Wednesday, March 16, 2011

My Fun, Free To Be Flutterby.



Some would say that I have, well and truly, been bitten by the challenge bug and I'd have to cheerfully agree that they just may be right.  I have had so much fun participating in the challenges that I have of late.  I am gently trying to muster up the courage to take on another one or two additional challenges, as I have been having such a blast with Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenges and (*whispers* my gorgeously squidgy favorite) CR84FN, but am not really sure where else to take the plunge.  I'd love to hear which are your favorite challenges and what you'd recommend for me.  What I love most about the CR84FN and Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenges is that, with them,  I feel free to be creative using any of my much coveted stamps, tools, papers and techniques etc., while branching out and trying new and innovative shapes, compositions and color combinations.  Plus, I am really enjoying the good old stretch that my beloved newfound challenge sites are offering me at present.

My most current card entry into both the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge and the CR84FN Color Challenge was a fun one indeed.  Fun like a hard workout is once the soreness fades and the realizations start to come to the fore that you've actually broken through a barrier or jumped over a hurdle and have been inspired to move beyond one's own personal best.  Mind you, I sure would love to win one of these challenges one day (I can always wish and dream, right?), but I can already see how just participating in them makes me a winner already, as with each entry there is exponential growth.  How fabulous is that?  Maybe I should make up my own blinkies.  Hmm, now that might just be one of my more kooky, albeit crafty, (yet still hairbrained) ideas to date.  Oh well, you know me...if there is merrymaking to be had, why not have it?  *wink*

I just adored the challenge of making another shaped card for the Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge, although I still find it a struggle to come up with the right sized envelope.  Currently, my circle card is in a standard rectangular envie and looks much like one's little brother wearing big bro's sweater (a jumper for my fellow Australian compadres). Not the best look.   As for the colors used for the CR84FN Color Challenge (talk about skinning up my nose when I first saw the trio for this week's color challenge), I just couldn't see how I could personally make them work.  But now, I do declare...I think that they work exceptionally well together and I even got to use that Larry bright blue bit of lace that I certainly never imagined that I would before now. Bonus!  I also cracked opened a pot of white acrylic paint and got to use some cool iridescent paint to tjuz up the card's edges and that natty little butterfly.  Bliss. All in all, another great challenge workout was had.

My Fun, Free To Be Flutterby Card:




With flash in order to capture the iridescence:


Thank you ever so much for stopping by.  Your visits mean so much to me. x

Supplies:


  • Stamps:  Waltzingmouse Stamps Asian Gardens
  • Paper:  Papertrey Ink Soft Stone and Aqua Mist Cardstock, BoBunny Gabrielle PP (the aqua butterfly PP), K&C Company Julianne DP (the blue/gray bottom half of the scallop with leaf flourishes)
  • Ink:  Brilliance Lightening Black, Distress Ink in Pumice Stone, Weathered Wood, Broken China, and Vintage Photo
  • Accessories:  Spellbinders Grand Nestabilities Scalloped Circles, Standard Scalloped Circles Large, Blue Vintage Lace, Papertrey Ink Baker's Twine in New Leaf, Enchanted Evening, and Chocolate, Claudine Hellmuth Studio Gloss Acrylic White Paint, Jo Sonja Blue and Tourquoise Iridescent Acrylic Paint, KaiserCraft Blue Rhinestones, and Blue/Green Iridescent ribbon 1/4"(behind sentiment), Signo White Gel Pen, and Tim Holtz Embossing Folder in Rays.

23 comments:

Mad for Paper said...

Jen,
Your card is gorgeous. Have fun with your challenges.
TFS
Ang

Mona Pendleton said...

Beautiful card Jen! Love the added crystals and scalloped shape card! Thanks so much for playing along with both CR84FN and the WMSC :)

Jill said...

Jen, that bit of lace is perfect! Such a pretty card, and I LOVE the sentiment you chose--it just *makes* the card!

Sue Lelli said...

Jen, your card is GORGEOUS! LOVE the card shape and that sentiment is so FAB! LOVE the blue lace and the twine treatment! And that butterfly IS so FREE! THX for playing with us at CR84FN!

Jen Cuthbertson said...

I love the soft colors you chose, Jen, with that pop of blue lace! Great job with the challenge and your blog is a pleasure to read! Thank you for joining us again this week at WMSC!

Deb Hickman said...

Gorgeous card, Jen...... I love the circle shaped,pretty papers and love the paint effect. Thanks for playing along at CR84FN.
Have a look at Scrapbookers Anonymous, it's a monthly challenge where you're encouraged to use up some of your old stash,this month you have to use at least 7 flowers. It's not just for scrapbookers,it's for any kind of project including cards.xxx

Pauline said...

Beautiful card, so pretty, and you worked those colours so well!

Deb Hickman said...

Gorgeous card, Jen...... I love the circle shaped,pretty papers and love the paint effect. Thanks for playing along at CR84FN.
Have a look at Scrapbookers Anonymous, it's a monthly challenge where you're encouraged to use up some of your old stash,this month you have to use at least 7 flowers. It's not just for scrapbookers,it's for any kind of project including cards.xxx

Kay D said...

LOVE these delicious colors, and your sentiment placement is to die for (I'm SO going to "borrow" that idea)
WONDERFUL card!

Janelle said...

Jen, you certainly have a way with words... and with paper, ink, paint, lace, etc., too! Beautiful card! Some of my favorite challenge sites have recently gone by the wayside, so I'm looking to pick up a couple, too. Definitely a color challenge and have my eye on CR84FN. I do love the One Layer Wednesday challenges because they help me to keep it basic, which can be hard. I also sometimes do the Clean and Simple Stamping challenges because I love a good sketch, too.

Anne B said...

Your card is gorgeous - love what you did with the colours, especially the touches of iridescence. Keep those challenge entries coming :)

Meredith MacRitchie said...

This is wonderful! I am so glad you've been enjoying our challenges so much... I love a good challenge to get my mojo going too! Thanks for playing with CR84FN!

Unknown said...

Such a lovely shaped card, Jen! Love the twine and lace treatment.. Thanks for playing along with CR84FN!

Rebecca Mosher said...

I love the circle card, you executed it so well with the colour challenge :-)

Dana Gustafson said...

Ohhh! Shabby-licious! I lov that pop of blue lace and the gorgeous butterfly!

Andrea M said...

So fabulous Jen!!! What a wonderful, pretty take on the challenge colors! Thanks so much for playing along with CR84FN!!!

Trees said...

Lovely card Jen! I love the bit of blue lace with the twine tied over it.
I know what you mean about challenge sites, 1- they ARE addicting and 2- They really do help you grow in your talent!
Some other ones I really like are The Shabby Tea Room, the ColorQ, The Playdate Cafe, Embellish Color Challenge, The Color Cue, Wee Memories, Card Patterns, Get Sketchy, and Just us Girls...
I know that an enormous list, but I just like to pick and choose what challenges to participate in. I'm pretty sure one or two pages of my blog should find you all the right links..or maybe googling the name i gave you+challenge blog would get your there faster!
Anyway, Thanks for the inspiration with yet another gorgeous card!

Dana said...

Oh Jen, I just want to touch and hold this one. I'll bet it is full of texture. Shape cards are a true challenge for me but you made this look effortless. And the layers and tiny ribbon tabs are so eye-catching.

Amy Kolling said...

What a gorgeous card Jen! So much texture and such beautiful blue hues......You make some beautifully executed cards!!

cardsandmorebygigi said...

So, so pretty and creative Jen.Your application of the challenge colors is spot on. I love the double layered base, the textures and iridescence, and the way you tucked in the ribbon and the message....Brilliant...xoxoox

Lorraine said...

Such a beautiful & creative card, Jen! Love your use of the challenge colors and the scallop circle shape!

Michelle said...

Jen I love what you did with the twine and the lace...so much character in such a small space...just so pretty...bluesy.... So glad you are enjoying challenges!

DF said...

Love this - the colours are striking, the lace and ribbons such a nice hit of colour! And it's so refreshing to see a differently shaped card.