January - Challenge #13 & Anniversary Celebration!!!

Welcome to Crafter's Castle Monthly Challenge #13
and
ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION!!!
See GIVEAWAY details further down in this post!

This challenge is open WORLD WIDE!!!
Open to ALL crafts....ALL crafters....ALL skill levels
Don't have a blog or don't know how to enter?
CLICK HERE for tutorial

This month's CHALLENGE sponsor is
Brutus Monroe

This is this months CHALLENGE prize for the random winner.  
They are offering a wonderful prize of 
a $25 gift certificate to their store!!!

As always our challenges are ANYTHING GOES

but we like to throw in an OPTION to challenge you and 
this month's OPTION is Fun Techniques .... Any technique that you have had fun using.
This is an OPTION for fun and not a requirement.

Please review the CHALLENGE RULES (see tab above)

Here we go....

December's random WINNER of  
the SURPISE gift from me!

88. Deonna B

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Please contact Janie at 4crafterscastle@gmail.com

to claim your prize!!!

And here is a badge for you to proudly display

And the fabulous TOP 3
(Actually TOP 6 this month!!!)
picked by the design team
another tough decision as usual and we had a lot of ties ... so guess what ... 
ALL 6 OF YOU ARE IN THE TOP 3
(in numerical order)

36. gingerbread bauble


45. Glenda Atkins


47. shylaa


55. Irene M


62. ScrappyHorses


82. Deonna B

Congratulations!!!

I hope you proudly display your TOP 3 badge

I just want to thank all of you!!!  All of you that entered the challenges and all of the wonderful sponsors we have had this past year.  You have all made this a wonderful year and a successful challenge blog!  THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

Now for the 1 Year Anniversary Celebration details!

At the end of each week in January (4 weeks) ONE random winner will drawn from THAT WEEKS entries.  So each week you enter you have a chance of winning a wonderful prize from one of our sponsors!!!  As per our challenge rules you can only enter 3 times in one month...BUT...this month only you will be allowed to enter up to FOUR times!

Here is the list of sponsors and prizes....

Week #1

Random Winner!!!

10. Pin by Luana Owens 

Please contact me by next Saturday, January 19

(e-mail above under last month's winner or in my bio in Meet The DT)

Thermoweb - A FABULOUS prize package (US only)

DF Foam Adhesive, DF Pen Adhesive, iCraft Purple Tape, DF 5 Sheet Tube - Gold Transfer Sheet, DF 5 Sheet Tube – Rainbow Transfer Sheet, Ultra Bond 2 oz. Liquid Adhesive

Week #2

SheepSki Designs - 3 digital images of your choice from her shop (Open Internationally!)

Week #3

Little Acres Creations - 2 stamp sets, "Cafe Dreamers" and "Moo Brew" (Open Internationally!)

Week #4

Rainbow Card Challenge - 3 MHK Designs digital stamp sets (pre-determined) (Open Internationally)

A BIG THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE WONDERFUL SPONSORS!!!  PLEASE STOP BY THEIR WEBSITES AND SEE ALL THEY HAVE TO OFFER!

If you need some inspiration you will find it here...

Janie (using Color Bursts)

Jeanie

Mike (Creating Backgrounds)

Janie (Puffed / Selective Embossing Technique)

Now share YOUR creations with us...

An InLinkz Link-up

Fun With Color Bursts!!!

I recently bought Ken Oliver Color Bursts from Brutus Monroe and have been having sooooo much fun playing around and learning about them!!!  I loved one of my experiments so much that I used it to make this card.

I also used the Brutus Monore "Petal Lace" embossing folder and Butterfly Floral embellishments.  For a better look and to learn how I used these items, you can 

WATCH MY VIDEO HERE 

I found some challenges to enter :)
The Crafty Addicts Challenge Blog - #56
Always Fun Challenges - #91
A Bit More Time To Craft Challenges - #83
Classic Design Team Challenge Blog - #1
Splashy Mix Challenges - #1
World Wide Open Design Team Challenge - #12
Simply Create Too - #145

Thanks for stopping by and...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

Simple Valentine Shaker Card

My good friend Mynn started a brand new card challenge this month and it is called The Rainbow Card Challenge.  Each month there will be a different color for the theme, and this month it is RED.  So I decided it was time to start making Valentines for my grandkids and started with this quick & easy shaker card.  This is the first time I have used that die and I thought it would be perfect for a shaker card :) 

If you would like to see a really quick video (less than 2 minutes) on the making of this card, just

CLICK HERE

Stop by The Rainbow Card Challenge

AND

Don't forget Crafter's Castle Challenge too

Challenges I'm entering....

The Rainbow Card Challenge - #1 Red Romance

Cute Card Thursday - #563 Anything Goes

Die Cuttin' Diva's - #401 January Sketch

Ellibelle's Corner - January Sparkle & Shine

Die Cut Divas - Something New

Thanks for stopping by and...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

Challenge #12 & November's Winner

Welcome to Crafter's Castle Monthly Challenge #12
This challenge is open WORLD WIDE!!!

There is no sponsor this month but there is still a prize for the random winner.  Oh you want to know what the prize is?  Well it will be a SURPRISE....you won't find out until you win it :)

As always our challenges are ANYTHING GOES

but we like to throw in an OPTION to challenge you and 
this month's OPTION is Christmas ornaments .... whether they are an element of your card or project or an actual handmade ornament.

This is an OPTION for fun and not a requirement.

Please review the CHALLENGE RULES (see tab above)

Here we go....

November's random WINNER of  
OohLaLa Scraps collection of your choice

129. ScrappyHorses

CONGRATULATIONS!!!

Please contact Janie at 4crafterscastle@gmail.com

to claim your prize!!!

And here is a badge for you to proudly display

And the fabulous TOP 3
picked by the design team
(another tough decision as usual)

7. Lisa Walsh


19. Amelia B

99. Fire place

Congratulations!!!

I hope you proudly display your TOP 3 badge

If you need some inspiration you will find it here...

Janie video

Jeanie

Betz Golden video

Janie video

Jeanie video

An InLinkz Link-up

Unicorn Shaker Birthday Card

If you are looking for the CHALLENGE click HERE

My granddaughter's 8th birthday is in a few days and she loves unicorns so I made her this fun shaker card.

The paper, unicorn stamp and dies are from a CTMH set that is no longer available (sorry).  But you are in luck because the Iridescent Glitter Dust spray from Therm O Web is still available and also comes in silver or gold!  It gave the perfect magical sparkle to the unicorn and banner (looks much better in person).  I wish I hadn't been in a hurry to get it in the mail because looking at it now I wish I had added flowers and gems.

Click HERE to find Glitter Dust! 

A few challenges I entered....
Crafty Catz Challenge - #441 Glitter & Shine
Cute Card Thursday - #559 Anything Goes
Craftyhazelnuts Patterned Paper Challenge - December

Thanks for stopping by and...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

Cardmaking With PhotoShop Elements 11

I have been sharing different ways to use digital scrapbooking kits and I finally figure out how to use them with Adobe PhotoShop Elements 11....YAY!!!  And it's so easy!!!

Now I want to share it with you so CLICK HERE to watch my video tutorial.

It's not just about cardmaking or scrapbooking.....you can also COMBINE the two and make PERSONALIZED CHRISTMAS CARDS!!!  Here is a practice one I made for my family.

Of course I made some changes on the card we are going to send.....bigger picture and everyone's names.

 But of course I also made some Christmas cards and Birthday cards and all using the same digital kit.

I added some embellishments to them even though it wasn't neccessary with all the elements and appearance of dimension.

On this last one there are icicles and I added Liquid Glass to them to really make them stand out like they were real.

If you're wondering about this fabulous digital scrapbooking kit that has TONS of papers, elements, clusters, masks, and word art....it's called Winter Rustle and is by D Design.  You can get this at VectoriaDesings shop on Etsy.  Just click HERE and you can get a better look at this kit.

And don't forget to watch my video.....I not only show how to use PhotoShop Elements 11, but I also tell about these cards.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH

Time for challenges!!!
Hiding In My Craft Room - #381 Christmas Colors
Welcome To Crafty Friends - #98 Christmas
Merry Little Christmas Challenge - #5 Anything Christmas
City Crafter Challenge Blog - #440 Pick Up A Penguin
Try It On Tuesday - Winter Wonderland
The Color Throwdown - #521
Craftyhazelnuts Christmas Challenge - #414
Mod Squad Challenge Blog - Use A Critter

Thanks for stopping by and...

HAPPY CRAFTING!!!

Challenge #11 Reminder

Welcome to Crafter's Castle Monthly Challenge #11
This challenge is open WORLD WIDE!!!

The sponsor for November is OohLaLa Scraps 
and the prize for the random winner will be
ONE Collection of your choice from
OohLaLaScraps (etsy shop)
Visit her shop here and start your wish list!
OohLaLa Scraps

As always our challenges are ANYTHING GOES

but we like to throw in an OPTION to challenge you and 
this month's OPTION is The  Holidays, which would include Thanksgiving, Christmas, or anything Fall or Winter themed etc.

This is an OPTION for fun and not a requirement.

Please review the CHALLENGE RULES (see tab above)

Wow...I'm so thrilled!!!  October had the highest number of entries we have ever had!!!  Thank you!!!

  

Be sure to visit the design team's blogs and YouTube channels 

to see the beautiful things they made to inspire you!

Janie

Jeanie

Bev

Priya

Sandi

Mynn

Now it's YOUR turn to share with us....

An InLinkz Link-up