Challenge, Challenge, Challenge!

This weekend I decided to take on three different challenges from three different blog sites!

1st: American Crafts MiniMarks Week Challenge. I actually used 3 different MiniMarks and actually several other American Crafts products!

2nd: Creative Scrappers blog Sketch # 86 Challenge. This was a fun sketch to work with. I was even able to work in the paint splatter at the top right of the layout.

3rd: Challenge Seven from the Lets Get Shabby blog, with some Summer Influence. The paper creation needs to be inspired by this image:

I decided to use the color combos on the image and also took a little inspiration from the summer feel.

Products:

• My Minds Eye, Breaking Free Collection
  
• October Afternoon, Night Light: Charles
• Bo-Bunny Press, Summer Cottage Flourish
• Drk-brown cardstock
• White cardstock
• American Crafts, Thickers, Chit Chat, Puffy, white
• American Crafts, MiniMarks - Summer (promotional book)
• American Crafts, MiniMarks - Calendar Kit, Ned Jr - Black
• American Crafts, MiniMarks - Ned Jr - Black
• American Crafts, Holiday House - Chipboard Summer
• Tattered Angles Glimmer Mist - Pearl
• Lt-green acrylic paint
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - Chocolate

Design Dollies Triple Threat Challenge

I decided to take on a Design Dollies Triple Threat Challenge - so, this means I used three of the Design Dollies three different challenge and combined them all into one layout -- whew!

This weeks challenges included:

1. Sketchiness Sketch - okay I think I got this one down!
   
   
2. Color Challenge - FUSCHIA AND PALE YELLOW! - I think i did pretty good!! Yeah, even thought I think fuschia is a little too close to pink for Rebeca ;) .
   
   
3. Your most wintry project yet! - Well, I think I might be able to queeze by with this one -- the layout is about my "winter eyes" and also has small fuschia snowflakes on it. I'll totally understand if I miss out on this third piece however.

Products:

• Memory Box Flirt Collection, Buttons
• DCWV Taj Mahal Stack
• My Minds Eye, Breaking Free Collection
  
• Lt-yellow cardstock
• Drk-blue cardstock
• Fuschia cardstock
• Snowflake brads and eyelets from the Eyelet Outlet
• Various flowers
• 24 gauge gold wire
• Queen & Co Felt Fusion
• Sm Fuschia ribbon
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - black
• American Crafts - Puffy Rainboots - Daisy

XOXO Girls Challenge #1

Another challenge - this time I took on the XOXO Girls Blog Challenge #1.

This is my take on the layout by XOXO Girl Lynnette Davis.

I decided to do several layers for this layout - yellow cardstock, drk-brown cardstock on top, then the patterned paper, then I started to layer the photo, ribbons/fibers, etc. This image of my cat "Skitty-Kitty" I felt really showed his beautiful yellow eyes. I wanted to bring that color out even more in this photo with the highlights of yellow.

I didn't want to make the photo too "heavy" with a large mat so I just sanded the edges of the photo to give a think white outline, then I took brown paint and did a quick faux frame on the left side of the photo. Some people might not even notice it, but it brings emphasis to the main photo.

I roughed up the drk-brown cardstock quite a bit on this layout - first with distressing (literally ripping the paper edge) then with distress inking the paper before layering on the pattered paper.

The strip of Provo Craft handmade paper (the drk-brown almost brick pattern behind the photo) is actually flocked. Between flocked paper, dew-drop pebbles, and the fiber on the page - you just want to reach out and touch it!

Here is a bit more detail for the Tim Holtz Grungeboard hinges:

Product used:

• Drk-brown cardstock
• Yellow cardstock
• Cosmo Cricket, Haunted: Ominous
• Provo Crafts, Handmade Paper
• KI Memories Alphabet Soup Acrylic letters - Mac-n-Cheese
• Tim Holtz Grungeboard, plain elements
• The Robin's Nest Dew Drops, Cowboy
• Ranger, Tim Holtz Distress Ink, Vintage Photo
• 24 gauge gold wire
• Mini brads, gold mat
• Lace, off white
• Fiber, drk-brown
• Ribbon, yellow
• Zig Calligraphy Pen, Black
• Kaiser Colour, Crafters Acrylic paint, Raw Umber

Here is Lynnette's original layout:

1.07 Sketchy Thursday Challenge

This layout is for the 1.07 Sketchy Thursday layout challenge. I think this came out pretty good. I really like the colors and how they compliment the image.

Here is a little more detail of the Tim Holtz grungeboard inked and a little distressed.

Products/Tools used:

• Lt-Green cardstock
• Black cardstock
• Drk-Green Swiss-Dot cardstock
• Zig Calligraphy pen - black
• Zig Writer Chalk Collection pen - white
• Color Box Cat's Eye ink pad - copper
• Tim Holtz Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
• American Crafts Thickers - Patchwork, fabric
• Wild Asparagus patterned paper - "Mother" striped
  
• Sandylion - Fine Designs, Rougte De Garance Inspirations precision cut cardstock paper - "Love in Bloom"
• Tim HoltzGrungeboard, plain elements
• Strip of lace
  

Here is the original sketch:

Sketchy Thursdays - Second Chance Challenge Card

I've recently joined a new Flickr group and started following a blog for Sketchy Thursdays. Here is my card creation for the Second Chance Challenge Card sketch.

My version of this pretty sketch:


Products used:

• Black cardstock
• Lt-Blue cardstock
• Blue Swiss-Dott cardstock
  
• Pink Paislee, Vintage Moon Collection, Moon Glade pattered paper
• Quartet Cork Craft Sheets
• Starform Stickers - small silver butterflies
  
• Zig Calligraphy Pen - Black
• 32 Gauge silver wire
  

Original Sketch:

Wired!

Oh I'm wired! This is a pretty basic layout -- except -- did you see!? The Wire!? I actually added this wire on the advice of a fellow cropper buddy. Why? Well, because my silly letter would not stay stuck! HAHA! I'm not kidding. These acrylic letters would not seem to stay put when traditional liquid glue. I didn't want to use glue dots because I felt that the dots would show too much. So, when in doubt -- use wire! I actually really like the added touch to the layout. Here is a close up.


Also, I've decide that I'm going to try and start listing all the products - or at least those of note - in the blog. I hope this will help with any layouts that I want to submit to challenges or for those reading to know what materials I used.

Products/Tools:

• Blue pattered paper - DCWV, Tahiti Beach Stack
• Drk-brown dotted pattered paper - My Minds Eye, Breaking Free Collection
  
• Brown-rusty colored pattered paper - Dream Street Papers LLC, Remember The Moments - Christian
• Cardstock - WorldWin Papers - Double Mates
• Circles cut with EK Success 1 1/2 " circle punch
• Random ribon
• Unknown acrylic alpha
• Gold 24 gauge wire
• Zig Memory System - Calligraphy - Chocolate pen
  

4 of us

I really really like this layout! Not only is it featuring my favorite subject (my family) but it also have gorgeous colors, butterflies, and I think it just looks stunning! I hand cut the butterfly patterned paper (some paper I'd been saving from S.E.I.- Bridgeport collection) to shape, then cut it to flow onto and off the page. The rest of the layout just came together after that. With B&W photos it is so easy to really focus on the layout color combos. In this case - sea foam green, charcoal, black, and off-white. The butterfly papered paper had a slight sheen to it, so I followed that when I choose my buttons to add to the layout. Also, did you see my little birdie? How cute, right?! I just couldn't help myself -- I've had some flocked lace type ribbon for some time with these little birds and flowers -- I trimmed the birds and flowers off to use just a strip down the page. But, I decided last minute to add just one little birdie. The title of course is using my favorite letters -- American Craft Thickers -- two different fonts and mediums. I just love mixing these up for my titles.