Iron Craft Challenge Week

IronCraftChallenges by Chaitali Narla

Hey Folks!

Here looking for this week’s Iron Craft episode? Well Iron Craft is on a little break today — sort of.

But wait! Hear me out! You are going to love this I promise!!

Every 5 episodes of Iron Craft we’ll take a break week to re-orient ourselves, plan the next episodes and do something different! BUT that doesn’t mean it will be all dull and gloomy here! No Sir! Instead we’ll spend the week on challenges inspired by YOU!

Yeah! Remember all the questions my guests asked you? And all the fabulous answers you gave? And the fun discussions we had? Yup, they are all coming right back at you as inspirations for challenges!!!

Here is what you need to know:

  1. For each of the past 5 episodes of Iron Craft I have put together an inspiration collage based on your answers to that week’s question. I have explained the collages a bit as well!
  2. You can pick one or more of the inspiration collages to make your crafty item (card, tag, scrapbook page, anything!) for this challenge but you must pick at least 1 collage for inspiration.
  3. Upload your creation to the web (blog, Flickr, Splitcoast gallery, anywhere else) and make sure to mention which inspiration collages you chose in your blog post.
  4. Link up your creation in the linky below this post!
  5. You have until the next break week to add in your creations. Thats till June 1, 11.59 PM PST

So now that the rules are out of the way, lets see the inspirations, shall we?

Inspiration 1: Trends From Julie

In Episode 1 of this season, Julie Ebersole asked you what your favorite trends were. Top responses were Watercoloring, Stencils and Dies! Not surprising 🙂 So the collage I compiled has a bit of each. Each is represented by inspiration pics or some fab cards!

Trends

Inspiration 2: Memories from Amy

In Episode 2, Amy Wanford asked you what your most positive crafting memories were. You all had some very touching and very beautiful memories to share. Many talked about giving your crafty creation to someone and enjoying their reaction! Quite a few involved meeting crafting friends and crafting together.

Its hard to represent all these wonderful responses in a collage. But I tried to. With some lovely quotes, a fun card I found on Papercrafts Connection and photos of me and Amy spending crafting time together with friends.

If you do select this inspiration for your creation this week, I’d encourage you to think of someone you’d like to give your creation to, think of memories you had with that person and craft for that person! And then do actually give them that creation and enjoy their reaction!!

Here is the pic for you!

Memories

Inspiration 3: Difficult Colors from Sarah

In Episode 3, Sarah Gough talked about her difficult and scary colors and asked you all what yours were. Purple came to the top of the list! Followed by Orange and Green.

So I put together a collage of 3 beautiful cards I found with these colors and 3 lovely photos of these colors too. If you choose to use this as your inspiration, I’d encourage you to craft in these colors or your own scary color and meet your fear head on!

Colors

Inspiration 4: Desserts from Laura

Laura Bassen asked the most delicious question of this season so far in Episode 4! There were SO many favorite desserts that I lost count of the virtual calories gained! Chocolate seemed a universal favorite. And cookies too. But cheesecakes were not to be left behind. And ladies, you like your creme brulees a lot too!

So here is a mouth-watering dessert fare to inspire you. Just remember to craft when you see it 😉

Desserts

Inspiration 5: Stamps from Nicole

Its a special day when the owner of a stamp company asks you about stamp sets you wish you had! Nicole Rixon did that in Episode 5.

I couldn’t put together stamps you wish existed because they don’t exist (yet)! But I did the next best thing – put together a collage of inspiring stamp sets from your top wishlist items!

Most of you wished for stamps with great fonts and scripty sentiments. Close second was builder sets which could be used for many cards in many ways. Some of you wished for Pocket Scrapbooking/Project Life sets. And detailed images that could be embossed or colored in were also on the wishlist. So here is a collage that captures some existing sets that may satisfy your wishlist!

When you use this inspiration, remember to be inspired by the set “type” rather than the exact set. If you have the set, go ahead and pull it out, dust it off and give it some love! But if you don’t, no sweat – just use what you have!

Stamps

So hope that was plenty of inspiration to get you crafting this week! I would LOVE to see your crafty creations so please do link them up! There may just be a few prizes for grabs 😉

And this is a great time to catch up on the past episodes of Iron Craft (even Season 1) if you haven’t been following it regularly!

I’ll see you with a regular episode next week!

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19 Comments

  1. Eileen L.
    Reply

    Hi Chaitali:
    Sadly I dont have a blog to post a card to so wont be participating. Im hoping to see designers on Iron Craft that do other things besides Stamping since Cuts Crop and Creativity is everything including designers that stamp. Looking forward to the next Iron Craft.

    Like

    1. Chaitali
      Reply

      Hey Eileen! I just updated the blog post. Thanks for bringing this up. I completely forgot that you could link to a challenge in other ways. Sorry about that.

      You can totally play with a Flickr entry or Splitcoast Stampers gallery or any other way so long as you have a way to link to your card photo! 🙂

      Would be absolutely awesome to have you join in! I’d love to see your work! Hope you can play along.

      Like

      1. Virginia L.

        Just chiming in about adding projects to the link…You can also use Facebook page to link up the project! I have seen it working beautifully on other challenges (such as Virginia’s View Challenge)! Hope you can play, Eileen!

        Like

  2. c
    Reply

    BRILLIANT, Chaitali, absolutely brilliant! Your challenge offers so many entry points – and your creativity in coming up with these is amazing! Looking forward to playing (once I get over how scrumptious the Inspiration 4 collage is…distracted by the delicious decadence *grin*). Thanks for being such an enthusiastic, effervescent hostess! Visits here always brighten my day and since we’re leaving my family, after spending a fabulous Easter weekend, I sure need some spirit-lifting! Thanks for add some sparkle!
    c

    Like

  3. Virginia L.
    Reply

    You have such an amazing and creative way to come up with these inspirational challenge themes….I am itching to play along, Chaitali! I think I can come up at least one for each episode (LOL)!! Thanks for motivating us 🙂

    Like

    1. Chaitali
      Reply

      Thanks Virginia! PLEASE do play along!! I KNOW your creations will be a stunner! 🙂 And 5 entries are better than one! Just saying 😉

      Like

    1. Chaitali
      Reply

      Just updated the post to say you just need to upload your entry somewhere where you can link it up here! Do mention the collages you used since I’m planning to showcase a few in each inspiration when the challenge ends! 🙂 I’d love to see your creation Michele so please do play along!!

      Like

  10. Winnie & Walter
    Reply

    We are a little late to the party, but how fun to include The Big, the Bold and the Happy as part of your inspiration! The uploaded links are already pretty fantastic. Will be looking forward to see more projects from all of the great inspiration here! Chaitali, this is fab!

    Like

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