Of course, stamping is always fun. But sometimes it's extra-fun, like today! Why is today extra-fun, you ask? Well, let me tell you. A few weeks ago, one of my very favorite stampers asked if I'd like to participate in a friendly challenge with her. You're definitely familiar with this stamper. She's one of those super-duper versatile stampers who can take any image and make it look like a million bucks. After I caught a whiff of my smelling salts to prevent fainting related injuries, I dashed off an immediate "YES!!!!!"
Now, you may be asking "Why, oh why would you want to participate in a challenge with a hot snot stamper next to whom you can't help but look like cold booger?" Were you to ask this out loud, I would tell you what I tell my ultra-competitive 11 year old:
- It's not a competition.
- There are always going to be people smarter, stronger, faster, and better looking. The point is to do your best, have fun, and be a good sport. (I really have to emphasize that last part with T.)
- A smart person knows that it's better to be the smallest house in a great neighborhood than the biggest house in a crummy one. Surround yourself with awesomeness and some of it's bound to rub off!
- What fun is doing something easy? Look up the word CHALLENGE: A test of one's abilities or resources in a demanding but stimulating undertaking. "Demanding but stimulating" -- doesn't get better than that!
After my usual long-winded pontificating, are you still curious as to who my challenge buddy is? You are? Does that mean you want me to tell you her name? Oh. Alrighty, then. It's none other than the magnificent
MICHELE BOYER (aka Shel9999)!
I know! Pinch me, huh?! Obviously, I can't speak to her motivations (pity? charity?), I'm just happy she knows my name...
So here's our challenge to each other: Michele picks out a stamp, but before she tells me what it is, I send her some patterned paper (and she reveals the stamp while the paper is en route). We both have to use the same stamp and patterned paper, but everything else is fair game. Each month, we alternate roles, so next month I'll be picking the stamp.
May stamp: Latte Bella by Stamping Bella
Paper: funky, colorful, beachy, patchwork-y paper by Flair
Here's what I came up with: In keeping with the casual, surfer feel of the paper, I went with a Kraft base and distressed every layer I could. The sentiment is one of my favorite java related sayings, and is by Crafty Secrets (I cut it up just for kicks & giggles). The key lime white-core CTMH background paper was ran through the Cuttlebug with Swiss Dots, then roughed up with a sandpaper block. And because she is a Bella, after all, I had to give in and provide her with a little bit of girly frou-frou in the form of some yummy 1" satin ribbon and some frosty Bella flatbacks.
I'm sure Michele has made something that will make your eyeballs fall out of their sockets, so please put on protective goggles before visiting her blog.
Wasn't this fun?! I can't wait until next month!!
Supplies used: stamps: Latte Bella by Stamping Bella, Coffee & Tea by Crafty Secrets; Paper: Kraft, Brilliant Blue (SU!), Key Lime (CTMH), Georgia Pacific White, dsp by Flair; Ink: Brilliance Archival Graphite Black, VersaFine Archival Onyx, Apricot Appeal (SU!); Accessories: Copic Sketch & Spica Markers, Swiss Dot embossing folder, sandpaper block, Tonic Paper Distresser, ribbon from Jody Morrow/texasjodylynn ribbon share, Circle Cutter, Dimensionals, frosty Bella flatbacks.