SUO Challenge #78 – Ribbons and Bows!

8 / 27 / 138 / 27 / 13

With all the fun ribbons and bows currently in Stampin' Up!'s catalogs, we decided it was time to revisit this challenge from almost exactly 2 years ago. There's so much that's different in the catalogs today than back then, that we're sure you must have some new favorites that you'd like to show off! But, of course, old favorites are equally welcome here at the SUO Challenge blog! No matter if it's retired – we'd all love to see it again!

You'll notice in our Design Team entries that there's a sampling of paper bows – how much fun is that?! I haven't yet used my new Sizzix Bow die, but it's on my "to do" list and not far from the top. This year Stampin' Up! also has some bows already made up for us, and there's at least one of those in the Design Team Collection. We can hardly wait to see how many entries we get with these "alternative" bows. We need ideas!!!

If you're new to this challenge, welcome! You'll find the guidelines for our entries, along with a link to add your project to our collection, at the end of this post. If you have any questions, just e-mail Robin Messenheimer, our team coordinator, and she'll get back to you right away!

To participate in our challenge, make a card or other paper-crafted project and post a photo of it to your blog or a gallery on the internet. Then come back here and use our link tool at the bottom of this post to share the photo with us.

PLEASE remember this: We're looking for projects posted to the internet AFTER August 26, 2013. This is a NEW challenge! AND please mention/link to the SUO Challenge Blog in your post!

And, of course, your projects should be made with Stampin' Up! products only. The products may be those that are in current catalogs, or they may be retired products. But (as our blog title says) SUO – Stampin' Up! Only! This means that products from other papercrafting, rubber stamp, die-making or other companies may not be included in your project or in any other project included in your blog post if Stampin' Up! sells a like product. For example, Stampin' Up! does not sell sewing thread. So use of sewing thread from another company is just fine. Stampin' Up! does sell the Sizzix Big Shot, so use of die-cuts, texture plates or other such products from another company is not fine. If you have a question, please send an e-mail to our Coordinator, Robin Messenheimer, and she'll be glad to answer it!

Challenge Dates: August 27, 2013 (3 am USA Eastern Time) –

September 7, 2013 (6 am USA Eastern Time)

SUO Challenge #57 – Elegant Autumn (or Spring if you’re down under!)

10 / 30 / 1210 / 29 / 12

Ah, here we are almost into the month of November the second full month of Autumn. The past few weeks, I'm sure we've all enjoyed all the fun projects that people have been sharing using some of the fun Halloween products that Stampin' Up! has created for those of us who love Stampin' Up! products – I know I have!

So now I'm ready for a little bit of elegance as we here in the United States start paying more attention to our Thanksgiving celebration. Of course, there are many, many ways to make a project elegant. Stamps, layouts, colors, embellishments – all can make a project elegant. I'm sure you'll agree that there's a nice variety of elegance provided as an inspiration by our Design Team. And I'm equally sure that there are many more ideas you have that can add some delight to our collection this week!

Your challenge is to make an elegant card, and give it an autumnal feel – or give it a spring time feel if you're in Australia or New Zealand! I'm sure there are some of us who would rather be looking forward to warmer weather already! As always, please make your projects with Stampin' Up! products only. We are really looking forward to see what you are going to use for this project!

Heidi's Card

Deb's Projecty

Robin's Card

Cindy Elam's Project

Mary's Card

Connie's Card

Jennifer's Project

Karen's Card

To participate in our challenge, make a card or other project and post a photo of it to your blog or a gallery on the internet. Then come back here and use our link tool at the bottom of this post to share the photo with us! We're looking for cards posted to the internet after October 29, 2012, and (of course!) made with Stampin' Up! products only. The products may be those that are in current catalogs, or they may be retired products. But (as our blog title says) SUO – Stampin' Up! Only! This means that Products from other papercrafting, rubber stamp, die-making or other companies may not be included in your project if Stampin' Up! sells a like product. For example, Stampin' Up! does not sell sewing thread. So use of sewing thread from another company is just fine. Stampin' Up! does sell the Sizzix Big Shot, so use of die-cuts, texture plates or other such products from another company is not fine. If you have a question, please send an e-mail to our Coordinator, Robin Messenheimer, and she'll be glad to answer it!

Challenge Dates: October 30, 2012 (3 am USA Eastern Time) –

November 10, 2012 (9 am USA Eastern Time)

SUO Challenge #41 – Our Top 3!

4 / 2 / 12

Oh, my! Another week where over half of the challenge entries received Top 3 votes from our Design Team! The change of seasons brings out the best in all of us, it seems! Thank you all for being so creative AND sharing your creations with us at the Stampin' Up! Only Challenge!

So, a drum roll, please, for those who received the most votes for this week's Top 3!

Tonya Denton. I think that one team member's response to this card says it all: "That lily rocks!" I'm sure that anyone that looks at this card will wonder why they can't sniff the scent of the Stargazer Lily, it's so realistic. What a beautiful job you did on this card, Tonya!

Paula Sievers. Last week's challenge was to "Think Spring (or Autumn)" because many of our readers and contributors are from the southern hemisphere. Paula is in Australia, and she created this lovely card to welcome Autumn. I particularly like how Paula made that lovely background with squares of Cajun Craze and More Mustard, and how well the colors in the "Lovely as a Tree" stamp make that central layer just pop off the background!

Patty Gorka. There are so many little details in this card that just make it a joy to look at! The rows of piercings, the way that the cherry blossoms are colored, the whole color combination – these all combine to make a very beautiful card!

Thank you ALL for being a part of the SUO Challenge!