Challenge Monday....

Yesterday was my day to make some cards for a few challenges! The challenges tend to stretch my imagination to create cards according to specific guidelines. My two Challenge cards today are from Our Creative Corner and Taylored Expressions.

Our Creative Corner sketch challenge was to make a card that looked like a postcard! I had fun with this one. I aged a panel of Whisper White (Stampin' Up!) cardstock with Memento Desert Sand ink. I took the ink pad and swiped it across the card, heavier in areas for a "vintage" look. I stamped my "Christmas Script" (Rubber Stampede) with Adirondack Lights Peach Bellini in the center of my card. Next, I stamped my reindeer, and sentiments (Inkadinkado, River City Rubber Works) with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then wrote in the address, names and line with a black pen. I stamped the "North Pole Postmark" with Memento Angel Pink ink.

I mounted my Holly background paper by Anna Griffin onto a red card, then proceeded to put my card together. I tore the edges of my postcard panel, applied Memento Rich Cocoa ink on the edges for more "aging", then adhered it to my card. I added a satin bow, a pretty fabric poinsettia with yellow rhinestones, an acetate diecut, and gold pearls to finish the card. Card size: 5 1/2 x 6 inches.

My next challenge card is for Taylored Expressions Sketch and uses a digistamp from Pink Cat Studio. I just love their images and they've just released more for Christmas! I printed my turkey family on Whisper White cardstock and colored the image with Prismacolor markers. I cut the colored image with the Circle Nestabilities die using the Cuttlebug. While the image was still in the die, I used the Colorbox Stylus to sponge Memento Tangelo and Desert Sand ink on the edges. I mounted this piece to a Scalloped Circle Nestabilities cut out and laid it aside to put my card together.

I cut two strips of Debbie Mumm background paper from her Harvest Stack (I got it at JoAnn's), then mounted them to my cream colored card. I punched a decorative edge with a Martha Stewart punch on my word paper (The Paper Studio) and adhered it to my card. I tied orange twine with a bow to the card, then added faux stitching on the Debbie Mumm strips and Turkey piece with a brown ink pen. I used pop dots for the turkey piece, then added drops of Glossy Accents on the turkey's eyes. Card size: 5 x 6 inches.

My last card was created using a tutorial by Michelle Zindorf. As you know, I just love her work and this beautiful cardinal was begging for my attention. Follow Michelle's tutorial for how to create the snowy scene (a list of supplies is included with her tutorial).

Once my cardinal piece was made, I cut it out with the Circle Nestabilities die, then mounted that panel to a glittery white Scalloped Circle cut out. The fabulous snowflake edged glitter panel was made using the new Snowflake corner and edge punch by Martha Stewart. I mounted my cardinal panel to my snowflake panel, then glued it to a white card. A pretty satin bow and snowball pearls finished the card. Card size: 5 x 5 inches.