Sep 5, 2013

Triple Sweet Thursdays - RIC #43

Hey everyone!

Happy Thursday!! It's Alyssa here from My Thoughts Exactly and I am SO excited to be sharing my very FIRST post with you as a member of the Sweet Stamp Shop Design Team!! And let me tell you, my new "job" here at SSS could NOT be more perfect for me! On (most) Thursdays I will be here on the blog with "Triple Sweet - 3 Cards, 3 Ways, 1 Challenge" where I will be sharing with you my favorite challenges from all over blog land and I will be showing you THREE different ways to tackle that ONE challenge! SUPER fun, don't ya think?? So, without further ado, let's get to it!

I wanted to kick things off by featuring my personal FAVORITE challenge:


About the Challenge:

Runway Inspired Challenge (or RIC as you will often see) is a bi-monthly challenge that offers an image of a current runway outfit as inspiration. Participants can enter the challenge as many times as they would like. With every challenge a new prize is offered, the entries are judged, and the winner is chosen by the RIC Design Team.


Why I Love This Challenge:

First and foremost I love RIC because it is DIFFERENT! I feel that most challenges offer a theme, sketch, or color palette to inspire you, which is fantastic. But for me, RIC offers a sketch, color palette, and sometimes even a theme all in one, without directly offering each of those things, and that is DIFFERENT! With RIC you can choose to be inspired by the colors in the outfit, the patterns in the outfit, the layout of the outfit, the era the outfit references... It's really up to YOU to choose how the runway photo inspires you, and I love that. 

Another thing I love about the RIC is that it is judged. Now this may seem daunting at first, but let me tell you why it rocks: It MOTIVATES me. When a challenge is judged I feel WAY more accomplished when I win. And even if you're a novice crafter and you think there's no way your skills are up to par, I promise you CAN win! You just have to keep at it, keep MOTIVATED, keep trying! Is it too cliche if I say "If at first you don't succeed, try try again"?



The Current Challenge:

HERE is the current inspiration at Runway Inspired Challenge



Can't you just see all the possibilities??
Pattern - Color - Layout... What will you choose?



3 Cards - 3 Ways - ONE Challenge


Way 1 : CAS

For this first card I decided to take the CAS route. I was inspired by both the pattern in the photo (from the shirt AND the background) and the color scheme. Check it out:


I created the patterned background simply by using a ruler and my black Copic marker, leaving a space for my sentiment. Then I stamped the two flower stamps from the Dia De Los Muertos Sweet Stamp Shop set, cut them out, and popped them up. Finally I stamped the Miss You from Wheely Like You Sweet Stamp Shop Set.


Way 2 : Outside the Box

For this second card I drew my inspiration from the colors in the photo ONLY. If a challenge doesn't require you to use EVERY piece of the inspiration they provide, get CREATIVE! Check it out:


I created the sort of "ombre" background using my watercolors and watercolor paper (side note: watercolors are my newest OBSESSION! So I hope you don't mind if you see quite a bit of water coloring from me!!). Then I stamped the color sentiment from the Color Wheel Sweet Stamp Shop set on a scrap of white. Finally I stamped the feathers from the Dia De Los Muertos Sweet Stamp Shop set, cut them out, and popped them up.


Way 3 : More Involved

CAS not your style? No problem! For this one I dove into my patterned paper stash, whipped out my Copics and some of my favorite SSS stamps for coloring! Check it out:


For this card I wanted to go a little crazier, I created a Halloween card! I started by choosing the striped patterned paper, as well as a solid yellow. I layered these two pieces and wrapped them with a piece of yellow twine. Next I stamped the skull from the Dia De Los Muertos Sweet Stamp Shop set and colored it with my Copics. Last, I stamped out "happy halloween" using the Alpha Tabs Sweet Stamp Shop set.



So what do you think sweet friends? Are you feeling motivated to give the RIC a shot? I sure hope so!!
And if you DO, I would LOVE to see what you create! Leave me a comment with a link to your RIC entry so I can check it out and leave you some love!!

Also, what is YOUR favorite challenge to play along with? Leave me a comment and let me know!
It might just get featured here on the SSS blog ;)



SSS Used in these projects:










Before I go I wanted to give you a quick reminder: The SSS September release is coming!!!

You DON'T want to miss this one! It is SO ADORABLE!!
Be sure to join the September Release Facebook Event so you don't miss a thing!
And I'll see you on September 10th with some inspiration using the new sets :D

PS. Have you checked out the SSS Pinterest and Flickr pages?
There's TONS more fantastic inspiration on those pages so be sure to click and check them out!!



Alright sweet friends, that's all for me today!
I'll see you again next week for the September release!!


Big bloggy hugs <3

Alyssa
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25 comments:

  1. Wow! I just love what you've shared! Beautiful colors and cards! Love the creativity you've shown in three different design styles! Thanks for sharing!!!

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    1. Thank you Melissa! I am SO glad you enjoyed my first post!! I hope I can continue to inspire you :)

      <3 Alyssa

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  2. Great first post! I especially love the CAS card :)

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    1. Thank you Michelle!! CAS is definitely my typical style and what I'm most comfortable with, so that one is my favorite too :)

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  3. Great post!!!!! Love the cards :)

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  4. Such awesome cards, Alyssa! Each so creative and different!

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    1. Thank you Michelle! SO glad you enjoy them!! I hope you will keep coming back for more triple sweet :) :)

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  5. Awesome post! Loved how you approached different card making styles! :) :)

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    1. Thank you Tyra! I had to challenge myself, but that's what challenges are all about right?? :)

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  6. WOW - what an amazing, inspiring post! Explore 3 possibilities with one 'challenge' is fabulous - and your cards that result - stunning! I'll definitely be looking forward to your Thursday features!!
    c

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    1. Thank you so much!! I hope I will continue to inspire you with all of my triple sweet posts :) :)

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  7. Fabulous cards! I love that you made 3!!!!!!! I have to admit the RIC challenge intimidates me, but maybe i'll give it a try. Thanks for the inspiration!

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    1. Oh Katie you MUST give RIC a try, once you do it you'll see how FREE and FUN it is! I know you will love it!! But even if RIC just ain't you thing, I'll be featuring a different challenge in every triple sweet post so I hope I can help you find a challenge that is just right for you :) :)

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  8. Your cards are beautiful, I especially love the second one - I love feathers! Thanks for introducing me to a challenge site I hadn't heard of! x

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    1. SO glad to have shown you a new challenge Jennifer! And my favorite one at that! I'm so into feathers right now, <3 them!!

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  9. FAB cards for Runway Inspired Challenge Alyssa:)

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    1. Thank you so much Lyndal!! RIC is just my favorite challenge ever, <3 <3 <3 it!

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  10. Alyssa, what an amazing first post! Not one but three FABULOUS cards! I haven't played along with RIC yet, but I may just try it out. I love all three cards!

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    1. Thank you so much Judy!! If you do throw your hat in the RIC ring PLEASE come let me know so I can leave you some love! I'd LOVE to see what you create for this challenge!

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  11. You are just amazing, Alyssa! Each card is unique and beautiful. You rocked it!

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    1. Thank you SO much Jen!! All of you talented ladies at RIC have been a HUGE inspiration for me!

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  12. I just came across your blog via the RIC FB page - I love the look of your blog! All 3 cards are fantastic - the 1st one is my favourite, I love that you were so confident to just draw your own lines - crazy I know but I find designing my own stuff scary. I usually try to play in every ric challenge.

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    1. Yay! So glad you found us and took the time to stop by!! And THANK YOU for noticing the confidence it took to make the first one, because I have to say, I definitely was NOT always that confident. It was actually a Copic class that I took with Nicole (the owner here at Sweet Stamp Shop) where we worked on creating backgrounds with copics (you can check out a card I made RIGHT after the class here: http://mythoughtsexactlystamps.blogspot.com/2013/08/make-it-monday-happy-are-those.html) that really boosted my confidence and opened a whole new door to creating backgrounds for me! So you are NOT at all crazy! I <3 RIC, keep playing along!!

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  13. What can I say? This is truly AWESOME x3, Alyssa!! Love each one of them ( my favorite is #2--so stunning!). You interpret the runway photo so fabulously! So glad that you were inspired!

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