Challenge #5 Winners!

My Challenge for October was to make a card using no stamps whatsoever (I know...what was I thinking?). But some clever ladies have risen to the challenge, and created masterpieces.
I love this clever piano card by Di. I'll be storing that idea away for future use!
You can go HERE to see each entry individually (make sure you leave them a comment to tell them how clever they are!), and here is a slideshow of all the entries:

And now for my winners for this month...yes I did say winners because I simply cannot choose...they are
Kerry who produced not just one, but THREE gorgeous stampless creations HERE, HERE and HERE and
Jennifer who produced THIS gorgeous Christmas card

Both Kerry and Jennifer receive some Bright Delights Rub-ons for their efforts!

Guest Blogger!

I was gob-smacked (love that word!) when Cheryl showed me this card she had made for my October Challenge: I just love what she has done with the papers from the 'Sweet Nothings' Simply Scrappin' Kit, and how she has turned it into a Christmas card...all without using a single stamp!

You have until the end of this month to enter, and the winner will receive a sheet of Bright Delights Rub Ons. I would love you to jump on board. Anyone is Australia or New Zealand can enter.

I've had a few questions about this challenge. I would prefer the challenge entries to use mainly Stampin Up! products (or at least some, since this is a Stampin' Up! blog :o)

Just enter your card with Mister Linky HERE

Challenge #5 - Look Mum, No Stamps!

Can you believe that there is absolutely no stamping on this card? Not one little bit. It is actually one of the designs in my Rub-Ons Technique classes this month. It is difficult to tell in the photo, but the Baja Breeze piece has an acetate window behind it, and the stem and small butterfly are behind the window, and the grey outline and large butterfly are on top of the acetate. That's one of the great things about Rub-Ons...they can go anywhere! I made the window using the 1 3/8" Square punch, punched 4 times to make a rectangle. It's much easier than using a craft knife! I secured the acetate (just an overhead transparency sheet) using Snail adhesive.
The leafy border, and the sentiment are all Rub-Ons too. They come from the Summer Love Rub-Ons pack in the Mini.
I made the slightly rectangular Wide Oval by feeding a strip of cardstock slightly narrower than the punch into it (3.1cm)
So, that brings me to Challenge #5, a Stampless Challenge! Make a card that features no stamping whatsoever. You can use Designer Papers, Rub-Ons, embellishments galore, but No Stamps! *gasp*
I'm looking forward to seeing how creative you can be!

Enter a link to your creation via Mr Linky (please link directly to individual blog posts), and leave a comment on this post too.


You have until October 31 to enter, and anyone from Australia/NZ can enter. The winner will receive a sheet of Bright Delights Rub-Ons!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: none!
ink: none!
card: Baja Breeze, Whisper White
other:Summer Love Rub-Ons, Scallop Oval punch, Wide Oval punch 1 3/8" Square Punch, Kiwi Kiss Satin ribbon, Dimensionals, Acetate (non SU!)

Challenge #4 Winner!

I had such a tough time choosing this month's winner. You are all sooo clever! Here's a slideshow of them all...can you see why I had such difficulty choosing just one??

But I just couldn't go past this card by Dione Bird:

She used the layout from page 3 of the Mini, and the colours of Ski Slope papers, to make a gorgeous card using the "Priceless" stamp set. I think it's just stunning.
Congrats Dione! Just email me with your address details, and I'll pop a little bundle of goodies in the mail for you.
I'll be posting a new challenge for you all very very soon!

2 more entries!

I just wanted to show you 2 last entries that I had to my Challenge. These gorgeous creations are by Donella Henderson in Queensland.

This box inspired by the one on page 5 of the Mini, using a different stamp set:This layout inspired from page 11 of the Mini, using the new 'Great Friend' stamp set:Thanks Donella, they are both gorgeous!

It's been so much fun seeing what everyone has come up with...it's going to be so hard to pick a winner!

Another Guest Blogger!

There is one last day to enter my Challenge!
You have until tomorrow night to enter, and I'll announce the winner on Wednesday morning.
This gorgeous entry is by Cheryl:


She's used the Great Friend stamp set, and Walk in the Park papers. I love the way she's used a small oval with the Scallop oval, and placed it off-centre with a corduroy button.
Absolutely stunning card, Cheryl!

Catching Up!

Since Noosa, I feel like I have been treading water...keeping my head above (but only just!), and not moving forward at all. So the last 2 days have seen me at my stamp desk, getting next month's class designs done. That's all done now, and tomorrow I'm hoping to squeeze in a little stamping just for me...my sanity needs it!

As a result, the blog has taken a back seat, and now I have some catching up to do here (never mind the housework, which has taken a back-back seat and is just going to have to stay there LOL)

Thankfully there are other bloggers who have been updating!
Check out Kerry's blog for some Anniversary Blog Candy.
Ruth has been published for the first time, so pop over and say Congrats to her.
In fact, all the blogs in my sidebar are very inspiring, and well worth a visit.

I'm happy to say I've had lots more entries in my August Challenge (feeling a lot more popular now! LOL)
Here's a gorgeous one from Zoe, who doesn't have a blog:

The colours haven't shown up completely true to life. It is Baja Breeze, Kraft and Chocolate Chip. She took inspiration from Parisian Breeze paper on page 9 and the design from page 22.

Guest Blogger

I've had a few more entries to my August Challenge trickling in (thank goodness! I was feeling quite unpopular for a while there! ;o)

I received a gorgeous entry from Karyn, in Kersbrook SA who doesn't have a blog:


It was inspired by the colours and layout on page 4.
Isn't it gorgeous?
You have until September 15 to take part. The Challenge is open to anyone in Australia OR New Zealand

Challenge reminder and extension!

Well, it looks like everyone's August has been as busy as mine. Either that or you don't find the Spring Mini very inspiring...and I KNOW that can't be true!! So far there is only one entry to my August challenge. While I would love to give Di the prize (and her card is gorgeous!) I would also love to see a few more entries, so I'm going to extend the challenge into September.
So, have a go and then leave your link HERE, so we can all see your work.
You have until September 15 to take part. The Challenge is open to anyone in Australia OR New Zealand (I had a few Kiwi entries last time, so I'd like to include you guys!)
Good luck!

Challenge #4 - Spring Mini Springboard

We're up to Challenge #4 for August, and anyone can enter! August's challenge is called the "Spring Mini Springboard". You just need to use the Mini Catalogue as a Springboard for inspiration. You can take your inspiration from any of the projects featured in the Spring Mini Catalogue. It could be the colours, a layout, or both!
I've taken my inspiration from the picture frame on page 10, and the colours are from page 14:

Here's a close-up of the chipboard circle and layering:
It's really easy to come up with a design when most of the work is done for you :o)

I can't wait to see what you come up with! The winner will receive a lucky dip of assorted Stampin' Up! bits and pieces from my stash!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Always, Friends 24-7
ink: Chocolate Chip, Tangerine Tango
card: So Saffron, Tangerine Tango (textured) Riding Hood Red (textured), Whisper White, Chocolate Chip
other: Heart to Heart Punch, Designer Clips, Chocolate Chip Double-Stitched Ribbon, Crystal Effects, Dimensionals, Pop-Up Glue Dots, Washington Apple DSP, On Board Lots of Letters

Edited to Add: You have until September 15 to take part. The Challenge is open to anyone in Australia OR New Zealand
Thanks Kerry. I've added Mr Linky now....must have been having a vague moment!!

Challenge #3 Winner!

A BIG thank you to everyone who entered my Christmas in July Challenge. I've really enjoyed seeing all your entries throughout the month. You can view all the entries HERE. Just click on each name to view their inspiring artwork. And here is a slideshow of everyone's work:

I was especially torn this month...there were so many clever ideas (some of which I plan to borrow!). But there can only be one winner......



Ange Kelly with THIS clever card:

I would never have thought to turn that tree upside down!

I'll be sending Ange some embellishments from the new Spring Mini. Ange, just email me with your address details....

Stay tuned for August's Challenge!

Challenge #3 - Christmas in July

July's challenge is called "Christmas in July", but you need to make a Christmas Card with a Twist. That means you can use either non-traditional colours or a non-Christmas set (or both, if you are feeling really adventurous!)

I love the challenge of using a non-Christmas set to make Christmas cards. You can see some of my past efforts HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE .... I told you I love the challenge! There are even more, but that will give you the idea!

This is a card I designed for next month's Christmas Stamp-a-Stacks:

I've stamped the branch from the "Kindred Spirits" set in Old Olive ink on Sahara Sand cardstock. Then I coloured in the berries with a Ruby Red marker. A dot of Crystal Effects makes then nice and shiny.... Easy Peasy!
This month's Christmas Stamp-a-Stacks start tonight. I'm running 3 classes over the next 2 days and they filled up really quickly. I think everyone loves the idea of having all their cards made before the Silly Season hits! I'm running the classes (with 2 new designs every month) at the beginning of each month until December. I can also run the class for a group of your friends in your home, at a time of your choosing. Email me to book in!

I'm going to use Mr Linky again this month, but please also leave a link to your cards in the comments section of this post.
I'm looking forward to seeing what you all come up with! I'll pick my favourite at the end of the month, and the winner will receive a sample pack of Stampin' Up! embellishments from the New Spring Mini!

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
stamps: Kindred Spirits, Best Yet (Hostess set)
ink: Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
card: Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip
other: Crystal effects, Ruby Red marker, sponge dauber, Large Oval punch, Designer Label punch, Wide Oval punch, Eyelet Border Punch

Challenge #2 Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my Step It Up Challenge. I've really enjoyed seeing all your entries throughout the month. You can view all the entries HERE. Just click on each name to view their inspiring artwork. And here's a slideshow of everyone's work:

And the winner is (I wish I could just pick everyone!)




......CHERYL!

I really love the way she took this gorgeous card:

and managed to make it even more gorgeous:


Cheryl wins a sample pack of Stampin' Up! embellishments.
I'll be announcing my July Challenge tomorrow, so stay tuned for that!

June Challenge - Step it Up!

Are you ready for another challenge?
Anyone can enter....if you don't have a blog, you can email a pic of your creation to me, and I can show it on my blog, or you can use any photo hosting website.
This month's challenge is to make a card, and then "step it up".
You might like to add brads, buttons, ribbon, glitter, more layers - anything you like just to make the card a bit more special. You can either take a card you have already made, and just make a "stepped up" version of it or you can start from scratch and make 2 versions of the same card, one plain and one stepped up. Just make sure you show both versions in your blog post.
You have until June 30 to make your creations!

Here's my original card. It's a nice quick and simple one, perfect for a make-and-take (in fact it was the make-and-take at the workshop I did on Friday night - Hi Wendy and Sarah!)

And here it is "stepped up":

I've added some more layering, and sponged the layers. I've also added some brads, ribbon and silver hodgepodge as embellishments, and I've cut out the 2 butterflies and popped their wings up with dimensionals, and added some glitter too. Here's a close-up:

I'm going to try Mr Linky this month, but if it doesn't work (I don't have much faith in technology) just leave a link to your cards in the comments section of this post.

I'm looking forward to seeing what you all come up with! I'll pick my favourite at the end of the month, and the winner will receive a sample pack of Stampin' Up! embellishments.

Materials (all Stampin' Up!)
Stamps: Priceless, Sincere Salutations, So Swirly Jumbo Wheel
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery
Cardstock: Lovely Lilac, Almost Amethyst, Certainly Celery, Whisper White
Other: White gel pen, Large Oval Punch, Designer Label Punch, Styled Silver Hodgepodge hardware, Dimensionals, Wide Celery Grosgrain ribbon, sponge daubers, Crystal Effects, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter

Challenge Winner!

Thank you to everyone who entered my Catalogue Challenge. I've really enjoyed seeing all your entries throughout the month. So that you can all enjoy them too, I thought I'd post a linky list here. Just click on each name to view their inspiring artwork. You can see a slideshow of everyone's work down below.
Nerida
Louise
Tracy 1
Lorna
Kristy
Liam
Leonie
Paula
Ange
Kathryn
Sam
Tracy 2
Kirrily
Kerry
Kylie
Chantell
Tamara
Noreen
Zoe

And the winner is....this was such a tough choice because they are all fabulous....

Tamara!
I really like the way she took this:
and really made it her own with this cute elephant card:
Tamara, I'll pop your prize in the mail for you :o)
I've got another challenge planned for June, so stay tuned!