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!