The challenge (if you are willing to accept it).

This one's dedicated to the Scrapbook Chalet girls (thanks for a fun chat).

There was a request for a challenge last night...

I talk about challenges a lot in my Scrapbooking Outside the Box class.  But I talk about the true definition of a "challenge" which is:

To arouse or stimulate especially by presenting with difficulties.

There are a lot of fun challenges out there (and I think they're great), but that's not the goal here...

We're going for a real challenge in every sense of the word - and a challenge isn't meant to be easy.  It's meant to push you outside your comfort zone (and that's a good thing). 

If it's easy...well then, it's not a true challenge.

And I think that's where you grow as an artist (through challenging yourself and working outside of your comfort zone).  I think that's how you overcome creative blocks & find your "mojo".  I think it's how you continue to enjoy and feel passionate about scrapbooking.

So here it is, one of my favorite challenges...

Scraplift a layout.

But here's the kicker.  You have to choose a layout from an artist who's style is completely unlike your own (otherwise, it wouldn't much of a challenge, would it?).

It has to be a style that is outside of your comfort zone.

If you're a simple scrapbooker...maybe you're going to pick a collage style artist to lift and vice versa. 

Maybe you're going to pick a really grungy, graphic-based artist.  Maybe you're going pick a shabby-chic style artist.  Maybe you're going to going to choose a more whimsical approach or a more edgy approach. 

Just has to be something completely unlike something you would normally do.

And I think there's a few huge benefits here:

1.  You're challenging yourself (and growing as an artist)

2.  You get to try on someone else's "scrapbooking scissors" for a short while (which is fun and new and challenging and if you're really open to it, you may just find bits & pieces of this artists style that you want to start incorporating into your own work - maybe even with your own unique spin on it).

3.  A challenge serves the dual purpose of both challenging you & giving you direction.  Instead of sitting there looking at a blank sheet of cardstock wondering what in the heck (or hell - whichever you prefer this morning) you're going to do...you've got a starting point, a path, a direction to start working in.

So (until recently), I had it in my head that I didn't scraplift.

Don't get me wrong, I have no moral opposition to scraplifting.

It was just that I had scraplifted a layout a few years back (from the crazy-talented Renee Camacho) and it  didn't go so well.  I copied her layout identically - every element of it.  The only thing different about my layout was the photo. 

I loooooved her layout...hated mine (how can that be if they were the same identical layout?).

So I think that I got it in my head from there on out that I wasn't going to scraplift.

But when I started working on my Scrapbooking Outside the Box class, I wanted to challenge my students to scraplift.

And so I decided that if I was going to challenge them...I had to be willing to challenge myself.

I'm a huge admirer of Candice Stringham's work (even though it is very unlike my own) and so she seemed like the obvious candidate.

And the results?...

Hers:

   

and mine:

So when I look at them side by side - I like hers a lot better.

But you know what?...when I look at mine on it's own, I love it.

And I think that when I get some time, I am going to do this challenge again.  Push myself a little bit further - create a layout that is much more unlike me (even though I tried really hard, this one still ended up looking a little too similar to my own style which would be fine under normal circumstances...but we're talking CHALLENGE here ladies).

Oh, and for the Chalet crowd...that's the Fiskars 3 in 1 border punch that I was talking about (on the corners of my cardstock - can't live without that thing).

Enjoy.

Comments

[Jeanne]

OMGosh Karen... You are truly amazing thank you so very much for being a part of the Chalet girls. I can't wait to start this challenge.

[Chelsea]

First of all...thanks for chatting with us at the Chalet last night! Super fun! Second...I LOVE your scraplift! It is so fun and just beautiful! You're the best!!!

[Diana]

Great challenge - I have an unplanned day so I hope to get right on it! It was great to have you chatting with us last night!

[Michelle]

Hello Karen! You are great! Thank you so much for the chat... and for following up with the Challenge!! Now if only I could get you to come to Montreal!! lol
Beautiful LO! Take care ;)

[PamMc]

I love your scraplift. Your photos are so beautiful. Hope you can come to Roseburg to teach your photo class.
Since it's really nasty out today, I'm going to hunker down and try a scraplift. And I know who I'm going to do. Elsie couldn't be farther from my style, so going to look at her book right now. :-)

[lisa]

beautiful scraplift!

[Robyn]

Love love love your page Karen!!! :)

[Nicole]

No disrespect to candice whatsoever, but i really like your's better...:) Thanks this morning for the inspiration and the challenge.

[maryjo]

i love your lo & i agree w/ nicole. although candice's is awesome, i really like yours. i guess it's closer to my preference since i LOVE your style. but you're right scraplifting outside one's comfort zone stretches u big time! i'll give it a try. any chance you'll come teach in northern cal. anytime soon?
maryjo

[Jaci Clark]

Thanks so much for the great chat at the Chalet Karen. It was a pleasure meeting and talking with you!
I love this challenge! What a great way to get us out of our comfort zone. Your lift is FAB!!! Thanks for the inspiration!!!

Cheers,
Jaci

[Kim Bolyard]

I love challenges...I do love both of those layouts.

peace
Kim

[Tammy]

I had a blast chatting with you and loved the challenge! Did you smell those rub-ons? ROFL

[Tanya Webster]

shhhhh--i like your layout better :)

[Ania]

Yes! I hear you! That's one of the reasons I (most of the time) love challenges - and I guess that's also why I don't really have "one" style..but several different...imo... :) LOVe both the layouts! SO different YET so similar! Beautiful! Will have your thoughts in my mind when looking for my next challenge and try pick something far away from "me" :)

[Ashley Schultz]

I adore your layout and I'm excited to try this challenge!

[Jozzie]

Darn! I missed the challenge last night. But I'll try to do this challenge.....sounds very.......challenging! :)

[Hillary]

Thanks for chatting with us the other night at the Chalet. I had a great time. I am going to work on your challenge next weekend. I'll probably do that instead of homework. :) Hillary.

[Kimberly Lyon]

You are so right. Everyone knows that I didn't really like the color orange. Last year the color became popular. So, I colored outside my personally set lines and preferences ..and wow ...not only was the page fantastic...but the color actually grew on me.

[Angie Grimm]

Karen,

I love your layout! I kind of like that although it is a different style then your own that it still looks like you. But your challenge is a good one. I think I will take you up on it and find a grungy, graphic style, which really isn't my style at all. Thanks for the food for thought :-)

[Anna-Marie Still]

Cool blog entry today Karen, very thought provoking! Love both layouts - Candice's & yours. Have an awesome day!

[Heather Moll]

I love this challenge and am totally going to take you up on it! Love your take on Candice's layout! Great photos!

[Lily]

My absolute favourite challenge and the only technique I excel at. LOL And I love all your work the best.

[Cheryl Sullivan]

I love that you can see how much Courtney loves Coley! How sweet!

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