Challenges Build Your Creative Skills

I love to participate in the Splitcoaststampers Daily Challenges. There are regularly posted challenges every day of the week with the following schedule:

Sunday: Featured Stamper- 

Monday- Technique Lover's

Tuesday- Color Challenge

Wednesday-Sketch/Layout

Thursday- Ways to Use It

Friday- Limited Supply

Saturday- Inspiration

I attribute my personal growth in both skill and creativity to "taking the challenge" each day that I can and giving myself permission to push the envelope and to take the opportunity to learn something new. I may not always like the finished project or enjoy the technique and process, but those occasions are overshadowed by the many, many times that I have felt the thrill of accomplishment from what I learned from the experience.  I invite you, especially you new stampers, to come along and play in the challenges as often as possible and to start building your creative muscle and skill set.

I made this card for the Monday Technique Lover's Challengeto use the Faux Silk technique with the addition of adding some Pop.  Not only were there step by step instructions for our challenge but also a link to Ann Clemmer's video tutorial. Check out the challenge for the complete details.

Faux Silk is created on a card front by laying crumpled up tissue paper over the image layer and adhering with glue.  The crumpled paper givesthe appearance of silk line. To add "pop" to the project we were to stamp the image on the tissue paper as well as on white card stock.  The white card stock image was cut out and adhered to the main card layer. Two way glue was applied over the complete main layer and cut out image and the tissue paper was lined up and adhered ove the main image.  The white of the cut out image seems to pop out of the faux silk layer. For my project I stamped several evergreen trees onpale blue card stock and I used a brush to create falling snow with white craft ink and then embossed with white embossing powder. I attached my white cut out houses to the blue base,  applied glue and then layered my stamped and crumpled tissue paper over the houses. It was hard for me to get the images lined up perfectly but it worked.  I created a layer of ground snow for in front of the houses by crimping a piece of white card stock, cutting the edges with deckle scissors and attaching with mounting tape. I added my multi loop bow . If you are interested in seeing my ribbon tying tutorials please click here.

 Today is Treasure Hunt Tuesday at Rubbernecker.  It’s been a year now since we started the Treasure Hunt and Mr. Rubbernecker has decided that next Tuesday will be the last one.  So all you Treasure Hunters, you have today and next Tuesday to hunt for that free stamp.  Don’t worry, I do believe that there are things in the works to replace the Treasure Hunt!  You can find out more info and the Designers who are participating in today’s Treasure Hunt on the Rubbernecker Stamps Blog.

Stamps:  Rubbernecker Neighborhood, Kittie Kits The Moose is Loose

Paper:  Bashful Blue, White, Black, Tissue

Ink:  Black Stazon, White Craft, Going Gray, Summer Sun

Accessories:  Gingham, White Embossing Powder, Brushes, Crimper