American Crafts Studio Blog: 4 Product Challenge

It's that time again... when I throw down a dark and scary 4 Product Challenge and the brave ACDTers knock it out of the ballpark!

Here are the four Botanique products they were allowed to work with:

Vivan paper (34863), Fieldhouse Printed Chipboard (77215), Copper Honey Puffy Thickers (43020), Loretta paper (34853)

And here's the awesome results!

Piradee says: "Love this picture of my sister that we took at Keukenhof, Netherlands about two years ago. It was the first trip together abroad since we got out of school; given that we work in different countries and hardly see each other. The new Botanique collection was just perfect to capture the moment and the colors are so refreshingly spring."

Nichole says: "I love challenges like these. They really get my creative juices going & working with this line was a blast! I decided to keep things simple, by "scattering" different sizes of the patterned papers & then added some rounding to random corners for some added fun. The chipboard shapes & Thickers might just be my favorites! I love how they can make any page pop!"

Kim A. says: "I loved the challenge of only being able to use four products. It is amazing just how flexible these products are – the fact that the papers are double sided is an added bonus. I have used punches, ink, sewing and foam tape to add extra texture and interest to the design."

Lory says: "I love the new line "botanique" do you have something of it in your stuff? Nooooooooo??? What are you waiting for? You have to have the wonderful papers,embellishments and thickers, you know I'm crazy for all american crafts thickers!!!:) I used this 4 products to create a page about my last valentine day.. the last as boyfriend and girlfriend... from the next we will be wife and husband.. oh MY GOD:)LOLSooo this collection is perfect not only for spring theme... use your immagination and create:)Even if you have only 4 products to use you will can create fabulous pages or cards the important is think aout new ways to use them :) I hope to have inspired you :)"

Paige says: "My supply lists are usually a mile long so I was eager to try this 4-product challenge to see if I could make a layout with so few supplies and still have it feel like "my style." After printing 8 mini photos of me and my husband in black & white, I stuck them all over a piece of white cardstock along with printed chipboard pieces. Then I filled in the gaps with Thickers using a quote from one of my favorite Faith Hill songs. For the background patterned paper, rather than cutting the butterflies completely out, I used an exacto knife and cut around the wings then bent them up for dimension - one of my new favorite techniques!"

Beth says: " I am loving the softer palette and floral graphics that the new Boutanique line has to offer. A simple scrapbooker at heart, it wasn't too difficult to limit myself to just four products with this challenge. The only additional supply I might have used would have been a second piece of cardstock to layer in there. Instead, I created a pink text box in Word and balanced the combination of products on the cushion of white space that it provided for a simple look."

Elizabeth says: "When I saw the Botanique line I knew instantly I wanted to do a layout about my daughter Alyssa. This collection reminds me of finding flight through growing, learning, and almost becoming a teenager.. Alyssa is about to turn 13 and there have been such huge changes in her life since turning 12, I can imagine that being on the verge of 13 must be exciting! A teenager none the less! I can remember the day I turned 13, and I am prayerful that Alyssa's will be just as smooth as mine was! This line was right up that alley of portraying this change in her life and more!"

Amy says: "Being given just a few choices of products to work with is a fun challenge. I thought these photos taken by Melissa Oholendt (www.melissaoholendt.com) were so fun & complimented the papers in a lovely way. The title can be read as both 'looking forward together' and 'looking forward to going places together'."

Melanie says: "The Botanique line is pretty, versatile, and perfect for a sophisticated card. For the 'best wishes' card, I embossed the Loretta paper ( reverse solid side) with a swirling vine texture to play up the botanical theme and give it dimension, and added the handcut butterflies on top with popdots. For the '50th anniversary' card, I printed out my text and left a space for the Honey Thickers. I used that same embossed Loretta paper, added the chipboard rose and vines under the text, and mounted the block onto the Vivian paper. These are two very different, but quick and easy cards done with this line that can be used for any occasion."