I did a couple of Challenges today!

The first card that I am showing you was created using the blending technique that Melanie Muenchinger showed on her blog this week. I learned the gradiant copic technique while taking the Copic Certification Class last fall and I use that technique all the time. The link to her tutorial is here: Melanie's Tutorial

I really liked the look of Melanie's tulips so I decided to try her technique as well. I really like the way that it turned out.

I colored the tulips with copic markers and blended per Melanie's instructions and then I cut them out and mounted them on the background that I had sponged with Stampin Up Plum and Purely Pomegranite Ink

I wanted a really feminine card for these beautiful roses so I made a frame with my fancy corner rounder punch. I cut 4 one inch strips of white cardstock and created my border. Then I measured them by the completed main image and cut them at an angle to created the slightly mitred corner. I didn't want to detract from the image so I only added a garnett colored polka dot ribbon to finish the card.

Challenges are always good to make you get out of your own little world of card designs. First I did the Paper Craft Planet Saturday Sketch Challenge hosted by Diana Gibbs. Here is a copy of the sketch:

For once I didn't flip the sketch or turn it on it's side to do it and I think I have all of the elements in just like they are supposed to be. I love to color Bub's Beaver from Our Craft Lounge. I combined two different stamps from the set and added the cute frogs sitting by the log. The frogs are also included in the set.

I wanted to use the red polka dot to add some Valentine Color to the design. I added the Happy Valentine's Day sentiment from the Dr. Pea_Nut set also from Our Craft Lounge. I wanted to add another bit of color in the way of design paper but most papers I looked at were just too busy, I'm kind of a plain jane, so I chose this blue with red polka dots.

I tied the thin red ribbon through the red heart eyelets and tied bow knots. My challenge card was complete. Thanks for the wonderful challenge Diana.

My second challenge card was for the Thankful Thursday challenge at InStyle Stamps. It was also a sketch challenge and had to have a thank you, thanks or some thank you type sentiment included.

I followed this sketch challenge with the exception of putting the sentiment in large die cut letters at the top instead of in the flower on the ribbon as in the sketch. I didn't intend to do that but didn't remember that the element on the ribbon was supposed to be the sentiment. Oops!

I think this card is a little plain but I couldn't find any turquoise dp that I liked with Pam and her cute pooch so I went with the solic turquoise and added the black checked ribbon. I didn't like that there was so much white behind the main panel so I cut a piece of black cardstock at an angle and placed that behind the circle and main image to tie in the black ribbon and flower.

The sentiment is the thanks from the Cuttlebug Olivia Alphabet. I cut one out of black for the shadow and one out of turquoise patterned dp. It made the turquoise stand out and not get blended into the background.

That is all I have for you tonight, As you can see I have different Stamp Companies that I really like so you will see a lot of variety on my blog.

I have 3 challenges to do for the Hannah Stamps Release Party that was last Thursday. Maybe I will get lucky and win another set of stamps. Right now that is the only way I am going to get any. Gotta pay my sales tax and license on my new car and just paid the first payment today.

Have a great rest of the week-end and I will probably see you tomorrow night.

Good night!

Cathy