My Digital Studio Challenge Cards

I find that I can create some great cards with no noise, no mess, and no worry... I am designing in My Digital Studio crafting software! There are hundreds of card layouts already created in the program, but I want to really get familiar with the design capabilities and challenge myself, so I have been finding challenges on the web and giving them a whirl!

Here are some of my latest creations:

for 365 Cards - Day 121 - Shades of Green: uses Certainly Celery base, with Old Olive accenting the center, and Always Artichoke at the bottom.

This is for 365 Cards - Super Sketchy SundayGiving the Torn edges stamp a try, and this one actually uses elements from the Summer Home Digital Kit - Digital Download #118464

For 365 Cards - Day 120 - Shades of Red: this one uses a part of a special new digital designer paper created specifically with Hybrid crafting in mind, the set has some really nice floral images. (Its Summertime Splendor Designer Series Paper - Digital Download item #121067, find it in my store under Digital Crafting - My Downloads - Papers)

And lastly - a bit of Christmas, this is for Christmas Stamping All Year Round - Stitch It Up!

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S.o.S Card Chain Challenge - June 2010

I am trying to Challenge myself to do a couple challenges a month, its been a little challenging - like most of my card making lately... So I started out by signing up for the June Card Chain Challenge over at one of my new favorite blogs: Debbie's Society of Stamp & Scrap-aholics (you can see the challenge for July at the link, and check back to the main page on July 1st for all the cards to be posted from the June challenge)

The way the challenge works is there are 3 different types of challenges, you must complete at least 1 of them and send off a card to your card chain recipient... like a regular exchange, with a few twists! There is a color challenge, a sketch challenge, and a theme challenge. You don't have to try and follow all 3, but you have to at least keep in line with 1.

Junes Challenges:

Theme:
Father's Day OR Farm* OR Friendship
*As in farm-related because it's National Dairy Month! (You can include other barnyard, non-milk-producing animals, scenes, etc, though.)

Colors:

And Sketch:

This is the card I sent to Hilde in Norway:

Its a hot pink card mounted on a dark purple base, with another layer of a lighter purple to accent the Designer Paper - from a hostess bundle that will retire on 6/30 - love this paper!

Its about 5.5 x 9" so a bit off standard size, but I wanted something different, and I matched it to an envelope I had so I could make the card and envelope coordinate. I used the Square Lattice embossing folder, and the Modern Label punch, and some So Saffron ribbon - all Stampin' Up of course... Originally, I had set out to make a FARM card - I got the cutest set of buttons, I wanted to do this fancy folding card, barn-style, and then when I got going on it, it was NOT good (I am still thinking on it, I will have a FAB farm card someday)... so, I decide I needed to be Quite literal, and follow the Challenge with a little more adherence to the details provided... I think it hit pretty spot on for the Sketch challenge, the Color is pretty good, and if I had a better sentiment ;-) it might be more obviously a Friendship card! I am pretty happy with it.

I received this gorgeous card from Norma in Colorado, its so awesome!! Talk about Happy! Take a look:

I love the bright happy colors, and the little details! So cute: faux stitching, and clever detailing around the circles - and the scallop circle's is actually a cut out! The delicate layers of paper, hand coloring, and did I mention the glitter?! Sparkles accent the letters, and the great bling-y flower... Sigh! Such a card! I got ALL kinds of ideas from this card!

I hope you'll join this challenge - you can still sign up through Wednesday.... it was challenging, and actually pretty fun on a few levels: you get to make a great card, send it off for someone to love, and you GET a great card to brighten your day too! Loved it!

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Fond Farewell - Color Renovation

	Q&A Q: I’ve heard Stampin’ Up! is changing colors. Why are they doing that? A: It’s true, we are having an exciting Color Renovation! Just like when you make changes to your wardrobe and home décor to keep your style and surroundings fresh, from time to time Stampin’ Up! has to update their wardrobe of colors, too. The last color change was about 5 years ago, so it’s time for updated colors to keep things exciting and to keep your creativity flowing. Stampin’ Up! is retiring some colors, bringing back some former In Colors, and introducing five new colors. A lot of research, surveys, and planning went on to come up with the new Color Collections that offer great colors, are easier to use, and offer more variety. Read on to see more about these exciting changes! Great Color Collections The much-loved Color Families are being renovated into Color Collections. Where there were 48 colors in 4 families plus some additional neutral colors, we now have 4 Color Collections, each with 10 colors. The new Color Collections are: Brights, Regals, Subtles, and Neutrals. Old colors that were not popular and weren’t selling well are being replaced with new, more usable colors. Imagine if you went into your favorite clothing or décor store and only saw the same colors year after year. How exciting would that be? Would you feel creative and refreshed? I think not! Easier to Use The new Color Collections are easier to use and understand for both new and seasoned stampers. By including all the colors in a collection and reducing the overall number of colors, they are easier to use and help to spark your creativity. Research and artist experts were consulted when deciding on the colors to select. These experts helped Stampin’ Up! choose colors that were easy to coordinate, fashionable, and well rounded. To make it even easier, Stampin’ Up! has designed a Getting Started Collection that combines 12 versatile colors from the four Color Collections. These colors have a variety of coordinating accessories available and come together in a collection of a variety of basic colors. This makes it easier for new stampers to know where to start, and for experienced stampers to know which colors will have the most options for coordinating accessories. More Variety Change isn’t always easy, but sometimes it’s necessary. If you had the same choices every time you went to a store or a restaurant, you wouldn’t feel the excitement and creativity of new options. The Color Renovation sets the stage for Stampin’ Up! to stay current and vibrant in the future without having to make such large changes. This is possible in part because of the new In Color program. In July 2010, Stampin’ Up! will introduce 5 new In Colors. These In Colors will be available for 2 years. In July of 2011, Stampin’ Up! will introduce 5 more In Colors, which will also stay for 2 years. After this year, there will be 10 In Colors available to choose from that will keep the color palate on trend and help inspire creativity. We’ll have the benefit of keeping each In Color for 2 years, but having new colors each year because the 2-year cycle alternates. How cool is that? I hope you are as excited for the beautiful new colors as I am! The new creative options are amazing! And as a valued customer of mine, I want to make sure you have extra supplies of all of your favorite colors before they retire. Supplies are limited, so please contact me today.
© CraftyPerson Production 2008. Images © Stampin' Up!

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