TWO CHALLENGES IN ONE

I'm having a quiet "at home" day today, feeling a bit sorry for myself because I'm not well.  However, I'm not one to lie on the couch, or watch tv - I get restless.  So, into my craft room I go ... determined to make amends for the god-awful card (thank you to those of you who left kind comments - you are very sweet!) I entered in this week's Just Add Ink challenge.  Just to re-cap, the challenge this week is to make a card for a male, using these colours:

I LOVE colour challenges, but I must admit this one's not much of a challenge for me - I'd happily use these colours on all of my cards!  (Oh, except for the odd break to make something in red.)

Soooo, I decided to combine the Just Add Ink challenge with a sketch challenge.  Those two words send shivers down my spine - I struggle with sketch challenges!  They're effective, though, 'cos they challenge me (I do realise this is the idea), and I often do come up with a concept and run with it.

I'm taking part in the sketch challenge over at the Helping Hudson blog.  We're aiming to raise a LOT of money for Hudson, so please visit the blog, and join in on the fun.  There are FANTASTIC prizes on offer for the winners of each challenge.  We have a colour challenge, a sketch challenge and a technique challenge running each week for 3 weeks - check them out here. You can take part in each challenge for a $2 donation; or, if you donate $10 you're able to take part in all 9 challenges over the 3 weeks.  Small change, that collectively will make a big difference to this little boy's life!  One of this week's challenges is to make a project using this sketch:

and ..... drumroll, please ....... this is what I came up with (just in time for my brother-in-law's birthday, as it so happens):

Stamps: Happy, Happy Birthday Jumbo Stampin' Around Wheel; On Your Birthday

Card: Kraft, Baja Breeze textured, Chocolate Chip

Ink: Sahara Sand and Chocolate Chip stampin' pads

Other: Star Punch,Large Star Punch, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder, Top Note Die, Large Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, paper snips, Mat Pack and paper piercing tool, dimensionals, sponge daubers

I 'roughed up' the edges of the Scallop Oval, using my paper snips, to make it look a little less 'girly'.  I've used debossed Kraft stars, and embossed Chocolate Chip stars, for a bit of contrast.

I'm happy to report, I like this one!