Category Archives: SUO Challenge

SUOC goes Patriotic!

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Sorry to be absent for the last SUO Wedding Challenge, but sometimes life gets in the way of blogging!!  That’s what happened for the last challenge.  But, I’m back for this round…and our Stampin’ Up! Only Challenge assignment was a patriotic project.  Well, I don’t have much in the line of “patriotic” stamps, so I decided to go with the red, white and blue color theme.  Here’s what I came up with:

Patriotic Card for SUO Challenges using Six Sided SamplerI LOVE quilt-type cards, have seen several samples of this particular design floating around the internet and decided this would be the PERFECT opportunity to try it out…and it was FUN to do.  I chose Cherry Cobbler and the non-traditional Pacific Point blue.  The squares are 1″ (using Stampin’ Up’s! 1″ punch) and two opposite corners are rounded using the 3/16″ Corner punch.  Using a 1″ square made it a bit of a challenge to get the corners rounded, but I was successful.  The sentiment is from the new Six-Sided Sampler stamp set.  As July 4th draws near, I thought it was a perfect way to add a “thanks” to all those in the military who serve (and have served) our country.

What kind of Patriotic project will you share with SUO Challenges?  You can add a link to your project here.  We would love to have you join us!

SUOC Retiring Product Challenge

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SUOC Retiring
I'm using three of my favorite retiring products for the SUO Challenge…Retiring Stampin' Up! products…to create a very simple card.  The flower image is from the Just Believe stamp set.  I remember when this set first came out…I KNEW from the beginning it was one stamp set I just HAD to have and purchased it first thing!!  I've used it to create many cards, and am sad that it is leaving.

Another stamp set I used for this card is the Curly Cute sentiment stamp set.  This was another set I purchased as soon as it was available and have used it countless times.  It is just my style!  I've decided this is one stamp set that I will always hang on to.

The third retiring product that I used that is my favorite is Not Quite Navy.  I guess it really doesn't count as a product, because I used both paper and ink on my card.  This blue was one that I used again and again.  I loved the soft undertone to this blue and will miss it.  (I still have some paper in my stash that I will use sparingly!)

There is a fourth retiring product used on this card as well…River Rock card stock.  I didn't use this color as much as I maybe should have, but it certainly is a great color to use with Not Quite Navy.

The last element I used to create this card is my Big Shot and the Square Lattice embossing folder.  THANKFULLY this embossing folder is NOT retiring as it too is one of my favorites.

Well, there you have a few of my favorite retiring Stampin' Up! products.  Even though I'm sad to see these go, I know that there will be new favorites from the 2013-2014 Stampin' Up! catalog and look forward to meeting those new "friends."

We'd love to have you share your favorite retiring Stampin' Up! product with us at SUO Challenges.  You can share your creation here.

Butterflies for SUOC

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This time around the SUO Challenge has assigned the task of "butterflies".  Well, in our part of the country, where spring and summer seems ever elusive this year, it may be awhile before we see REAL butterflies.  However, butterflies are a favorite of mine, so I like to include them on many of my projects.

Here's my card for this challenge:

SUOC Butterflies

This is a very simple card, and I created it in honor of the retiring BaJa Breeze color (which I will very much miss!).  Midnight Muse is an excellent color to pair BaJa Breeze with, as I did here.  I used the Butterfly Embosslits, Fancy Fan embossing folder, Petite Pairs stamp set, and some retiring 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon.

What kind of butterfly project will you share with us at Stampin' Up! Only Challenges (SUOC)?  Share your project here.

On a personal note – if you follow my blog regularly, you will notice that lately I haven't been very faithful to writing, sharing and posting.  Please be patient with me…I will again post regularly.  At this particular point in my life, I am in the middle of a large house remodel as well as dealing with a family health issue, so much of my time is consumed with these things.  Thanks for understanding.

Sizzix is the SUO Challenge

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SUOC Anything SizzixYes, when I use my Big Shot, I usually create texture and embellishments for cards.  However, for the SUO Challenge of "Anything Sizzix" I decided I wanted to create a 3-D item.  This project went together in a snap, and I think it would be a cute item to use at a wedding or baby shower.  I'm imagining it filled with candies for each guest.

There is NO stamping on this project…and only uses two Big Shot accessories:  Perfect Pennants Bigz L and Scallop Square Bigz Clear.  There was one other tool I used and that was the Scallop Edge Border punch.  Paper and card stock used were: Melon Mambo and Sunshine and Sprinkles designer paper.  The ribbon embellishment was Old Olive 3/8" Organdy Striped Ribbon.

Here's one more photo shot from a "straight on" angle. 

Anything Sizzix

I think this also looks like a flower pot and would look cute with flowers "planted" in it (without the handle).

Well, there you have my project made with anything Sizzix.  Now it's your turn to use your Big Shot and share your project with SUO Challenges.  See you there!!

Monochromatic Colors for SUOC

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The challenge this time at Stampin' Up! Only Challenges was to create a monochromatic project.  This was a simple challenge for me to do because I seem to gravitate towards monochromatic colors for my projects.  Here's what I created for this challenge:

Blooming with Kindness Pool Party

Of course, my color of choice was blue, specifically Pool Party.  I absolutely LOVE this piece of designer paper from the Comfort Cafe paper set.  It has such depth and motion!!  Other Stampin' Up! products that I used were:  Blooming with Kindness stamp set, Thoughts and Prayers stamp set (sentiment), 3/8" Ruffled Ribbon (Pool Party), Extra Large Oval Punch, Windows Frames Collection.

What color would you choose for the monochromatic color challenge??  Create your project and be sure to share it at SUO Challenges.

 

Spring is in the Air at SUO Challenges

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SUOC Spring is in the Air
We were challenged to celebrate spring, and I decided to answer the challenge with a "quilt-type" card from an idea I found on Pintrest.

I LOVE the Sunshine and Sprinkles designer paper pack, and all the papers sure do remind me of spring, so that's what I chose to create the squares for this card.  I added the butterfiles (Bitty Butterfly punch) in coordinating colors, because they too remind me of the coming spring!!  Sentiment is from the Friendly Phrases stamp set.  I also used the Fancy Fan embossing folder to give it a "quilt-like" look.

Make sure to check out all the other SPRING card creations at SUO Challenges, and then take time to enter yours as well.  We'd love to see your creations!

SUOC Easter is Coming

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With Easter just a couple weeks away, the SUO Challenge is to create an Easter card or project.  I decided to try the new clear Designer Typeset PhotoPolymer stamps from Stampin' Up! and here's what I created.

SUOC Easter Card

The stamps were fun to use, and a great way to customize your cards and projects.  The Easter basket image is from the Spring Sampler stamp set and colored with markers. Now it's your turn to share an Easter project with SUO Challenges. 

 

Stop back tomorrow as I'll be sharing another project using the Designer Typeset Photopolymer stamp set, as well as a product review.

 

Going Green for Stampin’ Up! Only Challenges

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Two by Two Going Green SUOC
The Stampin' Up! Only Challenge this time calls for a "Going Green" project.  This time of year, minds naturally go toward St. Patrick's Day, but I decided to take a different road.  My project came out of time spent creating for an upcoming event. I decided not to use this card for my event, but the project certainly fits this week's "Go Green" challenge. 

Yes, this is a CAS (clean and simple) card, but CAS doesn't need to be "boring".  The splash of yellow makes the card pop, designer paper brings life to the card and dimensionals behind the image and mattes give it depth.  This would be a great card idea to create when time is in short supply.  It goes together quickly and easily.

Supplies used were: Two by Two stamp set, Gumball Green ink and card stock, Daffodil Delight card stock, Be of Good Cheer designer paper (not just for Christmas!!). 

I was very short on the Gumball Green dotted Be of Good Cheer designer paper.  Stop back tomorrow and I'll share with you the "trick" I used for stretching the desinger paper for this card.

So, get your greens out and create a project to share with us at SUO Challenges.

Sale-A-Bration with SUOC

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Today's challenge at Stampin' Up! Only Challenges is to use Sale-A-Bration product in our project.  I'm really enjoying using this year's Sale-A-Bration choices, and here's today's project.

SAB for SUOC

Sometimes I enjoy creating cards using repetition and patterns.  Today's card came as a result of "playing" with the Madison Avenue stamp set.  It really doesn't need much explaination. The design is created on a 4" x 4" square of Whisper White.  The Sycamore Street designer paper was punched with a 1" circle punch.  Pool Party card stock was punched with 1 1/4" circle punch and the Rich Razzleberry card stock used the 1 3/8" circle punch. The green is Wild Wasabi and the Pool Party ribbon is from the Sycamore Street ribbon and button pack.

That's my Sale-A-Bration project that I have to share today.  Now it's your turn to share a project using Sale-A-Bration products that you may have earned.

 

Valentines for SUO Challenges

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Our "mission" for this SUO Challenge was to create a "clean and simple" Valentine.  Here's my take on it:

SUO CAS Valentine

I had seen a similar punch art bear a while ago and wanted to try making him, and felt he would be perfect for this challenge.  Wouldn't he be cute to give to a child or grandchild?

Here's what I used to create him: Hearts Collection Framelits (face), 1 3/8" circle punch (ears), large oval punch (brown muzzle), small oval punch (black nose), 1/2" circle punch (white eyes), 1/4" circle punch – retired (black eyes), Wacky Wishes stamp set, Real Red 1/4" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon

What clean and simple Valentine will you create to share with the SUO Challenges?  Upload your creation here.

SUOC – Playing with new toys!!

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I LOVE receiving new stamping toys to play with!!  I included the Oh Whale! stamp set in my first order from the new catalog.  Here's one of the cards I've created with it.

SUOC New Toys
Besides being cute, one of the reasons I ordered this set was to use it in my church.  A group of us get together every couple months to make baby cards for a local ministry that provides handmade baby items to new mothers.  I thought this would be a perfect set to use and created today's card with that group in mind.

Here are some card details:  Ink colors are Pacific Point and Lucky Limeade.  I used the Sunshine and Sprinkles designer series paper pack. Green polka dot accent piece was cut with my Big Shot and the new Hearts A Flutter framelit die.

I'm so glad you stopped by to take a look at my SUO Challenge project.  Now, we'd love to see what project you come up with using any new Stampin' Up! products you've received.  You can upload your photo here, at SUO Challenges.

It’s Blue for SUOC

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SUOC Blues
Merry Christmas!!  I hope that you are enjoying time with family and friends this holiday season.

The challenge before us at SUO Challenges this time is everything blue.   After I created the card, I thought of the wedding saying "Something old, Something new, Something borrowed, Something blue."  The only thing that this card doesn't have is the BORROWED.

For this challenge, I was ready to move beyond Christmas cards, but still wanted a winter theme.  I turned to the old stand-by stamp set Lovely as a Tree for help.  That's the OLD in my card.  The NEW in my card is the background paper from the Sunshine and Sprinkles designer paper in the upcoming Spring 2013 catalog. I LOVE how the paper looks like sky with clouds, perfect for this card.  The sentiment is from the Loving Thoughts stamp set.

Other card details:  Blue color is Pacific Point.  Whisper White card stock is torn and the torn edge sponged with Pacific Point ink.  Tree is embossed using Versa Mark and White Embossing Powder, then set using a heat gun.

That's it!!  Now we'd like for you to join us in this "blues" project here, at SUO Challenges.

 

SUO Challenges – Glitter Galore!

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Time for another challenge at SUO Challenges and this one is all about GLITTER!!   I created this project in honor of the snow we FINALLY received over the weekend! (Hopefully it will stay to make for a white Christmas.)  Here's my project:

SUO Glitter Challenge

Although it's difficult to see in this photo, the stamped background is FULL of Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  I used what I all the Dazzling Diamonds technique.  Here's how it works.  I stamped my background snowflakes from the Snowflake Soiree stamp set onto Whisper White card stock.  Then I placed a piece of a Multi-Purpose adhesive sheet over the entire stamped image and peeled off the protective coating.  The next step is to coat the entire background piece with Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  Because the surface is sticky, the Dazzling Diamonds will stick.  This creates a wonderfully WOW project!

The color used for this card was Island Indigo, and I stamped the background snowflakes by stamping off.  This created a more subtle background image.  I covered the entire background, stamping snowflakes on top of snowflakes.  I also added a bit more sparkle with using dot of the  iridescent dazzling details on the large snowflake image.

Thanks for stopping by to check out my SUO Challenge creation.  I hope that you will join us by sharing your glittery project at SUO Challenges.

Fun Folds for SUOC

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SUO Folds
Our assignment for this challenge at SUO Challenges was to create a project with a fun fold.  I had seen a project not too long ago that incorporated this simple fold and knew I wanted to try it myself for this challenge.

Here's how I did it.  I chose a piece of designer paper from the Be of Good Cheer deisgner paper pack.  I cut it a bit smaller that the Very Vanilla card stock it is mounted on (designer paper cut to 5" x 3 3/4", Very Vanilla cut to 5 1/4" x 4").  Find the 2 1/2" point on the short end of the designer paper and cut in about 2" or so, just far enough to allow the corners touch the edge when folded back.  I actually cut a piece of copy paper the same size as my designer paper, folded it in half at the 2 1/2" point and then just cut along the fold line.  I used this paper to experiment to see how long of a scissor cut I needed to make, then used it as a template to measure on my designer paper.

What kind of fun fold are you going to share with the SUO Challenges?  We'd love to see what you come up with!  Here's a link to the SUO Challenge site.

Clean and Simple for SUOC

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CAS SUOC
The Stampin' Up! Only Challenge this time around was to create a Clean and Simple (CAS) holiday card.  Here's what I came up with. (I certainly was glad that this wasn't a complicated one this time!!  I've been crazy busy with craft fairs and class preparation.)

Details:  Card base is Cherry Cobbler topped with Whisper White embossed with the Holiday Frame embossing folder.  Image is from the Tags Till Christmas stamp set.  I colored with Cherry Cobbler and Gumball Green markers.  Punched with the small oval punch and then LIGHTLY sponged around edges with Cherry Cobbler.  Stamp "Merry" from the Pennant Parade stamp set using Cherry Cobbler ink and attach oval image with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Can't be much easier than that!

Now it's your turn to try your hand at a Clean and Simple Holiday card.  Post your project at SUO Challenges.

Have fun stampin' it up!!

SUOC Elegant Autumn

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SUO Elegant Autumn
My apologies for not posting my SUO Challenges project sooner!!  Life has been crazy busy in our household.  Guess it slipped past my radar.

This summer I held a class where we created a cascading card.  I enjoyed making that one, and had an idea in my head to create a similar card to celebrate the fall season.  This challenge was the perfect opportunity to try.

I used the Autumn Accents Bigz die and Big Shot to cut my leaves.  Colors used were Riding Hood Red, Elegant Eggplant, More Mustard, Soft Suede.  I used my Simply Scored stylus and Stampin' Pierce mat to add the veins to my leaves, then sponged them to give dimension.  I used Comfort Cafe designer paper for the front of the card base.  Sentiment is from Friendly Phrases stamp set.

Make sure to check out the SUO Challenge blog to see the other projects for this challenge.

Thanks for stopping.  Have fun stampin' it up!

Animals for SUOC

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Our projects this time at SUO Challenges was to feature an animal.  Here's my card:

Purfect Halloween

This adorable kitty image can be found in the Tricky Treats stamp set.  The designer paper is from the Howlstooth and Scaringbone set.

Now it's your turn to create a project featuring an animal and share it on SUO Challenges!

I want to add a personal note here as well.  I have lots going on in my "real" life right now, and so am not finding the time I'd like to blog.  I'm back to work at school, busy preparing for upcoming events and craft fairs and am in the middle of a house remodeling project.  I will try to post some projects occasionally, but just know that I may not be blogging as frequently during the next few weeks.  Thanks for understanding.

Thanks for stopping and have fun "stampin it up!"

Snowflake Soiree Swap Card for SUO Challenges

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Snowflake Soiree Swap

Whew!  I've been crazy busy and wasn't quite sure what I would share for this SUO Texture Challenge.  As I was going through some cards I'd recently created, I came across this one and decided it would work perfectly for this challenge. 

A couple weeks ago my upline hosted a group meeting, and part of the evening included a shoebox swap.  This is the card swap that I brought to share with the group.  It uses the Snowflake Soiree stamp set.

The color used is Marina Mist.  I used the largest snowflake image in the set to create the background.  I first stamped off onto scrap paper so that the stamped image would appear more subtle.  Then I used the Big Shot and the Fancy Fan embossing folder to add the texture. (I LOVE the looks of this embossing folder!!) I created a similar background on another card, except the background image was created using the thumping technique.   The similar card can be found here. 

The snowflake was cut with the Snow Flurry Bigz Die, and I only used the two largest pieces.  Once cut, they were also textured with the Fancy Fan embossing folder.  (Have I mentioned how I LOVE this texture folder?)  A Whisper White flower was punched from the BoHo Blossom punch, and then the snowflake was assembled.  Lay the BoHo Blossom on top of the smaller snowflake piece and use the Paper Piercing Tool and Matte to poke a hole in the center.  Insert a Marina Mist brad.  Then use a Stampin' Dimensional to attach this piece to the center of the larger snowflake.  Attach to card front with Tombow Multipurpose Glue.

Finally stamp the "Merry" sentiment from the Snowflake Soiree stamp set using Marina Mist ink – make sure to stamp off like was done for the background piece.  Attach onto Marina Mist card stock and attach to card front with a piece of 1/8" Marina Mist Tafetta Ribbon.

I love the textured look of this card and hope it has inspired you to try your hand at this week's challenge at SUO Challenges.

 

SUOC Kid Fun

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SUOC Kid FunToday's SUO challenge was to make something with a "kid" theme.  Well, I had a "leftover" trick or treat sparkle image sitting in my work area, and decided to build a project around that, and here's the result.

Summary of project details:  Fancy Favor box cut out on the Big Shot using Tangerine Tango  card stock, Howlstooth and Scaringbone designer paper used for front of box, hole punched with 2 3/8" circle punch, sentiment from Wacky Wishes hostess set-embossed with black embossing powder (Whisper White card stock edges sponged with Basic Gray ink), Tricky Treats image stamped in Basic Black onto Whisper White card stock – sparkle added with Multi-Purpose Adhesive sheets and Dazzling Diamonds, Curly Label punch used to punch stamped image, 1/2" Striped Satin ribbon for the bow.

This project was an extra fun one to create. I enjoyed hosting fellow SUO Design Team member Pam Staples at my home for an evening of crafting fun. She was in the Twin Cities visiting family and it worked out for us to fit in some stamping time, allowing the opportunity to create our projects for this challenge together in my craft studio. I really had fun chatting with Pam while we worked together!  So glad you could come by!!

DSC06522

Now it's YOUR turn.  Create a "kid-friendly" card or project and share it with us at SUO Challenges.  And, make sure to check out all the other great design team member "kid friendly" projects as well.

Have fun stampin' it up!

Boxes or Bags for SUOC

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The SUO challenge has gone out for boxes and bags of ANY type.  Here's my project.

Two Tags Box

My box was made with the Two Tags die and Big Shot.  I used a strip of the Orchard Harvest designer paper as an accent.  To me, this particular paper design reminds me of picnics and picnic baskets.

Wouldn't this be a cute way to thank someone for something special they have done for you?

Now it's your turn.  Upload photos of the bags or boxes you create to SUO Challenges.  Looking forward to seeing what you create!