The Play Date Cafe

Thursday, September 23, 2010

The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC48

It is time for another challenge here in The Cafe.

Our design team was simply blown away by all of

the fabulous creations that were hanging in the

gallery during our last challenge. Amazing!!!

Senior Designer Julie Ranae is this week's host...

"Would I put my kitchen together using these colors?

Probably not, but I totally admire the people who do.

That's why I chose this photo for the week.

I hope it inspires you to get out of your

'comfort zone'

and go for something a little different.

Be bold...you decide!

For instance, am I going to use

deep purple or dark blue?

Silver or gray?

I am convinced more than ever that there are

no bad color combinations...you just have to

'think outside the proverbial box'!"

How about another new sponsor for this week's challenge?

They provided the 'world's best design team'

a choice of any of their stamps to play with. We love 'em!

Crafty Individuals comes to us all the way from the UK

and is an exciting venture into the creative world of arts and crafts for business partners Jean Hardy and Malcolm Noble,

who both come from an arts-based background.

Their online store features a range of own designed' Rubber Stamps,

along with unique Image Acetates. They are available for purchase

in their online store and in many retail outlets.

Crafty Individuals wants to really encourage you to play...

check out this prize package!

'Seaside'

and.....

'People & Places'

This prize package is worth over $60!!!

You have to play to have a chance to win!

Here's what the rest of our designers have done to inspire you.....

Savannah O'Gwynn ~ Savannahland2

'Private Blend' Designer

Andrea Ewen ~ EwenStyle

Lisa Somerville ~ Splendiferous Creations

Suzanne Czosek ~ Suzz's Stamping Spot

Senior Designer

Sarah Anderson ~ The Art of Moodling

Please follow the 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)

Christina ~ Sea Glass Sentiments

Jean Franks Beck ~ Bluebird Paperie

Julia ~ Scraphappy
Maria Gurnsey ~ Gingham and Polka Dots

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 )

Lin

Carly

Sarah A

Lee Anne

Erica

Susan B

Anne Marie

Darlene A

Jaclyn M

Michele G

This group can proudly display the

'Cream in Our Coffee'

badge on their blogs!

and

The Cup of the Week...

Debby ~ Limedoodle

Debby wins the $25 Gift Certificate from

and can proudly display the 'Cup of the Week' Badge.

Debby will also be eligible to be a

guest designer here in The Cafe.

Debby, please contact Julie Ranae at julieranae@hotmail.com

with your mailing address to receive your prize.

Thursday, September 16, 2010

The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC47

It's that time again!

The week just seems to fly by with each challenge, doesn't it?!

We thank you so much for spreading the word and sharing the

fun we have here in The Play Date Cafe.

We are so excited about a new schedule of wonderful sponsors

who will take us all the way through the holiday season.

If this is your first time in The Cafe, you picked a great time!

The prizes that are up for grabs are going to blow you away!

This week's terrific 'color story' was chosen by our host

senior designer, Sarah Anderson and here is a taste of

inspiration all the way from the UK....

We are super excited about introducing you to
our newest sponsor. It was a real treat to play with
their stamps this week in hopes of inspiring you to play.

Paperbag Studios offers a unique mix of rubber stamps

that appeals not only to the rubber stamper but visual

and altered artists alike.

The company was formed seven years ago when

mixed-media artist Roben-Marie Smith began designing

rubber stamps to reflect her distinct, altered-arts voice.

In addition to designing product, Roben-Marie shares her love

of mixed-media art, handmade journals and scrapbooking

through her personal blog 'Every Life Has a Story'.

Make sure you visit the Paperbag Studios blog to
see their fabulous stamps in action.

Want to know what's up for grabs for this week's 'Cup of the Week'?

A $25 Gift Certificate to Paperbag Studios!

Let's 'meet' Roben-Marie our Guest Designer for this week....

"I am a little kooky in my ways and clearly OCD in others. I eat oatmeal for breakfast every morning, am addicted to Burt's Bees Lip Balm, I don't like wearing shoes, am a loyal friend, would rather give than receive, am afraid of heights, am an introvert who works hard to be an extrovert and my favorite color is green.

I have been married for over 21 years, I dig football, can converse on many subjects, am a God's girl and a computer geek. My favorite movie is Pride and Prejudice, I am a college graduate, I like to read historical fiction, I used to work in public relations, I lift weights, embrace a variety of music genres, once rode a camel and I make amazing made-from-scratch brownies, or so I am told!

I am into a bunch of craft and art forms, including mixed media, art journaling, sewing, digi designing and more. I like to laugh but sometimes take things too seriously and one day would like to say that "making things for others" is my job!"

Here's what the rest of our designers have done to inspire you.....

Suzanne Czosek ~ Suzz's Stamping Spot

Savannah O'Gwynn ~ Savannahland2

'Private Blend' Designer

Andrea Ewen ~ EwenStyle

Ruby McGuire ~ Ruby 2 Shoes Design

Lisa Somerville ~ Splendiferous Creations

Senior Designer

Julie Ranae ~ Julie's Open Window

Please follow the 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)

Denise ~ Lavender Rose

Natalie H ~ Delightful Details

Sarita ~ Little Princess Cards
Sleepy STP ~ Stamping While They Sleep

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 )

Keva Brown

J Martin

Sharron

Angela R

Dawn Braun

Andrea

Jody

Anne J

Paul B

Tenia Nelson

Michele G

Banu H

This group can proudly display the

'Cream in Our Coffee'

badge on their blogs!

and

The Cup of the Week...

Tammy ~ Creating Somewhere Under The Sun

Tammy wins the $40 Die Cut Package from

and can proudly display the 'Cup of the Week' Badge.

Tammy will also be eligible to be a

guest designer here in The Cafe.

Tammy, please contact Julie Ranae at julieranae@hotmail.com

with your mailing address to receive your prize.

Thursday, September 9, 2010

The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC46

It's 'Color Splash' time once again.

This week's 'color splash' is a bit

different than the others we've done

in that you will have a

choice of 3 different colors

to go with the base of

Black & White with.....

Pink, Copper or Gold.

Senior Designer Julie Ranae is your color host

once again....

"As soon as I saw this photo, I knew it had to be our next

'color splash challenge'.

Each time we do this type of challenge, there is a bit

of confusion on how it actually works. This week we are

throwing in a choice of colors, so let me clear up any confusion.

'Color Splash' actually means 

'black & white 

with a touch of color'.

What we ask of our color splash challenges

is that you literally stick to 'black & white with the

required splash of color' and this week, it's

pink, copper or gold"

Senior Designer

Julie Ranae ~ Julie's Open Window

We are very happy to have a wonderful new sponsor!

Creative Cuts & More is a leader in the die cutting industry. We offer a huge variety of bags, boxes, cards, labels, frames and shapes, including many that are exclusive to CC&M. We offer our die cuts in many different materials including Bazzill Smoothies, Bazzill Canvas and Metallic cardstocks plus felt, velvet paper, chipboard and acetate.

Check out our blog and the gallery at
Creative Cuts & More
for more ideas to inspire your creativity.

Now, here's what you could win....worth $40!!!

Creative Cuts & More provided the Play Date Cafe Design Team

with a set of these terrific die cuts in a 'wedding' theme.

You've seen Julie Ranae's 'color splash' inspiration above

and now.....

Here's what the rest of our designers have done to inspire you.....

Lisa Somerville ~ Splendiferous Creations

Suzanne Czosek ~ Suzz's Stamping Spot

Senior Designer

Sarah Anderson ~ The Art of Moodling

'Private Blend' Designer
Andrea Ewen ~ EwenStyle

Savannah O'Gwynn ~ Savannahland2

Ruby McGuire ~ Ruby 2 Shoes Design

Please follow the 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)

Jenny Johns ~ Jen's Cup of Creations

Michelle B~ Flickr Gallery

Regina Mangum ~ The Stampin' Bean
Wendy Jordan ~ Paper Therapy

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 )

Suzanne

Yuki

Chupa

Lynn

Nigel

Emily K

Annette G

Sleepy Stp

Suzanne Dean

Tracy E

Tante Kathe

Dorcas

This group can proudly display the

'Cream in Our Coffee'

badge on their blogs!

and

The Cup of the Week...

Julie Day ~ J. Day Designs

Julie wins the prize package from

and can proudly display the 'Cup of the Week' Badge.

Julie will also be eligible to be a

guest designer here in The Cafe.

Julie, please contact Julie Ranae at julieranae@hotmail.com

with your mailing address to receive your prize.

Wednesday, September 1, 2010

The Play Date Cafe Challenge PDCC45

Congratulations to all of you who took the ultimate
challenge last week. If you missed it, scroll down to
see what you missed. We had one of the most colorful
project galleries and it was a pleasure to see how you all
made those colors work for you.

Senior Designer Julie Ranae, is your color host this week...
"I chose the colors this week with our guest designer in mind.
Her blog is always full of bold, bright, deep, rich colors and I
couldn't wait to see what she would bring to The Cafe as inspiration"

Please welcome Sankari Wegman!

"Hi Everyone, I am so excited

to be a guest designer today at the Play Date Cafe!!! YAY!!

My husband and I live out in the cornfields of Iowa with our

two little ones and work as an Ayurvedic health consultant

and just decided to go back to school this fall

to finish my PhD in physiology :)

I love spending time with my family and also love when everyone

has gone to bed and I get to sneak away to my craft corner

(which is literally just one corner) I wish I had 4 corners!

I started blogging about 2 years ago and what started as a small hobby (that fit into one drawer! has completely become a full fledged addiction :))

I feel so lucky to be designing for some wonderful companies and groups and am currently a design team member for Paper Craft Planet, Taylored Expressions, Verve Stamps, JustRite stamps and a DT member of the Gina K Card Club kit. Blogging has been a wonderful way for me to create special presents and cards for my family and friends and as creative therapy to unwind from the hectic schedule of the day, but more than anything it has also allowed me to make new best friends all over the world who also share this love of all things paper crafting! A huge thank you to Julie and her amazing Design Team for having me here today to play along with this amazingly delicious color combination!!!

Big hugs and high fives to everyone,

Sankari"

We are also very excited to welcome

Andrea Ewen

as our newest Private Blend Designer.

We know you are going to love her style as much

as we do!

"My name is Andrea Ewen and I'm married to my high school sweetheart, Guy. We have 2 beautiful children together, Troy is 12, Analise is 10 and they are the absolute lights of my life. I work full time as a pharmacist at the Jersey Shore

in a quaint little "Mom n' Pop" pharmacy.

When I'm not working or running to and from sporting/school events I'm in my craft room working up a storm. I was introduced to Stampin' Up! in 2002 when a friend invited me to a party. Since that time, I've been hooked but just recently began to post my creations online on my blog "EwenStyle", which I started in March of this year. I'm looking forward to being a part of this wonderful Design Team here at The Play Date Cafe and grateful to these extremely talented artists for letting me join them on this fantastic ride!"