Monday, March 4, 2013

Challenge: By the numbers...

 
Design team member Dan said to me one day, why not a challenge about numbers? I couldn’t help but be intrigued. I could challenge myself to use a specific number of items, use number stamps, stencils, paper with numbers on it, create a layout with a top five list, journal my top ten favorite things - and on and on my mind spun! I could use a ticket stamp, color-by-number with some Copic markers, and so much more.
I know I’m inspired to keep numbers in mind this week - and I can’t wait to see what Dan and the rest of the team come up with as well!
 
Sarah decided not to be too literal and went with a trio of both flowers and wording... Here is one of two cards she created with numbers in mind.
 They say there is something about odd numbers that works for the eye, and I have to agree. I often find myself working in threes, fives and sevens when playing with flowers and other die cut shapes. How about you? I'm still really enjoying myself playing round with inky masterboards and letting them evolve. These Wendy Vecchi flower stamps are still some of my all time favourite florals and are just perfect for stamping onto any surface. Here I've loaded up a sheet of Ranger Specialty Paper with Dylusions Inks before playing with stencils, splats, bottle top rings and more Wendy leaves. I've added textural stitching to both the flowers and card, added some Tim words and for some reason decided to chop off one corner! Go with the flow I say.
 

Adding her trademark texture and dimension is key in this dimensional canvas from Tracy.
I found this piece really therapeutic, cutting out all those metal flowers using the Tattered Florals die from Metal Foil. There is nothing I find more fun than creating when there are no time constraints and this was one of those pieces that I enjoyed from start to finish. I love the face image from the Stampers Anonymous Classics 5 set, there is something about her stare. I have given her a numbered backdrop using Memory Box Large Classic Number Set painted with PaperArtsy Fresco Finish Paint in Mermaid and Beach Hut.


Trace found number inspiration from Facebook.
When I saw this list of Life Rules, I immediately knew my Dylusions Art Journal would be the perfect place for it; as a daily reminder. My goal for this page was to just play like a kid, so I decided to finger paint as much of it as possible! To guide me in that, I thought the graphic background from my Tim Holtz Tissue Wrap Paper was just what I needed; and it was easily adhered to the page with Studio Multi-Media Matt. A bit more finger painting with Faber-Castell Gelatos, Studio Gesso, and Pan Pastels through my Dylusions Number Jumble stencil; formed the perfect graphic background for my list.


Ashli's decided that this week's theme of numbers was a great prompt to scrap about her three girls!
Three girls, family of five, 2 dogs... it's all in the numbers! I love the idea of taking the "numbers" approach to scrapbooking my family. We have been blessed with more children than we thought we would have and would love to have more. This week my layout is about just that! To create my circular embellishments, I simply grabbed some number Thickers, collaged them up and painted them with Claudine's Blank Canvas. A quick run through the Sizzix with my Bigz Circle Die and they were ready to go! After layering up some Crate Paper On Trend gorgeousness, I added in my number embellishments and tucked in my journaling... all about our family size. What a great story to have in my album.


I (May) went poking around my stash and found that I have several Dylusions products that have numbers to add into this challenge entry.
Funny, but I never noticed that my birds and flowers Dylusions stamps are decorated with numbers. Almost like a secret (crafty) code is there, just waiting to be called upon for this very challenge! You might also notice that my background seems to have some hidden numbers lurking as well thanks to my trusty number jumble stencil and mist. It was a lot of fun looking around my stash to see where numbers lurked, and making note of just how many numbers are hiding in plain sight right here in my craft room.

Candy created this intricate Wendy Vecchi meets Shabby Chic style wall hanging/key holder.
Numbers, numbers everywhere!  Can you tell that I like using numbers in projects?  My inspiration for this piece was house numbers.  So, why not add the Art Parts Residence to go with it?  The Mini Numerals covered in Red Pepper Paint Dabber and then Clear Embossed remind me of old chipped enameled house numbers.  The intricate top of this Film Strip Arts Parts Base show how Tim Holtz' and Wendy Vecchi products compliment each other so well.  Tim's Little Labels numbers are the focal point of Wendy's Borders and Bottles Art Parts Stars.  Add a Blossom Bucket Front Door, and it's Welcome Home!

Sandra Mouwen found her way back to her art journal, where she played with lots of numbers.
It's been a while since I done some art journal pages, and this challenge brought me back to it. I do like numbers and that it represents all kinds of things in all different ways. We live by numbers and these pages represent that. I was in a messy mood, and that's a good thing for art journaling. So I covered the pages with some Claudine Helmuth Studio Gesso. On the edges I dabbed some Hazelnut Paint Dabber with the Bricks Stencil. On top of that I smeared the edges with Terra Cotta and Pool Paint Dabber. I really love the Numero stamp set and had lots of fun playing with the Number Jumble stencil and using Modeling Paste that I colored with Classic Teal Studio Paint.


Dan turned to a classic of children's literature for his inspiration this week.
As children I'm guessing that many of you, like me, read "The Phantom Tollbooth" by Norton Juster.  Even though it was sooooo long ago, I'm convinced that the adventures of Milo on his journey through Dictionopolis and Digitopolis helped to give me the love of wordplay and numbers that I still treasure today.  This piece is my representation of the Mathemagician, King of Digitopolis and lover of numbers.  The sharp-eyed among you can probably spot the Countown and Around the Edge stamp sets, and buried somewhere under that beard is Wendy Vecchi's Well Dressed man.


Suzz was inspired by rulers and  measurements.
I decided to play with a  tag this week. I started by searching through my stamps looking for different numbers.  The ruler on the Stampers Anonymous Attic Treasures caught my eye.  I wanted to create a unique pattern on the background of my tag.  The rulers inspired me to stamp the dress forms and dress them with butterflies at the waist.  I added a Philosophy tag to the twine which seemed appropriate.


From playing banker as a child, to playing musical majors in college from engineering, to mathematics, to accounting, Anita has always had a love for numbers, and uses them often in her projects.
Not only do I love numbers, but I also love to play games. My family and I often play card and board games especially during the holidays. I thought a decorative game box that houses decks of cards and game pads would be a nice decorative touch on our coffee table, and would be a great conversational piece for guests.
After crackling a wooden box, I stamped a slew of number and game themed Stamper's Anonymous images on tissue paper, including the new Tim Holtz and Mario III's Blueprint Mini Game Wheel from #4 and Mini Queen of Hearts from #2, that I decoupaged on. A few lost game items and some Idea-ology Game Pieces found a new home to complete the box.



Anna-Karin planned to do a tag, but this project had its own mind and wanted to be a canvas instead:
This canvas was inspired by one of my favourite series of books, in which numbers, time, and distance play a major role, especially the number '19'. I had fun making a layered background using paints, a transfer technique with Claudine Hellmuth Studio Multi-Medium, a stencil, lots of Tim Holtz stamps and heat embossing. The door was made by stamping a Remnants stamp and embossing it with Rust powder. As embellishments I used quite a few Idea-ology pieces, a mini canvas, roses made with the Tattered Pinecone die, as well as grungeboard die cuts which were heat embossed or painted.
 
 
Now the question is, what magical number will you use? and what entry number will win the prize? We can't wait to see! Of course be sure to click on our design team's blog links so you can see more photos (and full supply lists) for their projects. for more inspiration too.
 
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 March 10th EST.

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



17 comments:

  1. My goodness, is it just me, or does the Design Team get better every week?!? =) Super inspiring pieces!

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  2. I agree with Mary, above! Fabulous inspiration by the DT this week....wow.

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  3. Wow!!! I think you all outdid yourselves with creativity this week!! Totally awesome projects!!

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  4. The DT creations are #1 (used the number theme in comment) & fun challenge.
    Melissa
    "Sunshine HoneyBee"

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  5. The DT did a great job! Thanks for a number challenge - enjoy your week!

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  6. Stunning and inspirational pieces. Hope to play along

    Hugs

    Annie x

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  7. OMG.... AMAZING work by everyone!

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  8. Gorgeous cards! So glad I stumbled across this blog :-) Definitely going to keep following.

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  9. Beautiful projects,Everyone did great...

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  10. Such a nice challenge !!!

    Thanks a lot !!

    Hugs from France ♥
    Lunéa ^^

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  11. This was fun just glad I got it done on time!!

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  12. What a fun challenge! I needed a 90th birthday card - perfect match!

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  13. Very cool challenge - and outstanding inspiration from the DT!
    Alison x

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  14. Dear design team, I found your blog through a blog-friend and was impressed straight away! Thanks so much for hosting this challenge and giving us the chance to present our work!Your blinky is on my site now and I am looking forward to playing along regularly from now on.
    Greetings from Manu

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  15. My god you people are so talented! Thanks for the continued inspiration! Makes me happy!!!

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  16. Just made it in under the wire with a second entry to this great challenge... thanks for such fab inspiration - the whole team are so amazing!
    Alison x

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