #170-Anything Goes 

STAMPlorations- Theme & Photo Prompt Challenge (April- Stamps and Curves)

Although I’ve had this stamp set for several decades the labels for the leaves and grapes are well worn, I’d never used the flower stamp. So I did some research and decided that it looked like a Trumpet flower, which comes in many colors. I loved the bright orange ones…so used that color palette. When I discovered that hummingbirds are attracted to Trumpet flowers, I dug through my stash and found a hummingbird image on an old postcard, fussy-cut and added it to the inside of the card with foam tape (so it appears to be "hovering"!)

Also, the base card is a pretty grey marbled paper that I've had in my stash for a while. It is from a set of wedding invitations that I found on clearance somewhere for a great price... and couldn't resist!  It looks wonderful with this stamp set and has a marbled envelope, too. 

Supplies: 
·   Stamp Set- Decorative Grapes from Stampin’ Up (Retired)
·   Stamp Pads- Sage Green and Yellow from my stash
·   Additional color, shading and highlights added to flowers and leaves with Spectrum Noir Classique markers and Sakura Gelly Roll white gel pen
·   Sentiments- Computer Generated
·   Pioneer Black Photo corners- available from several sources
·   Hummingbird upcycled from an old card
·   Cardstock and all other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Incy Wincy Designs Colours Of Spring
The Sisterhood of Crafters- Mellow Yellow
Outlawz Challenge- Twisted Thursday Anything Goes
Outlawz Challenge- Festive Friday (Thinking of You)
Outlawz Challenge- Inlinks Challenge
Do-Al[l] Kreatives #52 Spring
 
I wanted to make another card for the Double D’s “April Showers” challenge and decided on a rainbow and sweet Bugaboo unicorn. The beautiful “watercolored” rainbow was created with a free digi, a wet paintbrush and instructions that I found HERE When dry, I gently tore along the arch of the rainbow and also tore several fluffy clouds from white cardstock before adhering everything to the card base which is a simplified version of a Z-fold card (using a 8.5 x 11-inch piece of scrapbook paper that looks like watercolored sky and the first two steps of the tutorial noted in the supplies section below.)

Supplies: 
·   Digi- Bugaboo (Unicorn Set) 
·   Z-Fold Card Tutorial HERE
·   Inside Sentiments- Simply Crafts 171-Bonus sentiment downloads found HERE  
·   All other items from my stash.
Entered into:  
Cupcake Inspirations- Challenge #517   Theme- Pastels    (photo)
Double D’s Challenge- April Showers  (anything with water)   
Bugaboo Stamps- April Week Three Anything Goes  
CCC Digi Creations- #124 Include an Animal
Crafty Hazelnut’s Patterned Paper Challenge- April                       
Digi Doodle Studios- #37 Include an Animal