Hi All,
Welcome to the January Challenge! It was so fun to have you vote on what cards you’d like to use for inspiration. It was a great idea from the community. I love when you all make suggestions.
So here are the three cards (click on each to go to the original post with video):
 1. Split Background |
 2. Highlighted Background |
 3. Distress Marker Coloring |
Pick your favorite and use it as inspiration for a card of your own. I thought it would be helpful for me to give you a few comments on each…
- Split Background – This is the one I chose! See details below. Create a full-size background with any stamp or combination of stamps, then split it – up, down, sideways, in shapes… Or, use these colors to create a beautiful bouquet of flowers. Or or, color only certain parts of your background. This one has a lot of options.
- Highlighted Background – I made this one by using a single background stamp, stamping it with a subtle color, cutting out a piece to highlight, and popping the highlight on top. Instead of a background, you could stamp several images for a background in a lighter color, then use one of those images as your highlight.
- Distress Marker Coloring – For this card, you could use the diagonal layout as your inspiration, or you could use the technique. I stamped with distress markers, then filled in with the same color I stamped with.
- Your entry must be inspired by one of the three cards above. Be sure to indicate which card inspired you when you link your entry.
- You can submit as many entries as you like! However, please submit only one entry per card.
- After submitting your entry, leave a comment on the entry just before yours.
- Leave more comments on entries, if you’re so inclined. 🙂
- To be eligible for a prize, you must be an active member of LiveLoveCards at the time the winner is announced.
You don’t have to use any of these ideas – be creative and do something totally unique!
If you are new to the community, I encourage you to check out the Challenges Page for detailed information about how the challenges work.
The last day to submit your entry is Sunday, January 31st, 11:59pm CT. One random winner will be selected from all entries and announced on Monday, February 1st.
The giveaway will be a $25 gift voucher to Simon Says Stamp, one of my favorite stores!
Even though a random winner is selected at the end of the month, the challenge is open indefinitely. Please continue to post to the challenges. Continuously seeing everyone’s new work is a win for everyone’s inspiration!
Okay, just to recap the main rules:
Are you ready to enter? CLICK HERE!
For my card today, I used the split background with the Sketched Roses stamp:
I used my distress inks to color the roses in some soft, muted tones. And just like the inspiration, I used vellum for my sentiment.
I haven’t been happy with the lighting of my videos in my temporary crafting quarters, so I went out and purchased another light. Wow, I think the difference is huge. I feel so relieved! More delays on the new house. Hopefully the last weekend in January. Maybe they will take the paper off the counters in my room this week. If they do, I’ll share.
Enjoy the video. I look forward to seeing your creations!
Supplies:
To purchase at Ellen Hutson, click the EH link. To purchase at Simon Says Stamp, click the SSS link.
 Sketched Roses EH|SSS |
 Oriental Orchid EH|SSS |
 Worn Lipstick EH|SSS |
 Scattered Straw EH|SSS |
 Picked Raspberry EH|SSS |
 Versamark Ink EH|SSS |
 Hero Arts EH|SSS |
 Black Embossing Powder EH|SSS |
 Watercolor Paper |
 Hero Arts Black Notecards |
 Bazzill 40lb Vellum EH|SSS |
 Thin Paper Tape |
 Heat Tool |
 Craft Mat EH|SSS |
 Fiskars Trimmer S.COM|JA |
 MISTI MSP|SSS |
 ATG Tape Runner EH|SSS |
ENTRIES:
Sorry, the uploaded entries are no longer available.
mary w
Beautiful Card!
swimbikerunat60
Hello Darlene: I love all 3 of this beautiful cards, I will make my cards with these designs, I think, from the three, my favorite is #3, with those gorgeous Altenew flowers, simply beautiful.
Mary Jane
Love the card for today. Cant wait to get started on this challenge!
Tammy
I love the look of these cards they are one of my favorite and I love the water coloring you did on this one.
Andrea
I love the soft watercolored look you got on your card, Darlene–great color choices! Thanks for the tip about cutting the 1/16″ out from between the panels, rather than just cutting the pieces and then spreading them 1/16″ apart. I never would have thought of that, but looking at your finished card, you’re right! Hope you are having a great year so far! 🙂 ~ Andrea
evergreen1774
very pretty, delicate looking
treen
dear Darlene, I so enjoy watching you watercolor. you inspire me to try colors that I otherwise ignore. lol I don’t think my worn lipstick and scattered straw have ever been used. lol this piece ended up with such a nice soft look, but with a striking look also. the way you cut the pieces will save me a lot of time. thanks so much, hugs, treen
Glenismaree
Love the colours of this card. You make it all look so easy. It’s also interesting that you use black cardstock quite a lot (a colour I rarely use) and it looks great. I might have a go at this some time this week. Thanks again Darlene.
Annette
My favourite is the Highlighted Background. I used Distress Stains for the background and for watercolouring the focal image. I wasn’t happy with my frame so I layered the panel onto black.
Thanks for the inspiration Darlene.
Patty Beers
As usual I am having a hard time adding a link the correct way. Not sure what I am doing wrong.
liadie
I love the challenge cards number 6 & 7 and ahow they haven’t done the normal split panel. Very creative.
thecardsmith
Ausmex, I really like your card. I have that stamp set and want to try the flower in purple now.
auntbubbels
I am new to the site and posted a card – number 28. My card is stored on another card making site so if you were to click on it, you probably won’t be able to get into the site since it’s for members only.
auntbubbels
I added my card to pinterest and am deleting the one from StampNation
Beau
Darlene I love this card! I loved the first one so it is no surprise that this one is one of my favorites as well! I wanted to let u know as well that I found a new way of adhering my vellum to my cards that makes it so easy and I don’t have to worry about strategically placing sentiments or embellishments in order to make sure my vellum is secure. I put Ken Oliver’s Stick it behind my vellum before I cut my vellum out. So when I die cut a shape or cut a banner etc… As long as the Stic It is completely covering the back of the vellum when you place it on your card not only will it be completely secure but you also will not see any adhesive behind the vellum. It works beautifully and I thought I would pass this technique on just in case you didn’t already know about it. Thank you for sharing this card with us it really is a beautiful card! And a question for you as well do you have to have a blog in order to submit an entry for the challenges?
Darlene DeVries
I like the idea of the stick-it behind the entire piece of vellum. I will give it a try. You do not need a blog to enter the challenge. These is some more info about that HERE.