How a Sketch Challenge is Born

Coming up with a new sketch challenge for Stampin' Addicts isn't always easy.  After posting 106 of them, sometimes it seems like there are no new sketches in the world. But I look for inspiration constantly.  Sometimes it comes from a Stampin' Up publication.  Sometimes from the idea boards at convention or a swap I received. 

And sometimes, like this week, it comes from me just sitting at my desk stamping and putting pieces together until something clicks.  That's what happened this week.  I wanted to make a card that featured the Strength & Hope Campaign set.  Each time this stamp set is purchased, Stampin' Up! Donates $2 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.  It's a beautiful set and it's only available through the end of August.  This is what I came up with:

Colors: Soft Suede, Pool Party, Pear Pizazz.  Stamps: Strength and Hope.  Punches: 1" Square Punch.  Accessories: Mini Brads, Paper Piercer, Mat Pack.

It seemed a little too basic for a sketch challenge at first.  But then I thought, what if I included the flourishes as part of the challenge, but not necessarily as flourishes.  So I made another card based on the same layout:

Colors: Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade.  Stamps: Best of Everything.  Punch: Decorative Label.  Accessories: Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon & Designer Printed Brad, Filigree Designer Brad, Paper Piercer and Mat Pack.

Can you see the same sketch in both cards?  One of the things I love about a sketch challenge is that you can substitute slightly different shapes to give cards a whole new look.  In this one, I used the Decorative Label Punch to "bracket" the main piece where the flourishes were in the first card. 

The next step to posting the challenge is to sketch it out in My Digital Studio.  This is the actual sketch that was posted for yesterday's challenge on Stampin' Addicts:

I'd love to see what you come up for this sketch.  Head on over to Stampin' Addicts and play along.  And if you see a card or create one yourself that would make a great sketch challenge, please send the idea my way.