Thursday, March 31, 2011

The Paper Players Challenges

I have so many challenges that I like to play, that I been ignoring other challenges.  But one particular challenge kept calling my name because I loved the participant cards that I was seeing.  I finally went over and checked them out - and it's a wonderful place!!

The blog is The Paper Players.  Their monthly schedule of challenges is:
Week One: Theme Challenge
Week Two: Colour Challenge
Week Three: Clean and Simple Challenge
Week Four: Sketch Challenge
Week Five: Anything Goes
 
I like the variety of challenges, but what I really like are the design team cards and the participant cards - they are totally my style!!  I read their entire blog because I kept finding cards to CASE and other fun ideas!  So even if you are not a challenge player - you can get great ideas from this site.
 
This week's challenge is a sketch and here is my card:
 


I was playing at a friend's house yesterday and pulled out this Stampin' Up set called Happiness Shared.  I had never noticed it in the catalog.  It's a sweet image, but I really didn't know it was there.  I always laugh at myself when a new catalog comes out because a chunk of my order always includes stamps that were actually in the old catalog.  For one reason or the other, I never noticed them, but the new catalog has them placed differently or has great samples - and now they pop out at me. 

This next card is an example of finding fun ideas on this challenge site.  A winner from their most recent clean and simple challenge included a very unique use of a border punch that I have used on this card:

 
It's so easy to do and I love that woven look. You can find instructions for this technique at Linda's Stampin Loft
 
FYI: I am NOT good at random.  I tried a number of times to place the flowers on this card randomly but still looking clean and balanced.  I could not do it.  So I browsed my files to get ideas.  The "random" placement of these flowers is a CASE from a card by Kay at Stamping to Share.
 
Happiness Shared:
  • Stamps: Stampin' Up Happiness Shared, Teeny Tiny Wishes
  • Ink: Staz-on Black, Stampin' Up Pink Pirouette, Pretty in Pink, Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Crumb Cake, Blushing Bride CS and dsp, Black
  • Accessories: Stampin' Up Oval and Scalloped Oval punches, Martha Stewart border punch
Celebrate You:
  • Stamps: Stampin' Up Awash with Flowers, Papertrey sentiment from Take 3 Summer
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Regal Rose, Peach Parfait, Rose Red, So Saffron, Wild Wasabi
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Regal Rose, dsp scrap unknown
  • Accessories: Stampin' Up Rose Grosgrain, border punch, gems

10 comments:

  1. Kim, thanks for the super-sweet comments! I must say, I have always found your cards wonderfully done, so I am happy to see you playing here! Of course, I love the sketch card, but it was even more fun to see you use that cool punch/ribbon technique! Wasn't that a creative idea?! Glad we could "help" you out!!! Lovely creations, come back soon!

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  2. Beautiful cards, Kim! I love the black punched border and mats on the first one that frame the image and sentiment perfectly, and the stamp is gorgeous. I'll have to look for this set in my catalog, too!

    Your second card is so bright and cheerful! The ribbon border is so fun, and the flowers look perfectly placed!

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  3. Great job, Kim! Your Awash with Flowers card is just stunning! Thanks for visiting us at The Paper Players!

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  4. Beautiful cards Kim! So glad you found us--thanks for all your sweet comments on our blog. I love the crispness of the black on crumb cake and the pink is so soft and lovely. I, too, struggle with "random" but you've done a wonderful job here! Thanks for playing along with us at the Paper Players! :-)

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  5. Kim, firstly... thank you for the wonderful comments about our challenge site! It's people like you that keep us going every week! I LOVE this card. The black really makes the whole card pop. Gorgeous coloring job on the flower! I love the awash with flower card, too!
    So glad you joined the Paper Players this week
    Jaydee

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  6. Hi Kim,
    Thank you so much for your kind and thoughtful comments! I have to say, I absolutely love your cards but the first card really caught my eye! I love the way you made your card with crumb cake CS...so pretty and fresh looking. Thank you for joining us at the Paper Players.
    Smiles,
    Lesley

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  7. Kim, both of your cards are stunning! I love the fabulous color combo on the first...the black just makes the image pop!! Your second card is quite possibly, the BEST card I have ever seen with the Awash with Flowers set. WOW! Love it!! Thanks for playing along with us at The Paper Players this week! :)

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  8. Your cards are so pretty! You do such a nice job on keeping things simple and elegant!! There are so many challenge blogs out there that I get overwhelmed sometimes trying to choose which to play along with! The one you've mentioned here looks like one I should go check out! Thanks! :)

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  9. Beautiful cards Kim! Love the colours of your first card & I totally agree on how easy it is to miss stamps until you see them in a different light.
    Love the crispness of your second card & your gorgeous "random" flowers. Thanks for sharing the clever ribbon technique. :)

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  10. Hi Kim! I have played the PPC a couple of times ... but thanks for the reminder. Haven't popped by for a while! These are simply lovely, Kim! Hugs xxaxx

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