Oh, glorious September! It is a month of beginnings. Not only is it the start of my favorite season, it is also the beginning of school for most kids, and this month it is the beginning of several new monthly challenges from your ACOT Creative Team! Maybe you'd like to have some fun with an altered object, create a countdown layout, or do some scraplifting? Hopefully you are all still on a high from our fantastic August crop and the scrap creativity will continue to flow out of you all through the month of September!
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 CHALLENGE by MamaK321 (Kristianne)
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!
Altered Object Challenge - By JulesinParadise (Jules)
Paper or Hybrid
I am very excited to be bringing you an altered objects challenge for the next several months. The objects you will be challenged to use are household items or those which can be easily obtained. I am hoping you will enjoy these challenges as much as I do presenting them to you!
This month, the altered object is a coffee filter. Your challenge is to create an embellishment or two out of a brown or white coffee filter and use it (them) on a card, layout or project. I am not sure if coffee filters are acid free so, to be safe, you can coat your embellishment(s) with Mod Podge or Golden's Gel Medium to prevent the transfer of any acids if you so desire.
I used one filter folded, creased and painted to create the rose embellishment in this layout.
and another filter to cut out leaf shapes, which I inked and ran through a crimper for this card.
Card Challenge - By bluejeans7 (Angela)
Paper or Digital
My good friend Lucy Chesna makes wonderful layout and card sketches, she is also the owner of My Sketch World. I want you to create a card based off of this sketch by Lucy. Fun and simple! 
Color Challenge - by Art_Teacher (Laura)
Paper or Digital
For this month's color challenge, I challenge you to use a color which I have trouble using in my scrapping...Orange! You may use any other colors you like, as long as the majority of the layout is orange. My sample layout is one of maybe 3 I have ever scrapped with orange, and it was only because of the orange in my cousin's dress. What colors do you like to pair with orange? Maybe you will inspire me!
Countdown Challenge - By sarahwhithers (Jennifer)
Paper or Digital
For this challenge you will create a layout using a countdown method of items. I will list five different kinds of things (eg. elements, papers, photos) for you to use in your layout. Every month there will be five new items for you to use.
5 - Ribbons
4 - Journal Strips
3 - Circles
2 - Types of Stitching (can be color or style differences)
1 - Photo
You are welcome to use more than these items (eg. 5 journal strips instead of 4 is fine) just as long as you meet the required list and numbers asked for each. A page example is seen below.
Digi CT Reveal Challenge - By Janello (Janell)
Paper or Digital
This monthly challenge is based off of a reveal done by the digi CT in the previous month. It's your turn to take a theme or technique and rock your own layout. For September make your layout inspired by the "Double Pager" reveal found here. Let's see your 2 page layouts!
Here is the example layout: Cowgirl Up by sarahwhithers:
Digi Designer Challenge - By MamaK321 (Kristianne)
Digital only
This month's featured designer is Kreations by Kami. Create your layout using any of her products available in the ACOT Digital Shoppe.
Digi Do-Able Challenge - By davsar and Smiley-Scrap8 (Sarah and Ronny)
Digital only
Welcome to another edition of Digi Do-Ables!
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.
Template:
Ronny's layout:
Sarah's layout:
Digi Technique Challenge - By davsar (Sarah)
Digital only
There is a technique that I use all the time. It is called "stroking". With stroking, you can add the perfect white border to your photos (like when you get them printed out), you can make an element look like a sticker, you can make a light font look bold. For this challenge follow the steps in this article to create a layout using stroking.
Faithbooking Challenge - By Keling (Sara)
Paper or Digital
Wisdom
According to Wikipedia:
"Wisdom is the quality or state of being wise; knowledge of what is true or right coupled with just judgment as to action; sagacity, discernment, or insight[1] It is an ideal that has been celebrated since antiquity as the application of knowledge needed to live a good life[citation needed]. Beyond simply knowing/understanding what options are available, "Wisdom" provides the ability to differentiate between them and choose the one that is best."
"Wisdom comes with the ability to be still. Just look and just listen. No more is needed. Being still, looking, and listening activates the non-conceptual intelligence within you. Let stillness direct your words and actions." ~ Eckhart Tolle, Stillness Speaks
"By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; Second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest." ~ Confucius
"Learning sleeps and snores in libraries, but wisdom is everywhere, wide awake, on tiptoe." ~ Josh Billings
Proverbs 9:9-12 ~ "Give instruction to a wise man and he will be still wiser, Teach a righteous man and he will increase his learning. The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom And the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding. For by me your days will be multiplied, And years of life will be added to you. If you are wise, you are wise for yourself, And if you scoff, you alone will bear it."
James 1:5 ~ "But if any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all generously and without reproach, and it will be given to him."
James 3:17 ~ "But the wisdom from above is first pure, then peaceable, gentle, reasonable, full of mercy and good fruits, unwavering, without hypocrisy."
Hybrid Challenge - By Smiley-Scrap8 (Ronny)
Paper AND Digital
Make a layout, card or craft using a Digital Alphabet. For my example I made a card from scraps around my room but none of the alpha I had really fit the look I was going for. So I found this great new Alpha by Amy Teets called "Say It".
I printed the word I needed (missing), cut it out and used pop dots just for a little extra punch. I love the way it came out, they look like real chipboard pieces.
Journaling Challenge - By jjenni08 (Jenn)
Paper or Digital
This month's journaling challenge is an easy peasy one! I want you to journal about an experience you had this summer. It can be as mundane as standing in line at an amusement park or as exciting as taking a world trip! The possibilities are endless! Have fun with it!
Let the Music Move You Challenge - By Kimandasmo (Cindy)
Paper or Digital
Since it is September and I always think about back to school this month, both my kids going back and when I used to be going to back to school and all the great memeroies that come with it, I thought iut would be great to use a song that reminds you of your school time. The challenge this month is to think back to the year you graduated and use a song from that year to inspire a layout.
I chose the song Stand by R.E.M. and used it as my title as well as some of the lyrics on this layout about daughter at band camp.
Manufacturer Challenge - By 4peasinourpod (Pam)
Paper only
This month's manufacturer is BoBunny. BoBunny has recently changed their look and added many more embellishments, making them one of the most popular companies that A Cherry on Top offers. You can use any line, old or new to complete this challenge, there just has to be a majority of Bo Bunny products on your page or project.
Here is my example using BoBunny Love Shack
One Word Challenge - By jjenni08 (Jenn)
Paper or Digital
For this month's "One Word Challenge", I want you to use the word Book somewhere in your layout journaling or in your title. I chose this word after completing a layout about my nieces first trip to the book store when she came to stay with me this summer.
Photography Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)
Photography only
So this month it is all about "goofy"...show us that goofy picture of you/kids/pets/etc!!!
Pick an Element Challenge - By suslvgeo (Sus)
Paper or Digital
Your challenge is to pick an element from Egle's layout and use it in a new layout you create. Can be the colors, the overall design, the title etc..basically any element. You just need to list what element you chose.
Egle's layout:
And my example:
Scraplift the GCT Challenge - By Kimandasmo (Cindy)
Paper or Digital
This month our GCT (Guest Creative Team) is Skinnimini... you can find her gallery here. The challenge is to pick out one of her amazing layouts and scraplift it. Thats all!
I chose to "lift" the very first layout in her gallery because I loved the photo arrangement and the big circle.
and here is my lift
Scrap Your Life Challenge - By nun69 (Angie)
Paper or Digital
So what are those Life's Lessons you have learned that you would like to pass on to loved ones, family, friends, etc....?
Sketch Challenge - By Laura Fiore and 4peasinourpod (Laura and Pam)
Paper or Digital
No time for Scrapping? No inspiration? Everything you create starting to look the same? Well then, a new sketch is just what you need to change all that! Sketches are a fast and easy way to scrapbook those favorite photos and make more pages than ever before! One of our awesome new Creative Team members, Juliana, offered to create a sketch for us to use this month, and here it is!
and here's Laura's take on it:
and Pam's layout:
Supply List Challenge - By Beth-W (Beth)
Paper or Digital
This month's Supply List challenge is a play on the 3 R's (Reduce, Reuse, Recycle). The challenge is to use Ribbon, Rhinestones and the color Red on a LO.
Theme Challenge - By ScrapGoo (Jess)
Paper or Digital
Ok, so I know you've seen this photo a few times from other gals but I wanted to scrap my copy of it too! Cherries make the best of friends and let's face it... friends are sometimes like family. This month I want to see you scrap something about friendship!
Trends & Techniques Challenge - By Megamay (Meg)
Paper
Since we havent had a technique challenge in a few months and I am really into stamping right now, I thought it would be fun to do a heat embossing challenge. You can stamp and heat emboss the image or sentiment but you don't have to use a stamp, any head embossing will work. Maybe you would like to try altering chipboard letters for your title by heat embossing them.
Heat embossing can seem daunting at first, but it is really quite simple. You will need a heat gun, embossing powder and either pigment ink or an embossing stamp pad. Ink up your stamp then stamp as normal (or if you are covering a whole letter or other shape just cover it with ink) then quickly sprinkle the embossing powder on top. Shake off the excess powder then heat with the heat gun until you see the powder melt (it doesnt take long at all).
In this example I used a swirl stamp with my embossing ink pad and gold glittered embossing powder to add a little more sparkle to my Chatterbox chipboard letters.
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