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January Creative Team Challenges!

Start the new year with some inspiration!

Happy New Year, everyone!  Have you set your scrapping goals for 2009 yet?  The Creative Team wants to wish you luck with all of your resolutions and has come up with these awesome challenges for the month of January.  I hope they inspire you to make your scrapping all that you want it to be this year!

Remember:

- 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!
 

Example layout:

Card Challenge - By bluejeans7 (Angela)

Paper or Digital

This month I have a recipe for you to follow in order to create your card.  The recipe is simple but fun.  Use only the items I list when making your card. 

-2 different pattern papers
-7 rhinestones or brads
-2 flowers
-ink or pen

Color Challenge - by Art_Teacher (Laura)

Paper or Digital

When I left for college in 1986, one of my very favorite color combos was deep purple and teal green!  I even had sheets and a comforter in this combination!  LOL!  Green, in every shade is still one of my favorite colors, so this month's challenge is for you to use green (any shade) with another contrasting color, except for red!  I've had enough of those two colors together for awhile.   You can use my favorite, green and purple, or try green and orange, green and bright yellow (John Deere fans?), green and pink, let's see if you can start the new year off with a fresh shade of green!

Here is my sample:

Digi CT Reveal Challenge - By Janello (Janell)

Paper or Digital

Create a layout based on the Digi CT's reveal "Let's Just Wing It" and use wings in your layout.  Here is the reveal article for reference: Article.

Fairy by Smiley-Scrap8

Digi Designer Challenge - By MamaK321 (Kristianne)

Digital only 

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

Digi Do-Able Challenge - By ICanHasCherryOnTop (Tracy)

Digital only

Welcome to another edition of Digi Do-Ables! Each month we'll be highlighting one of the wonderful scrappers here at A Cherry On Top. You never know who we might select, and each scrapper who has their layout featured will receive 100 ACOT points! Our featured layout this month is 'The Real Me' by JulianaM.

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. BUT this month there is a little twist. Your page must be all about YOU. So let's see all those smiling faces ladies!

Digi Double Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)

Paper or Digital

On Hiatus!

Digi Technique Challenge - By Art_Teacher (Laura)

Digital only

If you are like me, you have dozens or even hundreds of fonts on your computer.  So let's put them to use!  This challenge is to create your own word art using at least 2 different fonts and then use it on a new layout.  It can be a title, an embellishment, or even the journaling.  Just play with different fonts, sizes, colors, and then merge your layers into one piece of art that you can save and apply to your layout.  If you don't have many fonts to play with, try downloading some from www.dafont.com or www.1001freefonts.com!

Here is my example, where I used Artistamp Medium and Angelina as my fonts.

Faithbooking Challenge - By Keling (Sara)

Paper or Digital

EDIFICATION/ENCOURAGEMENT

This year, I thought we'd try something a little different. Every month, I'll be selecting a word that I think works well with the subject of Faith (and multi faiths, as well). I'll also give you a definiton, at least one Bible verse, and at least two quotes that work with the subject as well.

For January, the word that first struck me was Edification, which according to Encarta, means: "instruction or enlightenment, especially when it is morally or spiritually uplifting." In other words, encouraging each other to do good works - so totally appropriate when you think of setting goals and resolutions for the new year.

"Therefore encourage one another and build up one another, just as you also are doing. But we request of you, brethren, that you appreciate those who diligently labor among you, and have charge over you in the Lord and give you instruction, and that you esteem them very highly in love because of their work. Live in peace with one another." 1 Thessalonians 5:11-13 (New American Standard Version)

"Flatter me, and I may not believe you. Criticize me, and I may not like you. Ignore me, and I may not forgive you. Encourage me, and I will not forget you. Love me, and I may be forced to love you."   William Arthur Ward

"You need to be aware of what others are doing, applaud their efforts, acknowledge their sucesses, and encourage them in their pursuits. When we all help one another, everybody wins."
Jim Stovall

My example LO:

Hybrid Challenge - By Smiley-Scrap8 (Ronny)

Paper AND Digital

January Hybrid Challenge:  A Hybrid Holiday Thank You Card to say thanks for the all great gifts you've received over the holidays.  For my example I used this cute tree from a Christmas kit by SAS Designs, I typed my text on the tree before printing and cutting it out. I printed a sheet of green paper from another kit by SAS designs for the base of the card. I embellished the tree with all different brads and used pop-dots for dimension and of coarse some Stickles for a little sparkle.

In The News Challenge - By LoveMyBella (Miranda)

Paper or Digital

Journaling Challenge - By Mommybruno (Cassandra)

Paper or Digital

January 19 is Martin Luther King Day. I'm sure everyone is familiar with Dr. King's "I Have A Dream" speech. For this month's journaling challenge, I want to know YOUR dream. Do you have a vision of the world as you'd like it to be? Or are you filled with wishful thinking, like me? Share your dream with me! Your layout must contain the phrase "I Have A Dream" somewhere on it.

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

Paper or Digital

Manufacturer Challenge - By 4peasinourpod (Pam)

Paper only

This month's manufacturer challenge is the gorgeous October Afternoon.  These papers and embellishments are AMAZING.  Every line is just as wonderful as the next!

Here is a layout I did of Delaney and her new chicken friend

One Word Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)

Paper or Digital

Jan ONE Word Challenge.... GORGEOUS

Photography Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)

Photography only

This month it's all about fun, family and friends...

Pick an Element Challenge - By suslvgeo (Sus)

Paper or Digital

This month I used an element from BethW's "Scarecrow Festival" page. I used a tree and added bling to the shape. My challenge to you is use ANY element from Beth's page. It can be the colors, the tree, the buttons, etc. Any questions, please feel free to ask!

Beth's LO:

My LO:

Scrap Your Life Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)

Paper or Digital

This is  literally a Scrap YOUR LIFE Challenge.  Here is my LO... it is from March, but read the journaling and you will get the idea

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

Paper or Digital

Just can't say it enough...when it comes to scrapmojo, the ONE thing that gets me going on a layout faster than anything else is a great sketch! They save time and effort because you can already see that your layout is going to be cohesive, you just need to make it fit your photos and elements! Here is another great sketch from Jodi at SketchitOut...thanks Jodi for the inspiration!

Your challenge is to take Jodi's sketch


... and make it your own! Do you love the photo placement? Do you love the circle element? Do you love that folded down corner? Or, do you just love it all? Take what you love and do a paper or digital layout with it!

Here is Pam's layout:


And here is mine:

Supply List Challenge - By Beth-W (Beth)

Paper or Digital

The challenge for this month is to use the following items from your supplies: something clear (ie acrylics, acetate, a transparency, or anything you can see through); at least 3 pieces of ribbon, lace or trim (you can add more but you must have a minimum of 3); and staples.

Theme Challenge - By ScrapGoo (Jess)

Paper or Digital

New Year's Eve often brings about a lot of talk about resolutions, goals, and milestones.  For this month's Theme Challenge I want you to scrap about those things.  You can scrap something you or a loved one has achieved, your new resolutions, or goals you hope to reach.  I did a page about my dad finally getting the dog he has wanted for decades. 

Trends & Techniques Challenge - By katarria (Kathy)

Paper or Digital

In trying to use up my stash I've been finding all sorts of items I forgot I had!  This month I want to see you using mixed media on your layouts.  You must use at least four types of mixed media on your scrappy project.  See my sample notebook, where I used patterned paper, stickers, felt ribbon & flowers, rhinestones, Stickles, and mesh flowers.  Have fun with this one!

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 01/01/2009. Submitted by ScrapGoo