Thank Goodness For Challenges...

I can't believe how many cards I'm starting to accumulate! I think I mentioned in one of my previous posts that one of my goals for this year (I didn't dare make any 'official' resolutions!) was to have a variety of cards on hand so that I would not be caught short without one at the last minute. Less than two weeks into the new year, I think I'm ahead of myself for once! There are SO many card challenge sites out there - it would be a full time commitment to even try to stay caught up with them, so instead, I'm taking my time and enjoying all the inspiration there is to be had.

Here is a breakdown of the challenges used with these cards - and again, I've got a three card to four challenge ratio.

The card on the left is based on sketch #149 over at CPS/Card Positioning Systems. The card at top middle is in response to a challenge over at Caardvarks, this time using a sketch designed for Caardvarks by Becky Fleck. This card also qualifies for a challenge at the 'new to me' challenge blog, "Just Us Girls" - aka 'JUGS'. I'm telling ya, it's fun blog hopping for nothing more than to come across unique, cheeky, and/or entertaining blog names! The JUGS 15 challenge was to use stitching on a project. I appreciated this challenge because not only do I love the effect of stitching on a card, but I don't do it nearly enough AND - it forced me to clear up yet some more space in my scrappin' lair, this time in front of and beneath my sewing machine, so thank you JUGS for a very beneficial challenge!

Lastly, the card on the right is in response to a 3D challenge at Our Creative Corner. It's hard to tell from the photo, but the four flowers across the middle of the card have three layers plus a rhinestone to top them off. I did this simply by using two sizes of circle punches to cut out additional flower centres from the patterned paper that I used for the card. I then layered them, adhering them with pop dots, and then finished the middles with self-adhesive rhinestone centres. Super quick, super easy.

The biggest challenge that I'm currently facing is how best to photograph my cards or other scrapbooking related projects. I get the best results if I can photograph them outside, but when we're in the throes of rainy season, the opportunities for almost anything photography related are few and far between. I would love to hear suggestions from any readers who are satisfied with their project presentation.

I've Always Been Game For A Challenge...

...and today I found not one, not two, but FOUR card challenges to participate in today - I'm a machine, I tell ya!

The card on the left is based on a sketch challenge over at Our Creative Corner. Then, over at Color Throwdown (fun name!), the challenge today was to use three colours - 'regal rose', 'chocolate chip', and 'dusty durango'. I just happened to have some papers in my stash with the perfect colours in them. I don't know the paper brand because, oddly, there is no manufacturer name on any of them, but they're all from the same line. They are also some of the oldest papers in my stash, so it was wildly gratifying to be able to use them for the Colour Throwdown challenge. All three cards are made with these papers, plus an old, nay, vintage, hoarded, and coveted piece of 'Chocolate Pinstripe' from Chatterbox. This CB paper is one of my Top 10 all-time favourite patterned papers ever! Goes with everything, and lends just the right touch of sophistication to any project! (Did that sound a lot like a 'plug'? Think maybe I can talk Chatterbox into tossing some free product my way?! What's that you say? Pushing my luck? Yeah. I knew it.)

The third challenge I participated in is from Papertake Weekly. The challenge there was based on 'New Beginnings' and there was room for interpretation according to the criteria, so for this challenge, I used a new corner/slot punch that I got awhile ago and never used. It was one of those purchases where I just had to have it after a demo in a LSS, but once I got it home...well, my time filled with other things, my interest waned, then my memory of what to actually do with it faded...eventually, my shiny new acquisition was tossed in amongst all the rest of the usual suspects, unused and forgotten. For some reason, when I visited Papertake Weekly and read 'New Beginnings', the idea of making myself finally use this punch just jumped into my head! Seems kind of random, but - I was game, so I went with it, and lo and behold - it's my new favorite tool-of-the-moment! So, thank you, Challengemeisters over at PW! I was truly inspired!

Now, onto the fourth and final challenge of the day. Prairie Papercrafts and Stamps is hosting a colour challenge as well, and coincidentally enough, the colours named for this challenge are chocolate and orange - very similar to the colours over at Color Throwdown, so - I stayed with the same paper line and made the card in the above picture on the right. Serendipitous the way it all came together, don'tcha think?!

I added the sentiment 'hello' to both of the larger cards, which keeps them in the 'all occasion' category and allows flexibility in usage. 'Hello' is great just on it's own of course, or you can start with 'Hello' and have the card open to read, 'and Happy Birthday to my best friend!', or, 'Hello', then, 'Thanks for all your help!', or, 'Hello', then, 'You annoy me. It's over.'. See what I mean? Truly 'all-occasion'. I then made up a wee little 3x3 card, sans sentiment, just to round out the photo a bit, in keeping with symmetry and spatial relationship. Huh?! Plus, I needed a card for my mom to say 'thank you' for allowing my husband and I ample usage of her car since we are officially a one-vehicle family but are living at least a two-vehicle lifestyle (AKA hockey/baseball/school/soccer/social life/etc. taxi drivers for our three busy children, as well as, oh, you know, things like going back and forth to work!)

So there you have it - three cards for four challenges. I'm going to call it a night! Happy Crafting, everybody!