Challenge #166 - Santa and his elves

Hello everyone! Heather here, and I couldn't resist creating something super fun for a Christmas Challenge. Today's challenge is to incorporate Santa and his elves into your projects! Whether you choose one or more characters is up to you. Funny, cute, traditional or modern, elves with or without Santa, it's all up to you!

Heather 

For today's challenge, I used a set of print and cut "stamps" from the Silhouette Online Store (#111379, #111949, #111952). I just wanted to color these with colored pencils, using the characters from the movie "Elf" as my inspiration. The paper is the Jingle Collection from Authentique Paper, and the stamp is from this year's Holly Collection by Felicity Jane.

Michele

Kristy

Karrie

I just happened to have the perfect pic for this!

(sketch by Shawn Lahr)

Brittany
This challenge was a perfect opportunity to document our trip to see Santa this year.

Merry Christmas everyone!



And now...congratulations to the winner of Challenge #165:

7. Andrea W

Please send an e-mail to papergirlschallengeblog@gmail.com within the next two weeks and we'll send you details!!!  

We want to encourage all of our challenge participants to refer our rules and prize structure here: http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/p/how-to-play.html. 

Also, follow us on our new Instagram account for more chances to win! For this challenge use #PGCBchallenge166 and tag us @papergirlschallengeblog for an extra entry.

Challenge #165 - Die cuts

Hello Paper Girl fans, Michele here today with a challenge that I hope will help you to use up your stash or use some of your dusty tools!

Challenge #165 - Die Cuts

For this challenge you can use a die cutting machine (such as a Cricut), metal dies or punches to create your die cuts. You can also use pre-made die cuts, which I what I used on my projects.  I love to buy packs of cute die cuts for my layouts.  The only problem is that they come with so many pieces inside that I never use them up!

Here's a card that uses die cuts from My Mind's Eye "Well Hello" collection.  I knew those letters weren't likely to find their way onto a layout so they were perfect for a card!

Next, this layout uses die cuts from Fancy Pants "Magnolia Moments" collection. Even the title is a die cut.  I popped some pieces up when layering to give the layout more dimension.

And finally, I have a pack of 100 flower and leaf pieces from a Pebble flower packet.  I don't have a specific collection that these belong to, so I kitted up my own supplies, mixing papers and embellishments, and created this layout:

Let's see what the other Paper Girls have done with Die Cuts:

Karrie

I don't have a machine, so I used my favourite line from SEI (that I've been hoarding)

 to make this little diecut diorama as a decoration!

Brittany

I absolutely love my manual die cut machine and steel dies. I created this entire scene with stamps and dies from Lawn Fawn and My Favorite Things.

Kristy

I'm like Brittany, I LOVE my manual die cutting machine!  I ran my thin "happy" die through the machine with two different colors, then layered them to give that shadowed effect.

Cathryn

For my layout I used a couple different Silhouette die cuts

and some premade flower die cuts!!!

And now I get to announce the winner of TWO challenges today!

First up, the winner of Challenge #163 is:

12. Bobbi's Treasure 

And second, the winner of Challenge #164 is:

9. Tracey Brossart 

Please send an e-mail to papergirlschallengeblog@gmail.com within the next two weeks and we'll send you details!!!  

We want to encourage all of our challenge participants to refer our rules and prize structure here: http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/p/how-to-play.html. 

Also, follow us on our new Instagram account for more chances to win! For this challenge use #PGCBchallenge165 and tag us @papergirlschallengeblog for an extra entry.

Challenge #164 - Shake it up!

Hello again! Erica here to introduce the next challenge. This go round we want to see you Shake it! Make a shaker card or pocket in a Project Life spread. If you can think up another way to interpret that let's see it! This is a great time of year to add a little extra movement to a card or other project.

Thank you for all of  your submissions to our last challenge. Because this can be a crazy time of year we are going to overlap the submission time for people on this challenge and the last one so you have more time to get things posted. We love seeing all of the things you make!

Erica
I wanted to take advantage of a Christmas theme to get ahead on my cards I need to send out in a few weeks. I used snowflake glitter, some chunky silver glitter and some teal microbeads I've had in my stash for years.

Karrie

Made this Christmas pocket page to make it easy to pop pictures in !
Wonderful way to use up old stash.
Middle 3x4 pockets shakers with diecuts, sequins, beads, buttons and bobs.

Brittany

I can never have enough cute cards for my friends. This heart shaped shaker is one of my favorites.

Cathryn

I decided to create a Birthday Card for my Granddaughter!

Heather

I took the shaker card to a new level with a shaker ornament. Take out the top of a clear plastic or glass ornament and fill with sequins and stars! If you want to use die cuts like I did, bend them so they fit through the hole of the ornament, then flatten them out with a pencil or stick once they are in the ornament. Reattach everything, then add a fun ribbon and tag to make a perfect small gift or hostess present.

And now...congratulations to the winner of Challenge #163:

** because of the extra time given on #163 both winners will be posted in our next challenge.

Please send an e-mail to papergirlschallengeblog@gmail.com within the next two weeks and we'll send you details!!!  

We want to encourage all of our challenge participants to refer our rules and prize structure here: http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/p/how-to-play.html. 

Also, follow us on our new Instagram account for more chances to win! For this challenge use #PGCBchallenge164 and tag us @papergirlschallengeblog for an extra entry.

Challenge #163 - "Do you want to build a Snowman?"

Hello friends!

We don't know about you, but the weather is officially changing and it's starting to feel a little more like Winter more and more everyday. And for some of us, we are now starting to see flurries, which has us dreaming of winter days ahead and, of course, snowmen and all the lovely winter playtime! So, we would like to invite you to build a snowman with us and come out to play! We can't wait to see how this challenge inspires you!

We apologize our challenge is a bit off our normal schedule - but we're keeping the challenge open through 11:55pm (MST) on Saturday, 11/24 to make sure we still give everyone a full two weeks to work on their projects and link up.

Here is some fantastic inspiration from our design team:

Heather Conklin

Michele

Cathryn

Brittany

And now...congratulations to the winner of Challenge #162:

Wendy Bellino

And we are also delighted to announce our 3rd quarter winner:
Vicki R.

Please send an e-mail to papergirlschallengeblog@gmail.com within the next two weeks and we'll send you details!!!  

We want to encourage all of our challenge participants to refer our rules and prize structure here: http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/p/how-to-play.html. 

Also, follow us on our new Instagram account for more chances to win! For this challenge use #PGCBchallenge163 and tag us @papergirlschallengeblog for an extra entry.

(function(){(function(e){if(e){var t=e.cloneNode;e.cloneNode=function(n){var i=t.call(e,n);if(e.classList.contains("mceContentBody"))i.innerHTML=e.innerHTML,r(i);else try{o(i)}catch(e){}return i},o(e)}function n(e){if(e.parentNode)if(e.childNodes.length>1){for(var t=document.createDocumentFragment();e.childNodes.length>0;)t.appendChild(e.childNodes[0]);e.parentNode.replaceChild(t,e)}else e.firstChild?e.parentNode.replaceChild(e.firstChild,e):e.parentNode.removeChild(e)}function r(e){if(e)try{for(var t=e.querySelectorAll(".gr_"),r=t.length,o=0;o<r;o++)n(t[o])}catch(e){}}function o(e){try{Object.defineProperty(e,"innerHTML",{get:function(){try{var t=e.ownerDocument.createRange();t.selectNodeContents(e);var n=t.cloneContents(),o=document.createElement("div");return o.appendChild(n),r(o),o.innerHTML}catch(e){return""}},set:function(t){try{var n=e.ownerDocument.createRange();n.selectNodeContents(e),n.deleteContents();var r=n.createContextualFragment(t);e.appendChild(r)}catch(e){}}})}catch(e){}}})(document.querySelector("[data-gramm_id='acff9a15-65f2-2076-d340-370e76f05fc0']")) })()

Challenge #162 - Halloween

Hi, Karrie here, and welcome to my favourite time of year, and favourite challenge to host! 

Halloween and all things spooky and full of fall fun! 

Do you have some Halloween shots from last year you never got to document? 

Do you make decorations or treat bags?  Have you taken beautiful shots of the changing

colours, pumpkin patch or the kids playing in the leaves or corn maze?

We want to see whatever you've got!

This is an extra exciting challenge as we are partnering with  Double Trouble Paper Crafting Challenge Blog as a double dare!

We'd love for you to visit our Double Trouble friends and participate in their 12th challenge which is a cheerful and cute Halloween/Fall theme! For an extra optional twist, if you incorporate a frame in your project you get an extra entry into their prize drawing. So, be sure to visit their fantastic challenge blog and let them know we sent you!

......

Karrie

I had gotten pix of the grandkids after the fact last year and here is one of them,

in one of my favourite layout styles to use up old scraps and bits.

Brittany
I took advantage of the Halloween theme to create this trio of spooky cards.

Heather

I used some dies and a few patterned papers to make the card, then added some creepy eye stickers to make the card a little more spooky. 

Michele

I make a page featuring these adorable trick-or-treaters.

And now...congratulations to the winner of Challenge #161:

10.

Kathyk

Please send an e-mail to papergirlschallengeblog@gmail.com within the next two weeks and we'll send you details!!!  

We want to encourage all of our challenge participants to refer our rules and prize structure here: http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/p/how-to-play.html. 

Also, follow us on our new Instagram account for more chances to win! For this challenge use #PGCBchallenge162 and tag us @papergirlschallengeblog for an extra entry.

Challenge #161 - Mixed Media

Hi!  It's Kristy, here today with our newest challenge: Mixed Media.  What the heck is Mixed Media?  It is defined as:

mixed me·di·a

mikst ˈmēdēə/

noun

noun: mixed media

1. 1.

   the use of a variety of media in an entertainment or work of art.

There are so many wonderful examples of Mixed Media out there - from cards, to tags, to pieces of art to hang on the wall.  Check out some examples from our guest designer and the rest of our team.  We can't wait to see what you create!

We are very fortunate to have the talented Vicki Robertson guest designing with us! Here is the beautiful project she made for this challenge:

Here are a couple close ups of the incredible details on her card:

Please be sure to visit her on her blog to see more detailed images and information about her process to create this beauty, and be sure to give her a like or follow on any of the other social platforms as well:

• Vicki's blog:  http://validationofvicki.blogspot.com/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Heartful-Validation-of-Vicki-492986160763207/
• Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/vamrobie/

"I'm Vicki and delighted to be here as a guest designer for the Paper Girl Challenge Blog.  I've been crafting forever, but paper crafting for the past 18 years.  My work has been published in numerous magazines in the past and I've had the pleasure of being a member and coordinator of many designs teams over the years.

I'm married to my best friend going on 42 years this month!  We have two beautiful daughters, two handsome son-in-laws, three wonderful grandsons and a sweet princess granddaughter.

I recently finished a year term with the die cut manufacturer, Tutti Designs and am currently a DT member on the Double D Challenge Blog.  We would love to have you stop by and play along with us!"

Thank you for designing with us, Vicki. We're glad to have you. 

Now, here is more inspiration from our design team:

Kristy

Here is my Mixed Media project.  I used watercolors as well as pigment powders on resist paper, along with inks, a diecut sunburst and other chipboard pieces.

Michele

I used modeling paste and a chevron stencil to create texture, then painted with watercolors to use on my card.

Karrie

a little bit of gesso, watercolours, ink, cards, a fabric flower and chipboard...

Brittany

I played around with some old Inka-Gold paints, stencils, wooden elements, and golden thread for this bright project.

Cathryn

For my background I used a piece of white cardstock, that I covered with 3 different colours of Distress Oxide Inks from Ranger.  Once the ink dried I used water to splatter over the page, and then I lifted it with paper towel.

And now.......congratulations to the winner of Challenge #160:

Sandy Ross

Please send an e-mail to papergirlschallengeblog@gmail.com within the next two weeks and we'll send you details!!!  

We want to encourage all of our challenge participants to refer our rules and prize structure here: http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/p/how-to-play.html. 

Also, follow us on our new Instagram account for more chances to win! For this challenge use #PGCBchallenge161 and tag us @papergirlschallengeblog for an extra entry.

Challenge #160 - School Daze

Hello Crafters, Brittany here to host our next challenge - School Daze! 

With the school year back in full swing, I would love to see projects of what this means to you. Maybe some of you have kids of your own and need to scrap those first day pictures or show off crafts you made the teachers, or maybe this is your chance to document a day in the life with the kids out of the house, or maybe you want to document your own childhood years in school/college, such as the piles of homework or papers that had to be completed - however this inspires you, I truly can't wait to see all that you create!

With three kiddos and a husband that works in education, school time is a big deal in our house. I so, I love getting back to school pictures of everyone to document each year. Here is the layout I created for this challenge:

Here is additional beautiful inspiration from our design team!

Michele

Cathryn created a layout of her granddaughters first day of preschool.

Cathryn

Heather
Heather created a traveller's notebook about the teacher strike in her school district. 

And now...congratulations to the winner of Challenge #159:

Betty Wright

Please send an e-mail to papergirlschallengeblog@gmail.com within the next two weeks and we'll send you details!!!  

We want to encourage all of our challenge participants to refer our rules and prize structure here: http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/p/how-to-play.html. 

Also, follow us on our new Instagram account for more chances to win! For this challenge use #PGCBchallenge160 and tag us @papergirlschallengeblog for an extra entry.

Happy crafting!

Challenge #159- Inspiration Photo

Hi, Karrie here, and thanks for joining us PaperGirls today!  I took a pic of the big beautiful peonies in the front of my house that bloom for a short time every year, and chipped it. So this challenge I'm asking you to please use it, and the colours as inspiration for a new project! So looking forward to your gorgeous creations to match!

We are very lucky to have a guest designer, NanaConnie, who created this beautiful card based on our colour challenge. Isn't this lovely!? Please give NanaConnie a warm welcome by visiting her blog, "Grammy's Attic".

Hi. I'm NanaConnie and I've been crafting in one form or another for my entire life. I love paper crafts and card making has become my favorite pass time over the last 10 years or so. I have served on several DTs since 2011 when I first started blogging and I love the fabulously crafty people I've met in my journey through blogland. I'm honored to be a Guest Designer for the Paper Girls. My blog is "Grammy's Attic" and that's where you can find me posting something nearly every day. 

I dearly love the color combo for this challenge and was inspired by the lovely flowers.  The image is one from Conie Fong and I colored it using ProMarkers. The image is fussy cut, then mounted with dimensional tape onto a black, die cut (Spellbinders) oval. The bow I made with a left over scrap of pink lace."  

Thank you so much for joining us, NanaConnie! 

Unfortunately we are involved in a major overhaul at home and my scrap space is unavailable so I wasn't able to create something, but the other PaperGirls have stepped up (did I mention what a great team we have?!) and made some gorgeous projects as follows:

Kristy

Brittany

Heather

And now...congratulations to the winner of Challenge #158:

Dreja!!!

Please send an e-mail to papergirlschallengeblog@gmail.com within the next two weeks and we'll send you details!!!  

We want to encourage all of our challenge participants to refer our rules and prize structure here: http://thepapergirlschallenge.blogspot.com/p/how-to-play.html. 

Also, follow us on our new Instagram account for more chances to win! For this challenge use #PGCBchallenge159 and tag us @papergirlschallengeblog for an extra entry.