Card Concept #5: Colors

It's time for the latest edition of the Card Concept Challenge...we had 172 entries for Challenge #4 and some very beautiful winners you can view HERE.  I hope your card is among them, but what a difficult time it was to choose!  It is obvious everyone loves flowers!  Today though, for Challenge #5 we have a color challenge for you.  

Not only are the colors rich and decadent...but so are the yummy cake pops in the inspiration photo.  What will you see this week?  Will you focus on the round shapes, the swirls or the layers created by the white sticks?  What card style will you be making?  Here are the six Card Concept card styles our design team highlights every challenge:

Clean and Simple

Clean and Layered

Clean and Graphic

Shabby and Vintage

Freestyle Collage

Classy and Elegant

Want to know more about each style?  They are all described HERE at the Card Concept Blog.

Here is the card I created this week representing the Classy and Elegant card style:

I was inspired by the circular shape of the yummy cake pops and the decadent rich chocolate and green colors of the inspiration photo.  I used some digital patterned paper for the base and the swirliest and most delicate die I own (Quinn Flourish) to represent the beautiful swirls on the cake pops.  To make it classy and elegant I added lots of rhinestone bling and even a dangly gem embellishment I have had for quite a while now...finally had the right card to use it on.

You have lots of time to play along with our challenge...it closes on Tuesday, March 18th at noon PST.  If you would like a little more inspiration...please go see what the other Card Concept Design Team have created using this week's delicious color pallette.

We also have a guest designer this month:

Lesley Croghan, the genius behind this fabulous Card Concept Challenge.  Please stop by her blog and let her know how much you love this challenge!

Clean & Simple

Tracey McNeely 

Deanna Dean

Clean & Graphic

Ardyth Percy-Robb

Geri Greening

Clean & Layering

Kay Miller

Kerin Sylvester

Shabby Chic

Narelle Farrugia 

Debbie Marcinkiewicz

Freestyle Collage

Karen Davis 

Cindy Lovell 

Classy & Elegant

Lee Ann Barrett
Lesley Croghan, Guest Designer

Modern Mehndi Stamp Set

*Memory Box QUINN FLOURISH Craft DIE 98267

Jolees All That Bling

Lime Brown Mod Digital Paper

Recollections Value Pack Paper

InLinkz.com

Card Concept Challenge #3 - Monochromatic Pink

I am so excited to be a part of the Card Concept Challenge...can you believe we had 119 cards submitted for our last challenge?  If you're wondering if your card was one of the favorites chosen by the design team...get right over to the Card Concept blog and check out the challenge winners!  Today, we are opening up Challenge #3...one that I personally LOVED because it is all about the color pink! 

 Monochromatic pink to be exact, something I use often, but especially right about this time of year when Valentines Day is close upon us.    Here's my card representing the Classy and Elegant style:

Pink, pink, and more pink.  Everywhere you look there is an explosion of some shade of pink.  To get my card started, I embossed a white panel with Lil Inker's Circles and Diamonds Stitched Pattern die.  The die coordinates with the Lil Inker Darling Diamonds stamp set.  I had such a good time coming up with the right shades of pink ink to use and once I had them, I just stamped solid circles every other layer.  I stamped the inside of the solid circles with one of the centers...this one has a heart in the middle, just perfect for Valentines Day.  I used a border punch to cut a hot pink topper to my card.  One of the elements of the Classy and Elegant style is to use an elegant sentiment, so I looked through my stash and found the swirliest, love-themed sentiment I have and embossed it in white.  I also used a layer of lace, a layer of circular ribbon and gathered it over the seam.  I went to town with the little pearls on this one too.  I put one just about everywhere I could find a blank spot.  The last touch were those cute little glittery cupids.  They are from Impression Obsession (Cupids) and I only wish I had some reason/excuse to use them at other times of the year...Christmas Cupids?  We'll see about that one a little closer to next Christmas.

Need more information about the Card Concept Challenge or about the different card styles?  Here's a little explanation:

Card Concept Styles Defined

So...what is your card style?  I guarantee you will find something that is just right for you when you check out the other cards made by the Card Concept Challenge Design Team.  Challenge #3 lasts for two weeks,  plenty of time to make and post your card in our gallery.  The challenge ends on Feb. 17th at noon PST.  The winners will be revealed on Wed. Feb. 19th.  I hope to see your card in the gallery very soon!

We also have a new guest designer for the month of February...Laurie Willison who is representing the Clean and Simple style.  Please stop by her blog and see what her version of Monochromatic Pink looks like!

Card Concept #2: Add Texture

Today is a very big day for me...my first day on the Card Concept Challenge Design Team.  I am beyond excited to be one of the Classy and Elegant style designers for this brand new challenge and believe me, I know how lucky I am!   Anyone who has ever seen my cards might be doing a little double-take right about now.   Most of the cards I make are in the Clean and Layered design style, after all I live in a town whose motto is "Horsetown USA".  My idea of classy is drinking beer... from a glass.  Frosting the glass in the freezer...elegant.  Setting it on a coaster... bumps it all the way up to regal, so Classy and Elegant cards are going to be a bit of a stretch for me.   That's why the Card Concept Challenge is going to be such great fun for every card maker.  Every challenge,  the design team will share two examples of six different card styes and you can use any one of them to make your card.  I think you will be surprised to see how many qualities each style has in common.

Here are the six styles and a link for more information about each style:

Clean and Simple

Clean and Graphic

Clean and Layered

Shabby Chic

Freestyle Collage

Classy and Elegant

For Challenge #2, we have a beautiful inspiration photo and a challenge to use texture on our card.

I drew my inspiration from the texture on the roof and the red and white color of the house.

I based my card around a beautiful sentiment stamp from Waltzingmouse Stamps (Safe Harbor Sentiments embossed in gold.  I layered the sentiment onto a couple of Spellbinders Floral Ovals.  The texture on my card is some jute wired ribbon that I spray pained gold to make it a little more elegant.  The burlap ribbon is also spray painted.  The background patterned paper is stamped with Waltzingmouse (Pinstripe Backgrounder).  I added a gold bow and some charms...you guessed it, spray painted gold to match the ribbon.  

Classy and Elegant not your style?  I guarantee you will find something that is just right for you when you check out the other cards made by the Card Concept Challenge Design Team.  Challenge #2 lasts for two weeks, plenty of time to make a card...or two!  The challenge ends Feb. 3rd at noon, PST.  The winners will be revealed on Wed. Feb. 5th.  I hope to see your card in the gallery very soon!