There’s a New Cardmaking Challenge in Town

There’s a new challenge site coming in 2013! If you love getting crafty with amazing inspiration and a chance to win awesome prizes THIS is the challenge site for you!

Pinspired Challenges: Turning Pins Into Projects

Inspiration can be found everywhere on Pinterest. From pins of gorgeous nails and fashion to eye candy and crafty DIY projects.  We love Pinterest and decided to turn those amazing pins into an equally amazing challenge site!

The Design Team aka “Pin Heads” is being announced as we get ready for the first challenge on January 8, 2013. I’m delighted to be part of this new team!

The 2013 calendar is full of amazing pins to inspire your projects. And for every challenge there’s a prize.

Be sure to follow Pinspired Challenges on BLOG, FACEBOOK, FLICKR, TWITTER and PINTEREST

Happy New Year

Happy 2013! I created this card for the “Anything Goes” Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge.

Happy New Year - Paper Smooches

I’m embracing the colors and cold temps of winter! (It’s a sunny, cold day here in the Pacific Northwest.) My card uses some of my favorite card making techniques – paper piecing, die cutting and embossing.

Supplies: Echo Park Winter Wishes; Stampin’ Up cardstock (orange); The Twinery twine; McGill tag punch

Peace on Earth

For me, the holidays represent an opportunity to embrace the winter season. I also tend to be more reflective at this time of year. I wanted to create a card expressing the quietness and beauty of winter.

CAS Peace on Earth Paper Smooches

 

This card uses the same design that I used for the Sparks Challenge in October. I simply replaced the yellow birds with the red cardinal and added a glittery, soft blue background.

Supplies: Spellbinders circle dies; Stampin’ Up cardstock (red); glitter paper (Michaels); Encore ink (silver)

 

A Few of My Favorite Things

Today I’m sharing a card inspired by two cards – one by Kelley Eubanks and the other by Kelly Rasmussen. The two cards were featured side-by-side in the March/April 2012 Paper Crafts magazine.

Hero Arts Reindeer

 

As the holiday cardmaking season comes to a close, I’m reflecting on some of my favorites from this year. To begin with, I find inspiration on a regular basis from the Paper Crafts magazine! I’ve reached for the Hero Arts music background again and again. (In the card shown above, I stamped it with VersaMark ink.) I’ve already mentioned how much I like the “Warm Wishes” sentiment from the Hero Arts/Studio Calico set. And the color combination of light blue, red and kraft always makes me happy!

Supplies: Stampin’ Up embossing powder; ColorBox ink (white); VersaColor ink (bamboo)

Christmas Mouse

In just a few days I’ll be transitioning from making holiday-themed cards to making more winter-themed cards. I’ve enjoyed making holiday cards this year, perhaps more than any other year! I’ve learned that I really like glitter – although I’m happy to have finally wiped up all the glitter covering my dining table on which I make my cards!

This card plays on the ’Twas the Night Before Christmas poem line that says “Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.” I envision a certain mouse up and about checking out the stockings!

Paper Smooches Holiday Mouse

 

Now it’s time to go wrap some packages and get the stocking stuffers sorted!