The definition of a challenge: (according to dictionary.com)
1. a call or summons to engage in any contest, as of skill, strength, etc.
I love doing craft/card challenges! Now I do admit there have been more than one occasion where I’ve done them on autopilot, it’s then yay…okay, I’ve done it move onto the next.
What I used to do was look at the challenge and see if I could challenge myself to think outside of my crafty box.
Sometimes it didn’t work out, other times it did and on the rare occasion…the huge smile.
That’s the smile that happens when I look at something and that feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment comes over me. This is one of those occasions…here’s my story…(cue Law & Order theme…dum, dum…)
Drunken Stampers Challenge #87, I can see clearly now…USE ACETATE.
Now I had been thinking about an acetate card for this challenge for weeks and had a couple of ideas in mind. I was approaching this challenge as something that I was just going to do on an autopilot of sorts.
My first idea was just a “basic” acetate card (if there is such a thing!) where you take a piece of acetate as your card base, stamp a great background stamp with a permanent ink on it and then carefully piece together elements that work well together through the clear acetate. (If you’re not sure what I’m talking about, just Google images “acetate cards“.)
Now acetate cards are just simply gorgeous to begin with and yes I could have just stuck with that but something was nagging me (that competitive, no holds barred, wrestler, I’m going to do this with my hair on fire, persona)…said that wasn’t good enough!
I had even cut out the elements I was going to use so *sigh* —–> RECYCLE
Alright, okay…I can DO this! So I thought well then, instead of using a square or rectangular shaped piece of acetate…well then, let’s cut a shape out of it! Ah, HA! Take that! Um, yeah…right….my Nestabilities didn’t cut through the heavy weight acetate with shims every which way.
ARG!!! NOOOOOO—-> RECYCLE!
No WAIT a sec?! Logic started to take over…steel rule dies cut through everything like butta! So I scanned over all my Tim Holtz, Alterations, Sizzix dies to find something that would give me an inspirational jumping point. I couldn’t find a die large enough to be a large enough card base but I stopped at the Gadget Gears die. I don’t remember my thought transition but I had recalled a similar gap card that Shannon at Classic put together except using card stock for the gears not acetate.
Now the advantage of using card stock is that you can hide the adhesive by sandwiching it between two gear die cut pieces which also gives your project some stability. This was the challenge to over come which was more logistics than anything. I had also gone through SEVERAL card stock bases and patterned paper (RECYCLE, RECYCLE, RECYCLE!!) before deciding on using this heavy weight copper card stock which I’ve had for YEARS! The rest is pretty much everything you see here. If you want to know exactly what, please check the tags below.
The next challenge was…acetate doesn’t photograph well! hahahaaaaa…
Better angle to view the acetate sprockets and gears.
Now the entire time as I was envisioning this card, I was thinking of Shirley who absolutely LOVES everything gears and sprockets! So she had a hand in this as well! 
I’m really ecstatic the way this card turned out. There were many path changes along the way but that happens when you decide to take yourself out of that box! You’ll be surprised where you work will take you too! If you’re looking for something different out of yourself or grow, take a challenge! And I challenge you…to truly challenge yourself!
Looking for a challenge to get you started?? Why don’t you come play with us?? Visit the Drunken Stampers blog to see the acetate inspiration that DT had! They’re all freakin’ fabulous!!
Thanks so much for listening to my card challenge ramblings today! And thank you for all your lovely comments, I appreciate them all!
Love,
Ok, spike, this is my favorite post to date! Like Shirley i love gears too!!! Let me say, i love your style of writing and telling like it is. I recently was making some cards and i had to test stamp the image 15 times before i got it right………..gurrrrrrr, so, i love your reality dialogue!!! wink wink. Saving this one to make at a later date and thanks so much for sharing your experience, since i appreciate experience tips as the best learning curve!!!!
ava
LOVE IT!
I love the gears die by Tim Holtz! But I cannot find it. Noone has it, Michael’s has discontinued it from their store, and Classic has not had it when I’ve been there. Sad for me. I’ve also tried a few other stores….. Nothing! Guess I’ll have to purchase it online. If you know where I can get it that would be very helpful. Thanks stacy
Love this idea. I have several male relatives who spend just about every spare minute tinkering with motors, riding dirt bikes, you know all those “guy” things. I’m always looking for ideas for their birthday cards, can’t wait to try this one.
Hi Spike,
You were really thinking outside the box, LOVE the card, never think about using acetate. Also love the comments and thoughs as the card took shape. I totally agree with Ava’s comments. You must have some huge recycle box??
Oh man, way to outshine us all!
Your card is unbelievably intricate, and so inspired it just blows my mind! Gorgeous, amazing work. Thanks for sharing your story, too. Loved it (almost) as much as the card itself!
Amazing card! Very unique and special design and beautifully done and amazing story about it as well! Thanks for sharing