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SplitCoastStampers Challenges

Posted by Kathy Torrence on Oct 23, 2007 in Cards, Crafts

A great way to get your creativity flowing is to participate in project challenges.  What I love about them is that they give you a starting point – a technique, sketch, color combination or other limitation within which to create a project. Sometimes narrowing down your choices is the first step to a successful project.  When you have access to too many colors, embellishments or stamps, it becomes difficult to start (not that one can have too many stamps or embellishments, mind you!).

SplitCoastStampers (my favorite online stamping site) has a new challenge every day.  There is no competition – no prizes to win – but that’s the beauty of it.  You can make your own projects at your own pace – there’s no pressure.  Then you can post your creations if you want to share them – and you can get ideas from other stampers’ posted projects.  If you don’t want to share, that’s okay too – the challenges will still give you a chance to try something new.

I was a dedicated challenge participator during the summer when my children didn’t have school and a million other activities going on.  But I missed the challenges and this week decided to start participating again – even if the project has to be finished quickly and can’t be as elaborate as I’d like.  At least I’ll do some creating every day.

So…Monday’s challenge was to create a simple little treat box using a given template.  I wanted to do something for Thanksgiving – I thought maybe I could use this project for my Stamp Club next month (see – in the end, I’m actually saving time because I don’t have to think projects up myself and start from scratch!)  My favorite Thanksgiving/fall set is Country Blessings from Stampin’ Up!  It was offered last year through a special with Country Living magazine, but it’s no longer available. I’m sure glad I bought it when I did!

Here’s my box:

Peekaboo box

This photo is deceiving – this box is REALLY tiny!  It measures just about 2 inches across.  The leaves on the top are watercolored then covered with Crystal Effects for a shiny look.

The inside of the box looks like this:

Peekaboo box open

There is a little peek-a-boo acetate window punched out with a 1 1/4 inch square punch (gives you an idea of how small this is!). 

I thought this would be cute as a little place setting at Thanksgiving filled with mints, nuts or some other treat.

These are simple to make – the template can be found at the challenge link above.

Today’s challenge was a color challenge.  We were to create a project using Basic Gray, Purely Pomegranate and Soft Sky – here’s my card:

CC137 Flowers

I cut out each layer of the flower stamped from Fabulous Flowers and layered them with dimensionals.  I also added some Dazzling Diamonds to the pomegranate layers as well as to the letters for a little bling.  And I added a little stick pin with some pearls from Stampin’ Up!’s Pretties Kit – this flower reminds me of a pretty corsage and I was inspired to create a corsage-like card.  This card was designed and created in less than 30 minutes. 

I’ve been working the last few days on some more ideas using acetate – at last month’s Stamp Club meeting, my friend Denise said that she has boxes and boxes of acetate sheets (pieces of acetate are basically overhead transparencies from an office supply store) and needed some new ideas for them.  I came up with what I think is a new technique and I can’t wait to show everyone (I don’t want to spoil it here…I want people to keep coming to my Stamp Club, you know)!

I also just got a great big box of alterables from Oriental Trading Company – lots of holiday stuff.  If only I could spend all day in my craft room…but I have homework to grade and midterms to print out…sigh…won’t somebody pay me to just craft all day?!?!

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