It's VSN time!!!!

WARNING!!! Extra long post today! I have 16 cards to upload eventually - one for each of the VSN challenges! I haven't put the recipes in but all my cards are uploaded to my gallery on SCS if you want them.

It's Virtual Stamp Night over on Splitcoast Stampers this weekend and for those of you that have seen my blog posts in the past I LOVE doing these - tons of challenges over the weekend including sketch, colour, inspiration, techniques and anything else you can imagine. This VSN's theme is the Winter Olympics, so expect lots of Winter related challenges.

I also had the honour of being asked to host a challenge again. I have done one previously in past and was going to apply again for this one, but didn't get round to it before the VSN coordinator emailed to ask me. It truely is an honour to be asked to do this once, but twice?! I was flabbergasted to say the least, so I quickly wrote up a list of ideas and submitted them and I was chosen to do the first challenge on Saturday which is challenge F is in the photo list below. (I did ask for an early time being in the UK and 5 hours ahead of SCS an' all, but to be the first on the second day was a bit nerve wracking!)

Being a hostess is great fun, but I also get to see all the challenges first and can do them a few days in advance which is great as I'm not under the same pressure as the other players and it means I get to spend my time chatting in the forums instead of card making! So on to the challenges...

Challenge A was a sketch challenge and I also used CC43 to use Rose Red, So Saffron and Orchid Opulence. It is also for Charisma Cardz Challenge #8 to make a birthday card using candles.

Challenge B was a colour challenge using the Hudson's Bay sweater colours for inspiration. I used Basic Gray, Sahara Sand and Real Red from it. My sketch layout was from Papertake's Weekly Challenge #35.

Challenge C was to use the rolling marble technique, which I have never done before. I do think my colours were a bit too bright for this one, but never mind. It was also for CC96 to use Green Galore, Lavender Lace and Pink Passion and for Mercy's MTSC62.

Challenge D was to make an all white card. I have never done this before so it truely was a challenge for me! I also used Mojo#127 for my layout. I'm also going to enter it for the Spoon Full of Sugar's Challenge #92 which was to use distress inks (which I don't have any of, so I'm skipping that part), glitter (I got lots of that) and pearls (I used liquid pearls so I hope that counts!) And for Crazy for Challenges #26 to use 3 different textures on a card - I have glitter card, vellum and debossed pearlescent card (I embossed on the wrong side)

Challenge E was to use blue and white with an added bonus of using one of the medal colours - I used silver as it just goes so well with these colours. This card is also for CC259 which was to use the colours from the Winter Olympics icon and the layout is from Mojo#112.

Challenge F was my challenge! It was to make a free standing pop up card. I had never done one before so I went to town on it a bit. This is the card closed.

And this is it open - what a great pop up surprise huh?

Challenge G was to incorporate a water theme so I used Boatloads of Love on the sea and combined it with CC98 to use Bravo Burgundy, Brocade Blue and Night of Navy.

Challenge H was to use loose glitter on your card and I used the Dazzling Diamond Dust method, using SU's heat 'n' stick powder and Dazzling Diamonds glitter. I also used CC250 to use Crushed Curry, Real Red and Sahara Sand (I have been putting this combo off for ages and I don't know why because it turned out lovely in the end!) and Mojo#102.

Challenge I was to have a musical theme, follow the provided sketch AND decorate the inside of your card! I also used ColourQ's combo #21 to use Melon Mambo, Regal Rose, Apricot Appeal, Green Galore and a neutral - I used white!

And this is the decorated inside - not too much mind you as I was TRYING to keep as close to the 45 mins limit as I could.

Challenge J was to use the faux metal technique, which we call triple embossing over here, but I guess it doesn't necessarily need to have 3 layers of embossing. Mine certainly had more than that! I also used Mojo105 as well.

Challenge K was to use gold on your card so I added it to CC132 to use River Rock, Chocolate Chip and Really Rust and Mojo100 - Day 1.

Challenge L was to score lines other than just scoring a card blank. I created a frame for my flowers and chalked over them in pink. I used CC129 to use Purely Pomegranate, Pretty in Pink and Old Olive as well.

Challenge M was to make a card for someone who inspires you and to use 3 different ribbons - I chose Nichole Heady and in her honour I CASEd my favourite card of her's. It's such a simple, but elegant design and really makes great use of those big background stamps. I also used CC142 to use Basic Gray, Bashful Blue and Certainy Celery.

Challenge N was called Bundled Up! Basically you had to make a wrap around card or a trifold that overlapped at the front and use 2 strands of something round it. I used 2 different ribbons. I also used CC160 which was to use Mellow Moss, Creamy Caramel, Apricot Appeal and Cameo Coral.

Challenge O was to make a pocket card and I also used Stacey's Curtain Call #18 to use Night of Navy, Old Olive, Kraft, Ballet Blue and White.

Challenge P was to use the tea bag folding technique, which I haven't done in a VERY VERY long time! I combined this challenge with Color Throwdown's Challenge #81 to use brown, pink, white and olive and Stamp With Us' sketch challenge.

This VSN was great fun. The topic was great and the challenges were all fab. And I got to combine loads of other challenges which is my fave thing to do at the minute. There's still time for you to join in with this VSN - all projects have until Monday 10pm EST to be uploaded to the galleries, so why not give some of these challenges a go?