—Create a project that incorporates unconventional materials from a hardware store.  Your budget was $10* and we’d love to see a photo of your receipt next to your card!

This was interesting.  I did this card last because I was afraid I would not have enough time to run to the store and finish my cards.   Fortunately I did finish everything, and I ran to Lowes to look for goodies.

I actually made two cards

Here is the first….can you guess what I got at the hardware store….

Here is a close up of the bird area

Can you see the blues and greens around the embossed areas?

This is the 2nd card

Want to know what I got at the hardware store…..

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The first card used Metal Repair Foil Tape and the second card used paint chips.   I actually did not use the washers.

Card One Supplies:

My Favorite Things After Midnight Cardstock
PTI Simply Chartreuse Cardstock
Metal Foil Tape
Anna Griffin Avery Embossing Folder
Tim Holtz Distress Paint, Blueprint Sketch and Citron Twist
PTI Scripted Die

After I embossed the foil tape, I used both the blue and green paint on the embossed image and then cleaned it with a cloth.  The excess stayed in the cracks.

Card Two Supplies:

Neenah Solar White Cardstock
Paintchips
PTI Cover Plate Circles
Avery Elle Simply Said Hello
Vellum
PTI Summer Sunrise Cardstock

—Create a new card from pieces of reject cards or alter a card from earlier today that you were not happy with.  It’s all about making it work!

Well I knew I was going to redo my first card.  Making that card was a constipated process and I just could not pull it together.  The redo was simple after a whole day of working on cards and stretching myself to create!

Here is the original card.  I did not like the overkill of Tropical teal.  I tried to emboss stars on the background that just did not work.   I did borders around the foiled card that make it look bulky.  The overall card looked unbalanced.

Here is my re-do

I like the cleaner look with more white and the statement more centered.  This is a more clean and simple look that I find more attractive.

Thanks for looking!!!

—Create a project based on one of the runway looks a team member provided above.  You can choose to focus on the colors, the style, the design or whatever other aspect inspires you!

Ohhh this is a hard one because I love all the color choices!!!!

But I settled on this adorable color combo and sweet dress.  I decided to make my card look like the dress…. flowers, pastels, ribbons.  Very Feminine and sweet.

I even dyed the ribbon with sweet blush and spring moss to bring in those colors.  I ended up using another pink for the flowers because my ink pad is so dry that you could not see the flowers.  But overall I like the card.

Supplies:

Kraft Cardstock
Anna Griffin Shimmer Paper
Anna Griffin Crowned Medallion Embossing Folders
PTI Vintage Linens Stamp and Die Set
Seam Binding
PTI Sweet Blush and Spring Moss Ink Pads
Simon Says Stamp Twirling Tutu Ink Pad
PTI Fine Linen Cardstock
PTI Tiny Tags
Stick Pin
Pearls

—Create a project featuring a stick pin.  Incorporate some of the tips that Melissa mentioned throughout her video!

I really liked making this one.  I was channeling my inner Melissa Phillips!  I really liked how my ribbon came out.  I used seam tape and made my own ribbon by using distress inks and water.   I tried to make the color the same as different apples and I think it worked.

Supplies:

PTI Enclosed It: Apple Die
Stampin Up! Cherry Cobbler Cardstock
PTI mini tag it dies
PTI Simply You Stamp Set
Crate Paper Farmhouse Paper
We R Memory Keepers Harvest Paper
PTI Fine Linen Cardstock
Seam Tape
Distress Ink: Barn Door, Mowed Lawn, Fossilized Amber, Peeled Paint
Stick Pin

—Your challenge is to incorporate machine stitching into a project. We’d love to see you use metallic thread if you have some! Don’t let this intimidate you if you’ve never done it before!  Just follow along with Amy’s tips and have fun getting crafty!

I have always wanted to pull out this die set from Papertrey Ink and when I saw the stitching I thought it was perfect for this challenge.    However my poor (and very expensive) sewing machine is giving me issues.  I was able to reset and reset the machine to get this card done.   The machine is headed off to the repair shop!     The nice thing about this stitching project was using some of my pretty thread.   This sulky thread was autumn colors and I thought would look nice on the card.

Supplies:

PTI Canyon Clay Cardstock
PTi Canyon Clay Patterned Paper
PTI Shape Up Series: Pumpkin
PTI Shape Up Series: Pumpkin Sections Die
PTI Tiny Tags Die
PTI Tag Its #7 Stamp Set
PTI Fine Linen Cardstock
PTI Rustic Jute Button Twine
Sulky 40 wt Rayon Variegated Thread – VAr-Lt Brown #943-2119

—Create a project that features some sort of stamped stitching.  Have fun experimenting with the fun techniques Heather outlined in her videos!

Now on to the faux stitches on the card.    Not sure the green embossing powder works, but lets move on!!!

Supplies:

PTI Tropical Team Cardstock
Basic Grey Tea Garden Pattern Paper
My Favorite Things Steel Blue Cardstock
My Favorite Things Stitched with Love Stamp Set
PTI Country Fair Quilt Die
Recollection Citron Embossing Powder
Versamark Ink

Thanks for looking at my creations

—Your challenge is to create a card or project that mixes at least three different patterned papers, keeping in mind the concepts that Betsy discussed in the video.  Have fun and step out of your box!

I used the paper from the kit and went for the soft pinks, oranges and yellows.  I really liked the flowers and decided that I wanted more flowers to add to the card.

The flowers do get a little lost on the card so I used Wink of Stella clear glitter on the flowers to help them pop (ok it pop a tiny bit)

Here is a close up of the flowers.  Still don’t think you can see the glitter.   Hmmmm  But you can see the gold color shine sprinkles on the card.

Supplies:

PTI Mix & Match Paper
PTI Cutting Garden Stamp Set
My Favorite Things Blueprints #14, #10
Clear Wink of Stilla
Versafine Onyx Black Inkpad
PTI Moonstones
PTI Hibiscus Burst Card Stock
PTI Inks Harvest Golden , Autumn Rose, Simple Chartreuse, New Leaf, Summer Sunrise
Heidi Swapp Gold Color Shine

—Create a project using a new-to-you color combination.  Your challenge is to come up with a unique color combination incorporating either a color you already love and use all the time, or one you rarely use, and create a project using those colors!

Well I noticed I never use Lemon Tart, I never opened the ink pad, never used the paper.  So I decided to try to incorporate it into the colors I use.   I generally like bright vibrant colors and using softer pastel colors are a stretch for me.  I also got the opportunity to use my new Zig Clean Color Real Brush set.

I decided to experiment with the ZIG Clean Color on vellum and I like the result.  I actually used them on the top of the vellum and they went on real nice and colored up quickly.  to show off the sheer vellum, I cut between the flowers and curled the leaves up.  Then I tucked the flowers underneath another flower to help them stay popped up.  If you look at the photo in the upper left corner, you can see the pink sheerness of the colored vellum over the other flower.  I did stick the vellum flowers over solid colored shapes cut from the same dies.

Supplies:

Tim Holtz Water Color Paper
Zig Clean Color Real Brush
PTI Happy for You Stamp Set
PTI You’ve Been Framed: Oval
Simon Says Stamp Set Artful Flowers  and Dies
Hero Arts White Embossing Powder
Vellum
Lemon Tart Card Stock
Simply Chartreuse Card Stock

Thank you so much for looking at my creations

—Create your own felt necklace.  Be creative and customize it to suit your style!  Even if you did not order the kit this year, take a look at your die stash and try to “make it work”!

Well this was a true challenge, I think I was tired and this was a fair amount of work.  But once I got it going, it came out great except the glue gun dies a horrible death.  It was a challenge to finish.   This was about the time we started to have a laughing fit and could not stop.   You can see the direct result of the laughing fit on the Red Carpet Challenge.    LOL

Sorry I did not write the dies down.   But they were all Papertrey ink.  The felt came from a felt shop on Etsy and the buttons were Tim Holtz and K & Company!

Thanks for looking and leaving comments!

OK, it is getting late, we are tired, and we are losing it!   But I had to post the red carpet challenge.

This is the picture that is getting posted!

Now this is the pictures that are not making the cut…..and I am losing it!

Losing it…losing it….

About to hit the floor and pee my pants.

Long day…..good crafting…..

—Create a project featuring a thread nest.  We know everyone has a spool of thread lying around and we hope this tutorial inspires you to give it a try. Go dig that old spool out of your sewing kit and try adding it to your paper crafting projects in a fresh, new & trendy way.

—Create a project featuring twine.  Danielle highlighted TEN different ways to incorporate twine into your projects, so pick one and get started!

I enjoyed making this card.  I was trying to create an illusion of sky and earth in this card.   Because I used so many colors, I think I can make 10 different cards.   LOL

Supplies:

Neenah Solar White Card Stock
Color Mate Cool Colors Card Stock
Technique Tuesday Ali Edwards Adored Stamp Set
Versafine Black Ink Pad
Ranger clear Embossing Powder
Madiera Silver Thread
Papertrey Ink Waves Die

The second card was a pepto bismo explosion of pink. LOL  Just a sweet little pink card

Supplies:

PTI Hibiscus Burst cardstock
Black Card Stock
Neenah Solar White Card Stock
Penny Black Painted Blooms Pattern Paper
My Favorite Things Stitched with Love Die Set
My Favorite Things Blue Prints #20
Hero Arts Stamp Your Own Cactus
DCWV Metallic Cardstock
Black Bakers Twine

Thanks so much for looking!!!!

I forgot to post this last night, maybe because we were having champagne, maybe because I don’t like my creation.  The first is always harder to make.

I wanted to use my new Mini Minc machine that I just got in the mail.   So I had unpacked down here at my sisters house and went thru the instructions.  But my poor baby Minc was stuck in the “0” position and no matter what I did it would not work.   I used my sisters and it worked great.  Darn I will have to return this machine to the store.

So I used Minc Mint Foil to make the background square that seemed to match the theme of the card.  I watercolored the woman with those awesome Zig Real Clean Color pens.   Which was a fun experience!

But after that I struggled.  Maybe I can fix it later in the other challenge.

Supplies:

PTI Fashion Sense Stamp Set
PTI Tropical Teal Card Stock
My Favorite Things Stitched Square STAX Dies
White and Black cardstock
Memento Black Inkpad

Thanks for looking and not snickering!!!!

Below you will find patterns like you would use for making clothing, only these are designed as a unique version of card sketches.  You are challenged to create a card using one of the card patterns to help you warm up for the day!  Just pick a favorite and go from there!  Maybe use this as an opportunity to ink up a set that has yet to be loved!

Starting to get my groove…. a little afternoon champagne does not hurt….

I choose this pattern

I copied the layout, but not so much the instructions.   Call me a scrapbook rebel!  LOL

Supplies:

PTI Summer Sunrise card stock
Penny Black Painted Blooms Pattern Paper
My Favorite Things Scallop Edges
Simon Says Stamp Summer Garden Stamp Set
PTI The Sweet Life Stamp and Die Set
Recollections Rhinestones
PTI inks, summer sunset, harvest gold, canyon clay, new life, ripe avocado

Thanks for looking!!!!