It is a challenge being challenged! : )

Three challenges the same challenge! All were created using things from "my stash" and having at least one element on them that I have NEVER used before and all based on different challenge sketches from CPS : )

The first is my challenge card for the CPS#106 card. This is only my second time doing this challenge and this was a challenge for me! I can't decide if I am "supposed" to follow the drawing exactly or not LOL So if you are looking at my card and wondering how I saw this weeks sketch in my card please know.... I did try! Papers are from Close to My Heart. The image is a stamp I have NEVER used because my friend "Beach Bum" just RAKed it to me : ) and the flower is one I have in my huge drawer of flowers. I love the flowers, I admire them on other people's cards but I RARELY feel I can get them to "work". The sentiment is a Rub on by "One Heart-One Mind" because I'm quickly becoming a poster child advocate for Rub-ons!! : )

My next card is for Rae's "Use it" challenge. I love Bella images but I am not thrilled with this card. The challenge was to use up supplies we already own. For this weeks card we were to specifically use: paper we love, something we have NEVER used before, a ribbon and a button.

For my Bella card I used an image that I do not own. If I did own it I think I would re-do and "tweak" this card to make it better. OK! moving on... : ) In my "Stash" I have at least 200 images that I have received in swaps and for RAKs or just from friends wanting to share their great images with me. I have been vowing! to turn to these images and USE them!! The solid cardstock is called "So Saffron" (one of my favs) by SU and I stamped it with a little flower stamp that I LOVE from TAC. The pattern paper is a favorite of mine as well and the button... it IS a great button, isn't it?! I bought this button - along with a couple of other of similar sized buttons in blue last April while at a PCMB retreat in Madison, WI. I love them but have never never used one before!

The third card is also for a challenge similar to Rae's Use it challenge. My good friend Vicky "lavenderblue", from the PCMB, hosted a challenge this week as well. In her challenge she challenged us to use a stamp that we have never or rarely used and create a paper crafted item in a style that we don't normally use. I chose an image by Magenta that was on a Rollagraph. I think the Rollagraph images are a good value. I like to buy them and cut them off the roller - mount them on cling foam and use them un-mounted. That is what I did with this image about 8 years ago. There are actually 4 windows of flowers but for this card I only used three. I believe I have Never ever used this image! and after working so hard on this card I'm pretty sure I never will again! I just don't like it. I'll probably RAK it to some poor unsuspecting person! I love the colors in this card but they are a lot darker than I would normally use. I tend to use dark colors in small amounts so I am not sure I like this card either! I stamped the "Because you're Special flourish image (also a RAK from Beach Bum that I have never used) on a piece of acetate and slid a lighter lime green paper behind the writing so it would show up better. : )

This is a long post! : ) you knew that right!!?? LOL but some days it is a challenge just being me! *wink* Thank you for sticking it out til the end of this novel. I hope you are having a great week.

Patti