The 1 to 3 Challenge is a scrapbook kit review. One of the Scrapstorian design team members trials one scrapbook kit by applying it to three different sketch challenges in a month; and documents our experience, providing our thoughts on the kit company, the kit contents and how versatile it was for different sketch challenges.  We also talk about the sketch challenges.

For this 1 to 3 Challenge I am going to tell you about my experience working with a kit from Gossamer Blue and the challenges of ScrapMuch?, Stuck?! Sketches and ScrapFriends. My experience with Gossamer Blue has been wonderful! I find their website very easy to navigate, the photos gave a really good impression of the product, and the prices are super.  I was also instantly smitten by their fun logo – I am a sucker for hearts. Their kits have a really fun, upbeat and just wonderfully colorful feel to them. You can tell a lot of thought and attention to detail was paid when putting them together – and a scrapbooker/designer was involved. I was having a hard time on which ONE kit to choose for this challenge and ended up selecting the Gossamer Blue January 2014 Main Kit because it was their most recent release when I ordered and I could not make up my mind. I wanted them all.

For about $30 USD you get an amazing mixture of product – in the January 2014 Main Kit I received 4 12×12 cardstock, 10 12×12 pattern paper, 7 different embellishments including an exclusive stamp set made by Elle’s Studio for Gossamer Blue. (Shout out to the talented folks at Elle’s Studio!) All beautifully coordinating, and carefully packaged. I was really chuffed when it came in the post and the kit package had a little Gossamer Blue sticker label on the kit package. Those cute hearts again!

Here is a quick snapshot of the goodies in the kit – please note this image is from the Gossamer Blue website. Apparently I was too excited and didn’t take a kit picture before diving into creating!

All right, I have my 1 scrapbooking kit (thank you Gossamer) and now to showcase it in 3 sketches.

Sketch 1: ScrapMuch? – great blog with an awesome name. This is a Canadian scrapbook store and blog that offers all kinds of cool challenges, tutorials, kit club and classes. This is the first time I have participated in one of their challenges, but Scrapstorian I am sure will play again. Here is the Sketch-y Friday challenge for February 7, 2014:

There was no hesitation working with this sketch and the products from Gossamer Blue. Match made in scrap heaven! As soon as I saw the very fun October Afternoon’s Daily Flash tartan pattern paper, I knew instantly this was a layout and paper for Scotland photos.

Supplies from the Gossamer Blue kit: American Crafts Textured Cardstock Mediterranean, Zazz! Glitter Glue Mediterranean and Photo Overlays; Simple Stories Daily Grind Bits and Pieces, and Expression Cardstock Stickers; October Afternoon Daily Flash Apple Cider pattern paper and Tin Pins; Studio Calico Vellum Accent Stickers (stars); and Pink Paislee Hey Kid Marco Polo pattern paper. I didn’t use a thing from my own stash. Wow! 

Sketch 2:  Stuck?! Sketches – another great blog name and blog. Also another sketch challenge that I have never participated in before, but know Scrapstorian will back again to play soon! They put out a sketch challenge for the month, and then feature on a regular basis their own designers or feature layouts from the submissions to keep you motivated to participate. Love that! There is some serious talent over there on the design team and their blog followers.

The picture I used for this layout was made for this sketch, if I say so myself.  😉  The picture of my little brother super excited that it is finally Spring with his arms up in the arm cheering was really complimented by the up and across motion of this sketch. Finally it’s time to shed that winter parka and jump in some puddles!

Supplies from the Gossamer Blue kit: American Crafts Textured Cardstock White, and Zazz! Glitter Glue Mediterranean; Simple Stories Daily Grind Bits and Pieces, 2×12 Borders & 4×12 Title Strips Elements, and 3×4 Journal Elements; October Afternoon Daily Flash tin pins; and Studio Calico Vellum Accent Stickers (stars). Supplies from my own inventory: Tattered Angels Plain Jane Simply Sheer Mist in Pure Steel, Heidi Swapp Colour Shine Mist in Mustard, American Craft Thickers Cork and Bo Bunny Double Dot Slate

Sketch 3: ScrapFriends – a blog from Australia that offers everything: store, numerous different challenges, tutorials, and more. The site is really fun, with list of little splashes of watercolour and mists to jazz up the place.  Oh and their design team and blog followers are t-a-l-e-n-t-e-d; lots of mixed media goodness. Here is their February Sketch challenge:

I will be honest, I was a little intimidated by the “running paint” concept of this sketch challenge; I have only just started to dabble in the mixed media / paints realm. But what do I have to lose – some paper I can buy again and a photo I can reprint?! Minor little speed bumps if I completely messed things up. So I went for it. I was keen to use this photo of my nephew with the Gossamer Blue kit because the colours were just perfect for kit contents. So with a little poetic license changing the hearts in the sketch to stars, voila:

Supplies from the Gossamer Blue kit: One Little Bird, Pieces of Me for Gossamer Blue; Studio Calico Printshop! To The Moon and Back; American Crafts Textured Cardstock Mediterranean, Zazz! Glitter Glue Mediterranean, and Sycamore Photo Overlays; Elle’s Studio Stamp for Gossamer Blue Jan 2014 Main Kit; and  Simple Stories Daily Grind Chipboard Stickers. Supplies from my own inventory: Close to My Heart Dimensional Elements Stars; Martha Stewart Crafts Gesso; Artico Water Color Paint; and Got Mesh white crafting mesh.

Yet some more love for Gossamer Blue … I have already used this same kit to complete three additional layouts and there is still a lot of kit to go around. Their kits are so easy and so fun to work with!

Next 1 to 3 Challenge here I come, stay tuned – or try your own and tell us about it!