March Sketch Challenge

Hi and welcome to the sketch challenge for March:

Yes, it's a pretty basic sketch - but simple is often beautiful and I bet the cards you'll make will be wonderful!

Previous rules apply - you can use anything you like as long as it includes at least one stamp from the current (and only) UK Stampin' Up! Catalogue (and it must not use any other make of stamp.)

To take part all you need to do is post your creations on your blog, stating which SU Sets your stamp(s) comes from, link back to this challenge post AND post a comment here to let everyone know about it (or if you aren't able to do that, email me instead, add your comment and I'll then upload them onto my other blog, linking your entry back to here.)

Then at the end of the month, I'll choose 3 to publish on this blog.

I'll also do a post with a link to everyone's blog/card, logging each Stamp Set as a label, so that in time people will be able to look you up via the stamp set you used.

Here is a Sample Card I have done using this sketch:

I used the Office Accoutrement set, with the Spiral and Round Tab punches, Whisper White, Lovely Lilac and Tempting Torqiouse Cardstock, Versamark, Black, Green Galore, & Brilliant Blue inks along with some eyelets and 1/4" whisper white grosgrain ribbon.

Thanks for joining in!

I am so looking forward to seeing your creations!

Enjoy!

Su

Monthly Challenge

Hi - well I didn't have any takers this week and so I guess you are pretty much as busy as I am - plus of course there are tons of other challenges out there.

So I think I am going to make this a monthly challenge - that way it might be more do-able - what do you think? I can also then concentrate on it and you a bit more, and get a few more other challenges done myself!

So thank you for looking, and especailly if you took part - and I hope to see you again soon after the first Tuesday of next month - March 4th, when I'll be posting my next Card Sketch Challenge, using a Stamp or other product from the UK Stampin' Up! Catalogue. Sign up now for automatic feed notification of this next challenge sketch, or put it in your diary - as there will be some blog candy up for grabs!

And in the meantime - do check up on me at http://SuStampinStudio.blogspot.com/, and see also the UK Stampin' Up! Demonstrators' Showcase site at http://stampingforreal.blogspot.com/.

Su

Another Valentine Challenge?

Hi again - we might as well make the most of it - after all it's only once a year! I'll go back to a sketch challenge next week.

So for now....

.... this week's challenge is to make a Card using pink (or red) in it somewhere (or everywhere) but definately no hearts at all this time! Can't wait to see which SU stamps you choose to use.

Here's my no-heart Valentine:

I stamped the large background SU French Flair stamp on red card with Versamark ink.

Added an small All My Love greeting (SU) in black to the top left of the red card, then wrapped black grosgrain ribbon around. The swallow from the SU Carte Postale set was stamped onto white card using black ink.

I love the way these 2 stamp sets work together.

Su

Last week's features Cards:

Thanks to all of you who entered last week's alternative Valentine challenge - great cards - especially for the guys.

Here are the 3 that I've picked, although you can see them all via the links below:

Firstly a real cool card from Anita:

with SU UK Stamp Set - Short Order Alphabet and I think there's plenty of other stamps in our cattie to get a similar effect with the hearts and things.

You can see Anita's blog at: http://www.anitastamps.com/

The 2nd & 3rd cards are by Kathy - both really gorgeous but very different cards:

This one uses Unfrogrettable Set and the last one uses SU Summer by the Sea Set. You can get the details for both these cards at Kathy's blog at http://kraftinwithkathy.blogspot.com/ (dated 30 Jan.)

Thanks also to Alison - http://paperpiecing.blogspot.com/, Claudia - http://rosaswelt.blogspot.com/2008/01/heart-3x3-notebox-with-lid.html and Kylie - http://kraftykylie.blogspot.com/2008/01/have-i-toad-you-lately.html for joining in too.

Su

My Non-Pink/Red Valentines

Hi,

It's fantastic to see some gorgeous cards already online for this week's challenge! Thank you!

Here are my 2 offereings for this week:

For this first card I used the heart stamp from Year After Year along with the Alphabits set - used tempting turquois card and ink.

My second card uses the same colours and heart stamp as before but also with the Wild About You Stamps - I hid the lion under the fold out heart and stamped some R's on the front of the heart (corny I know!)

I'll post more info. about how they were made on my other blog tomorrow.

Valentines Day Challenge #1

Welcome again!

I went to the SU Open Night in Bristol tonight with Helen from our church crafters club - we had a fab time (more on my blog tomorrow!)

Well, this week's challenge is unusually not a layout (I do plan to mainly do sketch layouts.)

Seeing as we are all probably focusing on Valentines Day which is just around the corner, I thought we could have a challenge for Valentines Cards.

Your mission - should you choose to accept it - it to make a card that contains at least one heart (it doesn't have to be stamped) but should not contain any red or pink, anywhere on the card! Naturally, it needs to contain at least one SU Stamp from the current Stampin' Up! UK catalogue.

I am really looking forward to these! As it's been a late night out, I will have to post mine tomorrow for you!

Su

First Challenge Treasures #2

Hi,

Thanks for 2 more entries to last week's challenge, again both really lovely and here they are:

From Debbie is a lovely Pink Card:

Debby used the SU Be happy set and chalk pad for stamping, the large flower was cut out with the cricut.

Check out Debby's great blog at: http://debby4000.blogspot.com/

The second late entry is from Ali and also is a lovely card:

Ali used SU's office accoutrement's set: 'I have used brush markers to colour them and stamped off on scrap card to get a subtler effect. I then added glamour dust glitter for a bit of sparkle around the edges of the big flower and the centres of the little ones.'

Join Ali at http://paperpiecing.blogspot.com/

And from now on I'm gonna have to get tough - so I'll be posting just 3 cards from those submitted between now and next Monday (GMT!)

Su

First Challenge Treasures

Hi - doesn't the week fly when there are so many jobs to do and so little time for stamping?

Thanks to everyone for stopping by and having a look at this new challenge blog - and a big thanks especially to those of you who took part. It's really been great to see what people have created with the stamps on offer to us UK newbies!

I make it 5 cards submitted, so here is the difficult part - which 3 to feature! As they are all so fantastic - in the end, I just couldn't decide. So for this week only (as Bruce Forsyth says) here are my favourite ones...lol! If you want to see more instructions on how to make them, click on the blog links.


These first 2 wowsie cards are both by Kelly (go girl!) and you can check out her cool blog at: http://kelleast.blogspot.com/

Her first card uses SU's "Simply Said" stamps, Worn Lipstick Distress Ink, Doodlebug rub-ons, and "Sprinkles" paper from the new new Basic Grey line Two Scoops.


Kelly's second card uses SU's "Seeing Spots" and "Warm Words" sets, more Distress Ink (Worn Lipstick and Faded Jeans), and Stickles (Cotton Candy) for a little bling.

The third card is from Samm. Check out her great blog at http://samm-l.blogspot.com/

Supplies: Stampin Up Stem Sayings, printed paper and chipboard from Basic Grey Two Scoops, brad from the Scrummy Stash Cafe and brushed corduroy distress ink from Tim Holtz.

Fourth card is from Kathy - again check out her fab blog at http://kraftinwithkathy.blogspot.com/ Supplies:
cs:mellow moss, glossy white, pretty in pink,
ink: pretty in pink, regal rose, mellow moss, always artichoke
stamp: rose in winter, curvy verses
access: 5/8" rose grosgrain ribbon, irridescent ice embossing powder
technique: faux diamond dust.

And lastly, the fifth card submitted, but certainly not the least, is from Marge and you can check out her great blog at http://maricopastamper.blogspot.com/ Supplies: Paper: Martha Stewart's Camellia Pink; Ivory Linen and Black Cardstocks

Stamp Set: Stampin'Up's Heartfelt Thanks

Other: Clorox Bleach (instead of ink)

Embellies: Black Sheer Ribbons

Marge will be posting a tutorial for this technique on her blog soon, so do have a look.

Thanks so much for your truly wonderful cards girls, they've really been an inspiration to me and I know they will to other SU stampers out there too, especially all the UK newbies!

Su

Our First Challenge

Hi!

Welcome to our first Challenge using stamps from the Stampin' Up! UK Catalogue. This challenge is based upon the following sketch / layout and you can use anything you like as long as it includes at least one stamp from the current (and only) UK Stampin' Up! Catalogue - and it must not use any other make of stamp.

Here is the layout:













And here are a couple of my cards to get you going:










I used 2 different flowers from the SU Mixed Bouquet set for this one.
(For instructions, see my other blog -http://SuStampinStudio.blogspot.com/)

and then the following card uses the so cute elephant stamp from the Year After Year Set, and the greeting comes from the Birthday Best set.

To take part all you need to do is post your creations on your blog, stating which SU Sets your stamp(s) comes from, link back to this challenge post AND post a comment here to let everyone know about it or if you aren't able to do that, email me instead, add your comment and I'll then upload them onto my other blog, linking your entry back to here. Then each Monday, I'll choose 3 of the best to publish on this blog.

I am so looking forward to seeing your creations!

Enjoy!

Su

Welcome!

Welcome to the Stampin' Up! UK Challenge Blog!

It seems like there isn't a challenge site for us UK Newbies to Stampin' Up! and as we are only on our first stash of SU stamps/first UK SU Catalogue, I thought a weekly challenge was in order to get us going!

Of course, there are a lot of fantastic cards with Stampin' Up! stamps out there, including more and more from UK stampers each day, but wouldn't it be nice to have a central blog/challenge showcasing just the Stamps available to us in the UK (so for now, just from the first UK SU Catalogue)?

I hope you agree - and that you'll rise to the challenge and join me every week!

So - the Card, ATC, gift or papercrafting item will have to use a Stamp or other product from any UK Stampin' Up! Catalogue (of course the only one at present!) based upon the challenge.

Naturally this doesn't exclude any of you from outside the UK - and I expect most of the stamps we have in our SU UK Cattie are already out there in America, Australia and NZ, etc. So please join in the fun!

The Stampin Links on this site will be devoted to SU cards etc. so if you know of a good one that isn't listed, do let me know. And if you have any suggestions for this site, again please let me know.

I'll be posting the Challenges every Tuesday - from next week - 22nd January.

To take part all you need to do is post your creations on your blog, stating which SU Sets your stamp(s) comes from and link back to the relevant challenge post or if you aren't able to do that, email me instead and I'll upload them onto my other blog (http://SuStampinStudio.blogspot.com/) linking your entry back to here. Then each Monday, I'll choose 3 of the best to publish on this blog.

And of course, there will be blog candy every now and again!

Look forward to seeing your creations and hoping that we will be able to inspire each other!

Su