Currently I prefer my cards to be clean and simple with a few embellishments as well as dry embossing and if I have time I prefer to using embossing powder for my sentiments. There isn't enough time to accomplish most of this in the challenge, BUT I used new techniques such as making an acetate card, a stair step card, and a coffee filter background. These were new to me and I actually had wanted to make an acetate card for quite some time. Even though many cards were not my style, I still can use them for relatives. The cards that were my style mostly were not up to my standards, however, it is a good start and I have ideas to change them up to my liking. A few of my cards came out extremely well and are totally me. I would not have made those cards had it not been for the challenge so I am grateful for what I learned as well as how much fun it was.
I did a mini challenge a few years back and was disappointed that it didn't last all weekend. This year I discovered that the mini challenge AND the weekend challenges are all part of the same challenge. You don't have to do both of them but they coordinate with each other.
I couldn't remember the timing of the challenges so I went into this years challenges thinking that the weekend challenge started somewhere between 4 pm and 6 pm on Friday. Turns out is starts at 5 pm. I couldn't remember if the Saturday challenges were from morning until dinner or from afternoon to evening or if they lasted all day. I couldn't find the information in the forums or on the advertisement they had on their web page, but if memory serves me right this year I believe it started at noon and lasted until the 10 pm challenge.
So for me, I have figured out these things:
- Having a ton of unused beautiful sticker sheets of realistic animals, flowers, beach themed items and etc was helpful since I didn't have as many pre-stamped, colored, and cut images to work with.
- I could have used more black framing pieces of different sizes. In the future I will be sure to have pre-made black rectangles in various card useful sizes to frame my focal points and etc. White would also be nice.
- I knew I had enough adhesive but I need to be aware of how much I have going in to each VSN.
- I don't think they publicize the details of the VSN enough. It didn't seem like many people were participating and it's a shame since it is a blast. Maybe if Splitcoast stampers constantly posted the times as well as the fact that you don't have to finish all the cards during the time they are live; you just need to limit yourself to one hour per card.
- I was ready ahead of time with snacks and beverages and a quick pre-made salad that I could eat in 15 minutes or less. This is essential.
- It is normal to run behind because you need to eat, use the restroom, pick up kids, etc. That throws the timing off. In the future I hope to stop trying to play catch-up. This time I tried to do the challenges in order but at one point I was two hours behind and that was becoming stressful for me. The challenge isn't meant to make you stressful so I switched to the most current challenge, then I finished all the challenges and was able to work on the ones I missed.
- Once I fall behind (which everone will at some point) I can use any time while waiting for the next challenge to post my photos to the gallery and fill in the details. I actually realized about halfway through the challenges this year that you aren't requried to fill in much detail. I eventually just started posting photos and using the keyword for the challenges. You are not allowed to upload photos on Sunday so I wanted all my photos uploaded by Saturday at midnight. Leaving off the details sped me up and I was able to upload all my photos before midnight on Saturday. On Sunday, even though I couldn't upload photos, I WAS able to edit my submissions and add the details.
- I wanted to "like" and comment on many of the submissions so I did that after midnight on Saturday as well as on Sunday.
- I completely cleaned up and organized my craft room the day before the challenge. I am so glad I did because I found the heat gun I had misplaced and had a fresh memory of all the sticker sheets I had which was helpful when I had to come up with a card design on the fly.
My next goal is to reproduce one card I made that my daughter immediately took to a birthday party before the challenges had even ended. I did take a photo first though. I loved that card. I also want to slightly alter a few others that I made to see if they can be as awesome as I think they can be. I have truly been inspired by the challenges.
