Wednesday, January 1, 2014

One-Layer Simplicity Challenge #1: Restocking the Shelves

Welcome to the very first One-Layer Simplicity Challenge! It's kinda-sorta like the One-Layer Wednesday Challenge, only better!

It's NEW!

It's IMPROVED!

It will organize your craft supplies!

Well, not really. You'll have to do that yourself. Sorry about that. I just got carried away.

I'M SO EXCITED!!!

Here's how the new challenge works.

1. New Blog. All One-Layer Simplicity challenges will be posted right here on this brand-new blog, simply and beautifully designed by our own Ardyth. This means you no longer have to search five blogs for our one-layer challenge. It will always be right here.

2. Monthly Challenge. The One-Layer Simplicity Challenge is a monthly challenge. A new challenge will be posted by one of our five design-team members on the first of each month and will be open to entries through midnight EST on the 24th, when the InLinkz collection will close.

3. Highlight Week. The last week of each month will be Highlight Week. Making successful clean-and-simple, one-layer cards requires attention to detail, and we want to encourage your creativity in using your stamps, ink, and embellishments for maximum minimalist impact! So our design team will highlight some of our favorite details from among the entries for that month, calling out those little touches that really make CAS cards special.

For those of you struggling with making minimalist cards, we hope our Highlight Week posts help you grow in confidence. For those of you who already love making minimalist cards, we sure hope you have fun playing along!

And now for the details of the first challenge....

OLS1: Restocking the Shelves

The holidays are over. Store shelves are empty and need re-stocking. So do our card stashes. Perhaps you sent all your thank-you cards after Christmas. Perhaps you just realized you're facing another year of panicked, last-minute, emergency birthday-card making. Perhaps you want to get a really early start on Christmas cards.

Whatever your card-stash shortage, January is the month to restock! Design a simple, one-layer card of the theme you need. Then, make a few extras to have on hand.  You're welcome to share multiple designs as well through the InLinkz collection, which will be open until midnight, January 24th!

I need to make a lot of birthday cards for my extended family in 2014, so here's my first restocking effort. The card will go to my cousin's 13-year-old daughter, who told her mom last birthday that my cards were her favorites!




My card takes advantage of the rule of thirds, placing a metallic silver line on the 1/3 horizon after masking some randomly happy, layered yellow and green flowers. The silver theme is enhanced with silver half-pearls and gray ink for the sentiment.

Now it's your turn! What type of card do you need to restock the most? How can you convey that sentiment most effectively with just one layer of card stock, folded in half? Remember, no other layers of paper allowed!

OLS1 Challenge Rules

1. A one-layer card is defined as a single layer of card stock folded in half. No other layers of paper are allowed.

2. Make a card to restock your card stash. Any theme goes...sympathy, thank you, thinking of you, Christmas, birthday, get well, etc. Just remember to keep embellishments to a minimum.

3. Post your card somewhere on the internet and link to it using the InLinkz button below. Remember if you link to your blog, please link to the individual post and not your blog's home page so we can find your card easily.

4. The most important rule of all...HAVE FUN!!!!



82 comments:

  1. I would love to give this a try!!! I have never played in the OLW challenge but have followed the SIMPLICITY blog. I noticed that the "design team" links aren't taking us to the blogs. (or is it a problem on my end?)

    Happy New Year!!!!

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  2. Thanks, Angie - it's all fixed up now!

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  3. Oh Girls - way to start out 2014 with your own simple blog! You KNOW I'll be playing. This is one of my all time favorite challenges and I for one am thrilled you have it in blog form now!

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    1. We are so excited too!! Should be a great CAS time for all.

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  4. So excited about this blog. Thank you!

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  5. Congrats on your new adventure! Hope to play along soon!

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  6. I am glad you have a separate blog for this now - found it kind of confusing in the past... I certainly will play - love having a month to cook up something new. Happy New Year to you all!

    PS: Do you really need word verification???

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    1. I will remove it as soon as I finish replying to you. Obviously, I should not start a career as a blog designer! lol! Looking forward to having you play along!

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  7. I'm going to try and get myself organized too...I love this new one-stop challenge blog and the OLS#1 challenge. I'm new to these challenges, but have been a regular stalker of OLW and Simplicity for a long time, now it's time to play! :)

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  8. Congrats on your dedicated CAS blog! I'm looking forward to learning a lot from the DT as I participate as often as I can. Thank you, goo luck and Happy New Year to all! :)

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  9. Good luck with the new challenge - much easier to find you now!

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  10. Congratulations on your new blog!! I love the idea of all of this in one space. One layer cards are a true challenge for me! I can't wait to play -- I also like the one month play time! thanks so much, ladies.

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  11. Congratulations on the new challenge blog, looking forward to playing. Love this idea, as I've so many types of card I need to restock! Will put my thinking hat on :)

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  12. Congratulations on the new look and morphed OLW ... and thanks so much for the new one stop blog! Will still be playing along ... and am so looking forward to hearing the views of the DT each month! What a fabulous idea for learning! Anita :)

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  13. So glad this site has been created, I've spotted OLW around blogland but never played and was a little confused about where to find it each time. I will definitely be having a go with this challenge. I love CAS cards and really need more practice with one layer cards so can't wait to have a play! Will also be great to hear what the Design Team think of the challenge entries :) x

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  14. You have done everything to draw us in - I'm game!! I may be having my friend post my cards on her blog, since I don't have one (or time right now to do one), but that will also draw HER in! I LOVE the simplicity and beauty of the simple one-layer cards!! I will be doing it every month - I'm so excited - I have never done this before!

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    1. Awesome, Karen - we'll get two participants for the price of one! Can't wait to see your work!

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    2. I've been trying to get Karen to have her own blog and even offered to help her with the setting up and linking in. It's NOT hard, Karen! A one layer challenge though might be right up my alley, if I can just get that heater for my new studio, so I can play.

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    3. So funny! Well maybe we'll get Karen WAY out of her comfort zone - posting cards and her own blog! That would be great! And it will be great to see you, too, Rushd Lady! (I keep an extra sweater in my craft room!)

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  16. This will make it so much easier to join in! Thanks so much for giving this fantastic challenge it's own home!

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  17. Wonderful idea to make a OLW blog! Thanks and congrats to the CAS Fabulous Five!

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  18. does ribbon count as a layer? Do embellishments like buttons, clear stickers or twine count as a layer?

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    1. Only cardstock counts as a layer. We do ask that you use minimal embellishments, though. Your card should be one piece of cardstock, folded in half (or close to half) and no other cardstock. Hope that helps!

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  19. I am so glad to see this blog. I loved OLW, but honestly had a hard time finding it sometimes, and other times just forgot, because it didn't pop up front and center. This will make it so much easier to play along. And....I love the longer challenge time, and the highlights will be like a lesson for me, and I appreciate that. Can't wait to start to play along.

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    1. hi Joyce,
      I think the longer time line will work for most of us. We are so excited to have all our wonderful CAS cards on one blog too!

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  20. So happy to have found this blog. I would love to try my hand at making OLCs. I'm finding mysel increasingly drawn to CAS cards but really could use more practice and pointers. Love the fact that this is going to be a monthly challenge, giving me some time to mull over some ideas I may have, and the highlights week sounds like a very welcome and useful feature.

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  21. It did seem tricky to find OLW sometimes (although goodness knows why as it was quite a simple concept!) so I'm delighted about the new reorganised version of the challenge. Looking forward to being a regular participant! Happy new year, Vicky x

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  22. This is so exciting! I'm looking forward to joining in the challenges. And I'm especially looking forward to reading the DT comments on what really works and why. I have so much to learn and you all have so much expertise to share. Thanks for doing this!

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  23. Hi I know this is a CAS blog but any chance of adding a google friends connect button. I don't want any more emails, I'm drowning in emails. Thanks

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    1. ACK! You are stretching the limits of my tech knowledge! lol! But I will investigate and see what I can do. I use Feedly to follow my blogs and have not investigated Google+ much, but am always eager to learn!

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    2. Do you mind checking and seeing if what I've done to OLS actually lets you follow us using Google+? I've also set up a Google+ page for OLS. Thanks for contributing to my technical education! ;-)

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    3. Ionabunny - I believe Google have discontinued the google friends connect button for newly created blogs, but if you use Blogger dashboard as your blog reader, you can just copy the link to this (and any other) blog, click the add button in your reading list, paste the link, and it will appear in your list. Gets around the email method and having to sign up to Google+ (Hope you don't mind me butting in, Ardyth!)

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  24. Last year I entered a couple of cards in OLW challenges but it was hard to locate. Thank you for the changes and I look forward to expanding my creativeness.

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    1. We are all happy for this new change. I hope you will join us for the challenges.

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  25. WOW so glad you all decided to create a blog for the OWL challenges. I always wanted to play along but found it difficult to follow along before.

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    1. It's great to see you here Jackie! I hope you'll have an opportunity to play along! Happy New Year!

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  26. I am SO happy to see a blog dedicated to this...one stop shopping! I have lurked for years but I will make a New Year's Resolution right now to make it a point to play along!

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  27. Great challenge!! Do they need to be new cards recently made or can they be cards posted to our blogs months ago? I've made new ones but just wondering.

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    1. Please make new cards, Jamie. I think the most valuable point behind challenges is to inspire new stamping and fresh creative expression! You may enter as many new cards as you would like.

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  28. Congratulations on the new blog! Creating One Layer card is a challenge for me :) And gladly it is now at one blog so I won't forget to play along ;)

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  29. So glad I found you (thanks to Mayuris share on FB :) )!
    Will try to participate on a regular base! OLC are always a huge challenge but also FUN to do!
    And with all the wonderful and great sample cards by the amazing DT, I am totally inspired to create something.. right NOW *lol*
    Sylvia xx

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    1. so happy you found us....will be such fun to see all the fab OLC's ...plse join us!

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  30. I'm glad this will be a monthly challenge now; I think I can manage that!

    Love your card Susan!

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  31. Wonderful to see your new OL challenge blog. I literally haven't participated in a single challenge for the past year, but I do hope to get back to the land of blogging this year. There's a new baby on the way, and I really need to make sure I cultivate some me-time. My first challenge to myself for 2014 is to post an entry for OLS1.

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  32. Oh I LOVE CAS and love getting your emails, but have never participated before, but will do so now! OLS here I come!

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  33. So ready to give this a try :)

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  35. Would an inchie that is added to the main card be considered a second layer?

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    1. Unless the challenge specifically allows inchies, they are NOT permitted on one-layer cards as they do constitute a second layer. I can foresee a time when one of our designers might do a CAS inchie card theme, though, as they work so well on CAS cards!

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  36. I have some questions, related to the "one layer" rule:

    I know OLC is one piece of cardstock folded in half only :)

    But what about Washi tape? Is Washi tape another "layer" or just a design element (aka embellishment)?

    And what about strips of patterned paper (not cardstock) directly adhered to the cardstock... allowed or not?

    And what about strips of patterned paper (not cardstock and not raised with dimensional foam tape or something)? Is this an additional "layer" or are we allowed to use?

    And last but not least a question related to embellishments: I know, embellishments (in a limited way) are allowed.. but what about larger, bulkier embellishments? Such as "Thickers"?

    I don't want to bother you with these questions *lol*
    I am just curious!
    These are questions I have asked myself many times, but now this is YOUR challenge blog and YOUR rules and I would be happy to hear, what YOU think about these questions? :)

    Thank you so much!
    Sylvia xx

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    1. *oops*... I posted the question about patterned paper twice by accident...sorry

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    2. Sylvia, good questions! I've always been a purist as far as this challenge goes. It is a challenge based on the following question: What can we accomplish with one piece of folded card stock, some ink or paint, and maybe a bit of embellishment?

      Turns out, quite a lot of beautiful cards have been made with just the basics!

      For our purposes on the OLS challenge, patterned paper is NOT allowed at all...strips or squares of it definitely constitute another layer of paper. Washi works essentially like patterned paper...it just adheres itself. So it's not allowed either.

      As for larger, thicker embellishments, as long as they work on a one-layer CAS card, they are technically allowed but vigorously discouraged. Thickers walk the razor's edge, although the alphabet Thickers might work quite nicely on a very CAS card.

      I can foresee challenge topics that push the edges of these very strict limits...say, for instance, a challenge that allows a single, very simple inchie on cards, or a challenge that allows a single strip of washi or patterned paper. But those challenges would definitely be the exceptions and not the rules.

      We at the One-Layer Simplicity Challenge encourage participants to focus on the basics of card stock, ink/paint, and very little else to make beautiful art. People are often surprised at how hard that is (especially when they are used to making highly embellished cards!) and people are also surprised at how satisfying and FUN the process of making a clean, minimalist card can be.

      I hope that answers your questions, Sylvia!

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  37. Uh oh! I didn't even think about it when I submitted my card, but I used a bit of vellum on it. Does that count as a second layer?

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    1. Thao Tu, don't worry about it this time. Your card is darling, by the way!

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  38. I can't believe the great imagination to create these cards with one layer. I think I'm going to challenge myself.

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  39. Wow, what a fabulous reaction to the combined site. I'm in! Well, you knew I would be, didn't you?

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  40. I certainly want to give it a try...love to see Heather Telford's one layer cards! TFS!
    Jan

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  41. Thank you for creating a dedicated blog for this challenge that has been a favorite of mine since day one! It was hard to keep track of who was hosting it before, so this is brilliant and will bring a lot of newcomers! Exciting!! Hugs, Darnell

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  42. I have couple question: a card with die cut with under-layer paper, is that count as one layer or not?
    Do you have blog badge? I cannot find it anywhere on your blog :)

    Thanks!

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    1. We do not yet have a badge but will keep you posted.

      Die cuts are another layer and therefore are not allowed. I think this makes the challenge more interesting!

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    2. Thank You Susan... will keep an eye on the blog badge :) YES it is! One Layer is an interesting challenge for me especially.

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  43. How wonderful to have a new OL challenge blog! I found you via heather's blog, so I'm off to see the other DT's blogs now :)

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  44. I'm the world's worst at creating simple one-layer cards but, having discovered this new challenge blog, I'm happy to give it a try :)

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  45. I've just come across your challenge, and entered my first card. I always find OLC quite challenging, so looking forward to joining in with you each month!

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  46. Love the new blog. So much easier to follow and play in your challenges.

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    1. hi Theresa....we are happy to have it all here at one blog...such an exciting time for us too...wowl...such fab cards are coming in!!

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  47. Whee! I popped back just to see how this was doing and am thrilled to see you are almost up to a hundred already and there's lots of time left!! Look how many are now embracing what was once the dreaded OLC! Less Is More is one-layer this week, so I hope to post a card for it and for here which will help to keep spreading the word! Good job, ladies!! Hugs, Darnell

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    1. I know!!! Wheeeee!

      Thanks for spreading the word, Darnell!

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  48. So glad you all decided to create a blog for the OWL challenges. I always wanted to play along but found it kind of confusing in the past... I certainly will play!

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  49. I love CAS cards, so I'm very happy with this new challenge blog!!
    Karin

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