Articles : Contests & Challenges Current

March Creative Team Challenges!

Spring into inspiration!

Spring is almost here!  Soon the flowers will be sprouting and the trees will be budding and you'll be knocking down doors to get outside in the fresh air.  Many of us have a big case of cabin fever right now and could use an extra dose of creative inspiration to get us through till the warm weather.  The Creative Team is here once again to bring you challenges to get your mojo flowing!  Just think of all the photos you'll need to scrap once the sun comes out again... better get to work!

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!

Card Challenge - By bluejeans7 (Angela)

Paper or Digital

Create two cards using the same pieces of pattern papers.  The only difference is on one card start with a white background and on the other card start with a black background.  

Color Challenge - by Art_Teacher (Laura)

Paper or Digital

What do you think of when you think of "retro" colors?  Every decade has some popular color combinations, and I've noticed pink is usually in them!  So this month's challenge is to use a retro color combo from one of the following decades:  50's - aqua & cotton candy pink, 60's - orange or yellow & bright pink, 70's - brown & pale pink, 80's - neon green & neon pink, or 90's - purple & bright pink.  Can't wait to see how these color combinations of the past inspire your scrapping today!

Here is my example of the 90's color combo:

Digi CT Reveal Challenge - By Janello (Janell)

Paper or Digital

Make a blog header or layout inspired by a blog. Here is the CT's reveal on blogs for more ideas.

Blog Header by mayerkt 

Digi Designer Challenge - By MamaK321 (Kristianne)

Digital only 

Our featured digital designer this month is Kim Hill/ CG Essentials, 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 Eyes Have It by BrandyL.

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.

BrandyL's LO:


The template:

Digi Double Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)

Paper or Digital

On Hiatus!

Digi Technique Challenge - By Janello (Janell)

Digital only

For this month your challenge is to make your own digital Alpha and use it on a layout.  There are several ways to do this, you can read how I did mine in this tutorial: here.

Here is a sample letter from my alpha:


My LO:

Faithbooking Challenge - By Keling (Sara)

Paper or Digital

DEDICATION

When March comes around, my Irish heritage never lets me forget March 17 - St. Patrick's Day. While lots of people have fun with beer and wearing green, I try to remind myself of who St. Patrick was and what he did; he was truly dedicated to God and gave all that he had to God's service.

Dedication - 1.an act or rite of dedicating to a divine being or to a sacred use; 2. a devoting or setting aside for a particular purpose; 3. a name and often a message prefixed to a literary, musical, or artistic production in tribute to a person or cause; 4. self-sacrficing devotion; 5. a ceremony to mark the official completion or opening of something

"Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the thrown of God. For consider Him who has endured such hostility by sinners against Himself, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart." ~ Hebrews 12:1-3, NASB

"I beseech you therefore, brethren, by the mercies of God, that ye present your bodies a living sacrifice, holy, acceptable unto God, which is your reasonable service. And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect will of God." ~ Romans 12:1-2, KJV

"The question isn't who is going to let me; it's who is going to stop me." ~ Ayn Rand

"Never give in! Never give in! Never, never, never - in nothing great or small, large or petty. Never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense." ~ Winston Churchill

"True strength lies in submission which permits one to dedicate his life, through devotion, to something beyond himself." ~ Henry Miller

Hybrid Challenge - By Smiley-Scrap8 (Ronny)

Paper AND Digital

Make a small gift! Use your digi supplies to make a small item for someone else. My daughter is reading longer books now so she is need of her own book marks. I could have bought them, instead I used a beautiful kit by Kim Hill to make her two bookmarks and a small box to keep them in when she is not using them.

You don't have to make bookmark, you can make a card, a magnet, a gift box, a brag book, a notepad, anything using your digital supplies.

Here is my example:

Journaling Challenge - By Dianagirly (Diana)

Paper or Digital

For this month's journaling challenge, I would love to see what the color GREEN means to you. Tell me if it signifies St.Patty's Day, luck, money, grass, an act (going green?), or even jealousy. Whatever GREEN means to you, I want to know! Tell me about it in your journaling.

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

Paper or Digital

I know if you have heard this song that that it probably strikes a chord with you... I am not sure exactly what it is but I have to turn up the radio everytime I hear it. From the very first time I heard it I knew I had to use some of the lyrics on a page ...and here it is.

The song is CHICKEN FRIED by Zac Brown
here are the lyrics-

You know I like my chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up

Well I was raised up beneath the shade of a Georgia pine
And that’s home you know
With sweet tea pecan pie and homemade wine
Where the peaches grow
And my house it’s not much to talk about
But it’s filled with lovie that’s grown in southern ground
And a little bit of chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I’ve seen the sunrise
Seen the lovie in my woman’s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother’s lovie

And its funny how it’s the little things in life that mean the most
Not where you live, what you drive or the price tag on your clothes
There’s no dollar sign on a piece of mind this I’ve come to know
So if you agree have a drink with me
Raise you glasses for a toast
To a little bit of chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I’ve seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman’s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother’s love

I thank God for my life
For the stars and stripes
May freedom forever fly, let it ring.
Salute the ones who died
And the ones that gave their lives
So we don’t have to sacrifice
All the things we love
Like our chicken fried

Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I’ve seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman’s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother’s love

You know I like chicken fried
Cold beer on a Friday night
A pair of jeans that fit just right
And the radio up
Well I’ve seen the sunrise
See the love in my woman’s eyes
Feel the touch of a precious child
And know a mother’s love

And here is my layout:

Manufacturer Challenge - By 4peasinourpod (Pam)

Paper only

This month's manufacturer is SEI.  SEI collections are full of a mixture of vibrant colors...their papers are double sided, their rubons are easy to use, their ribbons are gorgeous...and these are just a few of their awesome embellishments!

The Paper Creative Team will be featuring the new lines that were just introduced at CHA from March 9-11.  Make sure you check them out!

My example is from the Bridgeport collection.  I thought it was very fitting to scrap a picture of the amazing ACOT ladies using a line that had it's debut at CHA!  Upon meeting this women, I felt like we had been friends forever, and it was great to actually get to hang out with them in real life.



You can use any line of SEI that you want....good luck!  Make sure you upload to the manufacturer gallery by the end the month!

One Word Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)

Paper or Digital

This month's word is FUN............

Photography Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)

Photography only

Show me those pictures that don't need an explanation, they just make you LAUGH!!!!!

Pick an Element Challenge - By suslvgeo (Sus)

Paper or Digital

The challenge is to pick an element from Kimandasmo's layout and incorporate it into a layout by you. It can be anything from the colors to the scalloped edges to the angle of the photo, basically anything. Just make sure you list what element you picked in order to be eligible.

Kimandasmo's LO:

And mine:

Scrap Your Life Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)

Paper or Digital

So for this month's challenge I want you to scrap about something sad that has happened in your life, or something you are sad about today.... here is my journaling to give you an idea....

so I am missing home
like there is no
tomorrow...I new it would be
hard, but didn't think
it would be this hard.
Especially when I get to
see them via the web-
cam and it seems like
I can just reach out and
touch them! I have had
a few nights where I
cried myself to sleep,
but I try to hold it
together for the most
part. I am glad they are
doing well with Matt, but
just wish I was there
for the little things
like planning for b-day
parties, doing pretty
hair for Abby and giving
them baths. I even
miss the crazy
nights where we
stayed up late and
played the guessing
“who”’s the music with
Sam and Matt...so here
is to hoping HOME comes
soon~

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

Paper or Digital

It's time to spring out of that scrappy rut, and try a new sketch! Sketches are the perfect way to jumpstart a layout or get lots of layouts done in just a little time. This month, we're going outside the box...hehehe, with a ROUND SKETCH from Pagemaps! With so many round diecut papers, half your layout will be done for you! For those of you who can't stand the thought of a round layout in your scrapbooks, throw a piece of paper behind the whole thing to bring it back to be square...most importantly, have fun!

Here's the sketch:


And here's Laura's take on it:



And Pam's:

Supply List Challenge - By Beth-W (Beth)

Paper or Digital

The supply list challenge for March is to use pearls, rub-ons and stickers.

Here is my LO example:

Theme Challenge - By ScrapGoo (Jess)

Paper or Digital

We all know about March Madness... the craze that hits college basketball this month.  But did you know that March also has Dr. Seuss' Birthday,   Multiple Personalities Day, Make up Your Own Holiday Day, and National Goof Off Day?  Not to mention the Spring fever that seems to be spreading like wildifre.  So this month I want to see layouts about madness, people being crazy, or something just plain silly!

My layout (sorry Beth, Kathy, and Leslie!):

Trends & Techniques Challenge - By JulesinParadise (Jules)

Paper or Digital

This month we are going to try a technique for turning vellum paper into what appears to be watercolored paper! You can learn how to do this in this tutorial. 

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 03/01/2009. Submitted by ScrapGoo