"Just Us Girls" Challenge

Just Us Girls Challenge #121

2012-01-28T00:00:00.010-05:00

Maria here with this week's 3D/Template challenge! Our "theme" is Valentine's Day! Pull out your heart things stamping items and create something 3D or use a template.

Check out what the GIRLS cooked up this week:

Our January Guest Designer: Kylie

We hope we have inspired you to play in this week's challenge because I have a prize to offer participants! I am an {ippity} chick and will be offering an {ippity} kit to one random player this week! If you love {ippity} I invite you come by my new GOT {ippity} fan page on facebook!

How to play:

You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery.
Please display our graphic and link back to this post on your blog.
Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post.
If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS121. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline: To be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 12:00 PM EST on Thursday,February 2nd . The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning

Chic of the Week!

2012-01-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Oh how fun the turnout was this week, the entire team was able to play, and almost 100 of YOU! Love that. It was difficult to choose, but this card just stopped me in my tracks!

The vivid color she was able to obtain... just stunning!!

CONGRATULATIONS KIM DURAN!! You are the Chick of the Week!! [Please contact me at vdutchr@cox.net to get your badge for your blog!!]

Thanks to all of you who played this week! We'll be back with another 3D challenge tomorrow!

Just Us Girls Color Challenge #120

2012-01-21T00:00:00.007-05:00

Hi everyone - Vicki here with this week's challenge. With Valentine's Day arriving soon, I chose the typical colors; Red, Pink and White. The JUGheads have created some amazing inspiration and we hope you play along! We'll be commenting~

Our January Guest Designer: Kylie

Vicki

Lynn

Kathryn

Andrea

Elise

Dana

Maria

Pam

Lisa

We hope we have inspired you to play in this week's challenge!

How to play:

You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery.
Please display our graphic and link back to this post on your blog.
Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post.
If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS120. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline: To be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 12:00 PM EST on Thursday,January 26th . The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning

Chic of the Week

2012-01-20T05:00:00.000-05:00

Hi there, I had an amazing time looking at all the gorgeous entries into our collage stamping challenge. It was great to here how many of you tried this technique for the first time. I am pleased to announce our winner Leeanne! Please pop over to Leannne's blog and check out her gorgeous creations. Leanne please email me at lmangan @ cinci.rr.com for your Chic of the Week badge!

Of course, I choose a few other cards too. There was a lot of wonderful creations to choose from. Here are just a few:

Hannelie's Card - Love the way she created the scallops.
Janine's - Lovely set of cards here
Colleen's Paris Collage here
Mynnette's Card here
The masking on Deb's card here is gorgeous.

We look forward to seeing you tomorrow for another great challenge!

Just Us Girls #119 Technique Challenge

2012-01-14T00:01:00.003-05:00

Good morning! Lynn here today! It's Saturday and it's time to kick off another challenge here at Just Us Girls! When looking for techniques, I thought it would be fun to try something that encourages us to stretch the use of our stamps. So...I hopped on over to Splitcoast Stampers and found this tutorial for collage stamping. I love to layer my stamps in different ways. I hope you do too...myself and the other Just Us Girls Design Team members can't wait to see what you create!

Our Guest Designer - Kylie

Elise

Lisa

How to play:

You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery.
Please display our graphic and link back to this post on your blog.
Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post.
If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS119. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline: To be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, January 19th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the Week #118

2012-01-13T00:01:00.002-05:00

Well y'all have done it again - we had good participation and awesome entries. I know we say this every week but it is SO hard to choose from so much beauty and diversity. We were tickled PINK with the projects y'all came up with from the simple sketch this week. We can't thank you enough for participating in our challenges and being such an inspiration to all of US girls as well! :-)

After a thorough review all the entries multiple times, we finally settled on this beauty for our chic of the week. This time the honor goes to.....

Carla Suto for this lovely card

We loved the warm, earthy colors in her DPs, the die cut frame is a delightful accent, Carla's coloring is just divine and she wrapped it all up with a beautiful bow and flower to boot! Well done Carla and well done gals overall!

Carla please contact us for your badge. Meanwhile hope to see you all back on Saturday for a whole new challenge.

JUGS #118 Sketch

2012-01-07T00:01:00.016-05:00

Good morning! It's Stampin' Pam here as your hostess this week - time to GET SKETCHY with JUGS again. I have a SUPER SIMPLE sketch for you but I can't wait to see what y'all do with it! Here ya go...

Be sure to stop and visit our brand new Featured Designer for the month of January....
Kylie Kueter

Before you head off to get started, please stop by the JUGS DT blogs and get inspired!

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Kathryn

Lynn

Maria

Pam

Vicki

Andrea

Dana

Elise

Lisa

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS118. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, Jan. 12th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Wild Chic of the Week #117

2012-01-06T00:00:00.001-05:00

Hi all! I had so much fun looking at all your felt creations this week! So many pretty creations...I spent nearly 45 minutes pondering this week's winner. I wish I could have chosen 10 winners this week! But in the end, I chose this creation by Susie for a few reasons.

She created these snowmen for her grandson's felt storyboard. Remember those? I didn't think anyone used them anymore! I think I love the story behind these little felt fellas just as much as I love them! Congratulations to Susie! Please contact me at lisajugs@roadrunner.com for your Chic of the Week badge!

I'd also like to share a few honorable mentions.

Lesley and Rudlis created gorgeous felt flowers on their red/black/white colored cards.

Dewi created an amazing clock face out of some felt.

Cheri's card was so gorgeous in her muted ivory colors and gorgeous layered felt flower.

Karli's large felt flower was a last minute add-on per her mom's request that had me lovin' it even more.

And Janine had the most colorful, fun card in the whole collection!

Thanks so much to all of you for playing along in our Wild Card challenge! Tomorrow Pam has the first challenge of 2012...a great sketch for all of you! Hope to see you playing along with Just Us Girls!

Just Us Girls #117 - Wildcard Using Felt

2011-12-31T00:00:00.007-05:00

Happy New Year's Eve JUGs fans! This is the last challenge of 2011! We hope you had a good year. We here at JUGs had a great year...we had our 100th challenge and we reached over 1,000 followers! We couldn't have asked for more! We are looking forward to 2012!

This is the 5th week of the month, so that means we have a wildcard challenge...we pick any challenge we want! So I (Lisa) am challenging you to use felt on your creations.

We are saying farewell to our December Featured Designer, Lenet. She has done a fabulous job this month and we wish her well in 2012. Here is her fabulous creation.

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Dana

Elise

Kathryn

Lisa

Lynn

Pam

Vicki

How to play:

You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery.

•Please display our graphic and link back to this post on your blog.
•Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post.
•If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS117. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline: To be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, January 5th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Have a great New Year and thanks for playing with Just Us Girls!

Chic of the week #116

2011-12-30T00:00:00.002-05:00

Hello!
This candle sleeve that Archana created with her quilling I just loved so much I had to choose her for Chic of the week!

Be sure to join us tomorrow for an all new challenge hosted by Lisa!

JUGS #116 3-D/Technique challenge

2011-12-24T00:00:00.006-05:00

Hello!
This week at Just Us Girls I'm your hostess and I thought it would be fun to create a pillar type candle sleeve or holder with or without a Christmas theme. Most of us were in the holiday spirit and went that route. I hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and if you do have some "me" time you can play along with this weeks challenge.

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Kathryn

Dana

Lisa

Elise

Our Featured Designer - Lenet Mos

Lenet - thank you for your amazing projects this month! You have wowed us all!

How to play:

You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery.

Please display our graphic and link back to this post on your blog.
Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post.
If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS116. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline: To be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, December 29th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Wishing all of our Just Us Girls followers the best holiday season!
Kathryn

Chic of the Week #115

2011-12-23T06:15:00.000-05:00

Good morning! Wow, were you all inspired to make some gorgeous, gorgeous creations for this week's color challenge. Loved seeing some non-Christmas cards and lots of you continuing to get your Christmas cards and presents complete! I had a hard time choosing a favorite, but...Cheri's card was so inspiring! The texture on the poinsettia leaves was absolutely gorgeous and the background lace frame is stunning! Be sure to stop by her blog for more beautiful creations.

Cheri, please email me at lmangan@cinci.rr.com to pick up your Chic of the Week badge!

I couldn't just pop in though and only share one card with so many gorgeous entries, so here are some more amazing creations from this week:

Gorgeous masking on this card by Aimes.
Anni's beautiful use of distress inks on this card.
A lovely CAS card by Sienjte.
Amazing dimension by Archana here.
Loving Lea's use of pearls here.

Thanks so much for playing along with us at Just Us Girls! We wish you and your families a very Happy Hanukah and Merry Christmas!

Just Us Girls Color Challenge

2011-12-17T00:01:00.002-05:00

Happy Saturday Blogging Friends! It's Lynn here this morning hosting for my first time as a Just Us Girls Design Team member! I hope all of your holiday preparations are going well...only a week to go until santa arrives at our homes. To keep up with the final holiday preparations, we have a holiday inspired color challenge for you! We'd love for you to participate. Make those last minutes cards, gift tags or holiday projects and link them up using the colors provided to inspire you. We're looking forward to seeing your gorgeous creations!

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Our Guest Designer - Lenet

How to play:

You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery.
Please display our graphic and link back to this post on your blog.
Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post.
If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS115. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline: To be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, December 22nd. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the week #114

2011-12-16T00:00:00.012-05:00

Good Morning!

It's Friday and another challenge has come to a close. I loved all the center step cards I got to peek at this week but the one that kept drawing me back to gaze upon its beauty was this one from Carla Suto. So the Chic of the Week goes to her.

Top Three

Susie

siostry dwie

Heidy

Technique Challenge #114

2011-12-10T00:01:00.055-05:00

Good Morning Ladies!
Kathryn here with a technique for you to try and it's called a center step card. It's a fun and easy technique to try for a change. Here is the link for a tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers. Now for a little inspiration check out what the rest of the Jugsters have come up with. Can't wait to see what you can create using this weeks technique!

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Dana

Andrea

Lisa

Kathryn

Lynn

Kristin

Elise

Guest Designer-Lenet

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, December 15th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning

Chick of the WEEK! #113

2011-12-09T02:36:00.011-05:00

Well, my SUPER, darling and most craftilicious friends...

YOU were in FABULOUS form this week! THANK YOU, one and all
for your participation, INSPIRATION and fun! There were
so MANY outstanding entries - I'm floating from the GRAND mojo!!!
Thank you, sooooo much, for sharing your DELIGHTFUL talent and
precious creative time with Just Us... {you know who!} the GIRRLLZ!

I was SO tickled to see this sketch in action - you ALL made MY week!

Special THANKS, to those of you who shared our graphic - that REALLY
helps, so much. It's nice to get the word out there and when more folks
see our graphic, MORE folks play - and MORE fun ensures! THANKS,
again! So, now that I've gushed and blushed, let me share my top SIX
picks for this lovely week of HUGE challenge fun - OUTSTANDING!!!!

Visit 'em, if you haven't given yourself the chance:
LOVELY, lovely creations - each and every one!

Lea
Sue
Anne
Hannelie
Marilyn
Lesley

These were my very favorite entries this week,
but to make things MOST regal, I have to crown my
darling MOST fave, so that she may enjoy the mighty
badge - Just Us Girls: CHIC OF THE WEEK!

Hannelie

Thank you, dear - for making this stunning creation with the
inspiration from this sketch - you ROCKED my wee-little world
with your choice of colors and these DARLING materials! SUCH
clever use of our sketch - and it just made me so HAPPY!
Congratulations, dear! Please e-mail me, mamacow@comcast.net
so that I can send you your badge! Woot! Woot! Congrats, dear one!

AND thank you, EVERYONE! You ALL make this SUCH a
delightful place to create, share and ENJOY! Hope you'll play
with us on Saturday, when Kathryn dazzles us with a fun technique!

Have a splendid day!

Sketch TIME - Challenge #113

2011-12-02T23:59:00.005-05:00

Happy HOLIDAYS to you, darling friends, of Just Us Girls!

We are SO delighted to welcome you to another creative and fun
ride through PAPER CRAFTY central - the land of Just Us Girls!

As you might know, we change our challenge subject, every week, just
to keep us all on our toes! THIS week, I have the grand privilege of
sharing a wee-little sketch that I have created to dazzle and delight your
craftiest notion - I DO hope I succeeded! Take a gander at the
clever JUGS cohorts of mine, and what they did with this little gem -
I'll bet you find a creation, fit to YOUR liking! May inspiration find
YOU - and then you can share it, right back, with all of us!
Please copy and display our graphic to help share the word
about our lovely challenge and all the fun we have here at
~Just Us Girls~
What a wonderful thing!

But speaking of WONDERFUL - how 'bout our splendid
designer for the month of December, Lenet!
{Insert *GASP!* - this is STUNNING!}

And our determined and talented team of regulars:
you might know us as Just Us Girls - YIPEEE!

Pam

Dana

Kathryn

Maria

Lisa

Vicki

Lynn

Elise

Andrea

Hopefully our menagerie-o-inspiration will tickle your
crafty bone ... We will be ever so DELIGHTED to have your
creation and generous sharing of talent in our creative mix
this week - it means SO very much to us when you do!

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, December 8th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the Week #112

2011-12-02T01:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Friday to you all!

Let me just thank all of you who played along last week for the FABULOUS card sets and matching packaging - you blew my socks clean off! Thank you for the awesome inspiration!

But, alas, there can only be one Chic… and that person is….

Margaret!

I loved the size and shape of these cuties! I also loved how she united the set with color and ornaments, but the design of each one was different - lots of dimension and patterns! And just look at that matching box, complete with a big, beautiful, glittery poinsettia. Be still my paper-craftin' heart!!! AMAZING job Margaret! Congratulations!

Please email me - andrea (dot) matth (at) yahoo (dot) com - for your Chic of the Week badge! We hope you'll wear it proudly!!!

Be sure to swing by on Saturday for a whole new challenge!!!

Andrea

JUGS #112 - Set of Cards and Matching Packaging

2011-11-26T00:01:00.002-05:00

Hello All!!! I hope everyone is enjoying a most fabulous Thanksgiving holiday! Andrea here to bring you a new challenge, but first...

We here at Just Us Girls are all in such a thankful mood and would like to thank YOU! We appreciate all of your support and inspirational projects!

On to this week's challenge.

I really enjoy making sets of cards. Even better when they're presented so beautifully in matching packaging!!!!

So we want you to show us a set of cards with matching packaging or holder. Be it a box, bag, etc, show us your stuff!

Now let's see what goodies JUGS DT and our guest designer have in store!

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Pam

And our talented and wonderful guest designer, Kim O'Connell :)

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, December 1st. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the Week #111

2011-11-25T15:33:00.001-05:00

Oh how fun to see all your entries! By the looks of it, you all seemed to like the colors this week! Thank you for joining in and playing -- I appreciate the support of my first challenge here at JUGS! After going through all the entries, [and I did comment on all of them], the one that just grabbed my attention was............ Melissa Cash with this beautiful use of the colors, and such a gorgeous clean gift card holder.

Melissa please contact us at lisajugs@roadrunner.com to get your Chic of the Week badge! Congratulations!!Be sure to play in tomorrow's challenge -- its a fun project!!Thanks again for playing -- see you tomorrow~

JUGS #111 Color Challenge

2011-11-19T00:00:00.006-05:00

Hi Everyone! This is my first challenge with you and the JUGS Team. I made it pretty darn easy, and I hope I have inspired you to play along! This week is a color challenge; Red, Green & White. I love these colors together for making Christmas cards!
Feel free to post our graphic on your post (right click, save image as) - it makes it really easy to find your card! :)

First off here's the card from our Featured Designer, Kim O'Connell. Be sure you leave her a little love on her blog!

And here is what my fellow JUGheads and I have come up with to inspire you.

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS111. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, November, 24. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

We hope you play along and have fun while creating your card and/or project! Oh, and, HAPPY TURKEY DAY - don't eat too much :)~

Chic of the Week #110

2011-11-18T00:00:00.003-05:00

Well it seems that we've have quite a few stampers out there that had never heard of or tried the ghosting technique I challenged you with this week! Love that! So nice when we can bring new techniques into our stamping worlds!

The card I chose as this week's winner tried this technique for the first time and did a fabulous job with it! Congratulations to Andrea for this lovely holiday card! Lovin' the black ornaments against the lovely ghostly snowflakes in the background.

Please contact me at lisajugs@roadrunner.com for your Chic of the Week badge!

Thanks so much for all your fabulous entries! Keep them coming...we love seeing your creativity! Vicki has her first challenge tomorrow (a color challenge) as a JUGs DT member, so please stop by tomorrow for that challenge!

Just Us Girls #110 - Ghosting Technique

2011-11-12T00:00:00.016-05:00

Hello JUGs fans! Lisa here with a new technique challenge brought to you by Just Us Girls. This is a favorite of mine. It's called "ghosting" and I learned this technique at a Wendy Vecchi class last year. There's a link to the technique on Splitcoast Stampers here. But instead of using Versamark ink, try using a white pigment ink, heat setting it before applying ink over it. Then use darker inks to make the image appear as a "ghost". That's the way I learned the technique and the results are very cool!

Let's see what the girls have done with this technique.

Kim O'Connell, November Featured Designer

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Andrea

Dana

Elise

Kathryn

Lisa

Lynn

Maria

Vicki

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, November, 17th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Looking forward to seeing what you all come up with! Have fun!

Chic of the Week #109!

2011-11-11T00:00:00.001-05:00

Howdy friends! Well, first off, I LOVED all the creativity this week. You all sure know how to make a sketch come alive! Thank you so much for playing with us!

This week's Chic is Karen!

I loooooove her clean lines and consistent gold accents. The designer papers are beautiful and the final finishing touches of tiny red bling just make this card pop! Be sure and stop by Karen's blog, Studio at the Lake, for a ton of papercrafted eye candy!

Karen please email me at paperdaydream at aol dot com for your winners badge.

Ok friends, hold onto your hats becasue LISA will be back tomorrow with a technique challenge that is going to make your day!!

Just Us Girls #109 sketch challenge...won't you tri{angle} it?

2011-11-05T00:00:00.012-04:00

Hey JUGs fans! This week it is a sketch for your crafting pleasure. I hope you will "tri" it! Not only should the element placement inspire your creation but also please note the shape....it's a triangle. So whatever you make...card, layout, home dec etc. keep it on the triangle OK? Start thinking, Christmas trees, birthday hats, mountains, single pennant, pizza, WHATEVER....the sky (and the triangle!) is the limit!!

Check out our guest designer this month....the delightful and creative Kim O'Connell! Welcome Kim! So glad you could join us this month!

and from "da girls" of Just Us Girls"...

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, November, 10th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Don't delay...join us for something out of the box this week!

Chick of the WEEK! #108

2011-11-03T23:59:00.001-04:00

Goodness, GRACIOUS! The "craftiest season" is definitely upon us!
Dear friends of JugLAND - you sure dazzled and delighted my crafty
soul this week! Thank you, for ALL of your tremendous, creative work!
I was thrilled to see all of the various ways you were inspired by this
month's WildCard challenge - ALTERED FRAMES! What fun!

There were several that JUST rocked my world, all of which
I would SNAP up in a jiffy at a craft fair, art show, Etsy shop!!!
{You get the drill!} It doesn't take much to take paper craft up
a notch, to true Art Work! And I would be HONORED to hang
ALL of it up on my wall - you guys ARE awesome! So, now -
without further adieu... My TOP 5, MOST inspired.....

Carrie's Corner
Eddie
Ginger Claire
LeAnne

And finally, our newest Chic of the Week....

BlackDragon

{My ALL-THINGS-HALLOWEEN-LOVING HEART just BURST!}

Plus, I love, love, ADORE and am completely smitten with her
alterations to this fabby frame - it's a keepsake in the craftiest
form and I am simply in AWE of the details and talent that went
into THIS creation! Thank you, Blackdragon - you SLAYED me!

And THANK YOU, to everyone, for continuing to let us inspire you
week after week... We adore each and every creation that you take
the time to share with us! Hope you'll check back, tomorrow, for our
NEXT challenge, hosted by the EVERY so creative, Dana G.!
Can't wait!

JUGS #108 - WildCard Challenge

2011-10-29T00:01:00.007-04:00

Howdy friends! It's "E", here with a WILD CARD challenge for all-o-yous!

I'm SUPER excited to be hosting a WILDCARD challenge - because......
it's WILD! I love to get "out of the box" on occasion {!} and WILD CARD
time is the PERFECT excuse... Sooooooo, for your creative consideration,
I'm proud to share the work of some VERY talented and inspiring ladies...
You might know them as the JUGGETTES, the JugHeads, the Jugsters or
just by their given names.... {LOL!} But EITHER way, you are bound to
find SOMETHING of flawless inspiration in JUST your size, or area of creative
interest.... And THAT'S, really, what is soooooooo pleasant about challenge
work, to begin with! So before I prattle on, even further, let their WORK do
the talkin'... Ladies and Gentlemen, JUST US GIRLS!

Lisa

Maria

Vicki

Lynn

Elise

ALSO - WHAT a privilege it's been to have had the AMAZING, Maureen,
with us this month! I'm SO delighted to have had her "selfishly" to
our selves ... {LOL!} No, seriously - WHAT an honor! Hope you
get a chance to visit her exquisite blog and masterful work -
WHAT a creative and delightful soul she is...

{Thanks, MAUREEN!}

And THANK you, to ALL of you! Your continued participation
and support mean soooooooo very much to us! I am SO looking
forward to seeing what you do with this challenge. I hope you'll
share some of your precious crafty time with us! Some of these
DT samples are so inspiring, I'm already planning to make MORE
altered and embellished frames to knock a few spots of my holiday
list, IYKWIM! {How's THAT for incentive!?!} Can't WAIT!

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, November, 3rd. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the Week #107

2011-10-28T00:00:00.008-04:00

It's time to announce this week's Chic of the Week. I first want to thank all who played along this week in our Halloween 3D/Template challenge. Everyone did a wonderful job with the challenge I enjoyed checking out each one.

But as we know one person can be Chic of the Week and this week it goes to:

Debbie M with this fun creation:

Congrats Debbie! Be sure to contact us for your Chic of the Week badge.

Be sure to swing on by tomorrow for a new challenge!

Till then!

JUGS 107 - 3D/Template Challenge

2011-10-22T00:00:00.018-04:00

Hey there! Maria here with this week's JUGS challenge. It's 3D/Template week and let's continue on with a Halloween theme. So pick your favorite template or alter something 3D but be sure to make it Halloween themed. It can be simple, cute or spooky! Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Now for some wonderful Just Us Girls inspiration let's see what the design team cooked up:

Be sure to stop and visit our Featured Designer for the month...

Maureen Plut

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Andrea

Kathryn

Lisa

Lynn

Maria

Vicki

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, October, 27th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the Week #106

2011-10-21T00:00:00.013-04:00

Once again you have done it girls - lots of spooktacular "Halloween" type entries and a few of you brave souls made cards that were not Halloween but still had those colors. It's always hard to pick a Chic of the Week but one card just stood out to me as an outstanding and unusual use of these colors.

Drum roll.......

This week's Chic of the Week goes this beauty...

Debbie M - Debbie you just blew us away with this one - the flower is to die for, the seam binding ribbon is gorgeous and the image is just adorable! A great job with our colors and in a most unusual way! Debbie please contact us for your chic of the week badge. Thanks for a beautiful entry!

There were a few other projects that really caught the eye - so here's a few honorable mentions as well...

Audrey and her CUTE CUTE CUTE banner

Carla and her adorable Witch

Carol's cute round card

Thanks to EVERYONE for playing along this week. Awesome, spooky, wonderful cards girls! YOU ROCK!

JUGS #106 Color Our World

2011-10-15T00:01:00.011-04:00

Hey everyone - it's time for JUGS color challenge and since we are quickly approaching Halloween we thought it would be fun to work with Halloween colors BUT your project does NOT have to be Halloween related at all! Here is your color assignment: Orange - Green - Purple and Black!

Be sure to stop and visit our Featured Designer for the month...

Maureen Plut

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Andrea

Dana

Elise

Kathryn

Lisa

Lynn

Maria

Pam

Vicki

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, October, 20th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the Week #105

2011-10-14T01:00:00.000-04:00

Happy Friday!!!

Wow! I was blown away by the gorgeous projects featuring the Black Magic Technique!!! All the beautiful, varied interpretations were so inspiring!

But, ultimately there can only be one Chic…

Congratulations….

Winterberry Glen!

I just love the colors on the grey card stock! Beautiful!

Email me at andrea dot matth at yahoo dot com for your Chic of the Week badge :) We hope you'll wear it proudly!

Be sure and check back again on Saturday for a new challenge hosted by Pam!

JUGS# 105 Black Magic

2011-10-08T00:01:00.032-04:00

Happy Fall Y'all! Andrea here with a brand new JUGS challenge… But first, BIG NEWS!!!

Let us share out newest secret with you - we chose our new Design Team members. YES memberS! Thanks to all who answered our DT call! Everyone had so much talent to share and decision-making was difficult. When it came down to the final vote tallies we had two girls that were within one vote of each other. SO Just Us Girls put our little heads together and we decided that more was better and so we have asked TWO gals to join our team.

So without further adieu, PLEASE join us in welcoming our TWO new design team girls *drum roll*...

Lynn Mangan and Vicki Dutcher!!!

Welcome ladies!!! We are ECSTATIC that you're now JUGheads!!!

Now it's time for this week's new technique challenge. We've got a fun technique for you to try - it's called Black Magic and you can find a link to the tutorial for it on SCS if you click HERE.

Let's see what lovely inspiration awaits, shall we?

Be sure to stop and visit our Featured Designer for the month...

Maureen Plut

♥♥ And Now Some Inspiration From the Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Dana

Kathryn

Lynn

Pam

Vicki

Elise

Andrea

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS105. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, October 13. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the week #104

2011-10-07T00:00:00.003-04:00

ood Morning!

This week there was lots of beautiful cards out there using our JUGS sketch that our October guest designer Maureen was kind enough to supply us with. I settled on this big beautiful card that Marisa created. I just loved everything about it!

Congrats Marisa!!!

Be sure to come back tomorrow for a fun technique challenge hosted by Andrea.

Have a great day!!!

Happy Anniversary!!! JUGS sketch challenge

2011-10-01T00:01:00.028-04:00

Good Morning!
It is the 1st of October already and that means its time for a sketch challenge. Kathryn here hosting this weeks' challenge and this awesome sketch was created by our October guest designer Maureen!!! Such a fun sketch to work with too! I hope you find the time to play along with the JUGS this week!

This is also the Just Us Girls two year anniversary!!!

Happy Anniversary fellow JUGSTERS!!!

Pam

October Guest Designer Maureen Plut

Here are the details:

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge
to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes
directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of
this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword
or tag, JUGS104. Extra love for YOU if you use our beautiful graphic!

After you post to Linky Tools, I hope you'll leave a comment here...{!}

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM,
EST on Thursday, October 6th. The Linky Tools form will close
at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced
on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the Week #103

2011-09-30T19:25:00.001-04:00

Hey there! My apologies for coming in SOOO late with Chic of the Week this week. But let's just get to it.

Thanks so all who played along last week in my alter a box challenge. I loved all the entries but as we know only one person can win Chic of the Week.

This week Chic of the Week is:

JEN from Cubbyhole Creations!

Congrats Jen! Please contact us for your Chic of the Week badge!

Be sure to swing on by tomorrow for Oct 1 and our sketch challenge!

JUGS #103 - Fall 3D challenge

2011-09-24T00:00:00.023-04:00

REMINDER - JUGS is looking for a new DT member! Check it out here.

Happy Saturday and welcome to another challenge with the girls! Maria here this week with 3D/template challenge!

It is finally fall! I LOVE fall! I just hope we'll get some fall weather here in the northeast soon, it's been rather hot and muggy!

This week's challenge is to think fall as a theme and alter a box that you have in the house. Think recycling! Take that empty tissue box, pop tart box etc. Go ahead and alter it to your hearts content. BUT keep with the theme of FALL!

Now here is some fabulous inspiration from the Just Us Girls rockin DT:

Kathryn

Dana

Maria

Pam

Elise

Lisa

Monique

{OUR mega-star, guest designer and sweetheart extraordinaire!}

Here are the details:

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge
to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes
directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of
this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword
or tag, JUGS103. Extra love for YOU if you use our beautiful graphic!

After you post to Linky Tools, I hope you'll leave a comment here...{!}

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM,
EST on Thursday, September 29nd. The Linky Tools form will close
at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced
on the following Friday morning.

Chick of the WEEK! #102

2011-09-23T03:11:00.003-04:00

And a whole lot more....

She's so much more than a chic {k}... She's like a splendid EAGLE, soaring
with detailed layers of colorful magic, and I could not forget this breath-
taking piece... CHIC of the WEEK goes to the, ever so crafty, Chupa!
I love this card for so MANY reasons, mostly color, color, and ever so much
wonderful use of color!!! But I'm a sucker for detail, and that tiny flower
peeking out of the upper right corner just STOLE THE SHOW! Congrats,
dear! YOU da-CHIC-y! Please email me {mamacow@comcast.net} for your
lovely badge! Yipeeeee!

BUT, wait - there's MORE! Here's the other stunners who wowed me with
a capital WOW! I was bowed over with PROUD to see how beautifully, all-
o-you played with these colors! - Here's the rest of my top five!

Cheri - SHE just knocked my PSL lovin' socks off! Go PUMPKIN!

Samantha - Oh, just GO there - you've got to see her darling card!

Michele & Josee` - THESE gals know how to party! I want them
in my corner, if my life ever kicks me. What a great post & project!

Deena - I needed waders to navigate her AMAZING techniques!!

Thank you, one and ALL for sharing your glorious creations
with us! I always feel blessed to see your inspiration - AND
extra thanks to those of you who share our graphic! It really
means a lot! Hope to see you again, NEXT round! Yee Haw!

Don't miss our current DT call! We are looking for YOU!!!

See you, tomorrow, when MARIA {I just met a girl named.... MARIA!},
astounds us with a WONDERFULLY seasonal and useful challenge...

'Nuff said! Ciao!

Design Team Call for JUGS

2011-09-20T00:01:00.008-04:00

This week's JUGS challenge can be found here: Color Challenge 102

Hey gals... Just Us Girls is conducting a call for a new Design Team member. Our sweet, talented and crafty Kristin has decided that with all of life's callings and activities, she needs to step down. Kristin and I co-founded this crazy little venture almost two years ago so she will remain an "Honorary Member of JUGS". She won't play on a regular basis but will be welcome to participate whenever time allows. We will surely miss her talent and her designing. She has done most of our graphics in the past two years!!! HUGS and huge thank yous to you Kristin - be sure to play when you can! We love your crafty self!

SO.... Now we would like to add a new permanent member to the team. If this is something you'd like to be considered for, here are a few things you need to know.

1. Each Design Team member needs to have a blog due to the nature of how we all post every week.
2. We ask you to play along with each challenge and to have your project to the hostess and your personal post ready to go by Friday night. (We know sometimes there are emergencies and that's ok.)
2. We ask each team member to hostess a challenge about once every 6-8 weeks. When you are the hostess you need to write up the blog post, and are ultimately responsible for choosing the Chic of the Week for your challenge week.
3. All DT girls vote on their favorite Chic of Week when we select our Featured Designer for the month.
4. We like each team member to comment on our participant's entries as often as possible. (Based on feedback from our participants, this is one of the big reasons JUGS has been so popular.)

Now - if that sounds like something you can handle and commit to and you are interested in being considered, here are your TWO assignments for the DT call. Please read and follow all instructions carefully.

1st - we want you to create a card or scrapbook layout based on the sketch we included below.

2nd - since we conduct a monthly 3D template (or gift package) challenge, we want you to pick your favorite 3D template and assemble and decorate it then share it with us. There are many free ones out there if you don't have any of your own.

3rd - Please write up ONE blog post and include both of your projects on that post.

4th - Post a DIRECT LINK to that blog post with your Design Team call project to the Linky at the bottom of this post.

The Linky will close on Tues. Sept 27 at 9:00 PM EST so be sure to get your submission in before then.
Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. We hope to choose our new DT gal quickly once submissions are in.

OK - here's your sketch for part 1.

Looking forward to seeing what you come up with. We are super excited to offer up this opportunity to a crafter out there who is interested in being a DT member!

Hugs and Smiles from me and all the JUGheads!
Stampin Pam!

Just Us Girls #102 - COLOR CHALLENGE

2011-09-17T00:01:00.002-04:00

Hi, friends! It's your, exuberant, JugHead - friend, Elise!
I've got a MIGHTY fun challenge to share with you...

COLOR!

{How'd you guess?}

I'm SO thrilled to be celebrating some of my FAVORITE colors
of the season - YOU KNOW THE ONE... Autumn! In its earliest
stages, but I'm seein' it and feelin' it - EVERYWHERE? Truly, I
think it's the BEST time to be a crafter! So, I'm kickin' down some
seriously interpretable pairings... I was so excited, I made this:

I'm SOOOOOO not a graphics person, but that doesn't seem to
stop me from trying, every once in a while...! Just bare with me.
{And maybe, just MAYBE, be inspired! Ooooowww! Maybe?}

Check OUT what fun creations we have assembled for your
crafty pleasure this round - I'm SURE you'll see the one that
is "just your size" for colorful and delightful inspiration....

Dana

Maria

Pam

Elise

Andrea

Monique
{OUR mega-star, guest designer and sweetheart extraordinaire!}

So, THAT'S our creative scoop! ALL the goods to get your colors
stirring and popping with AUTUMN anticipation and splendor...
CAN'T wait to have you play with US!

Here are the details:

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge
to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes
directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of
this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword
or tag, JUGS102. Extra love for YOU if you use our beautiful graphic!

After you post to Linky Tools, I hope you'll leave a comment here...{!}

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM,
EST on Thursday, September 22nd. The Linky Tools form will close
at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced
on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the Week 101

2011-09-16T00:06:00.001-04:00

Well ladies! You are all text-ing royalty! What a fun week seeing what our Text Me challenge brought out in all of your creative entries. Always so hard to chose however, choose we must.

Samantha !

I loved the way Samantha really worked her text for awesome texture in the background and her decision to use only gray and black for the text on a this colorful card. Brilliant girlfriend! Samantha, please drop me an email and I'll send you your winner's blinkie!

paperdaydream at aol dot com

OK JUGs fans, ready for another great week of challenges? Elise is back with some fab colors tomorrow. I sure do hope you can tune in for that!

Techinique Challenge #101....."Text Me!"

2011-09-10T00:00:00.003-04:00

Hi Just Us Girls fans! For those of you who were able to join us last week for our 100th challenge, we sure do hope you had fun! We all had some BLOG CANDY to offer up so be sure you pop over to each of the DT's blogs to see if you were a winner!!! We have all posted our winners on our blogs. However, our sweet Kathryn is in the hospital for some surgery so we're going to post her winner here since she can't get on the computer. Drum roll.... The winner of Kathryn's blog candy is... Mindy Young!!! Mindy - please contact Kathryn with your snail mail info. Thanks again to everyone who participated last week... Ok 'nuff said - let's move on to this week's WONDERFUL challenge.

This week it's all about "text"! No, not the kind you do on your cell phone, the stamp and/or digital kind! Your challenge is to get out a variety of text stamps and make a collaged text only background or focal point for your project. This is your chance to let all those sentiment stamps play and shine together. Or maybe you are a whiz at word collaging on your computer? That works too!

Here is some text-y inspiration from the girls....

Maria

Dana

Elise

Pam

Be sure to also stop and visit our Featured Designer for the month...

Monique Hansen

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS101. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, September 15th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week"will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Ok, time to get your text on! Go for it crafters!

Chic of the Week #100

2011-09-09T00:01:00.006-04:00

Well girls you have done it again! Y'all just rose up to our little ol' "Fall Back" sketch challenge and whipped up some DOOZIES! The JUGS team loves what you came up with. Of course, selecting a chic of the week is the hardest part of being on the JUGS team. It's a little bit like someone asking which of your children you love the best. They are ALL unique in their own personalities and traits and so it is with your projects.

Thank you ALL for your fantastic support of the JUGS challenge blog. We appreciate your participation and enthusiasm.

SO - after much hemming, hawing, looking, and looking again it comes down to this card...

Created by Theresa Winslow. Well done, Theresa. Your coloring is beautiful and your card is just stunning!!

Now we had quite a few more that captured our fancy to so we want to give up some Yippees and Yee Haws and Atta-Girls to these as well...

Now - as for the BLOG CANDY - Each Just Us Girls DT gal will be posting their winner on their personal blogs on Saturday so pop back and have a look at the new challenge AND the winner from this week. We appreciate all of the lovely comments and encouragement. You gals are THE BEST!!

Have a great weekend and come back on Saturday for a whole new challenge...

100 Challenges with JUGS

2011-09-03T00:00:00.021-04:00

Good morning guys n dolls everywhere. We are about to launch our 100th CHALLENGE here on the Just Us Girls blog. It's hard to believe that we've been doing this for almost two years. SO are you READY? Want to come play with JUGS this week? We have a SKETCH challenge for you and we decided for our 100th Challenge we would take a LOOK BACK to our VERY FIRST challenge which was also a sketch. With new stamping ideas, new techniques etc. we thought it would be a lot of fun to see what our amazing followers (well over 1000 now!!) come up with this time.

Without further ado - here is our very FIRST sketch for you - all we have done is renumbered it to reflect that this is challenge #100.

NOW - if that's not enough to get you moving to grab your papers, and ribbons, and stamps (Oh MY!) and play along, well this will get you for sure...

We have some fabulous BLOG CANDY for a few lucky participants this week. Now we're not saying who's givin' what - but there are a FEW RULES to be eligible for some DEEEELICIOUS candy this week.

1. Create a CARD based on the sketch - although it's just a "starting point" we should be able to tell that your card was created with this sketch in mind.
2. Become a FOLLOWER of our blog if you are not already.
3. Leave a COMMENT on the JUGS challenge page.
4. Visit EACH Design Team member AND our Featured Designer and LEAVE a COMMENT for each Jughead (they have all worked really hard and this would be a great week to leave some love).
5. Post your project per the instructions at the bottom of this post...

FINALLY - to further encourage you to visit each DT blog, we are posting just snippets of each creation that they made for this challenge. You'll want to see the FULL projects on each of their blogs. Each DT girl will draw ONE lucky winner at the end of the week so be sure to visit them all and leave your comments!

***Edited to add: Someone asked what the cards from our first sketch looked like. Click here for the link to our first challenge!!****

Get READY --- Get SET --- GO!!!

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Andrea

Dana

Elise

Kathryn

Maria

Pam

Lisa

Be sure to also stop and visit our Featured Designer for the month...

Monique Hansen

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS100. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, September 8th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", along with our BLOG CANDY winners will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Hope to see you. Meanwhile have a delightful LABOR DAY WEEKEND. Can you believe summer is almost over?!?!? YIKES!

Chic of the Week #99

2011-09-02T00:00:00.001-04:00

Hi everyone! I was amazed at the beautiful creations you all created for our 3-D Back to School challenge. I had a difficult time, but decided on this one for the Chic of the Week by Cheri! She created this lovely star book with these fabulous Graphic 45 papers! Just so lovely! Pleaase contact me at lakind@roadrunner.com to get your Chic of the Week badge! Congratulations Cheri!

There were a few others that really caught my eye.

Amy created the cutest school house. It reminded me of a "Little House on the Prarie" school house!

Catz altered a book in the most fantastic way.

And this marker holder made from old jeans (the creator wrote in Polish and I'm not sure of her name).

Thanks for all for participating this week! Tomorrow is our 100th challenge and we have some fun planned for you! See you then!

Just Us Girls #99 - Back to School 3-D

2011-08-27T00:00:00.056-04:00

Hi everyone! Are you ready for the 99th challenge from Just Us Girls? We are embarking on the 100th challenge next week! So exciting! But we have to get through this challenge first! This week's challenge is to make a 3-D item with a back to school theme. I know some of you have kiddos who have already gone back to school, but here in NY we go back after Labor Day. So a back to school 3-D item is the challenge I have chosen. Let's see what the Just Us Girls design team has done.

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Elise

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS99. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, September 1st. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Chick of the week - #98!

2011-08-26T00:11:00.008-04:00

Helloooooooooo, friends! My GOODNESS, y'all are colorful!
It was SUCH a pleasure to see the way all-o-you talented folks
made super crafty magic with this wonderful palette! I had so
much fun checking out your amazing creations! THANK you,
one and all, for sharing your crafty output with the GIRLZZZZ!

{Hee Hee}

I can't truly express how hard it was to whittle down my fave
cards of this round, but I'm guessing you have SOME idea!

Alas, there can only be one chick of the week, so here she is:

Prepare to gasp, out loud, when you take THIS one in!
Lovely, Susan, from Scrumplescrunch.blogpsot.com
brought me to my knees with her breathtaking us of
this week's color combo - THIS is truly stunning!

Additionally, here are five more unbelievably talented
card crafters who blew my color-lovin' doors off:

Teri - don't be frightened! Her color work will make you squeal!
Renee - THIS adorable sign will make your garden GROW!
Indy - BEAUTIFUL, no-nonsense use of color - YeowZA!
Ulrike - Enjoy her use of stamp work & color celebration - a -plenty!
Jen - The alligators don't bite - they PARTY! This card is FUN!

If you haven't treated yourself to a drive around our crafty town,
CHECK out these lovely gal's creations! AND if you're REALLY
in the mood to splurge, check out ALL of the lovely challenge
participants: We Jug-HEADS have the BEST folks to play with!

Speaking of best FOLKS, c'mon back around these parts tomorrow
for our newest challenge, hosted by the LOVELY and talented, Lisa!

Can't wait!

Just Us Girls Challenge - #98 - COLOR!

2011-08-20T00:00:00.010-04:00

Bring it ONNNN, babies!

Color! THAT'S what I'm talkin' A-BOUT! It's bright and it's BRILLIANT! AND fun! So let's PLAY!

I was ALL inspired by some delightful "vintage cowboy" dish towels I have decoratively
featured under glass, in my big, old, kitchen hutch, but couldn't capture an adequate
picture without some major "construction..." Luckily, and much to my CRAFTIEST delight,
I spied, right in my OWN little stash, the EXACT collection of color that I'd been dreaming
about, RIGHT in this very {me!} country-ish October Afternoon paper collection, sooo... I got my craft ON! And my MOST darling and craftiest cohorts were equally inspired, or so it seems, by their lovely output of fabby cards this week - let's CHECK 'em OUT!

Pam

Dana

Kathryn

Andrea

Maria

Lisa

&amp;
ME! {Elise}

I cannot WAIT to see what you AMAZING folk do with this terrific
palette! I truly hope you'll share some of your precious crafty mojo
and inspiration with us! I'll be awaiting your entry with crafty anticipation!

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS98. Extra love for YOU if you use our beautiful graphic!
{Our darling Kristin works so hard to share them week after week!}

After you post to Linky Tools, I hope you'll leave a comment here...{!}

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday,
August 25th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week",
will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Don't forget, I'll be here, waiting to drool over your JUGS inspired creation!

{No pressure! LOL!}

Chic of the Week #97

2011-08-19T00:00:00.012-04:00

Our week of altered notebooks is now over and I thank all who played along. I've seen so many fabulous notebooks. This time of the year is the best time to think about altering notebooks with school starting the school supply sections are over flowing. Not to mention they make awesome gifts.

It was a really hard choice but the notebook I picked and whose designer made chic of the week is this beauty by Sarah:

I just loved the bright color and all the fabulous ribbon. Congrats Sarah and be sure to contact us for your Chic of the Week badge!

I will leave you with a few other honorable mentions this week:

Ros

Paula

Sue

Cassandra

That's all for today! Be sure to swing on by tomorrow for another fun Just Us Girls challenge!

Till then!

Jugs #97 - Technique Week

2011-08-13T00:00:00.005-04:00

Maria here with technique week. But before we get started we have a very important shout this week! Our very own Pam will be celebrating her birthday this coming week!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY PAM!!!!!

This week I have a fun one for you. It's that time of the year for back to school so this week I thought it would be fun to alter a notebook. Any size, any type you want. Have fun and get creative with it.

Now for a little inspiration from the lovely ladies of the...

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Dana

Lisa

Maria

Pam

Andrea

Elise

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS97. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, August 18th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Can't wait to see what you come up with.

Chic of the Week #96

2011-08-12T07:57:00.000-04:00

Well gals you really knocked this one out of the park. I loved all of the entries - the interpretations of a simple sketch never cease to amaze me. Although this is always a difficult decision, I finally selected this week's Chic of the Week ..... (insert drum roll)

Chupa (aka Iwona) Palamountain

I just love how the sketch inspired her final card. I can "See" the sketch in here which amazes me. I'm pretty literal when it comes to sketches so I'm intrigued when I see someone who can be inspired and yet create a little out of the box. Chupa - contact us for your Chic of the Week badge.

Here are some other gals who's cards really caught my eye this week!

Melody

Meisje

Cassandra

Thanks to everyone for playing!

JUGs Sketch Saturday #96

2011-08-06T00:00:00.034-04:00

G'day JUGsters - Pam here. (For those who don't know I just returned from a trip "Down Under")

Wow - it's August already - Can you smell the "back to school" supplies, backpacks, crayons, markers, notebooks, pens and pencils? I loved shopping for school supplies more than for back-to-schools clothes which is probably how I ended up as a paper-crafter! (OR maybe it was the fact that in California all we could shop for in August were sweaters, long sleeved blouses, wool dresses and pants when it was still 95º out!?)

It's time for our Sketch challenge - I have a VERY simple sketch for you today. My travels and the craziness in getting ready for the return of teachers and students to my district make my time quite limited right now. Here's the sketch - remember you can flip it around - just be inspired and see what you come up with!

Now for a little inspiration from the lovely ladies of the...

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Dana

Kathryn

Lisa

Maria

Pam

Andrea

Elise

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS96. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, August 11th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Thanks gals - can't wait to see what you come up with.

Chic of the Week #95

2011-08-05T00:07:00.002-04:00

Wow, did we have some really wonderful entries for our Wild Card challenge...using fabric on your creations! There were some really clever uses of fabric. In the end, I chose this one by Kylie.

She used so many different fabrics and added some beautiful elements to create this gorgeous canvas collage! Congratulations Kylie! You can contact me at lakind@roadrunner.com to get your Chic of the Week badge!

Thanks so much to all of you who participated and especially to those of you that displayed our challenge graphic! We love to see them all over blogland!

Tomorrow Pam has a great sketch for us all, so don't forget to stop by and play along!

Just Us Girls #95 - Use Fabric on Your Project

2011-07-30T00:00:00.016-04:00

Hi everyone! It's Lisa here and it's so good to be hosting this week's Just Us GirlsWild Card challenge! It seems like forever since I've hosted! Well, this week I have a fabulous challenge for you...USE FABRIC ON YOUR PROJECT...RIBBON DOESN'T COUNT! You can make fabric flowers, use fabric as an accent, stamp on it, or do whatever else you'd like with fabric, but using ribbon only does not count. I stamped on my fabric and found several tutorials on the internet just by Googling "stamping on fabric". Let's see what the girls have done!

Christina MacLaren, July Featured Designer

This is Christina's last week with us as Guest Designer. She's given us some great inspiration this month and we'd like to thank her for being a fabulous guest!

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Dana

Elise

Lisa

Maria

Andrea

How to play: Upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. Please use keyword or tag, JUGS95.

Deadline to be considered for top pick, "Chic of the Week", is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, August 4th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. We will announce our "Chic of the Week" on the following Friday.

**Linky Tool**

Chic of the Week #94

2011-07-29T00:26:00.001-04:00

Thanks so much for all of the bag challenge participants. I loved seeing all the ways to fancy up a plain bag. Inspiration was everywhere!

For my Chic of the Week selection I went with this gorgeous bag by Lenet! I thought using a vintage photograph was a really unique way to decorate her gift bag.

Lenet, please email me at paperdaydream at aol dot com to get your winner's badge!

Thanks to everyone how participated and come on by tomorrow for another fabulous challenge!

Just Us Girls #94 the bag challenge!

2011-07-23T00:00:00.011-04:00

Hey Just Us Girls friends! This week we are challenging everyone to decorate a gift bag. Those plain kraft (or white or veritable rainbow of colors) gift bag with or without the twine handles are a perfect canvas to strut your creative stuff!

So scavenge your gift wrap drawer, grab a plain gift bag and make some magic with us!

For your inspiration......

Our featured designer for July, Christina MacLaren from Sea Glass & Sentiments

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Kathryn

Dana

Kristin

Lisa

Elise

How to play: Upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. Please use keyword or tag, JUGS94.

Deadline to be considered for top pick, "Chic of the Week", is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, July 28th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. We will announce our "Chic of the Week" on the following Friday.

Chic of the Week #93

2011-07-22T00:00:00.001-04:00

Howdy all!!! Thanks for bringing out the beauty in the colors this week! You all ROCKED the combo! So many gorgeous creations… so little time :)

From the AMAZING cards, this week's Chic is….

Congrats Susie W!!!!

Susie's card just floored me! That doily is STUNNING!!! I just love the layout too! Susie, please email me at andrea.matth at yahoo dot com for your Chic of the Week badge!!!

Enjoy your Friday and I hope you'll all check back on Saturday to see the next JUGified challenge!!!

Andrea

JUGS #93 - Color Challenge

2011-07-16T00:01:00.000-04:00

Hi All!!! Welcome back for another JUGS challenge!!!

Andrea here with colors that will hopefully get your mojo going!

First of all, thanks so much to everyone who made their own cardstock buttons and played along last week. All of the entries were absolutely GORGEOUS!

So I chose a sort of matrimony-inspired color scheme (see the beautiful color board from Pinterest to the left). So soft and pretty, especially with the grey.

So let's see what the fabulous DT has created!!!

Our featured designer for July, Christina MacLaren from Sea Glass & Sentiments

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Deadline to be considered for the "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, July 21st. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick, "Chic of the Week", will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the Week #92

2011-07-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

WOW! That's my impression after viewing all of your gorgeous, handmade cardstock buttons!!! You put my little button to shame! LOL There were so many fabulous creations, it was difficult to choose just one for Chic of the Week #92! In the end, I found myself returning to Rosemary's buttons again and again. I just love the vintage feel and how beautifully her finished embellishments turned out :] Check out her gorgeous card showcasing those beautiful buttons!

Congratulations, Rosemary! I'll email your Chic of the Week badge later today :]

Don't forget...there were several other projects that had me drooling...you don't want to miss these:

Kim
LeAnne
Sharon
Alison

As always, we're so glad you could join us this week and certainly hope you'll be back tomorrow for a super color challenge hosted by the very talented, very sweet, Andrea ♥ Have a fantastic weekend, friends!!

Just Us Girls Technique Challenge #92

2011-07-09T00:00:00.008-04:00

Hi friends :] Kristin here with this week's Technique challenge! I decided to try my hand, and challenge all of you to try yours, at creating paper buttons! The tutorials I've seen make them look soooo real, I couldn't resist. Check out our very own Dana's tutorial that beautifully shares how to create your own vintage buttons over at Want2Scrap. VERY cool stuff, folks!! You can also view a tutorial over at SCS.

So...let's check out what our fab DT came up with this week! Note that we have trimmed down our team a little lately...not a big deal, just summer break taking over for some of us :] We'll all be back soon!!

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

♥ Christina MacLaren ~ July Featured Designer ♥

So, whaddya say? Wanna give it a go? Check out the simple rules to follow:

Deadline to be considered for top pick, "Chic of the Week", is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, July 14th. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. We will announce our "Chic of the Week" on the following Friday.

Chic of the week #91

2011-07-08T00:01:00.002-04:00

Hello!

I'm here with this weeks Chic of the Week and the honor goes to LeAnne Puglies. Congrats to you LeAnne your take on the sketch & the American theme were just the perfect combo for the

4th of July holiday!

Stop back tomorrow for an all new technique challenge hosted by the very talented Kristin!!!

JUGS#91 Sketch challenge

2011-07-02T00:00:00.009-04:00

Hello!
Kathryn here this week with a all new sketch challenge for you. I hope everyone has a wonderful and safe holiday weekend with family and friends and that you do find time to play along with Just Us Girls this week! The first of the month also brings us a new guest designer and that is Christina MacLaren.

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Andrea

Maria

Guest Designer Christina MacLaren

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS91. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline to be considered for the weekly "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, July 7, 2011. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick "Chic of the Week" will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the Week #90!

2011-07-01T00:00:00.019-04:00

Who is ready for Chic #90?

Thanks to all who played along in our 3D project / template challenge this week. First of all let's crown our Chic of the week.

This week's Chic of the Week is:

BETH DEVITT with her adorable 4th of July house!!!

Check this out:

Isn't this just amazing! LOVE all the details!!!

Now I also have an {ippity} kit to give away to one random winner!!!!

And the random pick is:Steff H of Glitterbabe!

Please send me your information so I can get that {ippity} kit out to you.

Well that's all for today!

Be sure to swing back tomorrow for another fabulous challenge!

JUGS #90 - 3D WEEK

2011-06-25T00:00:00.008-04:00

Can you believe we are at our 90th Challenge?? WOW, I can't believe it. Thanks to all our fans and players each week you all rock!

It's Maria here with this week's 3D/Template challenge. My challenge to you this week is to make a Patriotic 3D project or use a template to using a patriotic theme. To many of us a patriotic theme is the 4th of July and Red, White and Blue. But if you are playing along and you are not in the US please feel free to use the colors that represent your country. Can't wait to see what everyone comes up with.

Here is some amazing inspiration from the Just Us Girls DT:

Pam

ROSEMARY - Featured Designer of the month

This week we have a prize offer as well! I am a Unity Endorsed {ippity} chick and I'm giving away an {ippity} kit! So we will have a winner for Chic of the Week and then I will randomly pick a winner from all participants to win some fun stamps!

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS90. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline to be considered for the weekly "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, June 30, 2011. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick "Chic of the Week" will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chick-o-the-week *89!

2011-06-24T00:08:00.004-04:00

It truly WAS a most colorful week around here, friends!
I simply swooned to see all of the creative and WONDERFUL
ways you guys incorporated our fabby color palette - my
GOODNESS - we have the MOST darling and talented friends
to play with! THANK YOU, one and all, for taking the time
to share your WONDERFUL creations with us! Just as I
suspected, it was extremely difficult to narrow down my
favorites... {I KNOW you've never heard that before... LOL!}
But I get it! {I REALLY do!} Anywhoo, I MUST share with
you my top three faves... starting with my fabulous choice
for top CHICKA, Chick OF the week - #89, Inga!

The BRILLIANCE in this stunning piece of card craft was
such a joy to behold - and that exquisite medallion focal
point and sentiment were JUST unforgettable! If you didn't
get a chance to see this baby for yourself, I hope you'll treat
yourself to a visit to Inga's blog - MEOWWWW! {Beautiful!}

Meanwhile, I mentioned there was much, MUCH ju-ju in
this week's offering... {AND I don't kid about stuff like THAT!}

Check out THESE beauts....

Christina

Melody

AND the rest of our fine participants... {!} If inspiration ever seems
out of reach - just CHECK OUT your lovely neighbors! You guys
are the BEST! Thanks, again for gracing us with your talent!

Oh, and speaking about "grace" - our darling Maria will be back
on Saturday with a fun and FABULOUS challenge to help you get in
touch with your SUPER craftilicious best - I hope to see you then!

JUGS #89 - We've GOT color!

2011-06-18T00:00:00.009-04:00

Yes, we do! We've got FUN color - to SHARE with you!!!!!

Howdy, friends! I am SO excited to present some glorious color
inspiration with the likes of you ALL this week! It's Elise
here, at the place where the crafty GIRLS roam - Just Us Girls
CENTRAL! It's my maiden race, as the OFFICIAL host of this
week's most colorful combo - aimed to delight and inspire MUCH
crafty happiness and fun! So, with no further ado, let me share
this fun color design swatch - it's a stellar example of how
Mrs. LOW-TECH {me!} meets Madame SUPER tech, KRISTIN -
the finest weaver of all things graphic and challengy! {I LOVE the
magic she does week after week - in addition to her amazing card craft...}

I know - I SAID "with no further ado" - GIDDY UP, girl! -

{*Gasp!*} - I love how Kristin DOES that! - In advance of your participation,
I just have to say, extra *LOVE* bonus points to you who put our graphics
in with your WONDERFUL creations - it does the heart good and keeps folks
remembering to PLAY with us - which we SO cherish! It means the world to
us, when you come back again and again... AND newbies - be still our crafty
hearts - WE love it when you're NEW, as well! So with THAT off my chest -
SORRY, I'm a SHARER! - Let me unveil the LATEST designs by our fabulous
GIRLS.... I hope you'll be as tickled as I am - the colorful best, right he'ya!

Elise

AND, aren't we so FORTUNATE to have a lady of SUCH
elegance and wonderful design talent with us this month:

Madame ROSEMARY

So, I hope we've tickled your colorful CRAFTY bone! {Tee Hee!}

I cannot WAIT to check out your wonderfulness, lovely friends!
Here's to a VERY colorful week!

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS89. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline to be considered for the weekly "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, June 23, 2011. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick "Chic of the Week" will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the Week #88

2011-06-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

Woop! Woop! It's almost the weekend - actually for ME it IS the weekend. We are doing something new this summer and closing on Fridays to save on energy bills, AC etc. We work M- TH extended hours but now I have FRI off!!!

Thanks to ALL who played along and tried a new technique this week. MANY of our players were first timers with this technique and the results were spectacular! So now - without further ado... our Chic of the Week this week is... Anne with this adorable card.

I know I was thinking "dad's day" with this challenge but I love how Anne turned her woodgrain into a fence and her felt sun, complete with her sweet lil gal sittin on the fence - it just made me SMILE!! Well done - Anne please contact me for your Chic of the Week badge. My email is on my blog post.

I's also like to give honorable mention to a few other faves...

Sue

Heather

Lynn

Again - thanks to EVERYONE who came and who played. Y'all rocked it girls so each of you give yourself a pat on the back! Now y'all come back on Saturday for a brand new color challenge, please!

Jugs Technique

2011-06-11T00:00:00.013-04:00

It's time for another technique challenge brought to you by Just Us Girls. I'm sure many of you are gearing up for Dad's day which is rapidly approaching. Well today's technique might just help you out with that - we'd like for you to try out the Woodgrain technique as demonstrated by the lovely and talented Gina K from GinaK Designs. Here's a link to the video tutorial if you are not familiar with this technique.

How to play: You need to upload your project for this week's challenge to your online blog or public photo gallery. Leave a link that goes directly to your project in the Linky Tools form at the bottom of this post. If you upload to online galleries, please also use the keyword or tag, JUGS88. After you post to Linky Tools you can also leave a comment here.

Deadline to be considered for the weekly "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, June 16. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick "Chic of the Week" will be announced on the following Friday morning.

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Lisa

Be sure to also stop and visit our Featured Designer for the month...
Rosemary Dennis

Hope you'll join in the fun - we'd love to see what you create. Have a great weekend.

Chic of the week #87

2011-06-10T00:00:00.002-04:00

Hello!

Once again another challenge has come to a close and that means it's time to reveal our Chic of the week! The honor this week goes to Kim O'Connell. I just love the polka dot background and the perfectly colored flowers!

I just love going around and seeing how everyone interprets a sketch! I can only say that we have some of the most clever and talented followers out there in blog land! This is a tough job narrowing it down to just one of you!

Stop by tomorrow for an all new cjhallenge being hosted by our very talented JUGHEAD Pam!

JUGS#87 sketch challenge

2011-06-04T00:00:00.034-04:00

Good Morning!
It's the first Saturday of the month and that means it's time for a sketch challenge. I hope you like the sketch and get a chance to play along with us this week! The first Saturday also means it's time to introduce to you our June Guest designer Rosemary. If you get a chance stop by her blog and give her a warm welcome.

Rosemary-June Guest Designer

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Pam

Deadline to be considered for the weekly "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, June 9, 2011. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick "Chic of the Week" will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Chic of the Week #86

2011-06-03T00:00:00.003-04:00

Thanks so much for playing along with our Father's Day 3D/Template challenge JUGSters!!! You all wowed us with some A-MAZING projects, yesiree!!

As always, the projects were all so wonderful, I had such a hard time picking this week's Chic. So much inspiration!!!

Our Chic of the Week is…

Melissa!!!!

What a stunning shadow box!!! Melissa, please email me at andrea.matth at yahoo dot com for your chic of the week badge.

Again, thanks so much to all who played along!!!
Check back on Saturday for an AWESOME sketch challenge hosted by Kathryn!

JUGS #86: Father's Day 3D Project

2011-05-28T00:00:00.008-04:00

Hi there JUGS fans!!! Happy Memorial Day weekend to you all!!! Hope you have fun activities planned but also time to play along with a fun template/3D challenge :)

Andrea here with a masculine-themed challenge in honor of the Dad's in our lives :) All you need to do is create a template or 3D project for Father's Day! So lets see you whip something up for those extra special men :)

But first... this is the last Saturday of the month which sadly means Clare's stint as Guest Designer has come to an end… boooooo!!!! Clare, it has been so wonderful to have you design for us this month!!! Thanks so very much!

On to the challenge deets;

Deadline to be considered for the weekly "Chic of the Week" is 9:00 PM EST on Thursday, June 2, 2011. The Linky Tools form will close at that time. Our top pick "Chic of the Week" will be announced on the following Friday morning.

Clare Buswell - May Featured Designer

♥♥ Just Us Girls Design Team ♥♥

Kathryn

Maria

Pam

Can't wait to see what fabulous Father's Day projects you'll create!!!

Chic of the week #85

2011-05-27T00:00:00.023-04:00

Dear friends, thank you for brightening our week with your beautiful rainbow colored projects! I loved how each of you expressed your own personal style while using all 6 delicious colors.

I was inspired by so many projects and some of my personal favorites were:
Melody
Leisa
Maureen
Veronica
Laurel
Erica
Jen
Deborah
Rosemary

Let me tell you girls, you made it tough to pick just one!
Congratulations to Maureen on being the Chic of the Week! Please email me at paperdaydream at aol dot com for your chic of the week badge. Thanks so much for playing everyone! I loved your creations!

Also, one last note....I want to make sure that you all knew I visited and commented on every entry. For some reason blogger/google was giving me a log in error on several of your blogs. It wouldn't even let me comment anonymously grrrrr! So I apologize if those comments did not post because I sure did try!

I hope you had fun with us this week. Come back tomorrow for a fun template challenge!