Challenges and more challenges...oh my!

I forgot how fun it can be to do the challenges on Splitcoaststampers! I actually had time yesterday and today to do the two challenges, due to the fact that the British educational system allows for almost three weeks as a "spring break" between the Spring Term and Summer Term. But, before anyone gets angry...keep in mind that we go all the way until July 20th! They break the school year up so there are nice long breaks throughout the year, and a shorter break in the summer for six or seven weeks. So I have to go back to work tomorrow...and I don't wanna go!!!





On to the cards. Yesterday's card was the "Try a New Technique" challenge, of which we had to complete a cool triangle card. It's a small card, but opens up to reveal a big inside as well. I love how mine turned out, as I finally had an opportunity to use some of my Basic Grey paper that I've been stockpiling over the last few months.

Materials:
Stamps: Green Thumb by Papertrey, Bodacious Jumbo Wheel by Stampin' Up!
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Barely Banana, Whisper White by Stampin' Up!; Design Paper by Basic Grey
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Black Stazon
Accessories: Brads (embossed with Barely Banana craft ink), Blue Organdy Ribbon, Cutter kit, all by Stampin' Up!



My next card was for the Color Challenge today, featuring Cool Caribbean, Basic Black, and Whisper White. I love this combo, and it really makes the flower from the Doodle This set pop! It also was a great time for me to actually use some Stampin' Up sets, as I've been so engrossed in my Papertrey sets I've almost forgotten about the HUGE cabinet behind my table that houses all my Stampin' Up stuff. They were getting lonely. :-) I went ahead and preordered the new Papertrey set, Faux Ribbon, as well as some of the new ink pads they have recently started selling. I so love receiving boxes with craft items!! My husband might hate standing in line at the post office to receive them...but if I'm happy, doesn't that generally mean he's happy??


I did my own version of ribbon dyeing for this, as I was pressed for time. In AmyR's blog, she did a wonderful tutorial on ribbon dyeing. I did the "procrastination dyeing" job. I took a blender pen, dribbled the reinker on it, and then just colored the ribbon. It's not the best job, and the ribbon will probably be discolored shortly, but it was a quick fix for the hubby who was impatiently tapping his shoe because he wanted to leave and run errands. I'll definitely try Amy's dyeing for any future ribbon experiments.


Materials all by Stampin' Up!:
Stamps: Doodle This, Delight in Life, Fine Lace background
Paper: Cool Caribbean, Whisper White, Basic Black
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Black Stazon
Accessories: White grosgrain ribbon, Eyelets, Blender pen, Cool Caribbean reinker