Friday, August 30, 2019

Challenge #208 - Night Glow

This week we have another colour challenge, lovingly concocted by Design Team member Amy! These colours, along with the inspiration photo made me think of late summer nights and patio lights, when you just start to feel a bit of a chill in the air and slip in to get a sweater. Or maybe it's the last weekend chasing fireflies around the yard in the twilight! Oh, I'm getting all nostalgic for summer to start again now! Let's see what you think of! Here's the banner:




Let's see how the Design Team glow in the dark:










Jane Knudsen


On a break this week
LeAnne Pugliese


Here are some guidelines for the challenge:

  • Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D project or packaging   project that fits the challenge.
  • Stampin' Up! colours are used for reference but any matching colours are welcome. You can use black/neutral for outlines and sentiments but don’t use any other colours.
  • Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the   challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we   can send you lots of feedback. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSI208 when uploading to a public gallery.
  • If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines tab.


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Thursday, August 29, 2019

Winners for Challenge #207 - Split Decision

It was fun to have another sketch challenge to work with over the past two weeks and I always marvel at how many different cards we get for the same sketch. And we had no split decisions this week when choosing our winners! The Design Team was in near unanimous harmony over our choice - almost never happens! Which is ironic given the title of this challenge! Anyway, without further ado, here are our winners:


Our Top Pick is: Joanne James




Even though Joanne did a flipped mirror image of our sketch, it's still very recognizable as the sketch. What caught our eye, and was so much fun, was the way the cow was doing the splits and parodying the challenge title - Split Decision. The gingham in rose with the black and white accents, which echo the cow is just clever, all around! Now, the real question is, will Joanne party til the cows come home when she finds out that she's our Top Pick! I've a feeling that she'll want to MOOve it, MOOve it! (Sorry, couldn't resist!)



Our first Featured Artist is: Vicky Hayes



The Design Team just loved Vicky's interpretation of the sketch - another flipped mirror image, where the split was an actual cut in the cardstock with the sentiment cleverly stamped in between the layers. We really liked the scored line on either side of the split edges that added a touch of sophistication to the project as well. And who doesn't love a card that finds a way to use up those bits and pieces of leftovers that we all usually have on hand! Beautiful, clean simplicity!

Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone who played along! I hope you'll come back and check out our new Colour challenge tomorrow! Our winners can pick up their badges on this page and display them with pride on their blogs or sites.

Wednesday, August 28, 2019

You Still Have a Few Hours Left to Play Challenge #207 - Split Decision

You still have a few hours left to play with our sketch challenge #207 at As You See It Challenges! Why don't you give it a try, here?




The Challenge will close on Wednesday, August 28th, at 11:55 pm Pacific time.

Monday, August 26, 2019

You Still Have Time to Play Challenge #207 - Split Decision

You still have time to play with our sketch challenge #207 at As You See It Challenges! Why don't you give it a try, here?




The Challenge will close on Wednesday, August 28th, at 11:55 pm Pacific time.

Friday, August 16, 2019

Challenge #207 - Split Decision

Wow! We've now made it through one whole rotation of challenges since our 200th challenge! We've done a sketch, a colour challenge, a fill in the blank, a recipe challenge, a theme and a speed stamping challenge and now we're back to another sketch. This one is designed by our talented design team member, Jan, and it features a split in the background panel - hence the name 'split decision'. What will you do with the split? Will you add two different types of paper? Will you use ribbon or paper to divide your background or will you just keep it half covered? Maybe you will paint or sponge it with a horizon line! Whatever you do, you can add a focal point on the left of some shape or other. 

Feel free to rotate or flip the sketch, just keep the integrity of it, so we can recognize it. What will your Split Decision be?


What decisions did the Design Team make?

















Here are some guidelines for the challenge:

  • Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D project or packaging   project that fits the challenge.
  • Feel free to flip or rotate the sketch and to substitute one   shape for another but we must still be able to see the sketch   in your finished submission.
  • Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the   challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we   can send you lots of feedback. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSI207when uploading to a public gallery.
  • If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines tab.



You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Thursday, August 15, 2019

Winners for Challenge #207 - Lavender Lightning

We actually had a lot of lightning in our area this week, and although none of it was lavender, I was thinking purple every time I looked out the window at it! You were all amazing in what you were able to accomplish in under 10 minutes. Adrenaline can really make a superstar out of you and there were flashes of purple brilliance all over our gallery!! It was definitely not a lightning quick decision to pick our winners this week but we came to consensus finally and here they are:


Our Top Pick is: Stacey Ezell




We were blown away by the beautiful, watercoloured wash in many purple tones that Stacey was able to create over her clear-embossed floral image! It resulted in such an elegant, but delicately designed card! And this was accomplished in about 9 minutes, too! The Design Team was suitably impressed!



Our first Featured Artist is: Joanne James



The Design Team raved over Joanne's purple tribute to crafting! It manages to retain a clean and simple look, despite having a plethora of small, crafty, purple items on display! Items, many of which she had to stamp, die cut and attach to the card front in less than 10 minutes. How she managed to do that without fumbling is beyond me! Tiny embellishments are an invitation to disaster for anyone like me, but Joanne took it in stride! Here's to crafters everywhere and congrats, Joanne!

Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone who played along! I hope you'll come back and check out our new Sketch challenge tomorrow! Our winners can pick up their badges on this page and display them with pride on their blogs or sites.

Wednesday, August 14, 2019

You Still Have A Few Hours Left to Play Challenge #206 - Lavender Lightning

You still have a few hours left to play with our speed challenge #206 at As You See It Challenges! Why don't you give it a try, here?




The Challenge will close on Wednesday, August 14th, at 11:55 pm Pacific time.

Friday, August 9, 2019

You Still Have Time to Play Challenge #206 - Lavender Lightning

You still have time to play with our speed challenge #206 at As You See It Challenges! Why don't you give it a try, here?




The Challenge will close on Wednesday, August 14th, at 11:55 pm Pacific time.

Friday, August 2, 2019

Challenge #206 - Lavender Lightning

Now here is a real challenge for you, should you choose to accept it! We have another speed stamping challenge for you today, and this one is in shades of purple. When we do a speed challenge we are not expecting a detailed masterpiece from you. We want you to have fun and see what you can create in under 10 minutes!  "WHAT?!" you exclaim,"That's impossible!" Well, it isn't, as our design team will show you, but you can design it in your head or sketch it out first. You can gather all your supplies ahead of time. But once you start the cutting/stamping/die cutting/embossing/etc. process, you must start the timer! You have 10 minutes! Let us know, with your entry, how long it took you to complete your card or project! The key is to KISS!! Keep It Simple, Stamper!

Also, you can use any shades of Purple, plus other neutrals but no other colours!



Let's see how the Design Team managed the time limit:





Amy Jasper 8m10s





Heather Cooper 9m38s 





Jan Clothier 8m22s






Here are some guidelines for the challenge:

  • Create any card, scrapbooking page, 3D project or packaging   project that fits the challenge.
  • You can come up with your design and gather materials before you start the clock, but once you start work, you have to complete your design in 10 min. State in your blog or description, how long it took you to make it.
  • Use only shades of purple and other neutrals in your project.
  • Please include the challenge graphic and link back to the   challenge in your blog post. Turn off word verification so we   can send you lots of feedback. Make sure you link the post not the whole blog to the Linky. Use #AYSI206 when uploading to a public gallery.
  • If you’re unsure about ‘the rules’, check the details under the Challenge Guidelines.


You are invited to the Inlinkz link party!
Click here to enter

Thursday, August 1, 2019

Winners for Challenge #205 - Beaches

Sun, sand, shells and surf were prominent in our thoughts this week as we enjoyed each of your coastal creations! We had so many great ones to choose from so it was hard to pick just one wave and ride with it, but in the end these three cards were our choices, with a tie for Featured Artist:


Our Top Pick is: Marina





The Design Team loved the way Marina (great first name for a beach themed challenge!) was able to create a scrapbook display for a sweet moment in her son's life using the beach them of our challenge. There are so many little coastal themed motifs happening on this page and we especially loved the way the colourful pebbles on the beach in the photo were echoed in the colours on the geometric paper!



Our first Featured Artist is: Kathy Schweinfurth



What made Kathy's design stand out for the Design Team was just that - it had a great 3D look with perspective as everything was popped up. All the images were incredibly sharp and most cleanly stamped and coloured, and speaking of colour, the colours in her palette were fantastic, perfect for a day at the beach! Kathy's card evoked all kinds of beachy nostalgia for the Design Team!



And our second Featured Artist is: Christy Stanford



Christy used such a great combination of colours in her design and made an inspired choice for the background paper, which looks like sunlight playing off of ripples in the water. The Design Team loved the attention she paid to detail in her colouring of the images, fussy cutting the sea horse, sponging the main image panel and adding the linen thread and sequins.


Congratulations to our winners and thanks to everyone who played along! I hope you'll come back and check out our new Speed Stamping challenge tomorrow! Our winners can pick up their badges on this page and display them with pride on their blogs or sites.