A Farewell..... for now.....

It is with a heavy heart that we've decided to close the Start Me Up Challenge Blog for now. I may restart it up again in the new year with something digital, perhaps.) We haven't had the following we had hoped and anticipated that we would.

Karan is busy with her sketch blogs and her designing of classes for stores that she works for and myself have taken a HUGE plunge into the land of digital. I am amazed and thrilled to be creating for so many amazing designers and just don't have the time to commit to Start Me Up right now. I have two amazing opportunities that have come about in the past week, although I can't discuss specifics at this time, I feel the need to focus all my energy and time on these.

Once again, for those that stopped by and gave support and played along, we thank you! A very special thanks to Michelle and Sandi for all their hard work and wonderful creations they created for each challenge. And last but not least, our guest designers who were so eager to take part and play along ~ a big thank you!!

So this isn't a good-bye it is a farewell and hopefully SMU will be LIVE again someday!!

Happy Scrappin'!!

SMU-July 24 Reveal

It is Reveal Time again at START ME UP!
Are you up for a challenge? Are you looking for an excuse to play, create and push your creativity to its LIMIT? If you answered, "YES", you've come to the right place.

This weeks challenge was: use a song title to capture something/someone that is near and dear to that special man or boy in your life.

Wendy Sommers

Hello! My name is Wendy Sommers and I'm very pleased to be a Guest Designer here at the Start Me Up blog.

I am from Ottawa, Ontario and have been married to my wonderful husband Joe for almost 12 years now. We have been blessed with two great kids (Brendan is 8 and Olivia is 7) and my family is the source of inspiration for most of my layouts.

I've been scrapbooking for about 7 years and this hobby is truly a passion for me!

This hobby has introduced me to things I could have never imagined, including great friends who share the same passion for this hobby. I am more of an "everyday moments" scrapper than an "events" scrapper. Thanks for having me here!

I look forward to seeing everyone's interpretation of my challenge.

Karan Gerber

Michelle Kerrigan

Sandie Vincent

SMU July 10 Reveal

It is Reveal Time again at START ME UP!

Are you up for a challenge? Are you looking for an excuse to play, create and push your creativity to its LIMIT? If you answered, "YES", you've come to the right place.

I'm so excited to have Karla as our guest designer today!! I'm not only on her Creative Team at Karla Dudley Designs but this lady truly is one of a kind. She inspires me to push myself creatively, she has a heart of gold and she can multi task like no other. She is a beautiful person inside and out!!

This weeks challenge was: to use three groups of three

Thank you so much Karla for being part of SMU!! Love ya Girl!!

Karla Dudley

Hello everyone! My name is Karla Dudley and I'm a mother of two sets of twins + a 7 year old. I stay at home creating and taking care of the family. They truly are my deepest inspiration for all that I do.

I started scrapbooking (traditionally) back in 2003. Came onto it by chance. I suppose it it wasn't for that Making Memories magazine that caught my eye I wouldn't be doing all this now ^_^ But yes, I've been enjoying my creative journey ever since. I was fortunate to go to Winter CHA 2008. Be on manufacturing teams like Crate Paper, October Afternoon and Collage Press. I even got the opportunity to start creating digital designs! I'm really enjoying that! My latest blessing is to create designs for the Silhouette. {love that machine!!!} I'm always dabbling in something.

If it's not singing to myself all day long it's reading, drawing or digital painting. Ok...ok...eating too ^_^I'm just enjoying a creative life. I hope you all are too!

Happy Creating Friends,

Karla

Karan Gerber

Patti McCarthy

Michelle Kerrigan

Sandie Vincent

SMU June 26 Team Reveal

It is Reveal Time again at START ME UP!

Are you up for a challenge? Are you looking for an excuse to play, create and push your creativity to its LIMIT? If you answered, "YES", you've come to the right place.

I gave the team a challenge to create a masculine layout using flowers, they could br Prima, Bazzill, ribbon or paper flowers! Many scrappers have difficulty using flowers on a masculine layout, lets check in and see what the team came up with this reveal.

Karan Gerber

Patti McCarthy

Michelle Kerrigan

Sandie Vincent

We are using Mr Linky, feel free to link to your creation should you happen to take part in our challenge.

SMU - June 12th Reveal

It is Reveal Time again at START ME UP!

Are you up for a challenge? Are you looking for an excuse to play, create and push your creativity to its LIMIT? If you answered, "YES", you've come to the right place. This reveal we have asked the very talented Jessi Lute to put forth a challenge for the team and our readers.

Jessi's Challenge: "the things that make him, him....those little things that endear him to your heart" - so that could be a title? or just journaling prompts? ...skies the limit!!


Jessi Lute

hi! i am a mom of three amazing children have been with my husband for 12 years
i grew up on Vancouver Island, Victoria, and currently reside in Alberta. we are planning and looking forward to our move back to the island.i met my husband in a country bar, learning to 2 step...i know! complete opposites, but it works!!!

i am a scrapbooker, something i have been doing for 8 years i am an artist...

i am a photographer... i am a seamstress and whatever else falls between all this

i practice yoga daily and my favourite number is 3.
i am a complete clutz, drink chai lattes and london fogs

i am passionate about green living and green choices, healthy living and alternate health

i love all that is vintage and shabby, reclaimed, recycled, and repurposedi read trashy romance novels...yup, i do..did i mention i am 32???

i begin sentences with and & because and have an aversion to capital letters

i cannot live without my family, my camera, fabulous shoes, and laughterthings

i believe:

i believe strongly that what you put out there you get back...

i believe that life is a journey that is constantly changing and growing

i believe that smiling will always make your day better, even when there is no reason to smile...smile anyway

i believe my children are my greatest accomplishment in life

i believe i am blessed with so much in my life you can learn more about me on my blog or my website.

Thank you Jessi for being a part of Start Me Up and sharing your amazing talent and your life wisdom with us, very insightful! Thanks for the reminder to smell the roses and enjoy the little things in this world!

Patti McCarthy

Karan Gerber



Sandie Vincent

Michelle Kerrigan

We are using Mr Linky, feel free to link to your creation should you happen to take part in our challenge.

May 29th...SMU Reveal

Its reveal time at SMU....we offer you reveals to get your mojo flowing every other Saturday.

This time around, I challenged the team and our Guest Designer to work with black and white. Often times scrappers find a colour combination difficult to work with.

Black and white being one of them.

We have the talented Leica Forrest with us this Reveal.

http://www.10-4livingoutloud.typepad.com/

Hi my name is Leica (pronounced Lisa) I am 33yrs old, married for 9 3/4 years to Jim (love this man!!!) and we have 2 wonderful busy boys; Riley 6 & Jager 4, and baby girl Ireland 21 months old. I am now a self employed SAHM.

Currently the contributing editor and special events coordinator for Canadian Scrapbooker Magazine, she has fun writing articles, designing and educating internationally because she LOVES to travel.

A style that is everchanging as she loves to try new things. But you can guarantee it involves lot's of colour, paper layering, distressing and collage in some way.

Always living life to the fullest, full of laughter and smiles.
here is Leicas take on the challenge..

Karan Gerber

Patti McCarthy

Sandie Vincent


Michelle Kerrigan

We are using Mr Linky, feel free to link to your creation should you happen to take part in our challenge

SMU-May 15th Reveal...

It is Reveal Time again at START ME UP!

A chance to play, create and push your creativity to its LIMIT!! This reveal we have asked the very talented Leslie Ashe to put forth a challenge for the team and our readers.

Leslie's challenge is: to step outside your box, your comfort zone & do something you haven't done yet. Something you haven't tried...

For Leslie, the hardest challenge is to NOT use cardstock.
"I want to reach for it EVERY time I do a layout. In fact...I did at first then remembered, OH WAIT!
So I've completed the layout for this challenge using no cardstock. Another thing that used to be challenging for me, but it's like an old comfy blanket.. I mix and match papers, regardless of their colors/textures/patterns. I love color and will splash it in there whenever I can".


Our Guest Designer ..............Leslie Ashe.

Leslie Ashe

Hi! I'm Leslie Ashe and I'm SO excited and HONORED to be your guest here at Start Me Up. I live in Fort Worth, Texas (home of the Stockyards, Dr. Pepper & yummy Mex Tex food) with
my sweet hubby. We're soon to experience something new in our lives...an empty nest. Our oldest is off at college & the youngest starts this fall...wow! No matter the distance, they will
always be the center of my pages. they are my true inspirations and treasures!

I love to scrapbook. Its' my home away from home...even when I am home, hee hee! I love it! I seriously must create something every day or my day isn't complete.
I've been scrapping for over 13 years now. It's my passion!

I've been so lucky and feel quite honored to have some of my work published in Scrapbook Trends, CARDS, Simply Handmade along with several Scrapbook Trends Idea Books.
I have an upcoming first time publication coming up in the July/August issue of Creating Keepsakes.

Current DT's:
The Girls Loft (kit club)
Shimmerz
Shabby Chic Crafts
The Button Shop (Tessa Ann Designs)

Thank you Leslie for being a part of Start Me Up and sharing your amazing talent with us!

Patti McCarthy
(Patti used AC paper line and pastels)

Karan Gerber

(used canvas along with some sewing)

Sandie Vincent

(Sandie used all cardstock)

Michelle Kerrigan

(Michelle use journalling in her own handwriting)


We are using Mr Linky, feel free to link to your creation should you happen to take part in our challenge!

SMU First Reveal...

Good Evening and welcome to our first Reveal here at Start Me Up....We are very excited to have you here reading our blog and dropping by. We will be posting our Reveals and sending out our challenges to you, every other Saturday!

We have some awesome Guest Designers lined up and we know you will be back to see who is next! I issued our first challenge! I challenged the team and the guest Designer, to "get Hip with CHIP." Yes, I wanted to see different ways of using chipboard on your project. Chipboard comes in raw as well as various colours, shapes, sizes and fonts. Chipboard can be painted, misted, inked and covered.

Lets take a look to see what our guest Designer and our Team came up with.

Our First guest Designer is......Melody Ross

Melody Ross

What can I say about Melody Ross other than she is a beautiful woman inside and out, she inspires us creatively with her endless designer talent and creations. Her zest for life is an
inspiration to many. She is the mastermind behind The Brave Girl Camp - Art+Life Retreats.

Thank you Melody for sharing your talent with us on our very first reveal here at SMU.

Karan Gerber

Patti McCarthy


Sandie Vincent

Michelle Kerrigan

We are using Mr Linky, if you happen to create a project using our challenges, feel free to link up so we can peek too :)

Happy National Scrapbook Day!!