Feburary's Birthstone; Amethyst

Wow, you know you guys never fail to step up to the challenge and the team have decided that you can all go to the top of the class and have a "Virtual" Gold Star after seeing all your lovely cards for Keryn’s School themed dare last week.
This week we continue with the next in line of our Birthstone dares and anyone who has a birthday in February will already know that means Amethyst, but before you rush off and get busy we also have some exciting news for you……

First of all we say a sad farewell to our lovely Caz, who's been such an inspiring Guest Designer throughout the month of January, Thank you so much Caz, we'll miss you.

The new month, however sees the return of not one but two of our past Guest Designers - we thought it was about time we asked back some of those who've inspired us over the last few years in their Guest designer spots, so please say a big "Welcome Back" to

Natty (Kool Kitty Musings) and

Asia (Crafty Asia)

We're thrilled to bits that you've both agreed to come and show your fabulous creations on the DCM Blog again.

Secondly, as you may have noticed we don’t often have prizes on our blog.

This is because we firmly believe it should be about the fun of playing along rather than winning something that motivates us. But a little extra temptation to join in never goes amiss and we do welcome offers of prizes and sponsorship as they do give us all a bit of encouragement!

So,this week the lovely Brenda and David from Craft Obsessions have donated this wonderful Martha Stewart Butterfly Punch and Stamp set as a prize and let me tell you, most of the DT is wishing they could be in with a chance of winning it because it’s fabulous

All we ask in return for being in the draw and having a chance of winning it is that you give both Craft Obsessions and the Daring Cardmakers a mention on your blog and that the card you make is linked

with no more than three other challenges.

The winner will be drawn at random and announced next Friday.

Oh yes…… word is there’s also lots of new goodies arriving from CHA any day soon so that’s got to be worth a visit! Please click on the Logo and visit Craft Obsessions, where you’ll be greeted with a warm and friendly welcome.

For the February Birthstone challenge we'd like to see cards with an Amethyst theme, this could be the colour, or maybe something to do with the meaning and mythology around the stone.
So off you go, you can use anything you like be it papers, gems, buttons, whatever comes to hand as long as the Amethyst stone is the theme

Don’t forget to leave us a link so we can come and see your creations.

Here are a few examples from the team to help get your creative juices flowing.

Sue

Lynda

Kathy

Keryn

Asia

Rein

Natty

Lythan

Vanessa

Schooldays

Hi it's Keryn here to let you know about my dare for this week. But before I do I'd like to say how impressed we all were with the cards you made for Kathy's 'What's the Point' Dare last week.
Early next week all the children that have been on holiday from school in New Zealand for approx seven weeks will be returning to their new classrooms. Mother's will all be breathing a sigh of relief as their routines return to normal.

To celebrate this I want you all to create cards using the theme of school. If you've got children at school what they're up to might inspire your card, if not maybe memories of your own school days might be your inspiration.

Please leave us a comment with a link to your creation so we can pop over and admire your work. In the meantime to give your inspiration a kick start here are the cards from the design team.
Lynda

Caz

Kathy

Sue

Keryn

Lythan

Rein

Vanessa

What's the Point?

Hello, and welcome to another Daring Friday

Before I (Kathy) point you towards our new dare, we'd all like to say a huge Thank You for sharing all the wonderful, "Holey" creations you made for Lythan's dare last week. You know, we really do love seeing what you make - and even if we don't manage to leave a comment every week, we really do come and visit to see what you've made - so please, keep them coming!

Several times this week I've asked myself the same question "Why on earth did I write that in as a dare?" Still, as you'll see when you scroll down, the team came up trumps - and tbh the only one who moaned about the dare was me!

What's the Point?

I'd like to see cards featuring points or pointers of some kind - the hands of a clock, arrows, pointing fingers, view-points, pointy stars, pointy ears (hehe), pencil points.... maybe pins and needles could also be incorporated into your designs.

I know you won't let me down - I can't wait to see what you come up with - please leave us a message so we can come and which direction your creativity points you in.

Here's what our ultra sharp DT came up with this week:

Keryn

Sue

Caz

 Lynda

Kathy

Rein

Lythan

Vanessa

Hole in One

Well last week was amazing. So many wonderful Birthstone cards. We have had such fun seeing the variety of ways you interpreted this challenge. We are so looking forward to the first week of the month this year. (And unless there is a month where there are choices for Birthstone you have a little heads up as to what the challenges are going to be too!)

This week I (Lythan) hope you will enjoy the challenge just as much.

Hole in One

I'd like you to make a card that has at least one hole in it. Could be a card with an aperture or one that features a border punch with holes in or you can use a hole punch to create a pattern. See how inventive you can be! The Design Team have, as ever come up trumps in my opinion. Get some inspiration here and then link back so we can be inspired by you!

Caz

Lynda

Sue
Kathy

Lythan

Rein

Vanessa

Keryn

The Birthstone for January is .....

Happy New Year

Well, here we are, back after our Christmas break and raring to go with another year of DCM dares - we hope you're all there with scissors, punches and papers primed and ready for action!

Before we launch into our first dare of the year we all want to say a HUGE Thank You to everyone who linked their cards to our "New Beginnings" challenge - WOW! there were so many - and some people even made more than one to show us. Even if you didn't get a message, please be assured that we came to see all the cards, there was a fabulous array of cards to see, and if you've not had the chance to check them all out, then do make yourself a coffee and enjoy a lovely wander around them all. We promise - you'll be inspired by the talent out in DCM-Land!

A new month means we say Goodbye, and a big Thank You to GD Dolly and Hello to our January Girl, Caz. Caz makes wonderful cards and if you visit her BLOG you're sure to find something that inspires you. Welcome to the Team, Caz!

Introducing the Monthly Birthstone Challenge

We thought it would be fun to have series of linked challenges that run throughout the whole of 2010. We're going to use the first Dare of each month to make cards featuring the birthstone for that month. How you decide to use the birthstone is up to you, it may be a card for someone who has a birthday during that month, it may simply be an any occasion card using the colour of the birthstone - anything goes, really as long as somehow the birthstone is hinted at.

The birthstone for the month of January is the

GARNET

By her who is this month was born  
No gem save garnets shall be worn  
They will ensure her constancy  
True friendship and fidelity.

You can find out more about the January birthstone by clicking HERE

So, there you go, we'd love to see what you make for this week's dare, so please come and leave a message when you're ready to share.

Here are some cards from the the design team to start you thinking

Have fun

Caz

Lynda

Kathy

Rein

Sue

Lythan

Keryn

New Beginnings

Oh Wow!

You girls have surpassed yourselves this week……….what a beautiful array of dotty cards you came up with for Vanessa’s dare. Every week we love seeing your creations and are amazed at how different they all are.

This week sees me (Sue) setting the very last dare of the year, as we’ll be taking a little break until January 8th.
After this week we'll also be saying goodbye to our lovely guest designer Vicky (AKA Dolly), who's been with us since the start of November. It's been great having you with us Vicky and thanks for letting us share your beautiful creations with everyone on the blog.

Now on with my dare:

New Beginnings

As we are coming to the end of the year and fast approaching the start of not only a new year but a new decade, I’d like to see some cards celebrating something new.

It could be the New Year, a New Home, a New Addition to the family or even a New Day, I’ll leave that up to you but what ever you decide, don’t forget to come back and leave us a link to your blog so we can come a see all your creations.

Following are a few cards that the design team have made to give you some inspiration, but before I go the whole team here at the Daring Cardmakers want to thank each and every one of you for your continued support during 2009.

We wish you all a very Happy Christmas and a Healthy and Peaceful New Year.

SueKeryn

Rein
Lynda
Kathy

Lythan
Jo


Vanessa