Wednesday, August 6, 2014

STAMPOTIQUE DESIGNERS' CHALLENGE 159: BOWS!

As Stampotique Designers' Challenge design team members, we have a list of upcoming challenges so that we can be ready to post on the day the challenge goes live!  A perk you say?  In most cases, yes.  We can design without the pressure of deadlines.  But, there are those rare occasions, like this one, when I know what's coming and absolutely dread it!  I am not a "bow" person.  If you could look through everything I have ever created, you would not find one bow!  But, first, read what my wonderful teammate and friend Jackie Payne has to say:
   Ribbons have been around since the Middle Ages. Merchants travelled the world, buying and selling ribbon, many of which had gold and silver in the silk. ribbons were a sign of nobility and worn only by the rich. By the  seventh century ribbon was part of the fashion industry and was part of clothing.
   Today ribbon has numerous uses, and it is a favourite crafting accessory, I have lots of it! 
   You can make fabulous bows with it to adorn your cards, scrapbook page,  tags, journals, etc.
   So, I would like to see you adding a bow to your project, if you don't have ribbons, bows can be made out of many mediums such as paper, clay, and string to name but a few!
   I looking forward to seeing your creations with a bow!
So, I have been saving bows.  People who knew of my predicament have been saving bows for me.  I have been practicing tying bows.  But, nothing seemed to inspire me. I have been creating gelli prints for months, but my prints have just been stacking up and I have not been using them.  My goal was to do that for this challenge.  I gathered all my prints and leafed through them for inspiration.  I found one that I liked and the color immediately reminded me of a Stampotique stamp that I had purchased, but not yet used. 
 

"Stacked Cups" is a fun stamp created by designer Roc Nicholas.  I stamped it, trimmed around it and laid it on my gelli print.  I was now on a roll.  What followed was a bit of coloring with my Copics and printing a sentiment on my computer.  An addition of a piece of "scrap metal" from my stash, and done...well, except for that damned bow!!  Keep it simple, I thought.  I combed through my ribbon drawer(s) and found twine.  Simple, basic, very ordinary twine...and I tied a simple, basic, very ordinary bow!


So, while I did not like the challenge, I really do like what I created.  So, thanks, Jackie, for giving me the nudge!

I hope you will join us in creating something this week.  The submission guidelines are here.  At the end August, two lucky artists will be randomly chosen to receive a $30 gift certificate for anything in the Stampotique "store."  

Thank you for stopping by today, and thanks, too, for taking a moment to leave a comment.  Both are appreciated!

Cheers!


22 comments:

  1. Bravo on the bow - you can't beat a bit of twine, I'd say! I know exactly what you mean when a challenge theme comes up that you dread - but sometimes that step out of the comfort zone turns up something unexpectedly pleasurable... great tag!
    Alison xx

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  2. Love the background. Love the yellow. The stack of cups look fab and your bow? Twined perfection. Great tag Kay. Hugs

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  3. I love your tag Kay, the colors are perfect and your ribbon and bow are also perfect!!

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  4. Kay! This is awesome!! I love the twine wrapping and bow. Beautiful colors and then the twine gives it an unexpected texture.

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  5. So clever done! I'm not such a "bow-person" myself so don't know if I will come up with an idea... Think this is a perfect example of not giving up and let your creativity flow!

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  6. I love bows! The twine gives a special touch to this beautiful tag!

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  7. Look at you Kay! all nervous about the "Bow" and you rocked it!! Wonderful tag with just the right Bow! hugs")

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  8. Very cool background, the twine is a nice touch.

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  9. You make me lol GF! Your piece is really delightful, great background is fabulous. I cant tie bows either n most of my Gelli art sucks, lol! That is what friends are for right. Xx

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  10. A wonderful tag Kay! Your artsy gelli-print is the perfect background for this simple but super-fun stamp (and the twine bow is the perfect finishing touch :-)).

    Roz M.

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  11. It's a fab tag Kay, you did well even if you did struggle - nobody would know ;) x

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  12. Well Hi Kay, You already know I love this little beauty!! I had no clue you weren't to keen on bows !! It turned out brilliantly :D
    Thank you so much for your kind encouragement on my blog, you are so generous and it is very much appreciated :D Hugs Gay x

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  13. Fabulous Tag Kay and the twine is the perfect thing to use as a bow. I am not a bow person myself so can understand your hesitancy when it came to this challenge. You have definitely rocked it! :-) xxx

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  14. Wow Kay I LOVE your gelli background, and it goes perfectly with Stacked Cups. But your piece de resistance is definitely your twine bow! I bet you put bows on everything from now on :-) xx

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  15. Brilliant Kay, just love it. There's nothing like a nice cuppa xxx

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  16. Your simple ordinary bow has trade this very stylish and beautiful tag even more special! Great job ! Mwah !
    Corrie x

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  17. A little 'Hello' to you my dear friend Kay :) It's not too late to tell you that I adore this tag!!!... Because for me it meets all the criteria to be a perfect tag, with the two things I love so much: COFFEE and FRIENDS! And the little blow is just the icing on the cake.. Great take on the challenge! Mwah! xxx

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  18. Congrats on sticking with it - I know what you mean! Your tag is terrific. Love the bright sunny colors.

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  19. Congrats on sticking with it - I know what you mean! Your tag is terrific. Love the bright sunny colors.

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  20. Gorgeous tag Kay!! Love this stamp, this one is on my wishlist for a while now, should come home soon ;-) XOXO

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  21. I think the bow is perfect. More would have detracted from the rest of the tag. I love love that stack of cups they are so pretty. Fab take on the challenge my friend. xx

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  22. Hello, just followed you here from Pauline's blog, and was browsing your lovely creations when I saw this! LOVE it! I'm a tea-aholic, so the image is perfect, I adore the colours and the twine - and the bow - is perfect! Really great tag! x

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Thank you for taking a moment to leave a comment! Your kind words are appreciated and serve as inspiration to me.