Thursday, May 26, 2011

The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC83


Julie Ranae here....
We typically don't personalize our posts and
we usually get right down to business, but this week
we are taking a different approach, so please bear with me.

The color story graphic this week was chosen
for a very special reason....

Nearly 2 years ago, my best friend Sarah Anderson and I
decided that the world was ready for a color challenge
of a different style...one that would encourage
entries of open interpretation & a variety of creative genres...
and The Play Date Cafe was created.
It was a no-brainer for me because with my
card-making background and her love for
mixed media, it was a match made in
paper crafting heaven.
It is with huge mixed emotions from all of
our designers that we say farewell to our
dear friend Sarah as she moves on to a
variety of fabulous creative opportunities in the UK.
Sarah has been asked to be on staff at a fabulous
art cafe (how appropo is that?!) in her hometown
and it's a wonderful new adventure for her.
She has devoted nearly 2 years of her time and talents
to this challenge and now it's time to bless her as she
moves on to this new opportunity.

Sarah's favorite challenges were always our
color splash challenges and it just seemed appropriate
to end her term with one.
The sentiment included is one that I wish to
send Sarah off with as she goes on this
new creative journey....

and now let's hear from Sarah....

'I am truly honoured to have been a part of this project.  
I would like to say a huge thank you to Julie for including me
right from the beginning.  She is such a fantastic DT coordinator,
and the whole team are an extremely talented bunch. 
 I will miss the friendly team support within the cafe design team,
but know that the friendships we've built will continue beyond the cafe.'


In honor of Sarah, we would really like to
encourage all of you to participate in our
Farewell Blog Hop!

Visit EACH OF OUR DESIGNER'S BLOGS,
leave a comment and you just might win a
prize from The Play Date Cafe Prize Menu.
Just click the link of our first designer below
{AND DON'T FORGET SARAH'S ABOVE}
and you'll be on your way!

Don't forget...
Color splash is black & white
with a splash of GREEN

We are delighted to welcome another brand new sponsor
to The Cafe again this week....


Our Mission statement: To help papercrafters share the gift of laughter.  We have been sharing the gift of laughter one stamp at a time since 2005. Our stamps are manufactured in the United States using the highest quality photopolymer available.  It is formulated to resist yellowing, and gives a crisp clean impression every time.  Visit us at SkippingStonesDesign.com


This week's Cup of the Week will win a
beautiful prize package of
two stamp sets valued at $29..


Our design team had a great deal of fun
and creativity as they created this week's
cards for Sarah using the beautiful
images from our sponsor...





Private Blend Designer













Senior Designer


Senior Designer
Julie Ranae ~ Julie's Open Window



Please follow THE PLAY DATE CAFE RULES carefully to enter.
Deadline for prizes is 11:59pm EST on Tuesday
The 'Cup of the Week' will be announced during the next challenge.
ALL SKILL LEVELS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PLAY!
We want you to enjoy this challenge.
Interpret the colors the way you see them.
We do not use specific card stock color names or brands.
Break out of the box and have fun!
The main requirement is:
PDCC COLORS BE THE
FOCUS OF YOUR SUBMISSION
When using additional colors, please limit them to neutrals.
You are welcome to combine challenges,
but we do ask that:
1. The PDCC name and/or photo is used
2. OUR colors are the focus of the card.
See complete rules on sidebar at left







The Fab 4
The Cream in our Coffee
and
THE CUP of the WEEK

Another great challenge has come to a close.
A very warm thank you to all who entered.
This challenge is only successful because of YOU
so please, PLEASE play with us again!

This Week's Fab 4...
(in alphabetical order)

Karen Just Let me Ink
Suzanne ~ The Card Yard
Victoria Lavender ~ Victoria Lavender

The Fab can proudly display the
'I Made the Fab 4'
badge on their blogs!
The Cream in our Coffee...
( honorable mentions in random order )

This group can proudly display the
'Cream in Our Coffee'
badge on their blogs!
and
The Cup of the Week...

  
Joanne ~ Creative Stamping Ideas


Joanne wins the fabby prize from


and can proudly display the 'Cup of the Week' Badge.
Cup of the Week Winner
please contact Michele at cookingwithmsg@msn.com
with your mailing address to receive your prize.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC82


When you look at this color story, 
what do you think about creating?
Well we can't wait to see it!
These colors are so fresh and lovely and we know that
our gallery this week is going to be filled with stunning creations!

Here's something you may not know...
Each week, as our designers visit the blogs of each entry
they keep a list of their favorite creations and
that is how our winners & honorable mentions are chosen.
The votes are tallied up, so you have a great opportunity
to be spotlighted with us...it's not one vote per designer.
We do not do random draws...we believe that those who
take the time to enter deserve the time to be considered.

This week's color story is provided by 
and here is what she brings to inspire you....


I know each week we say how super excited we are
when it comes to each of our guest designers and
this week, we are saying it again!
Many of you will know her from her blog and from
a very popular challenge that has since been retired.

Please welcome this week's Guest Designer...

Laura Davis

"I am a wife and mother to a teenage daughter. I love to cook, run, and inspire.
Most of all I love to be inspired. Creating is my passion."


This week's sponsor is no stranger to The Cafe and
we hope you will stop by their blog to see beautiful
work from a few of their designers.....


"DiscountCardstock.com was launched in 2002 in Salt Lake City, Utah. Our mission is to provide great quality cardstock and specialty papers at discount pricing. We offer 100% acid and lignin free, archival quality uncoated cardstocks, as well as metallic, vellum, hand-made specialty papers, envelopes, scored cards and high qualify art paper and cards that are specially coated and developed for use by professional artists and card makers using ink jet printers.
We’ve recently moved to a new facility, expanded our inventory and have hired additional employees to better serve you. We are committed to conducting business in way that minimizes our impact on the environment and most of our products are made from partially or fully with recycled materials and are certified by various green industry leaders"
 
Discountcardstock.com is offering this week's Cup of the Week
a fabby prize package of their beautiful cardstock!



Now here's more inspiration from
The Play Date Cafe Design Team.....


Senior Designer




Private Blend Designer
 Senior Designer
Julie Ranae ~ Julie's Open Window



Please follow THE PLAY DATE CAFE RULES carefully to enter.
Deadline for prizes is 11:59pm EST on Tuesday
The 'Cup of the Week' will be announced during the next challenge.
ALL SKILL LEVELS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PLAY!
We want you to enjoy this challenge.
Interpret the colors the way you see them.
We do not use specific card stock color names or brands.
Break out of the box and have fun!
The main requirement is:
PDCC COLORS BE THE
FOCUS OF YOUR SUBMISSION
When using additional colors, please limit them to neutrals.
You are welcome to combine challenges,
but we do ask that:
1. The PDCC name and/or photo is used
2. OUR colors are the focus of the card.
See complete rules on sidebar at left







The Fab 4
The Cream in our Coffee
and
THE CUP of the WEEK
Another great challenge has come to a close.
A very warm thank you to all who entered.
This challenge is only successful because of YOU
so please, PLEASE play with us again!

This Week's Fab 4...
(in alphabetical order)


The Fab can proudly display the
'I Made the Fab 4'
badge on their blogs!
The Cream in our Coffee...
( honorable mentions in random order )

This group can proudly display the
'Cream in Our Coffee'
badge on their blogs!
and
The Cup of the Week...


 Anette ~ Stamps+ Ink = Fun

Anette wins the fabby prize from
and can proudly display the 'Cup of the Week' Badge.
Cup of the Week Winner
please contact Michele at cookingwithmsg@msn.com
with your mailing address to receive your prize.

Friday, May 13, 2011

The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC81


Another week....another challenge!!
Let's get right to it!
Your color host is
She is the master of seeing beautiful colors from
fabrics and paints and this week, it's wallpaper!
It's been so great to be able to welcome so many
new sponsors to The Cafe.
This week, we are excited to have
"STAMPOTIQUE Fine Art Stamps began June 1, 1996, in Phoenix, Arizona, out of the love for rubber stamping and paper crafting. We began as a fine art rubber stamp store and in January 2000, began manufacturing our own rubber stamps. We now ship all over the world, although remaining a ‘mom and pop’ business so that we can still offer full attention to each and every order.
On November 17, 2007, the retail store closed its doors in order to allow us to concentrate on our growing website,
both retail and wholesale.
We hope you will find our site inspirational and continue to revisit at your leisure. Our intention is to continuously update with new images, new samples and all the latest and greatest ‘must haves’ of the industry. Feel free to send us your creations and we will post them on the website for the whole world to enjoy."

Stampotique are offering a very generous prize
to this week's Cup of the Week....


Stampotique have a wonderful design team
and we are happy to welcome one of their
designers this week's Guest Designer .....

Our design team were able to go through
the vast catalog from Stampotique to pick
out a couple of favorite images to play with!

So here's more inspiration from
The Play Date Cafe Design Team.....

Senior Designer
Andrea Ewen ~ EwenStyle


 Senior Designer
Julie Ranae ~ Julie's Open Window



Private Blend Designer
Senior Designer
Please follow THE PLAY DATE CAFE RULES carefully to enter.
Deadline for prizes is 11:59pm EST on Tuesday
The 'Cup of the Week' will be announced during the next challenge.
ALL SKILL LEVELS ARE ENCOURAGED TO PLAY!
We want you to enjoy this challenge.
Interpret the colors the way you see them.
We do not use specific card stock color names or brands.
Break out of the box and have fun!
The main requirement is:
PDCC COLORS BE THE
FOCUS OF YOUR SUBMISSION
When using additional colors, please limit them to neutrals.
You are welcome to combine challenges,
but we do ask that:
1. The PDCC name and/or photo is used
2. OUR colors are the focus of the card.
See complete rules on sidebar at left





The Fab 4
The Cream in our Coffee
and
THE CUP of the WEEK
Another great challenge has come to a close.
A very warm thank you to all who entered.
This challenge is only successful because of YOU
so please, PLEASE play with us again!

This Week's Fab 4...
(in alphabetical order)


The Fab can proudly display the
'I Made the Fab 4'
badge on their blogs!
The Cream in our Coffee...
( honorable mentions in random order )
This group can proudly display the
'Cream in Our Coffee'
badge on their blogs!
and
The Cup of the Week...

Lin ~ Sending Hugs

Lin wins the fabby prize from


and can proudly display the 'Cup of the Week' Badge.
Cup of the Week Winner
please contact Julie Ranae at julieranae@hotmail.com
with your mailing address to receive your prize.