Happy Hour Challenges 1 & 2

Wow. Can I tell you all that I had a great time on Wednesday. Our very own Laura (designer for Cutters Creek) hosted a Happy Hour Challenge for our group. It was a blast creating and chatting with the girls. It did a lot to cheer me and lift my spirits. 

I have to admit that I have not been in the crafting mood for some time and was not interested in purchasing anything either. I allowed all of my Michael's Martha Stewart coupons to grow cold and unused. Nothing tickled my fancy.

When Laura suggested this crop I was all for it. I sat myself down and got ready for Challenge#1: Use the chalk popping technique to make a background for a card of your choosing...but you are only allowed to use the ONE

stamp (sentiment stamps are ok, though).

Here is my completed card.

Both stamps are from Hero Arts: Flower Cluster Sketch (H3129)--using just the flowers-- and Time to Enjoy (F1843)--separated to create two sections. I used the Pebbles Inc Pearlescent Chalking Set. The green satin ribbon is Anna Griffin and the Pearls are Queen and Co--Just Peachy. I used the Spellbinders Octagon Nestabilites and inked using Tim Holtz Peeled Paint and edged with Spiced Marmalade. This flower image was stamped on Ranger Glossy paper using Versamark which I zapped with the heat gun.

Fortified by my success with the first challenge I was ready for Challenge #2: Use one patterned paper and your one chosen stamp as an embellishment. You can color the stamp in using pencils, chalk, markers, whatever.

So here is what I produced.

First I spritzed the white card with Tattered Angels Glacier Mist (love that color) and this time I stamped the entire image and colored it in using EK Success Memory Pencils. I then went over that with various Distress Inks for a watercolor effect. I used the Tim Holtz Glossy Accents on the petals and dotted the centers with Studio G Sparkle Writer in black.


I cut out the image using Spellbinders Labels 6. I edged the card in black and used the leftover yellow ribbon from the first challenge to tie my stalks together. I simply used my craft knife to make the two slits and threaded the ribbon through and tied a knot.


The middle layer is the Spellbinders Pendants: Fleur de lis. I cut two of them from some Brenda Walton paper and layered so that the edges were aligned. I then used the small pendant square, cut it in half and trimmed to fit the space left between the two larger pendants. I used some of my Memories Direct small ink pads to enhance the colors on the edges of the die cut. It was subtle but made a huge difference.

I stamped the background on the black paper using just the flower portion of the stamp with white pigment ink and embossed with white embossing powder. It gives it a real shimmery look on the black card.  The small quote is from Brenda Walton. 


The entire card is attached to a piece of the American Crafts Sky: Pearl Alligator.


Me thinks I spent too much time on that card which put me way behind for Challenge #3: to use your stamp so that you would not know that you used your stamp.


I will leave you with a teaser and hopefully upload the completed project tomorrow along with Challenge 4.

So what do you think I used this to create?

You are in for a treat tomorrow. I certainly had fun inking these first three challenges...all in the name of love.
Until then.