Mediterranean Blooms for AYSI 331

You might have noticed that the challenges at As You See It rotate through six different styles meaning that every twelve weeks, you'll get a repeat style. Well, this week it's back to the one you either love or hate: the SPEED challenge.

That's right, a speed challenge. All we're asking you to do is to create something with a fruit theme in TEN MINUTES OR LESS.

Before you spill your coffee or fall off your chair at the thought, here's how it works. 

Before the clock starts you can:

• Plan what you're going to make
• Get out your supplies (e.g. put the inks and embellishments on the table)
• Set up things (e.g. block the stamps and set up the correct sandwich in the die cutting machine.)

But once you cut anything or ink anything then the clock has to start. 

You'll also be pleased to know that clean-up time is not included either since this type of adrenalin inducing crafting usually leads to a bigger mess than normal!

If you speed stamp often, you'll work out a few tricks that help you. For me, it's one of the times I'm likely to use DSP since you can get high impact with little effort.

I had some of the lovely Mediterranean Blooms DSP left over from a class. I thought I'd try out the Rip and Flip technique I'd seen the wonderful Jacque Williams use. 

Now this is a variation on something I've done before. Since Stampin' Up's DSP is double sided, I've quite often cut the paper and turned over one panel then added a sentiment and some embellishments for a quick card. The difference here is that you rip the panel, flip over one side and see what happens.

I really like the result, but maybe that's just because the fruity side of the paper looks so jolly good against the tiled side!

I don't actually have the Citrus Blooms bundle that coordinates with this paper, so I used Something Fancy stamps and dies for my sentiments.

The card base is Night of Navy and the tag is shadowed with Boho Blue. The embellishments are Basic Rhinestones, coloured with a Night of Navy Stampin' Blend.

And the time taken for this ripping and flipping? 

I enjoyed doing it so much, that I made a companion for it.

The team and I would love to see your speedy creations. Visit the As You See It page to see what the rest of the team have done and to link up your entry. You can join in the challenge until Wednesday September 11, 11.59pm PST.

If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. 

You can shop with me from  anywhere in New Zealand here.