Manchester 3 Challenge

What's the Manchester 3 Challenge, you ask? While watching the clock and waiting to enter my first new catalog order at 1:00 pm CST today, I decided to give myself a challenge from the new catalog. First, I needed a birthday card for my dad and second, I had to see if I could create something without using all new In Colors or Bella Rosa DSP! So, I looked at the beautiful new designer series papers (DSP) and quickly picked one, Manchester, (I LOVE the way the new catalog tells you the colors in each DSP right below it, thank you SU!) which uses Kraft, Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, and Very Vanilla...perfect for a masculine birthday card.

Next, I decided I would randomly open the catalog to a page and case one of the cards on that page with the Manchester colors AND I would use my older stamp sets! Shocking, I know! lol! And I decided I would do it 3 times to make 3 cards. Fun, huh? It really was!

For the first card, I opened to page 149 and decided to copy the red card in the middle. I changed the standard size shown to a 5 1/4" square card so I could use my Full Calendar set. I also changed the scallop border in the sample to the spiral border for a more masculine feel. Go open your catalog and tell me what you think! lol!


Note: at this point I stopped to place my SU order, then I got sucked into the computer vortex for a few hours, ran errands, etc...long story short, I didn't get back to my challenge until about 7:30 pm, so my good light for photography was gone, but I carried on anyway. (*Edited to add new photos taken in the daylight the next morning!)

For the next card, I opened the catalog randomly to page 104 and decided to copy the "friend" card in the center. I wasn't sure about the size, so I guessed and made mine 3 1/4" x 6 1/2" which I think is too big because I couldn't get the little tabs on the sample to fit right on mine, so I left them off.

I used the Embrace Life set, perfect for this card and look. I didn't have the Curly Label punch yet (but I will on Wednesday, hee! hee!), so I improvised by using the Designer Label punch and turning it on its side. I liked it! I also added in Not Quite Navy for the strip under the Chocolate Chip ribbon (I had a perfect size scrap leftover from Convention make & takes!), because they used pink & darker red in their sample, so NQN was a perfect shade darker to the Baja Breeze.



Lastly, I flipped to page 35 and made the little square card on the bottom. I started with a 5 1/4" square, but it was way too big when I started assembling the card, so I cut it down to a 4" x 4" square. I think the catalog sample was even smaller, maybe a 3" x 3". Hint: Not sure what size to make your cards? Go look on page 167 of the catalog that shows the cards and envelopes and copy those sizes!

I used the Season of Joy stamp set, and I substituted the Scallop Circle punch, because I don't have the Scallop Square punch yet (but I will on Wednesday, hee! hee!). For the words, I found a white rub-on that would work from the Anchored Rub-Ons. This went together very quickly!


So that was major fun today! Do you feel like trying it? I love this color combination that I would never have put together on my own, it was great using "old" stamp sets, and I found it so easy to copy and tweak the awesome catalog samples using stuff I already had. This may be addicting! I can't wait to hear what you think and see your results when you try it! *wink*

If you haven't been to the Stampin' Up! website, go check it out! Lots of exciting things going on today: the new catalog, 15% off never-before-seen stamps, and sign-up specials! Click the links on the sidebar to take you right there and let me know if you have any questions!

Thanks for stopping by! Have you stamped something today?

Birthday card recipe
Stamps: Mark the Date, Full Calendar.
Cardstock: Kraft, Baja Breeze, Always Artichoke, Very Vanilla.
Ink: Chocolate Chip.
Accessories: Sprial Punch, Word Window Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Always Artichoke Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/8" & 1/4" Circle Punch, Vintage Brad, Stamp-a-ma-Jig, Dimensionals.

Embrace Life card recipe
Stamps: Embrace Life, Define Your Life.
Cardstock: Kraft, Always Artichoke, Chocolate Chip, Not Quite Navy, Very Vanilla.
Ink: Always Artichoke, Baja Breeze, Staz-On Brown.
Accessories: Designer Label Punch, Paper Piercer & Guide, Chocolate Chip 1" Double-Stitched Ribbon, Aquapainters, Always Artichoke button.

Season of Joy card recipe
Stamps: Season of Joy
Cardstock: Baja Breeze, Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke.
Ink: Baja Breeze, Staz-On Brown.
Accessories: Pretties Kit, Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Vintage Brad, Very Vanilla Taffeta Ribbon, Anchored Rub-Ons, Dimensionals.