A Melange of Challenges

But, before I get into my challenge cards, I just wanted to highlight one of my cards that was published in Paper Crafts 365 Cards, earlier this year.  I originally submitted it for Remembrance Day, which for the Commonwealth, is 11th November and the poppy a traditional symbol of WW1.

It was reprised earlier in the week for Memorial Day in the US on the Papercrafts blog and Facebook page.  It is one of my favourite CAS cards and all time favourite HA stamps.

So, onto the first challenge, I haven't had the chance to have a go at The Deconstructed Sketch so now is as good a time as any.  Love these colours together though it did take a bit of time to come up with my card design.  I took the opportunity to pull out some sadly neglected Hero Arts stamps for the A blog named Hero challenge

This card also fits in nicely with the latest Simon Says Stamp challenge of "Anything Goes" with twine.

What you need

Cardstock - SU white, Rich Razzleberry, Night of Navy, Bashful Blue

Stamps - HA Line Dots, Flower?;  PTI Sending You (sentiment)

Ink - SU Rich Razzleberry, Night of Navy, Crumb Cake (marker)

Dies - SB Classic Circles, Large Scallop Circles

Linen Thread - SU

Gems - Kaisercraft

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Case Study #93

I love the colour of the flowers but can't bring myself to spray paper - too messy for me, but I love the graduated effect.  This card is for a work colleague who is leaving to finish her studies to completely change her career - I admire her hard work and determination, but I will miss her a great deal.

What you need

Cardstock - PTI white

Patterned paper - SU First Edition;  Gingham?

Stamps - HA flowers?;  PTI Wishing You

Ink - Versacolor Turquoise;  SU Early Espresso

Die - MFT Fish Tail Flag Stax

Gems - Kaisercraft

Paper Crafts Blog Feature

It was a lovely surprise to be asked to write alittle bit about Christmas in Australia for the Paper Crafts Connection lead up to the PC Christmas ideas book for 2011.  It was one of my favourite submissions and may use it for some of my cards this year.

I can't wait to see how my other projects look in print and all the other great ideas of some very talented designers. 

I can't believe it!!!!!

Surprise, surprise I don't have a card for a challenge to share, however, this was a challenge of sorts.  Much to my surprise and delight, I have had 2 of my cards accepted for the mid-year publication of Go-to Sketches by Papercrafts.  There were lots of squeals (very quiet ones) of delight yesterday at 5am when I read the email.

This magazine may not be familiar to Australians and I can't remember where I first picked it up but I have been subscribing for a while now.  It is one of those publications I take forever to get through, and each issue is very  dog-eared, so that must be the sign of a great magazine.

I entered 5 cards (40% success rate, not too bad) so thought I would post the "losers".  This first one uses Kaisercraft's Le Chateau, I really love the colour and patterns of these papers

The second one used Japanese Yuzen papers and didn't come out quite like the idea in my head.  I should have had more contrast in colour between the papers I chose.  And I had a very hard time  trying to line up all those tiny little squares.

I found this alphabet paper at the Kaisercraft outlet store and thought it would be good for children's cards.  Again not quite as successful as I had hoped in terms of the sketch I was using but I will use elements of this design in some other cards.

Also yesterday we got a new cat, a Ragdoll named Charlie.  All very sudden, I put out a few feelers on Friday and things all fell into place late yesterday afternoon.  He is 5 months old so we have passed the small kitten stage but hopefully still playful.  He is still getting used to us and his new surroundings but we hope he will be happy.