Simply Stampin Challenge Sketch Week

Good morning stampers, 

Welcome to another week and a brand new challenge plus the introduction of a brand new feature, 

but before I share that with you we have this weeks amazing 

Top 3 

Carolyn King
Nikki R
Regina

Well done ladies you all did a fantastic job, 

please take the Top 3 banner to display on your blogs with pride.

Now onto the new feature, we thought that as you seem to like the guest designer weeks so much you may like to also know a little more about our Design Team, so every over month we are asking one of our fab team to answer the same questions we ask all our guests.

This month we are getting to know

Amanda

she is one of the longest running members of the design team, and has been with the challenge since the start so we thought it was fitting to start things off with her.

Why did you join Stampin' Up! & what do you love about it?

After graduating from university with Fine Art degree I just knew I had to do something creative and sitting in some sort of boring dead-end office job day in and out just did not appeal. Unfortunately with a recession on making and selling art for a living is very difficult! Not to mention I don't currently have access to a printing press... So I decided to give being a SU! demo a go to earn some money, make new friends (I was going nuts being home alone so much!) and share my love of crafting with other people. I love it when someone says that papercrafting isn't for them and gradually over time you see them open up and begin to find fun and enjoyment in stamping!

How long have you been crafting for?

 Ever since I can remember! My dad and his mum are both artists so I was encouraged to make things, paint, draw, and so on. My Grandma (mum's mum) is absolutely amazing at sewing and through her I got into sewing, beading and so on. So I have had my hand in A LOT of pies growing up! As for paper crafting in particular, I first heard about SU! when we were in the States visiting my mum's family about 10 years ago and my aunt hosted a SU! party. We were hooked! So every time we went over we'd stock up on stamps, ink, paper...oh my goodness there was just so much lovely stuff that we just HAD to have!!! So I've been making cards for about 10 years now.

What are your 3 desert island SU! items? (things you just can't craft without)

Oh my goodness only 3?! Hmm, I'm obsessed with punches! There's so much you can do with a punch its definitely on the list! Uh probably my markers because you can do so much with them - stamp, colour and write/doodle! Finally I'd probably go with stamps - if I had to choose one set, I'd go with Teeny Tiny Wishes - totally addicted - its got a sentiment for EVERY occasion under the sun!!

(I'm assuming cardstock is a given - can't stamp or punch without cardstock!!!!)

What is your favourite SU! colour?

I'm really fickle! I just love them all and I'll pretty happily use whatever I'm given! At the moment I'm on a major Lucky Limeade buzz - when it first came out I didn't think I'd ever say that - it was super bright and garish! I was not in love but now I can't get enough of it! Who knows what will be my next love, love, love colour! I think if I did have to give one colour I'd say Crumb Cake - it's totally my go to colour! It goes with everything! Yes, Crumb Cake is my favourite! 

Which is your most reached for stamp set?

Teeny Tiny Wishes - its got a sentiment for everything under the sun! 

Send us a picture of your favourite SU! projects you've made.

With fabulous samples like these it's easy to see why Amanda's part of our design team, wouldn't you agree?!

What inspires your crafting creativity?

 Oh uh this is difficult! Life? I can find inspiration in anything really! 

I love Splitcoast Stampers and Pinterest - both are fantastic sources of inspiration. I could easily spend HOURS browsing! Oh and blogs...I have a growing list of blogs I enjoy reading. 

I am also going to sound incredibly sad now but I stamp and craft in my sleep!! Seriously! And I have some pretty good ideas in my dreams so I guess dreams (both sleep and day dreams) inspire me. I'm always daydreaming and "doodling" ideas in my head! 

What's your favourite crafting technique?

Wow I'm fickle again! Its just whatever takes my fancy - I like rock and roll but haven't done it in ages. I also love sponging but haven't done much of that in a while either. At the moment I'm loving the score board but its new isn't it?! Hmm I'd probably have to say stamping - its just a nice steady constant, I've never really gone off stamping! 

I hope you've enjoyed to getting to know more about one of the team, please check out her fabulous blog for more of her gorgeous creations!

Now onto this weeks sketch challenge

Little Reminder

Don't forget that in order to be considered for the Top 3 you must use one Stampin' Up! image or sentiment and we reserve the right to remove submissions that do not represent the challenge,  link to non-SU promotions, or do not use at least one Stampin' Up! stamp, designer paper, punch or die.

Here is some inspiration using this sketch from the Design Team

 Amanda

Kelly

Ruth

Kirei

Deb

If you like what you see and you'd like to leave our DT some love, please click on their photo in the sidebar to be taken to their own blog, where you can leave them a comment.

How to enter

Post your project to your blog (if you don't have a blog you can still enter the challenge by sending your entry to our email address) and link back to us.  Then come back to us and link to your project using Mister Linky below but remember to link to the direct post rather than your general blog. No back-linking please.

 Thanks for joining in xxx

Simply Stampin' Challenge #60 - Theme

Good morning Stampers!

Last week we had some fab entries for the interesting Colour Challenge that
we set, so well done to everyone for giving it a go!

Our Top 3 are:

Nikki R
Craftie Mummy
Erica C

Well done ladies, please grab the 'Top 3' banner from our sidebar to
display on your blog!

We have an interesting challenge for you to try this week, we are back with

a theme and it is...

MONOCHROME.... with a splash of colour!

This just means that we want to see entries done in different shades
one main colour, with just a touch of another colour to finish it off.

Little Reminder

Don't forget that in order to be considered for the Top 3 you must

use one Stampin' Up! image or sentiment and we reserve the right to

remove submissions that do not represent the challenge, link to non-SU

promotions, or do not use at least one Stampin' Up! stamp,

designer paper, punch or die.

Don't worry if you need a little inspiration this week, that's what our Design Team

is for and here is what they have come up with to inspire you.

Deb

Kirei

Ruth

Amanda

Kelly

To see more of the Design Team's work or to leave them a comment

why don't you visit their blogs, just click on their photo in the sidebar.

How to enter:

Post your project to your blog (if you don't have a blog you can still enter the

challenge by sending your entry to our email address) and link back to us.

Then come back to us and link to your project using Mister Linky below but

remember to link to the direct post rather than your general blog.

We love to see all the different interpretations of the challenge, so why

don't you give it a go and send in an entry this week!

Thanks for joining in!

Simply Stampin Colour week

Good morning stampers, 

It was great to see the different ways you used our sketch last week, 

it was tough but we narrowed down your fab entries to give us a wonderful

Top 3
Amy White

Aileen
Margaret

Well done ladies please take the Top 3 Banner for your Sidebar xx

Little Reminder

Don't forget that in order to be considered for the Top 3 you must use one Stampin' Up! image or sentiment and we reserve the right to remove submissions that do not represent the challenge,  link to non-SU promotions, or do not use at least one Stampin' Up! stamp, designer paper, punch or die.

Now moving on we have a bright cheery colour challenge for you, I hope you're up for the challenge

I hope we haven't got you running for the hills with this one, check out what our creative Design Team have come up with  to inspire you using these colours

Amanda

Ruth

Deb

Kirei

Kelly

Like what you see? 

Why not click on the DT's individual photos on the sidebar to be taken directly to their blog!

I hope that has wet your whistle, we'd love to see you take this colours and create something amazing, so why not give it a go?!

How to enter

Post your project to your blog (if you don't have a blog you can still enter the challenge by sending your entry to our email address) and link back to us.  Then come back to us and link to your project using Mister Linky below but remember to link to the direct post rather than your general blog. No back-linking please.

Thanks for joining in, xx

Sketch Week With Guest Designer

Good morning stampers!

We really enjoyed checking out your Perfect Pairs last week, 

and the Design Team have chosen these lucky ladies for our

 Top 3

Carolyn
Paula
Margaret K

Well done ladies don't forget, to grab our Top 3 banner to display with pride on your blog!

Little Reminder

Don't forget that in order to be considered for the Top 3 you must use one Stampin' Up! image or sentiment and we reserve the right to remove submissions that do not represent the challenge,  link to non-SU promotions, or do not use at least one Stampin' Up! stamp, designer paper, punch or die.

Guest Designer

As you will know by now the first challenge of the month see's a guest designer join the ranks of our Design team to give you even more inspiration! This month we are very proud to be joined by my Stampin' up! mum    Amanda Fowler of  Inspiring Inkin'

now we couldn't have Amanda join us without asking her a few crafty questions too!

Why did you join Stampin' up! and what do you love about it?

I joined Stampin' Up! when it launched in the UK, November 2007 I was looking for a business that would include my love of crafting and Stampin' Up! was a perfect fit.  Over the past 4 1/2 years I have turned my hobby into a full time business and now lead a team of over 150 Stampin' Up! demonstrators across the UK from the Shetland Islands to Penzance.  I love that Stampin' Up! fits around you, your family and what you want from your business and of course the stamps, card and ink are the best available anywhere with amazing colour co-ordination.

 How long have you been crafting for?

Since I could pull a chair up to the worktop to help my Grandmother.  I have always made things, sticking and colouring in was my favourite past-time as a child, now I get to do it as a grown up !  I even remember making 'perfume' from crushed rose petals, it wasn't pleasant ! I have been stamping for 24 years when I bought my first stamp and ink pad, things have moved on since then!

What are your 3 desert island Stampin' Up! items,things you just can't craft without?

3 only 3, I can't just choose 3.........Okay if I must, stamps, card and ink !!!!  In all 50 colours please !  

I guess you really want to hear of 3 individual products, my Stampamajig ( because I stamp wonky), my blender pens because I can use any Stampin' Up! ink pad and be able to colour in and Whisper White card, it makes every stamped image look amazing.

What is your favourite Stampin' Up! colour?

I'm afraid I am really fickle, my favourite is usually the one I am using, and right now that is Pool Party, although if you talk to my customers they are almost bound to say Chocolate Chip or Early Espresso as they are both such excellent neutrals that go with almost every colour combination.

Which is your most reached for stamp set?

These questions are tough.........! Right now I think it's Petite Pairs, I like to put sentiments on all of my cards and this set seems to have the right words, but then so does Teeny Tiny Wishes, can I pick both ?

Next up we asked Amanda to send us a few of her favourite projects she's made.

What inspires your crafting creativity?

My crafting friends certainly, my team of demonstrators and my customer friends.  I have recently become addicted to Pinterest and find that a great source of inspiration too.

Whats your favourite crafting technique?

I love the vintage look, so distressing is probably my favourite technique, I love the way you can take a crisp piece of card and make it look like a prized antique!

Right now we've delved into Amanda's world, let's give her a breather 

while we tell you about this weeks challenge.

This week we have another fab sketch for you to play with

Don't forget a sketch is meant to be a jumping off point for your creativity, you can use it exactly how you see it, or you could flip it or rotate it. As long as we see you have used the sketch for your project!

So here's is Amanda's take on the sketch

Amazing wouldn't you agree?! That pleated ribbon and all the pearls really give it an opulent look!
Thanks so much Amanda for being this months guest designer! Make sure you visit Amanda's blog to see more stunning examples of her work.

Do you remember a while ago we had a Design Team call?! Well this week we are sadly saying goodbye to some of the current design team, we'd like to thank them for all their hard word on the challenge. 

This also means that we can  now introduce you to the newest member of our team. So give a big hello to Debs, whose DT call entry blew us away!

Debs

Niki

Alison

Becky

Kelly

Kirei

Ruth

Amanda

As always if you want to visit the any of the Design Team, just click on their photo in the sidebar to checkout more of their work or leave them a comment.

So now it's over to you, let's see what you make of our sketch.

How to enter

Post your project to your blog (if you don't have a blog you can still enter the challenge by sending your entry to our email address) and link back to us.  Then come back to us and link to your project using Mister Linky below but remember to link to the direct post rather than your general blog. No back-linking please.

Thanks for joining in, can't wait to see what you come up with! xxx

Simply Stampin Theme Week

Good morning stampers!

Saturday has come around again, I hope you're ready for another challenge!!

Before I share this weeks challenge with you, I'm sure you'll want to know who are design team have chosen for this weeks

Top 3

Jen
Carolyn
Aileen

Well done ladies, it was a tough decision, you certainly had fun with our colour combo!

Please take the Top 3 Banner for your blog xx

Little Reminder

Don't forget that in order to be considered for the Top 3 you must use one Stampin' Up! image or sentiment and we reserve the right to remove submissions that do not represent the challenge,  link to non-SU promotions, or do not use at least one Stampin' Up! stamp, designer paper, punch or die.

Now I'm sure you're wondering what this weeks challenge could be, it's theme week and this week we are asking you to make your craft projects with

Perfect Pairs!

While you get to thinking why not grab a little inspiration from our fabulous Design Team!

Niki

Alison

Ruth

Kirei

Amanda

Kelly

Becky

Dont forget you can visit our Design Team's personal blogs by clicking on their photo in the sidebar, why not become a follower so you'll never miss a post?!

So now it's over to you, we can't wait to see what you come up with for this weeks theme challenge.

How to enter

Post your project to your blog (if you don't have a blog you can still enter the challenge by sending your entry to our email address) and link back to us.  Then come back to us and link to your project using Mister Linky below but remember to link to the direct post rather than your general blog. No back-linking please.

Thanks for joining in xxx

Simply Stampin Colour Challenge

Good morning stampers,

So glad to see you joining us for our weekly crafting challenge,

WOW,  looks like you enjoyed last weeks sketch, and it was a very tough job picking this weeks

Top 3

Margaret K (2)
The Sticky Elf
Magali

well done ladies, don't forget to grab our badge to display on your blogs with pride!

Little Reminder

Don't forget that in order to be considered for the Top 3 you must use one Stampin' Up! image or sentiment and we reserve the right to remove submissions that do not represent the challenge,  link to non-SU promotions, or do not use at least one Stampin' Up! stamp, designer paper, punch or die.

Now onto this weeks colour challenge,

lets see what you can create with this mix.

If you need a little inspiration to get you going check out what our fabulous Design Team have come up with using these colours

Amanda

Ruth

Alison

Niki

Kirei

Kelly

Becky

**Coming Soon**

If you'd like to leave a comment for any of our design team it couldn't be simplier, just click on their photo in the sidebar and you'll be taken direct to their own blog!

How To Enter

Post your project to your blog (if you don't have a blog you can still enter the challenge by sending your entry to our email address) and link back to us.  Then come back to us and link to your project using Mister Linky below but remember to link to the direct post rather than your general blog. No back-linking please.


We can't wait to see what you come up with for this week challenge!

Happy stampin'

Simply Stampin' Challenge #55 - Sketch

Good morning Stampers!

We hope you enjoyed reading about our Guest Designer Vicky Hayes last week,

if you haven't had a chance do hop on over to her blog

and have a look at her yummy work!

It was all things Easter for last week's challenge and we had some lovely entries

to pick from, so our Top 3 are:

Nicola Kerridge
Margaret K
Victoria

Congrats to you all, please grab the 'Top 3' banner to display on your blog!

So onto this week's challenge and we have another fab Sketch for you...

Little Reminder
Don't forget that in order to be considered for the Top 3 you must

use one Stampin' Up! image or sentiment and we reserve the right to

remove submissions that do not represent the challenge, link to non-SU

promotions, or do not use at least one Stampin' Up! stamp,

designer paper, punch or die.

Don't worry if you need a little inspiration this week, that's what our Design Team

is for and here is what they have come up with to inspire you.

Amanda

Kirei

Kelly

Ruth

Niki

Alison

If you'd like to leave the Design Team some love, just click on their photo

in the sidebar to visit them at their very own blogs.

How to enter:

Post your project to your blog (if you don't have a blog you can still enter the

challenge by sending your entry to our email address) and link back to us.

Then come back to us and link to your project using Mister Linky below but

remember to link to the direct post rather than your general blog.

Why don't you give it a go and send in your entry, we would love to see them!

Thanks for joining in!