A day to take note...

hey there!  Sorry for the silence...just playing catch up on a few things around here!  I'll be around a whole lot more this week! 

Today kicks off my week as on-line host for Paper Crafts.  I've got a post up over on thePC Connection blog and it's all about playing dress-up.  Dressing up your diecuts, that is.  I thought it would be fun to devote an entire week here on my blog to playing around with our diecut machines!  What do ya think?  Want to get that machine out and play along with some challenges? 

Ok..first challenge.  Hop over to the PC Connection blog and check out my post there.   I've listed 
nine simple ways to add some pizzazz to your diecuts.  Here's a photo collage, and you can read more about the techniques on the PC blog.  Your challenge is to create a card (or other project!!) using one of these nine techniques on a diecut shape. 

I went with the embossing technique and created a card.  I used the same QuicKutz butterfly die as in my notecards in the PC Connection post.  I cut three of them and embossed each with a different texture. 

I used some of the new Fresh Print Clothesline papers and journaling cards by My Little Yellow Bicycle....this is such a pretty line.  The butterflies were diecut from some gorgeous silver shimmer cardstock from Couture Cardstock's Red Carpet line.  It all adds up to a pretty and elegant card.

So here's the dealio....I'm going to post a bunch of challenges this week.  This is the first.  The deadline for all of the challenges will be Midnight on Tuesday, March 30th.  So, that means the deadline will get a little tighter as the week goes along.  Puttin' the pressure on you...yup.  But, remember to have FUN...that's what this is all about...challenge yourself to maybe learn a new technique or two and have some fun.  :-)  I have a few special issues to give away.  I have one issue of Stamp It! and one of the brand new Go-to Sketches!!  I will pick two random winners from the week's participants and post them on Wednesday the 31st. 

If you're playing along, just leave me a link in the comments section of the challenge you are playing along with. 

Alrighty!  Hop to it!  I'll be back tomorrow with challenge #2...get those diecut machines warmed up!