Another Day, Another Challenge...

Of the cardmaking kind this time, thankfully! I made these two cards in response to three challenges. Challenge #1, from 2 Sketches 4 you - make a card using the sketch provided in the post dated January 4. The card on the left represents this. Then, Challenge #2, from yesterday's challenge at 365 Cards - use metal on a card. The card on the right uses 2 black metal brads, as well as a heart that I first embossed on a piece of thin metal sheeting using my Cuttlebug and then punched out using one of my big Marvy Uchida punches. This card also fulfils another sketch challenge over at CPS - Card sketches. This is the second card that I've made from this sketch. Operation Write Home (OWH) had a call for Valentines cards that needed to be postmarked to them no later than January 6. I'm a day late, but I'm going to send these two cards to them anyways, along with some others that I've made. Maybe my parcel will get to them in time to make it into a Valentines shipment; otherwise, these cards can get included as general 'love' cards for shipping anytime.

A New Obsession - Card Sketch Sites

I am currently having a love affair with card sketch sites. Up until recently, I've found using sketches in cardmaking or scrapbooking more challenging than helpful, but somewhere along the way, I turned a corner, gave sketches another shot, and am now obsessed!

This is a sketch from 365 Cards -

















This is my version of the sketch -







(I sure wish I could take better indoor photos!)















This is a sketch from Card Positioning Systems (CPS) -

















And, this is my take -















This card also includes requirements from today's post, Challenge #45, at The Corrosive Challenge blog, which is to use two favorite embellishments on your card or project. I used ribbon on this card, and rhinestones - two of my favorite go-to embellishments for cards.

I haven't made any 'official' resolutions this year, but one of my aims with paper crafting is to use what I've already got and start digging into my stash - a common sentiment, it seems, among us crafters! I have SO much patterned paper from over the years - boxes of it - so, I'd like to start using it up and making some space under my desktop/countertop where I store it all.

Another of my goals with my card making is to have cards ready and on hand for the numerous family birthdays throughout the year. It's not like I don't know that they're coming, and yet inevitably, I'm flying around last minute as we're about to head out the door for a celebration, frantically slapping together a card. That's just dumb! So, with these two cards, I'm ready for my father-in-law's/grandma-in-law's birthday brunch next weekend! We all have busy lives - isn't it rewarding when you can cross something off of your gigantic, never-ending to-do list - even if it's one of the little things? After all, every little thing counts, wouldn't you agree?