Monday, January 28, 2013

Challenge: Seeing Stars

Stars are the inspiration this week - and you’re welcome to take this inspiration literally or you can instead focus on a ‘star’ supply that you couldn’t imagine crafting without! Some glitter that sparkles like a star could work, a punch, a sticker, some paper, or any way you so choose to interpret this challenge. Whether you’re inspired by the night sky, the sports all-star in your life, or the cute star stencil you just found - we can’t wait to see what shines in your project this week!

Suzz was thinking of stars when she spotted this image with her fancy star belt buckle.
This image reminds me of all the stories I heard about Annie Oakley as a child.  I decided to use the Bo Bunny Market  papers as there soft colors and patterns reminded me of the Old West.  I needed lots of stars and the Fiskars Hand punch and Spellbinders Die Stars   were the perfect tools to create them.  The card opens with a window that showcases my cowgirl star.

Lights, Camera, Action! Candy was seeing stars when she created this dimensional 6x6 board honoring that beautiful and famous Hollywood icon, Marilyn Monroe.
 Seeing stars.  The second I saw this theme, this is what popped into my head.  I love Marilyn Monroe and the marriage of Sizzix Bigs Stars and Marilyn captured on an Caramel and Ginger Alcohol Inked vellum film strip seemed like the perfect project!   Follow the filmstrip ribbon as it winds from the camera flash of Tim Holtz' Mini Vintage Camera through the stars and into the "film reel" made from Tim Holtz' Gadget Gears, Grungeboard, cardstock and Gold and Silver Paint Dabbers.  Marilyn sits atop the film reel, posing for her next photo shoot.
 


Sarah was really happy with this theme as she was looking for a chance to use one of her favourite Wendy stamps... This is one of four cards she created.

When I head for my craft room I always find the remnants from the previous projects upon my table... Maybe, like me, you also have some art journal pages that are "in the make" which is a good way of saying still unfinished! I was inspired by the scraps and journal pages before me and set about creating some recycled cards. As said I love my Wendy stars and I also wanted to try out my new Phlax Aplha stamps which were prefect for the wording. These cards have a bit of everything I love. Splodges of paint, ink, torn pages and stamping and a bit of Picked Raspberry Distress Ink is just what you need to brighten up a dull day!

Dan has made a book containing a favourite song and things to count for a friend's young child.
Stars are probably my favourite design element, I use them on everything and never get tired of them. I reigned back the starriness a little for this project - a counting/singing book for a friend's daughter. She's starting to learn numbers and letters so I thought I'd make her a book full of stars (and other shapes) to count and a song to sing. Of course, Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star is sung to the same tune as the Alphabet Song, so it hopefully inspires her learning in more ways than one! I used Cavallini & Company Alphabet tape for the edges of the box and lined it with starry panels from the Retro Grunge paper stash. My trusty Bind-it-all machine made the whole thing possible, not to mention a selection of star brads and flower brads in a range of sizes and colours.


A vintage tag inspired by the Picture Star plate from Artistic Outpost was Tracy's interpretation of this weeks challenge.
Whenever I see a challenge for STARS I always seem to be drawn to old movies stars, like Fred Astaire and those wonderful leading ladies and the Picture Star plate depicts that perfectly for me. I am also drawn towards vintage tones when thinking of old movie stars created here using Brushed Corduroy and Walnut Stain Distress Inks. No movie star inspired tag would be complete without a touch of Film Strip Ribbon to add to that old style movie feeling. You really should take some time out and watch some of the old classics they are fantastic!


Trace combined her love for stars, and the love for her hubby; to come up with this tag.

My kinda ugly mop-up tag was the starting point for the manly tag I wanted to make :) The Crafters Workshop mini Star Shower template was the perfect tool to give the tag a subtle starry background. I first sponged Versamark through the stencil and then applied clear Hero Arts embossing powder. I need to remember to do this more often with my stencils!! To make the stars pop more, I added Tim Holtz Distress Ink Stains in colours Picket Fence and Tarnished Brass. For my awesome hubby I needed the perfect saying, and this one from Hero Arts clear stamp set Year Round Sentiments conveys exactly how I feel about him.

It's a wish upon a star that Sandra Mouwen's best friend got engaged.
I'm so happy that she is getting married! I wanted to make her this card, because she is a star to me! Of course my favorite Wooden Stars had to make their appearance on this card. The background I made with Little Miss Paper and did the sort of Marbled Stain Technique on it with Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar and Brushed Pewter Stains. The metallic stains are really gorgeous and like the way they blend and react with water. If you look closely you can see I used a piece of Tissue Wrap Melange in the back.


With a new year having just happened, Anita Houston couldn't help but think of  "Stars" in an astrological way by means of the zodiac- the Chinese Zodiac that is. 2013 is the Year of the Snake.
I find it fascinating to read the paper place mats at my local Chinese restaurant. They are almost always about what year you were born in, what animal you are represented by, and how other animals affect you.  As a funny side note, I'm a pig, well technically a boar, and my husband is a snake. We are supposed to be mortal enemies. I still like him after close to 21 years, so I don't place much creed in that!
I made a few of these Asian themed postcards to swap out with a couple of people using Distress Stains to create a Marbled Background on the postcard itself. The snake was cut from Kraft Paper and embossed with Tim's Bubbles Texture Fade.


Homeschooling is a big part of Ashli's day to day routine. Always eager to learn, her three girls certainly are her star students!
 
I couldn't wait to play with this Dear Lizzy Fifth and Frolic paper! The cute office, home, and love themes combined with the soft colors make it the perfect collection to scrap about our homeschooling adventures. With my papers all layered up, I cut some Stars with my Sizzix to tuck around and layer up. A few Studio Calico Stars add to the dimension while my glittery title adds the perfect amount of sparkle to this page all about my star students!


After having had too many ideas for star projects, Anna-Karin decided to make four star struck ATC's.
I like using stars in my projects and for this week, I ended up both using stars and having a star theme. The lovely images from Artistic Outpost's Picture Star set were stamped on glossy cardstock, inspired by old black & white photographs. I tinted the images lightly with Distress Inks, and used only grey and black dye inks to colour the background of the ATCs, placing the focus on the stars of the show. The small stars were die cut from black and white cardstock and covered with glass glitter. Film strip ribbon and pearls gave the finishing touches to this starry theme.

Finally, I (May) wanted to play with new distress paints and some paste - two starring supplies on my desk these days.
This 8" canvas went through a lot of layers and a lot of experimenting before the final piece was made. I used my star adhesive PPA with some tissue to give me a base layer and texture to the piece, then through trial and error (including a set of star cookie cutters!) I layered paint, stamped stars, and much more until I was happy with the final results. This little beauty will now hang in my studio and remind me to keep playing and experimenting with my wild creative ideas.
 
 

Whether you journal about a close encounter with a celebrity, relive Hollywood's glory days, use a star punch, or just share something with a supply currently 'starring' on your desk we look forward to seeing your creations! 
Be sure to click on our design team's blog links so you can learn more about what they love in their crafting and see more photos (and full supply lists) for their projects.
 
As always, Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $50 gift voucher that will go to a random entry chosen by Random Generator. To qualify all you need to do is create a new project that ties in (in any way!) with our theme and post it, along with a link back to this challenge, and add a link here. This challenge will end at 11:59pm on Sunday February 3rd EST.

For the full rules, read the "challenge rules" posted in the side-bar here on our blog.
 



12 comments:

  1. Some fab Dt makes, great inspiration trace. X

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  3. Beautiful inspirations!!! And really cool baby! :)

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  4. Gorgeous DT projects.

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  5. FAbulous creations guys, keep up the fabulous work wowzerss Hugs Terry xxx

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  6. Oh, the lovely stars...the DT team! Love your ideas!

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  7. I love all the star projects! My stars are on the Zentangle wall paper pattern. Blessings!

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  8. These are all "Super Stars"! Lovely work from the DT.

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  9. Great theme and gorgeous creations!!!
    Simone

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  10. Fabulous creations by the D T.
    Thank you for the challenge.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  11. Fabulous projects by the DT, thank you for the inspiration and great challenge.
    Pauline
    x

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  12. Fantastic DT samples...thank you for the "stars" challenge!

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