Card Making Challenges

You may have noticed that in my last few posts I’ve featured cards that I’ve made to submit to various challenges. I find that challenges give me focus when I have time to create. I’ve been making cards for years and I LOVE playing with paper! I have to tell you that using challenges to get me going has changed how I approach my card making. In the past, I took a practical approach. I made cards to send to friends and family for birthdays, anniversaries, and other special events. I’ve also made cards to sell at craft fairs, and it has always been with practicality in mind. I even recall looking at cards in magazines and thinking, “What would someone do with THAT card?” You see, I didn’t really understand card making simply for the fun of it. Now that I am creating for challenges, the sky is the limit. I no longer worry about whether or not a card has a purpose. At least no purpose beyond stretching myself and improving my skills as an artist. Yes, as an artist! This is a whole new world for me. And I am looking forward to finding out where it will take me!

So now for the good stuff. Here are 2 cards that I made for challenges I found on line. The first one was made for The Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge. I found this challenge at Karen Giron’s blog The Sweetest Thing, which by the way is an awesome blog! I’ve been looking at this challenge for a couple of weeks now and finally decided to try it.

I made this card to send to my BFF’s Mom & Dad. They lost their pet dog last year and just got a new pet; a Dachshund! I am sending this card to congratulate them on their new family member.

I used Paper Smooches stamps and Basic Grey patterned paper. The cute doggie and the heart are from the Woofers and Tweetersset, and the sentiment is from the Sentiment Sampler set. The patterned papers are from the Max & Whiskers collection. I also used Spellbinders dies and Bazzil card stock.

The second card was created for the same challenge. I’ve been looking for ways to use old book pages on my cards and decided to try it on this card.

I used Paper Smooches stamps and My Mind’s Eye and Basic Grey patterned paper. The cute bee and sentiment are from the Giddy Bugs set. The patterned papers are from Basic Grey’s Shine On collection and My Mind’s Eye’s Lost & Found Sunshine collection. I also used Tim Holtz’s Alterationshoneycomb embossing folder, Marvy Uchidaand EK Successpunches, Bazzil card stock and Wiggly Eyes.

I am also going to submit both cards to the Paper Smooches Blog for consideration for the February Guest Designer. Wish me luck!

Brenda C.