THIRD POST FOR TODAY, AND 3 CHALLENGES IN ONE!

I have had such a nice first day, of the 5-day break we get for Easter / Anzac Day; as you can probably see, I've been playing in my craft room!  Here I am, with my THIRD blog post for the day (I assure you, this is an aberration - but, boy, it's nice to have the time to create).  I have made a card that fits three challenges, which also is a bit of an aberration; it's not easy for me to combine colour, sketch and theme challenges!

This is my first entry over at The Color Room, a site I've just discovered.  Here is the luscious colour palette for this week's challenge:

The site is frequented mainly by very talented scrapbookers, but cardmakers are also welcome to share our creations.  For those who want to use the above colours to make a card, here's this week's suggested sketch:

Thrown into the mix for my card, is the new challenge just announced today over at Just Add Ink.  The challenge is to "Just Add Mateship/Friendship", in recognition of ANZAC Day, which we celebrate on April 25th in Australia and New Zealand.  We owe our freedom and way of life to the courageous ANZACs, and those who have fought for our countries since.  I'm very proud to say that I am both a New Zealand and an Australian citizen.

Now that I've outlined all the criteria, I'll show you my card.  Although it doesn't show very clearly in the photo, I just wanted to point out that I stamped the Medallion stamp on the Taken With Teal panel - in Versamark ink, because I sold my Taken With Teal inkpad when that colour retired from Stampin' Up!'s range last September .... would've been good to have it for today's card!

Stamps: Medallion, Very Vintage stampin' around jumbo wheel, Oval All

Card: Confetti White, Taken With Teal, Early Espresso, More Mustard, Rich Razzleberry

Ink: Versamark inkpad, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker, More Mustard stampin' pad and marker, Rich Razzleberry stampin' pad and marker

Other: Early Espresso 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Rich Razzleberry satin ribbon, Neutrals brad, Color Spritzer tool, Beautiful Wings embosslits, Itty Bitty shapes circle punch, 1 3/4" x 7/8" Oval punch, Scallop Oval punch, stampin' dimensionals, sponge daubers, Fancy Flower punch, 5-Petal flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch

INKSPIRATIONS COLOUR CHALLENGE #58

I'm back with yet another colour challenge card; just love having a palette decided for me!!  My mind is full of ideas for this week's colour combination at Inkspirations ... I can see myself using these colours together again and again.

My most urgent task in the card-making department is to have a card made for my brother-in-law.  I'm not sure that I'm going to have it reach him by tomorrow (his birthday - yikes!), but it'll get there soon after.  I kept it simple, given that it's for a guy, who doesn't like fuss, and probably doesn't keep cards! 

Stamps: Medallion, Seeing Stars, So Happy For You (Sale-A-Bration set)

Card: Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White

Ink: Tangerine Tango stampin' pad and marker, Early Espresso stampin' pad and marker, Marina Mist stampin' pad

Other: Star brads, Colour Spritzer tool, sponge daubers, Star punch, Small Star punch (retired), Stamp-a-ma-jig

HELPING HUDSON COLOUR CHALLENGE - WEEK 1

Over at the Helping Hudson blog there are three challenges open all week, each week, for three weeks (get that?!)!!  We have a Colour Challenge, a Sketch challenge, and a Technique Challenge.  There are FANTASTIC PRIZES (generously donated by Stampin' Up! Australia) on offer for the winners of each challenge, and we'd love to see you take part.


There are some requirements in order to be eligible for the prizes. Here's all the fine print:



• Stampin’ Up! Australia requires that prizes are only to be awarded to Australian residents.  Whilst we cannot ship prizes overseas, any challenge winners outside Australia have the option of nominating an Australian resident to donate their prize to. (Yay for international stamping friends!)


• Participation requires a donation of either $2 per challenge, or $10 to enter all 9 challenges (see here for Paypal and other payment options)


• You can enter the same card in more than 1 challenge, but you must make a donation for every challenge you enter. If you only make 1 donation the card will only be eligible for a prize in the first challenge you entered;


• Prizes will be awarded to the winners once their donation has been verified


• By entering you agree that if you are judged to be the winner a photograph of your project will be featured on this website;


• Winners of all challenges will have 72 hours after their name is announced in which to claim their prize. If you're the lucky winner of a challenge, email us at hudsonchallenges@gmail.com and let us know your details so we can post your prize. Any unclaimed prizes will be given away in a random draw of all challenge entrants on the 25th August.




** Great news!! If you do not have a blog we can help you take part! Just email your name, the name of the challenge you are entering and a photo of your entry to hudsonchallenges@gmail.com so that the Helping Hudson team can include your entry in the relevant challenge.**


I'm not eligible for any prizes (boo hoo), but I thought it'd be fun to play along.  The colour combo this week was a particularly challenging one for me, but I'm up for a challenge!  Here are the colours we're asking you to incorporate in a papercraft creation (that must be submitted by midnight, AEST, Saturday 7th August):

I have made a little "thank you" card, using my beloved Top Note die.  Here's the end result:

Stamps: Medallion, Short & Sweet

Card: Not Quite Navy, Whisper White

DSP: Urban Garden, Tea Party

Ink: Pretty in Pink, Not Quite Navy and Rose Red stampin' pads, white gel pen

Other: Rose Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain ribbon, XL Two-Step Bird Punch, Scallop Edge Punch, Top Note Die, sponge daubers, dimensionals

Can you see the Medallion image stamped on the Whisper White card?  It is a pretty bleak day for taking photos, but I hope you can see it - was rather pleased with that idea.

SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT:

Two of the products I've used on this card are on special this month, on the Last Chance List, and are available only while stocks last.  That scrumptious ribbon (Rose Red 1" double-stitched grosgrain) is a whopping 50% off, at only $9.98 for a roll.  The pink dotty paper (with the scalloped edge) is from the Tea Party DSP pack, which is discounted by 25% this month, to only $12.71.  If either of these items is on your 'wish list', be sure to order them soon, before they are gone forever!

If you haven't already, please play along with the challenges - you never know, you could win something really cool!

Pendant Note AND Medallion Stamp... oh my!!

I love the 'flourishy' style of the Pendant Notes (see gushy previous post), and the huge Medallion Stamp in the new Mini catalogue.

After I shared my first couple of Pendant Notes with you, I challenged myself to make a card WITHOUT using Rich Razzleberry.  It's very easy to get caught up in the excitement of the new "in colours", to the detriment of the tried-and-true favourites.  So, back to the reliable old red/brown/kraft combo!  This is what I came up with (I love it - don't you??):





Stamps: En Francais, Pocket Silhouettes, Vintage Vogue

Card: Kraft, Very Vanilla

DSP: Candy Lane Designer Series Paper

Ink: Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red stampin' pads

Other: Word Window Punch, Chocolate Chip 5/8" grosgrain ribbon, Very Vanilla 5/16" jumbo brad, sponge daubers



It has now been a few days (in fact, I think I've generously allowed over a week!) since I shared a card made with my favourite Medallion stamp.  Here is the card my lucky husband (LOL) received for our recent wedding anniversary.





Stamps: En Francais, Medallion, Life Definitions

Card: Basic Gray, Going Gray, Confetti White

Ink: Going Gray, Basic Gray and So Saffron stampin' pads, Going Gray marker

Other: Edge distresser, sponge daubers, Basic Gray taffeta ribbon, 5/8" Jumbo brad



I'll be back with more after my Autumn-Winter Mini Catalogue launch tomorrow!  Really looking forward to sharing a few hours with stamping friends, and getting everyone excited about all the gorgeous new products.

"ART WITH HEART" BLOG HOP - AUTUMN/WINTER MINI CATALOGUE!!

Welcome to the "Art With Heart" team blog hop, showcasing new products in the Stampin' Up! Autumn/Winter Mini catalogue (going 'live' tomorrow!).

The "Art With Heart" team, of some 90 Stampin' Up! demonstrators spread across five states of Australia, is lead by Claire Daly.  It is a team that has provided me with some fantastic friendships - I'm proud to be a part of it!  We have an online forum that is a great source of advice and support from like-minded (mad!) stampers and scrapbookers.  If you'd like to sign up as a demonstrator, and be part of our Stampin' Up! 'family', please email me at c.blain@yarravalleysnackfoods.com.

Our team blog hop occurs on the last day of every month.  A number of us take part each month, so you're sure to find lots of inspiration along your way, visiting the blogs of team members involved.

You may have just come from the blog of the gorgeous, bubbly, Kristine Thompson.  If not, don't worry - you can join at any spot on the 'tour'.  There are 14 of us involved in today's blog hop.  Make sure you leave a comment on every one of the blogs along the way, then email Nikki Sadler at nikki@inkyart.com.au.  Let Nikki know you've commented on each blog, and you'll go into the draw to win some "blog candy".  There is a deadline of 6.00am (AEST) 3rd April, to email Nikki.  We'd love as much "comment love" as we can get :), but please note that the blog candy will be awarded only to an entrant who is not a Stampin' Up! demonstrator.

Okay, onto my cards using my FAVOURITE new stamp!  I have chosen to use the Medallion stamp, which I'd been hoping-against-hope would be brought out in Australia with this new catalogue.  And whaddya know - we got it!! 

First up is a card using my often-used, and much-loved, colour combo of kraft and red, with a bit of brown:




Stamps: En Francais, Medallion, Occasional Greetings

Card: Kraft, Chocolate Chip

DSP: Bella Rose

Ink: Sahara Sand and Chocolate Chip stampin' pads, Versamark inkpad

Other: Clear embossing powder, Eyelet Border Punch, Curly Label Punch, sponge dauber, Flower Trio Punch, linen thread, paper piercing tool and mat pack, Playground designer button, mini glue dots, Dress Up ribbon originals

(Even though the colour looks a bit 'orange', I've used Riding Hood Red.  Blame the photographer.)


While I had my big, beautiful, Medallion stamp out I decided to make a second card, using the same layout, but a completely different colour combination.  I am in LOVE with Melon Mambo, one of the three new colours introduced with this catalogue.  It's bold and bright (not quite as muted as this photo shows).   What do you think of this one????




Stamps: En Francais, Medallion, Occasional Greetings, Polka Dot

Card: Melon Mambo, Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Melon Mambo stampin' pad, Jet Black Staz-On inkpad, Versamark inkpad

Other: Clear embossing powder, Eyelet Border Punch, Curly Label Punch, sponge dauber, black Basic Jumbo Grommet,1/2" circle punch, Build-A-Brad, Valet Ribbon original


You're sure to see many more cards from me, using this stamp.  I'll try to show you some other things as well in the coming days and weeks :)

Thanks for visiting today - I really appreciate it.  Now it's time to go on to Kathryn Mangelsdorf's blog, to see her beautiful creation.  Enjoy the rest of the tour!

Just in case my blog is your starting point for today's blog hop, here's a list of my 13 team-mates who are also involved in this fun 'event'.  (Make sure you leave comments!)



Ros Davidson

Tina Gillespie

Kathryn Lowe

Sue Madex

Gayatri Murali

Di Dunk

Kristine Thompson

Kathryn Mangelsdorf

Tanja Westwood

Judy May

Kim Meiklejohn

Nikki Sadler

Claire Daly