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November 2008 Creative Team Challenges!

Challenges to jumpstart your creativity

It's November and already some of us have seen snow!  How crazy is that!?  Fight off the chaos of the beginning of the holiday season and the changing weather by digging your scissors into the fun challenges the ACOT Creative Team has dreamed up for you this month.  See you in the Gallery!

As a reminder:

- only one LO per challenge will enter you into the points drawing

- LOs cannot be entered into more than one challenge category

- *please* only enter LOs that meet the specific challenge instructions  

Ad Inspiration Challenge - By MamaK321 (Kristianne)

Paper or Digital

Ad inspiration is about taking ideas, such as colors, patterns, title or keywords, theme, font styles, and element placement, and using them to create your own layout. You can  break the ad inspiration down to a basic sketch, copy a prominent design straight from the ad, or you can alter a design to fit your own layout. Most ads are 8.5x11" but you can adapt the ad to fit any size. Remember, this is not a sketch and you are not required to follow every detail. The key is to really LOOK at the ad and find the pieces that INSPIRE you!

Card Challenge - By bluejeans7 (Angela)

Paper or Digital

This is the time of year to be thankful for our family and friends that we love.  I want you to create a "thanks/thankful" card for a loved one.  One small catch, this card needs to be monochrome.  Monochrome means to use varied shades of the same color.

Color Challenge - by Art_Teacher (Laura)

Paper or Digital

One of the things I miss in November is the sunshine!  In Ohio, pretty much everything turns brown and grey in November.  So, this month's challenge is to bring back the sunshine in your layouts.  Let's warm things up!  Use the colors yellow and/or orange in your layout as the dominant color.  (This really is a challenge for me, as I rarely use yellow in my scrapping for some reason.) 

Digi CT Reveal Challenge - By Janello (Janell)

Paper or Digital

This challenge is inspired by the Digital Creative Team's Reveal "Alpha-Bits", here.  Your Challenge is to create a layout with a multi alpha title.

Digi Designer Challenge - By MamaK321 (Kristianne)

Digital only 

Our featured digital designer this month is Jeanelle Paige, create a layout using any of her products from our shoppe. 

Digi Do-Able Challenge - By mommybruno (Cassandra)

Digital only

Each month we'll be highlighting one of the wonderful scrappers here at A Cherry On Top. This month emarie803 has graciously allowed me to turn one of her layouts into a Digi Doable Template for you! You never know who we might select, and each scrapper who has their layout featured will receive 100 ACOT points!

For this challenge, go to the Digi Shoppe and download the free template.  Then use that template to create your own layout. Flip it, change it, or just use it as it is, it's up to you.

Digi Double Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)

Paper or Digital

So for this month's Digi Double challenge I choose the two following LO's for you to draw inspiration from:

ICanHasCherryOnTop: Ordinary Moment  
I liked the simple picture in the middle with a frame and inverted brad.  I ended up adding more photos but my inital page started with the single middle picture!

JulianaM: Keep
I simply loved the saying she used and used it for my LO...that simple!

The challenge is for you to find something in each of the LOs below that inspires you on your LO!

My LO:

ICanHasCherryOnTop's LO:

JulianaM's LO:

Digi Technique Challenge - By ICanHasCherryOnTop (Tracy)

Digital only

This month's challenge is to make your own element. We will be using the same principles and techniques from Kristi's Digi Doodles Class.

Some Tips: Photograph your element on WHITE paper for dark objects and DARK paper for light/white objects. Make sure you have plenty of light and that little or no shadows are cast by your element (this will make the extraction process easier). Do the extraction and touch up using Kristi's directions. Save as a png file (instead of making a brush) and Voila! Your very own element.

I made the ribbons tabs shown on my layout.

Hybrid Challenge - By Smiley-Scrap8 (Ronny)

Paper AND Digital

I will be starting a new monthly challenge: Hybrid Challenge. Each month I will challenge those who love both digital and paper and those eager to learn; to use some of each on a project. I will try to flip back and worth between using your hybrid skills on a layout and making a craft using digital kits and your printer.

I thought I'd start it off easy with making Place Cards for your Thankgiving or Holiday table.  Use a digital kit to make the main body of the cards including names. Print and fold them and add any embellishments you wish. But in the hybrid spirit let's try and keep it 50% digital and 50% paper in your designs.  Make and show at least 2 place cards.

Here is an example I made for my family:

Faithbooking Challenge - By Keling (Sara)

Paper or Digital

Since it's been a few months since we've had a Faithbooking challenge, I thought I'd keep it pretty general this month - so basically anything goes! The only condition is that it have something to do with your church or place of worship.

For me, I've created a layout featuring our new church, Featherstone Gospel Hall. Be on the lookout to see more layouts featuring the church, especially as we have Holiday Club (like Vacation Bible School) during our Mid-term break this week!

In The News Challenge - By LoveMyBella (Miranda)

Paper or Digital

You'll have two options each month for this challenge.  You may do one, or both, but only one entry will count. 

Option One (will be offered every month):

Design a layout with or without photos highlighting the news items you'd like to remember from the past month. (October, in this case). 

Option Two (will be different each month):

For the month of November, create a layout with photos and include a specific news story you're thankful for.  I realize that this month, that may very well mean your candidate of choice has won the presidential election, and you're thankful for that.  If you choose to do a political themed layout, please keep them as respectful as possible, or blur any parts of your layouts others may find offensive. 

Sample layout to follow.

Journaling Challenge - By Mommybruno (Cassandra)

Paper or Digital

An Eye for Details - For the journaling challenge this month, I want you to look through your pictures. Not just at a glance, either - really look at them. What's in the background? What memories does it bring up for you? For example, when I was looking through some of my pictures for a totally unrelated layout, this one of my brother caught my eye. I found myself pointing out to DH the toys, the toybox, even the bed! So this month your challenge is to choose a photo, and draw you journaling from the details. Is the person in the photo wearing a special outfit? Does the room itself hold memories, or perhaps an item in the room? See where the memories lead you!

Let the Music Move You Challenge - By Kimandasmo (Cindy)

Paper or Digital

This month I chose to use a lullabye/song for my inspiration. When my girls were little I used to sing it to them all the time. With them growing up so fast, I wanted to bring a little bit of that to my right now. I chose You are my Sunshine.

Here are the lyrics if needed.

YOU ARE MY SUNSHINE
you are my sunshine
my only sunshine
you make me happy
when the skies are grey
you'll never know dear
how much i love you
so please dont take
my sunshine
away

the other night dear
as i lay sleeping
i dreamed i held you in my arms
when i awoke dear
i was mistaken
and i held
my head
and cried

you are my sunshine
my only sunshine
you make me happy
when the skies are grey
you'll never know dear
how much i love you
please dont take
my sunshine
away

you are my sunshine
my only sunshine
you make me happy
when the skies are grey
you'll never know dear
how much i love you
please dont take
my sunshine
away

please dont take my sunshine away

Manufacturer Challenge - By 4peasinourpod (Pam)

Paper only

American Crafts

For a lot of us, that automatically registers "Thickers" and our eyes glaze over .  They are a product that took the scrapbooking world by storm, and most us have them in some form or another.  However, American Crafts makes great papers and rubons, stickers, ribbon,pens and so much more.  So, this month I challenge you to create a layout or altered project using any American Crafts product.  Here is a layout I did of my daughter Delaney and her friend Ellie.



I used American Crafts Amplified paper (the scalloped paper is double sided!) and 2 different kinds of Thickers.  Have fun and upload your work to the Manufacturer Challenge category in the gallery!

One Word Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)

Paper or Digital

This month's word is CHOOSE...

Photography Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)

Photography only

So let's see some "Out of the ORDINARY" photos...take that picture that is just outside the box and show them to us!  My example is a picture of Abby wearing a skirt and fru fru shoes {even though it is a costume }.  She only wears a skirt/dress for Easter and Xmas and only owns 2 pair of shoes {Crocs and Tennis Shoes}, so this little costume is very "Out of the ORDINARY" for my little tomgirl!

 

Pick an Element Challenge - By suslvgeo (Sus)

Paper or Digital

Description: The challenge is to pick any element from her layout...can be the colors, the papers, the design, an item (the layered scalloped papers that I chose to use) etc.

Rules: You MUST list what element you used from the example layout.

Example LO (by nun69)

My LO:

Scrap Your Life Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)

Paper or Digital

"If you could go back in time and write your 16 year old self a letter, what would you say????" It's all about the journaling in this month's Scrap Your Life challenge!

Sketch Challenge - By Laura Fiore and 4peasinourpod (Laura and Pam)

Paper or Digital

We've got a real treat for you this month! Our very own Amy Teets has created an awesome sketch to inspire you!  Use an element or follow the sketch as if it were a blueprint, the choice is yours...just have fun with it and show us something beautiful!!!

Here is a photo of the sketch itself:

Laura's LO:

Pam's LO:

Supply List Challenge - By Beth-W (Beth)

Paper or Digital

For the November Supply list, do a LO with glitter, chipboard and decorative brads (ie brads that are shaped, glazed, decorative, not just plain circles).

Theme Challenge - By ScrapGoo (Jess)

Paper or Digital

This month I want to see you scrapping about your hobbies!  I know for many of us (myself included) that means you will be scrapping about scrapping but you could also do a LO about something you collect, what you love to do to relax in your free time, or any other hobby that you enjoy.  You could also do a page about your loved ones' hobbies. Do you love to cook or knit?  Is there something you do that is just for you or always makes you feel grounded?  Show us! 

Trends & Techniques Challenge - By katarria (Kathy)

Paper or Digital

I'm in love.  Glimmer mist has been around for awhile, but it's still trendy!  After playing with it for my layout this month, I've fallen in love.  This month's challenge is to use glimmer mist on one of your layouts/projects.  You can use it to distress paper, with masks, on chipboard, or to add some shine to just about anything.  Have fun!

About the author ...
Jess began playing with scrap supplies decades ago but has only seriously scrapbooked since 2004. Besides playing with paper she also enjoys baking cupcakes, entertaining at home, traveling abroad, and making French beaded flowers. She has a degree in Theatre with a concentration on Costume Design and remains active in her local theatre scene. Jess lives in Framingham, MA with her husband, Ryan, and three naughty cats.

Published on 11/01/2008. Submitted by ScrapGoo