Tuesday Jan.8, 2013 Challenges

Here are some Tuesday challenges with themes.  Happy crafting!

sketches
Tuesday Morning Sketches

365 Cards, new challenge each day
LOUD: using bold colors and PROUD: sentiment of congratulations
 
Clear It Out Challenge:  bi-weekly
Theme: Warm Fuzzies; Stash: textured items (papers, embellishments, etc)  week 2

Craft Room Challenges:  bi-weekly, 3 entries
Valentines

My Time to Craft Challenge:  bi-weekly 
#203 All About the New (but not new stash)
 
Oldie But a Goodie Challenge:  bi-weekly, 3 entries, use something that is at least 6 months old
Lace, pins and pearls 
 
Tuesday Alchemy Challenge:  bi-weekly, multiple entries
#47 Hopes, Dreams &/Or Resolutions  (week 2)

Tuesday Taggers:  bi-weekly, multiple entries, 5 challenges
New Stash 

Bearly Mine Challenge:  weekly, 3 entries 
#68 Sketch

Celebrate The Occasion:  weekly, 1 entry
#94 Boys birthday (must use blue) 

City Crafter Challenge:  weekly, multiple entries
#141 Use Book Paper 

Loves Rubber Stamps:  weekly, multiple entries
#34 Use dies or punchies
 
Our Daily Bread Designs:  weekly, use ODBD stamp
ODBDSLC137 Something Old and Something New

Papertake Weekly Challenge:  weekly  
Happy New... 

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge:  weekly, 3 entries
#129 Shiny and New  

Twist of Faith Card Challenge:  weekly
#19 Sketch  

Have a blessed day! 

Monday Jan. 7, 2013 Challenges

Here are some of todays challenges with themes.  Happy crafting!

Crafty Cardmakers:  multiple entries
create a fairytale scene

The Crazy Challenge:  bi-weekly, 4 entries
#136 without design paper 

Creative Stamp Friends:  bi-weekly
#68 Snowflakes  week 1

Daisy Doodles Creative Challenge:  bi-weekly, 2 entries, must use digital image 
#75 Fresh and Simple, bright colors and simple design

Lexi's Creations: bi-weekly, multiple entries
#81 Anything goes 

The Pink Elephant:  weekly
#181 Celebrate 

365 Cards:   a new card challenge each day
Rounding the Corner; "round" a minimum of ONE but a maximum of THREE corners on your card 

Card Mania Challenges:  bi-weekly, 3 entries (2nd week)
#11 Winter Wonderland 

Card Makin Mamas:  weekly, must be card, 2 entries 
Anything goes

Cards for Men:  bi-weekly
#1 Men at Work

Ooh La La Creations:  bi-weekly
#121 Happy Birthday

Paper Playtime:  bi-weekly, multiple entries
#1 Pets 

Songbird Challenge:  bi-weekly, cards only
#11 Paint it Black, use black and one other color
 
Craft Your Passion Challenge:  weekly, 3 entries
#144 Vintage/Shabby Chic 

Cupcake Craft Challenge:  weekly
#224 January Blues 

Eureka Stamps:  weekly, 3 entries 
#21 Make it Sparkle 

Incy Wincy Designs:  weekly, 5 entries
Something new 

Kaboodle Doodles:  weekly, 3 entries 
#153 Vintage 

The Kraft Journal:  weekly, use either Kraft cardstock or products purchased from Kraft Outlet
Crimp or Fold

Tammy's Scrapin Corner:  weekly, 2 entries
#44 Manly Cards 

The Shabby Tea Room:  weekly, multiple entries
#148 Elegance, use inspiration photo, blue and white, ribbon and flower

Have a blessed day!  

Love You, Princess

Yay!  My top priority for the beginning of the new year is almost finished!  My craft room was such a disaster after Christmas crafting that I could hardly get to my desk.  So I enlisted the help of my amazing, talented hubby, (I'll share some of his work later) and I am so happy to report that we are about 3/4th finished.  In fact, I was able to get a little crafting done today. 
I love doing card challenges but I'm accumulating too many cards so I've decided to make my cards suitable for OWH (Operation Write Home).  Which means my cards will be simpler and the embellishments will be smaller.  Now I can indulge my addiction and do something good at the same time.
Today I made a card for a little princess.  I hope there's a little girl somewhere that loves blue!   After I was finished, I wondered why I didn't make it pink.  Maybe a senior moment?  Think I'll go make a pink one!
For this card, I made my own design paper.  I've been wanting to try this faux ghosting technique with Distress Inks (something new).  I used 2 shades of blue and then spritzed water through a doily for the design. 

I then stamped and embossed the hearts (old stamp from Hero Arts) and colored them with the same Distress Inks.  The wonderful image is a freebie from MilkCoffee, which I colored with Prismacolor Pencils.  I used a Clear Star Gelly Roll pen around the edges for a little sparkle.  The sentiment was printed and punched with a Fiskers heart punch.  Some sheer ribbon and a heart button with a yarn bow finish the card.

challenges I would like to enter

Crafty Ribbons Challenge:  #36 New Beginnings
MilkCoffee:  New Beginnings
Shelly's Images: Anything goes
Charisma Cardz:  #52 Monochrome
C.R.A.F.T. Challenge:  #188 Make your own backing paper
Cute Card Thursday:  #250 Something new
Paper Crafting Journey:  Anything goes
Pixie Dust Studio Challenge:  It's all new to me
Sassy Studio Designs:  #158 Something old and something new (new technique, old stamp)

Thanks for visiting and have a blessed day!

Sunday Jan. 6,2013 Challenges

Here are the Sunday challenges with their themes.  Have fun creating!

Christmas
Christmas Card Challenges:  weekly
#6 Rip It/Sand It/Tear It

Sketch
CLP Challenge:  once a month
365 Cards:  Sunday sketch
OWH (Operation Write Home)
Sketchy Colors:  weekly

Challenges 4 Everybody:  bi-weekly
always anything goes

Crafting When We Can:  bi-weekly, 2 entries, 5 challenges 
#35 Favourite things
 
Dream Valley Challenges:  bi-weekly, 3 entries
#48 Anything goes 

Quirky Crafts:  bi-weekly, 3 entries
Something new... with pink

The Squirrel and the Fox:  bi-weekly
#34 Party Time

  613 Avenue Create:  weekly
Anything goes 

Come and Get It Challenges:  weekly, 2 entries
color challenge, pink, yellow, blue
  
Creative Inspirations Paint:  weekly
Inspired By: Case It; case a project by someone else or yourself
 
Cupcake Inspiration:  weekly
use cupcake inspiration picture 

Gingerloft Challenge:  regular schedule will resume Jan.13
Christmas or winter

Glitter and Sparkle:  weekly
#14 Anything Goes
 
Pile It On Challenge:  weekly
PIO #1 Black, White and Another Color 

Sentimental Sundays:  weekly, 3 entries 
link up a PAST favorite Sentimental Sundays submission, ONLY 1 ENTRY PER PERSON 

Stamptacular Sundays:  weekly 
#197 Don't Be SQUARE; and don't forget to STAMP
 
Have a blessed day!

Saturday Jan 5, 2013 Challenges

Here are today's challenges with themes. 

Christmas
52 Christmas Card Throwdown:  weekly, 10 challenges 
sketch
 
Crafty Hazelnuts Christmas Challenge:  weekly 
#106 Santa has gone into hiding 

sketch
Sketch Saturday:  weekly, 3 entries
Sweet 'n' Sassy Sketch Challenge

Monthly
OWH_ODBD January Challenge
Dry embossing

A Gem of A Challenge:  bi-weekly
#62 New Beginnings 

Di's DigiDesigns Challenges:  bi-weekly
Try something new

My Sheri Crafts Challenge:  bi-weekly 
 #101 All Sports 

Send A Smile 4 Kids:  1st and 3rd Saturday of each month, must be for a child, 3 entries
Valentines 4 Kids Challenge

2 Sisters Challenge Blog:  weekly, multiple entries,
#125 Anything goes w/optional extra of using an image from Doodle Dragon Studios 

Allsorts Challenge:  weekly, 3 entries
#188 CAS (clean and simple)

Crazy 4 Challenges:  weekly
C4C167 Ribbons and Bows 

Hiding in My Craft Room: weekly, 3 entries, winners are posted on the 8th of the following month
HIMCR #79 Black & White + 1

Just Us Girls Challenge:  weekly
#170 sketch

Less Is More:  weekly, 5 challenges, multiple entries, CAS cards
#101 Black and White with a touch of color

Mark's Finest Paper:  weekly
#141 take a Christmas card you received and use part of it to make your card

One Stop Craft Challenge:  weekly, 2 entries, will be back Jan.12

Our Creative Corner: weekly 
Aqua and Pink + flower

Sugar Creek Hollow:  weekly, 3entries, must be vintge, shabby chic, or primitive inspired style 
#43 Celebrate Something New

Sweet Stampin' Challenge Blog:  weekly, 2 entries, MUST stamp, (rubber or digi)
White + One Other 

Totally Gorjuss Challenge
Anything goes with ribbon
  Have a blessed day!

Friday, Jan 4, 2012 Challenges

Here is a list of Friday challenges with their themes.  If you would like a challenge added, leave me a comment and I'll add it.

Annabelle Stamps: bi-weekly
sketch 

Fussy and Fancy:  bi-weekly
Furry Friends 

Stampin' For The Weekend:  bi-weekly, 1 entry
Anything Goes 

Stamping With The Dragon:  bi-weekly
Anything goes 

 A Day For Daisies:  must use Tammy's images, she always includes a free image
#61 Something shiny

Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge:  weekly, 3 entries
#105 Something New

Crafty Catz:  weekly
#164 Anything goes
 
Daring Cardmakers: 
color challenge: blue and brown 

Delicious Doodles:  weekly 
#17 Sparkle and Shine 

Frosted Designs:  1 entry
pick at least 4 things from list:  rubons, transparency, brads, eyelets, misting/masking, punches, stamping, stickers
 
Raise The Bar:
#125 sketch 

Sweet 'n' Sassy Digi Challenge:  must use digital images only
Something new 

Totally Papercrafts:
#148 Something new 

Have a blessed day!

Thursday Jan. 3, 2012 Challenges

Here is a list of Thursday challenges with their themes.  I'm going to try to keep this updated each day.  If there is a challenge you would like added to this list, leave me a comment and I will add it.

Christmas:
Crimbo Crackers: 
#32 Decoupage  

In The Pink:  once a month, maximum of 3 entries with different cards per challenge
#10 Pink and Pearly ends Jan. 9

Aud Sentiments Challenge:  bi-weekly, use sentiment given
 use any sentiment as long as it is about winter - so you could pick "Thanks snow much" or "Have a n-ice day" or some other creative wonder!  Just don't forget an applicable sentiment! ends Tue. Jan.15
 
Craft Us Crazy:  bi-weekly, 3 entries
#34 challenge theme is something new and/or work with their inspiration photo 

 Crafty Ribbons Challenge:  bi-weekly, unlimited entries
#36 'New Beginnings'  ends Jan.16
 
It's All About The Vintage:  bi-weekly, 3 entries 
Lace Dreams,  this challenge will run till Jan. 16 when regular schedule will resume 

MilkCoffee:  bi-weekly, 3 entries per person
New Beginnings 

Shelly's Images:   5 entries 
Anything goes, ends Jan. 16 
 
Charisma Cardz:  weekly, 3 entries per person
#52 Monochrome 

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge:  weekly,  5 entries
#188 Make your own backing paper 
 
Cute Card Thursday:  weekly 
#250 Something new 

Dutch Dare Card Challenges:  weekly, 2 entries 
#198  a Recipe for you.  Please use the following items on your card: 1 image, 2 fibers (ribbons, lace, cord, twine, etc) 3 pattern papers, 4 corners (no round cards) 5 embellies ( a row of 5 rhinestones, etc)

Joan's Gardens:  weekly, multiple entries

Mo's Digital Pencil:  weekly, 1 entry 
#167 Anything goes w/Mo Image 
 
Moving Along With The Times: weekly, 3 entries
Thank You, ends Jan. 9 
 
Paper Crafting Journey:  bi-weekly, 3 entries
Anything goes, ends Jan.9 
 
Pixie Dust Studio Challenge:  weekly, 3 entries 
It's all new to me
 
Sassy Studio Designs:  weekly
#158 Something old and something new 

The Play Date Cafe:  color challenge, weekly
#163 Champagne...Sky Blue...Tangerine
 
4 Crafty Chicks:  weekly 
#123 Ribbon and Bows 

Wishing you a very blessed New Year!

Christmas Tag - For You

Today I have a girly, pastel Christmas tag. This beautiful collage stamp is from Heartfelt Creations.  I embossed in white, sponged with Distress Inks, and then used Delicata Gold to give it some beautiful shimmer.  I used the Romantic Rectangle die for the image and then matted in blue and cream.  It's then finished off with some ribbon, lace and pearls.

Thanks so much for visiting and have a blessed day!

Challenges I would like to enter
Joan's Gardens:  tags, use products available at Joan's
Stampin' For The Weekend:  add some texture
Crafts 4 Eternity:  any Christmas themed project
Totally PaperCrafts:  anything Christmasy but a card
Fussy and Fancy Friday:  I love Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge:  make it girly
Jingle Belles:  anything goes
Crimbo Crackers:  anything goes
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge:  blue and pink

Heartfelt Creations DT Alumni Hop

(Note: I have no idea what is going on with Blogger; he seems to have taken it into his head to change the color and spacing all willie, nillie and won't let me change it?!)   

It's time for the Heartfelt Creations Design Team Alumni monthly blog hop...and this month I have the privilege of being a part of the hop.  We've chosen the last Tuesday of each month to share a project featuring Heartfelt Creations' stamps when we can, just for fun.  If you'd like a chance at winning a prize, be sure to leave a comment on every blog along the hop by Friday - there is a $25 gift certificate up for grabs for one random commenter!  How cool is that?!  I am at the top of the hop list today, so if you're ready to hop, you are in the right place!

For today I am sharing a rather rustic Christmas card, which is a different style for me.  I stamped the Petite Poinsettia PreCut Set onto vintage music paper with Cherry Red ink and then embossed with clear EP.  I used Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia die and then inked everything  with Walnut Stain.  I added Star Dust Stickles to the flower and leaves and then added some red rhinestones.

The hop will close Friday November 30th at midnight EST, so hop along and leave comments with each of the ladies between now and then for your chance to win a $25 gift certificate to shop at Heartfelt Creations.  The winner will be announced on Saturday December 1st.

 

So now you're ready to hop on to your next stop which is Kristina Andersen http://reflectionsofahappycrafter.blogspot.ca/

Here is a list of all the blogs in today's hop.

Sarah Miller http://plainandfancypapercrafts.blogspot.com/  (you are here)
Kristina Andersen http://reflectionsofahappycrafter.blogspot.ca/
Dina Kowal http://mamadinis.blogspot.com
Emilia van den Heuvel http://few-favourite-things.blogspot.nl
Erika Selander http://lillgumman.blogspot.com
Linda Payne http://paynehollercards.blogspot.com/

Thank you for visiting and have a blessed day!

challenges I would like to enter

Christmas Stampin' All Year Long:  to die 4

Creative Inspirations Paint:  Anything goes

The Crafty Pad:  add some glitter

Forever Friends:  glitter and sparkle 

 

 

You Are Loved

Last month I was asked to create an album for our pastor for pastor appreciation. The congregation was asked to create a thank you card with a note of encouragement, but no specifics were given, so I received quite a variety of sizes and styles. Quite a challenge, LOL! I decided to do a flip album. I've had this paper pack (DCWV 'the Performance stack') for a long time but couldn't find the right project until now. Our pastor and his son are part of our worship team and music is a big part of their lives so this was perfect.

The chipboard shapes and pearls were part of my birthday present from my son and DIL, thanks! This is one of my fav laces!

the inside of the cover. There are some beautiful vellum papers included with this paper pack and I thought about placing it over top of this page but then decided against it. I was afraid the giver might think I was trying to cover up her work and this was one time when the thought was more important than the presentation.

it flips open to reveal a pocket which is held closed with a magnet...

and holds a little booklet with cards from the children.

the other side has three pockets for the messages from the assistant pastors and elder.

When it's completely flipped open there is a flip page to hold smaller cards and on the right are some purchased cards and some that were e-mailed which I printed out and made into cards. This was a challenge! After praying about it, I thought about sewing them together with a coptic stitch. I had never tried it before so I turned to my instruction manual, (youtube!). It worked great and I used an elastic cord to hold them in place.

 completely flipped open

I added an envelope on the back and included a little tag from me.

This book turned out a little heavier than I realized it would, but it feels very sturdy and I really loved the design. They  enjoyed reading all the thoughts from everyone and I was glad I had the opportunity to create it for them.

challenges:
Word Art Wednesday:  give thanks/open
Stampin' Sisters in Christ: Create a card of project depicting thankfulness or prayer. It can be a Thanksgiving card/project, a thank-you note, or an "I'm praying for you" type card/project

And now I'm off to create a mini for a very special little lady who requested a book of her own. I'm going to have to readjust my thinking to a 10 year old. Here's hoping she'll like it!

Thanks so much for visiting and have a blessed day!