Challenge: No Rules!

Rules? We don’t need any rules! With school starting and soccer and busy schedules over here the last thing I want is more rules. So let’s get wild with an ANYTHING goes week. Create something and share with us - we can’t wait to see what you’ve been up to.

Suzz went small on her project today.  She pulled out a few dominoes and created a mini book with a Parisian theme.

I participate in a art swap where they have been showcasing some beautiful domino books.  They inspired me create my own domino book.  I  painted the covers of the domino surface using StazOn Metallic - Silver Ink.   I stamped the images inside and on the book cover using  the  Stampendous Charm Collection.   The cover is decorated with gems, feathers and a pretty Kaiser Resin Flower.    The metallic trim is embossed using silver embossing powder.

Tracy's fellow Design Team member Sarah has recently given birth to a
beautiful baby daughter Ruby and when Sarah sent the team a snapshot,  Tracy was inspired almost immediately to create a card to commemorate this special occasion.

The red in Ruby's little outfit inspired me to get my fired brick Distress ink  out and create an inky background to showcase Ruby's beautiful snapshot. This card just flowed from start to finish and came together beautifully, I love creating when everything works so perfectly! To add that personal touch I added Ruby's name to jump rings adhered with Glossy Accents along with many gold highlights and machine stitching for that hand made feel.  

Ashli is often inspired by a simple sheet of patterned paper, especially when it makes her smile.

"When Pigs Fly, by Graphic 45 just makes me giggle! Those little pigs were just begging to be fussy cut and put on a page. After roughly cutting 7 simple squares from cream card stock, various October Afternoon patterned papers were used to embellish my little interactive folders. A finishing touch of Doodle Twine invites the viewer to open each card and see what lies beneath. Perhaps something silly like... when pigs fly, I will stop drinking coffee!"

Candy knows that the Halloween season of crafting is fast approaching.  She's getting a jump on it by creating this spooktacular coffin.

  I recently was learning some aging techniques using acrylic paints. As I was learning, all I could think about was how perfect Tim Holtz' die cuts are to create texture and dimension.  There are four of them on this piece:  Movers and Shapers Mini Tickets, Alphabetical Decorative Strip, On The Edge Ornate and On The Edge Iron Gate.  Add some Melissa Frances pearls for "rivets" and a plain paper mache piece becomes a spooky Gothic coffin.

Sandra Mouwen finally received the pictures of the party she organised for her parents, and she utilized them to create this frame album.

My parents are married for 40 years this year and I threw them a surprise party a while back. I wanted to give them something to remember that day. I had this frame laying around and it was perfect for this project. I covered the frame with Tissue Tape and for the cover I used a clear sheet and embossed it with the Collage Embossing Folder. On top of that I cut out the Weathered Clock and painted it black with Pitch Black Paint Dabber and finished it with a the Waterfall Glimmer Glaze. The date of the party is spelled with the Maya Road Bingo Numbers.

I (May) was inspired to try something completely different - after all, it is no rules week, right? I made a crafty video to share and I hope you enjoy. I hope to play with more videos on the challenge blog in future:

Sarah played with a fusion of colours and styles to create her funky card.

I just love this sassy lady from Tim's Pattern Pieces stamp set! I love her retro look and stylish clothes which just ooze lots of 1950's glamour. But I thought I would bring her into the 21st century with a splash of Dylusions Spray Inks and some funky shapes teamed up with Tim's Mixed Media dots. I had fun mixing things up with punched circles, splatters and bold colours, all finished off with  Chit Chat words to express my my thought of the day. Be different. Be yourself!

Terry was having fun with the No Rules and made a wallhanger with no rules at all.

I love hearts and I sure love the Crackle that I used for the background of my wallhanger. First I played with Gesso and with the Wendy Vecchi Stampset and placed the hearts onto the corrugated card and played with Fired Brick, Spun Sugar and Vintage Photo  on the crackle background. The sentiment has been worked on with Crackle Accents and distress inks. I had the fabby lace in my closet and it was just waiting for me to be colored with distress stains. Last but not least I placed some Game Spinners and Sprocket Gears on top to finish my project.

Dan started out to make a card but ended up with something he's framed and put on his wall.

OK, so I'll admit that I don't get to the theatre often enough to have seen the musical Les Miserables, but I have seen the poster and this reminds me of that a bit.  Somehow.  No?  The face is one of Tim Holtz's iconic wood-mounted stamps, happily now available in the Classics #5 set.  I'm loving that Tim has brought out these classics wood-free, I only have room for maple on pancakes!  Things I used on the background included Distress Stains in Aged Mahogany and Mustard Seed and some Festive Berries Distress Ink.

Anna-Karin made a mini-book called ‘Postcards from the past’

These photos from a visit to an old farming community, which is now a museum, needed a home. The idea behind the mini-book came from the Stamper’s Anonymous Folded Paper stamp, which was stamped as a base for all the pages. A postcard stamp and some ink turned the pages into vintage postcards. The cover was cut from chipboard, covered with a perfect MME woodgrain paper, die-cut with the Sizzix Brackets die, and embellished with an aged clock, some stamping, printed tape and a rose ribbon.

I encourage you to check out each of the design team member's blogs for more photos, supply lists, and more. Simply click on their name (above the photo of their project) to visit their blog.

Now that we've shared their creations - we're ready to see yours! As always, Simon Says Stamp is once again giving away a $50 gift voucher that will go to a random entry chosen by Random Generator. The challenge will close at 11:59pm Eastern time on Sunday, August 26 and the winner will be announced during the following week. To qualify all you need to do is create a new project that ties in with our theme and post it to your blog along with a link back to this challenge, and then add a link here.

For the full rules, read the "challenge rules" posted in the side-bar here on our blog. We can't wait to see what you make.