I have been wanting to have a little contest, one that would be open to all members, and now I am happy to announce

WE CHALLENGE YOU!

As you know, we do various challenges each year.  This year we have 1. Have I Got Scrap For You! and 2. Simple Recipes, both stash busting challenges with worksheets/ downloads, as well as 3. Old Stash New, New Stash SU!, which offers two layouts from one sketch, one stash layout and one using new SU! stash. We also have the very popular 4. TEAM (weekly) and 5. HOUSE (monthly) challenges.  We also have 6. SNAP:2013 (the phototgraphy challenge).  And very soon, we will have a new class from Shimelle - I'm branding that as a 7. CHALLENGE too!  AND there is the 52 Card challenge. That's a LOT.

So here are the contest details: 

During the months of JUNE and JULY we ask you to do ONE layout from EACH of the challenges, and ONE card.  For the photography challenge you will need to do a layout using one of the photo prompts. You can use ANY of the challenge prompts from 2013. 

Of your SEVEN layouts, you will be allowed to use up to TWO layouts you have previously done for any of the 2013 Challenges.  The card should be new. 

There will be a new Gallery opening up for you to add your layouts.  There will be some special instructions for how you need to add them, so watch for them in the forums later this month.

 At the beginning of August, we will open the Gallery for voting.  Further details on the prizes (and I am still hearing from Sponsors so it seems the prize collection is growing!) will be posted with the instructions.  On the 16th August we will announce the winner!

More detailed information will be posted in General Scrapping before the 1st June, but I hope this brief info will fire up your mojo so you can hit the ground running.  

What have the UKS bloggers been up to this week?  Let's see, shall we?

But first...

It's been a while since I did a digi layout (or has it?) but I just loved this soft and pretty layout from Crafty Kacy. The photo looks just like an old postcard!  Check it out in her gallery here .

Layouts: LOL!  I have photos of DS with a face just like the one on Emy's layout here .  Stay there and check out this one too.  Love it.  From a Scrap 365 sketch.  Ah the memories... Love the photo on jakesmum's layout here too.  To add embellishments or no?  What do you think? What a face! JaneH has that one and one with chevrons too - love the mullt-coloured effect. How unusual to see such a vintage layout from sutty... FAB photo from alexa for her Simply a Moment

Cards: Soojay is on a roll!  I love that fat little bird on the card here , and the fab owl here . Mini-owner has a wonderful Octopode card here .  I have a template and a little display stand card here . And speaking of the 52 Card challenge , here_be_dragons has caught up! and speaking of... so pretty from Sian , with a F. Scott Fitzgerald quote. 

Other Projects: What a cute idea from terri_ann87 - Love the frames.  Maybe my favourite of boland's Whimsy Girls here .

Downloads, Turorials, Worth-a-Look posts: I cannot believe I changed the heading of this section then managed to forget to add the link to suzycad's blog hop, which begins today!  Fab shoes, with a template from Efemera .  Just adorable. Nice pointer from Louise to Design Seeds , and some pretty colour combos. I just love the shoe tree photo by Jimjams. Did you miss Dan99s pocket art journal video ?  check it out now! Fancy making a neverending card?   IACW links to a video and Tracey has done a pretty sample. Some fairly odd PL printables from me.

Sponsor Blogs: Never heard of betwinchies but the card by Beej of Bee Crafty is lovely. Beautiful printer's tray by a DT member  at a sprinkle of imagination . Love the sunny layout at Wear Craft. So many cute kids this week!  Sweet layout from Kirsteen for Craft Island!

Impregnable is a script font that joins up nicely so great cut out, but equally nice for a printed title or card sentiment.  No numbers, but other special characters included.

This week leanie has done a layout with some lovely new stash.  Using SU!s new This & That range, and the sketch you see here, she has used minimal embellishments and some stamps.  Be sure to pop in to the forum and have a look at the resulting layout. 

Leo says:

This month I've put together a colour combination based around ice cream colours. Here's a quick run down of this months' recipe but don't forget to download the worksheet for full details and project ideas.

The added ingredients are:

• Use more than ones style of alphabet on your finished project
• Add something from your most recent stash purchase to your kit
• Use grey as an additional/alternative neutral to compliment the muted colour scheme

 Pop in to the forum here to download the worksheet!

Have I got Scrap for YOU! for May has a number of elements to challenge you:

working with limited supplies;
double layouts and
using sketches as a starting point.

You can see more, download the PDFs and join in in the forum here .  And let's all send congrats to Nikki on the subject of this lovely layout!

Happy month of May to you all 

Its the Ribbons turn to set this month's challenge, and we're back to a sketch for this month. Remember, its just a starting point, and you can interpret it as you please ... turn it around, upside down ... the choice is yours

The deadline for uploading to your house gallery is a bit later this month, were giving you lots of time to join in the fun. So its is on Midnight Sunday 26th May but you must upload to your house gallery by that date in order to claim the 30 bonus points.

Please remember to show your house mates what you've created; we want to get the houses rocking again.

Have fun. 

See the chat in the forum HERE !

The TEAM challenge this week is meant to be from the Scrap Apples, but as yet I have not received it.  You can check in the forum here on Monday.  It should be posted by then!

elainevking is back and there is a new photo up to inspire you. This weekm it's all about THE VIEW. Check out the thread to see what other members have snapped this week and be sure to add your photo as well!