Yep, it's another challenge...

Well, I'm home from church today with sick kiddos, so snuck in a bit of stamping while the kids dozed/watched a movie. When Denise's challenge wrapped up on Friday, she asked each of us to challenge HER. Well, I had fun with that one and got a bit obnoxious. My challenge was to make an "odd" card: 7 papers, 5 embellishments, 3 stamps, and 1 ink color. Oh, and no ribbon! That's pretty tough, right? Well, it didn't even slow her down... She posted her card yesterday, and then challenged us to do it, too. No fair! ;) I was blurfing earlier this morning and noticed that the new "Sketch For You to Try" was posted - and just happened to have 5 brads on it. I'll take that as a sign!

Here's my creation - the papers are from the Cosmo Cricket Little Girls collection, and I had fun picking which of the seven I would use (and where!). For my three stamps, I grabbed a sentiment and row of circles (both Paper Trey), and then the French Script background stamp (SU). I used Versafine sepia ink, but did stamp off once first on the circles and the script (which is across the floral paper on the bottom - it didn't photograph all that well).

So how did I do on my own challenge? It wasn't too terrible - keeping the embellishments simple and using coordinated paper definitely prevented it from being a killer. So anyone else want to play along? :)

Last Challenge Card

Well, today is the last day of Denise's Spring Fever Challenge. I'm actually kind of sad that it's ending - it's been fun to make myself stamp every day :)

Today's challenge was pretty simple: personal monogram, favorite color for the card base and any patterned paper, ribbon, and scallops in some way. You might be getting sick of this layout - I've used it quite a bit over the past few months. But it goes together quickly, is a great way to use scraps, and I just love the look! Anyway, the papers are from the BasicGrey Lily Kate collection. The base actually matches the stamped t, but for some reason my camera decided it should be bluish. I layered on a few strips of paper, then the scalloped green circle (SU punch) with a bit of ribbon, and finally my monogram (Hero Arts).

And just to show you another card I cranked out this morning... A friend recently underwent surgery for breast cancer, so I just wanted to send her a little note to let her know that we were still praying. Layout look familiar? Sentiment is from SU (retired "Hope for Comfort").

Head over to All Things Stamped to see what everyone else has created for the final challenge!

I'll probably be pretty quiet over these next few days - our son turns 5 today, and we have a busy weekend planned. Back later!

Another Double Challenge!

It's day four of Denise's Spring Fever challenge, and today we were to incorporate a tag, bling, and the color red. Definitely easier than yesterday :) Well, as I was cruising through my google reader, I also noticed that there was new challenge on Salt, with the theme "believe." As I read the post, I was struck by Esther's statement: If only we truly believed in God's promises, we would worry so much less. How true! I can say I believe, but is my life demonstrating that trust?

Anyway, when I actually snuck off to my craft space, I pulled out this cross paper (Flair Designs). I played around with a few ideas, and finally wrote out the word "believe" (using Heidi Swapp masks), then sprayed the card with gold glimmer mist. (Have I mentioned lately how much I love that stuff? I really wish you could see it in person to see the rich shimmer created!) I let it dry slightly, then pulled the letters back off. I stamped the verse (Ps 31:14-15) onto a piece of ivory cardstock, then trimmed it to a tag shape and tied on a couple different ribbons. I adhered the cross paper to a base made from the same ivory paper, then mounted the tag. Simple, but a great message! (Card measures 5x7)

This second card is a "Take 2" on my idea from yesterday's card. I am soooo much happier with this one! Same three sets: Accents #1, Blossoms Lg, and Flowers Everywhere. Softer colors and a smaller size come together for a cute little card (3x5). Soothing rather than seizure inducing :)

Wanna see what the other challenge chasers are up to? Then go to All Things Stamped and Salt for guaranteed inspiration.

Double Challenge!

Well, today I did a dual challenge - it's time for another Tea Party with the smART Cookies, and this time Heidi challenged us to use some "Petal Power." You know I definitely love my floral images! Well, to make things just a bit more interesting I combined that challenge with Day 3 of Denise's Spring Fever Challenge, in which we were to use an unusual fold, decorate it inside and out, word spelled out with stickers, die cuts, stamps, etc. and incorporate polka dots.

I made this purse card with the Chatterbox scrap kit that I'm still trying to use up. I didn't have a template or anything - I just folded, trimmed, etc. until it looked right. I added a scalloped edge to the flap, and then accented it with the smaller of the Blossoms Lg. I colored the center in with a prismacolor pencil, then filled with glossy accents and then accented with glass glitter. It really looks great in person! For the inside, I added polka dot paper to the center panel, spelled out happy with the alpha stickers (also from the kit) and stamped birthday (from Combo Sentiments). The final embellishment was a swirly grungeboard accent that I colored with denim blue glimmer mist - I just love the shimmer that stuff provides!

This second card was actually the first one I made, and I'm providing it as comic relief. I had an idea that I thought would make a nice card... Um, that wasn't the case. I created my own polka dots with Accents #1, and then overstamped with the blossom. It was a bit busy, but I persevered and created the gatefold card. I accented the flower centers with stickles, and used a sentiment from Flowers Everywhere. I used Sizzix die cuts for joy. I still like the general idea of this card, but I think it needs lighter tones, more white space, and a layout that doesn't cut the circles in half.

So are you inspired (or just horrified by the psychadelic colors?!?) Pop on over to the other smart cookies' blogs to see what floral magic they've created: In the Works, Mama Dini's Stamperia, Dee's Studio, & Sweet Somethings!

And you can visit All Things Stamped to see what others have done for her Spring Fever challenge.

Simple Sympathy

It's Day 2 of Denise's Spring Fever Challenge, and today we were to make a 4x4 black and white card - using only black ink, any stamps, but no patterned paper. Well, I've needed a lot of sympathy cards these past couple weeks, and I thought I'd use today's challenge to help replenish my supply. I kept it extremely simple - the sentiment is from an old SU set (Hope for Comfort), and the flower is smARTworks (Sunny Delight). Went together in less than ten minutes, and I'm very happy with the outcome.

Check out All Things Stamped to see what others have created!

Spread Your Wings!

Denise is having a week-long Spring Fever challenge, and I thought I'd play along. Today's challenge was to incorporate a bird. OK, I can do that! I pulled out a Technique Tuesday set with branches, leaves, and a few little birds to set the stage, and then finished it off with a Studio G sentiment. I know my colors aren't exactly spring like (all the papers are from a 6x6 BasicGrey Stella Ruby pad) but they still seem cheerful to me. And I promise the ribbon coordinates better in real life - it picks up the pink tones from that base layer very nicely. The final touch was a bit of bling, and I'm ready to fly!

Rejoice!

I made this super simple card to send out to a couple family members - I just pieced some paper scraps (DCWV Old Word Stack) to form the cross. I did miter the center just to make it look a bit more "finished." The sentiment is from the dollar bin at Michael's back at Christmas - but Easter always seems to me to be the real time for celebration!


"Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God." Romans 5:1-2