Challenges – Stampin' With Candice

If you know me, you know I love a good challenge and participate in many different ones. You may have noticed that I even have a page dedicated to sharing some of my favorite creative challenges—and in the last section, there has been a little teaser:

Create with Candice Challenges — Coming Soon!

Well, guess what? The wait is over!

If you joined me for my live on Monday, you got the first look at my very first Create with Candice Challenge!

Each challenge will last approximately one month, giving you plenty of time to create and participate. The challenges will change from month to month and could include sketches, colors, themes, techniques, CASE the Designer, or just about anything else I come up with!

Most importantly, I hope these challenges inspire you to pull out your supplies, try something new, and share your creativity with us.

You can find all the information about how to participate, share your projects, and become one of my Featured Creators on the Create with Candice Challenge page. And while you’re there, be sure to jump over to my Creative Challenges page for even more challenges and inspiration.

Our First Challenge — #CWCC001

Before you go, let me introduce you to our very first Create with Candice Creative Challenge!

This month I’m starting with a super-easy sketch challenge. I honestly fell in love with this layout and had a hard time stopping once I started creating with it!

During my live, I shared how to create the Flamingo and Walrus cards, demonstrating how easily the same sketch can be adapted to both vertical and horizontal card designs.

But I didn’t stop there!

Be sure to scroll through and check out all the different cards I created using this fun design, along with the card that inspired it all (the Halloween Witches Hat). I think you’ll be surprised by just how many different looks you can get from one simple sketch.

Now it’s your turn!

Use the sketch as your starting point and make it your own. Turn it, flip it, change the shapes, keep it simple, or dress it up—the sketch is there to inspire you, not limit you.

Then share your creation using #CWCC001 and #CreateWithCandice so we can see what you create and inspire one another.

I can’t wait to see what you come up with, share your creativity throughout the month, and send a little happy mail to our Featured Creator!

Happy Stampin’! 🦋

A beautifully crafted Christmas card featuring a window scene that displays a peaceful nativity setting on one side, while the inside is adorned with cozy holiday elements like hanging stockings and warm colors.

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This week’s #TGIFC587 challenge was all about tone-on-tone, and I decided to really challenge myself by creating an entire card using just one color.

Rather than choosing a color you would typically expect with the Notes of Collage Bundle, I reached for Gray Granite. This is a sneak peek bundle (and I’m not even sure when it will be released!), but I couldn’t wait to create with it. I have to say… I absolutely love how this card turned out.

One of my goals was to show that a monochromatic card doesn’t have to feel flat. By layering several simple techniques, I was able to create lots of depth, texture, and contrast while staying true to a single color palette.

For the background, I die cut one of the abstract images and used the piece as a mask with a blending brush to softly add ink. Afterwards, I made sure my Gray Granite ink pad was freshly reinked so I could stamp the large leaf at full strength twice, then stamped the wispy leaf a several times using the stamp off technique for a softer, lighter impression.

To add even more texture, I distressed the edges of the cardstock with my scissors before gently crinkling the panel. A little more Gray Granite ink brushed over the edges and creases helped highlight all of that wonderful texture. The delicate die-cut leaves, cut from Gray Granite cardstock, really stand out against the inked background without introducing another color.

I kept the sentiment monochromatic as well by stamping “I’m Here for You” in Gray Granite on a die-cut label. Finally, I finished the card with Gray Granite Variegated Ribbon and a few Mosaic Dots for just the right amount of sparkle and elegance.

This card was a wonderful reminder that sometimes limiting yourself creatively can actually open the door to new ideas. It’s amazing how much interest you can create with a single color by simply varying the depth of ink, layering textures, and adding dimension.

Have you ever challenged yourself to create a true monochromatic card using just one color? I’d love to hear which color you would choose or better yet share your creation in the comments or on my social media.

No matter where your creative journey takes you, I’m so glad you’re here. Let’s learn, create, connect, and grow together—one project at a time. 🦋