April 1-2-3 Challenge (2025)

[Cassel]

Let's make things a little fun for you. Are you looking for ways to spark your creativity and still create something meaningful? This will be a fairly regular challenge for you. Every time, you will be given instructions to use 1, 2, and 3 of something. Would that be more than you usually use? or less? Let's see. Create a layout using :

• 1 doily
• 2 handwritten words
• 3 pieces of tape

You can create those elements or use what you currently have in your stash. Showcase any photo, use any template (if you want). Just make sure you include the required elements.

[Julie Magerka]

This is my interpretation of the instructions. And the words are accurate. NOTHING happens until the teapot is steeping and the first cup is poured in the morning. (I switched to morning tea many years ago after a walking tour in Devon where the coffee was terrible but the tea was bracing!)

Bits and pieces from my stash. The sketch of the teapot is from Pixabay (artist: sylvia gaudenzi) with a mask and blended.

[Sue Thomas]

I used one of my own oval templates.  I wasn't certain whether I was to write the words myself, or use a hand written font, or either one.   I decided to write my own , using the scribble text technique. Coloured tape tutorial fitted the bill for this  brightly coloured layout. Scotch tape.  The rectangle doily is one of Carole's.  Like everything else in nature, flowers never cease to amaze me, especially when I get right up  close to shoot them, then research them.   

Edited April 6 by Sue Thomas

[Anne Lamp]

9 hours ago, Sue Thomas said:

I used one of my own oval templates.  I wasn't certain whether I was to write the words myself, or use a hand written font, or either one.   I decided to write my own , using the scribble text technique. Coloured tape tutorial fitted the bill for this  brightly coloured layout. Scotch tape.  The rectangle doily is one of Carole's.  Like everything else in nature, flowers never cease to amaze me, especially when I get right up  close to shoot them, then research them.   

Thanks for adding the extra larger copy of the note, I would have been nuts trying to see what all it said. 

[Sue Thomas]

31 minutes ago, Anne Lamp said:

Thanks for adding the extra larger copy of the note, I would have been nuts trying to see what all it said. 

Due to the compression reading some text can be a challenge. Adding some text separately, makes it easier  for the viewer to read. Which  helps to  tell the story behind the layout.

[Corrie Kinkel]

For this challenge I used Affinity, I have to practice otherwise I forget what I learned so far. I made a repeat pattern with a square following the tutorial in the blogpost and intended to use it as a background, but that was to much and I put another paper on top of it. When I took the photo of this Primula on my outside table I used the spotlight setting of my phone, hence the title. I can't write nor scribble with the mouse of my laptop or with my finger on the trackpad, it looks horrible 😧therefor I used a handwritten font from Ally at Affinity Revolution. The mask is by Jessica Dunn and the doily is by Sheila Reid. The striped translucent tape is one I made some time ago and the others are from my stash by Marissa Lerin. I didn't had the time to make more from scratch because coming Monday I'm in the plane off to my family and I have lots to do before I'm ready to go.

[Sue Thomas]

10 hours ago, Corrie Kinkel said:

For this challenge I used Affinity, I have to practice otherwise I forget what I learned so far. I made a repeat pattern with a square following the tutorial in the blogpost and intended to use it as a background, but that was to much and I put another paper on top of it. When I took the photo of this Primula on my outside table I used the spotlight setting of my phone, hence the title. I can't write nor scribble with the mouse of my laptop or with my finger on the trackpad, it looks horrible 😧therefor I used a handwritten font from Ally at Affinity Revolution. The mask is by Jessica Dunn and the doily is by Sheila Reid. The striped translucent tape is one I made some time ago and the others are from my stash by Marissa Lerin. I didn't had the time to make more from scratch because coming Monday I'm in the plane off to my family and I have lots to do before I'm ready to go.

Enjoy your trip, having a fabulous time with your family, as I  currently am with mine.  Everywhere is ablaze with spring  flowers. Whilst back home the ground is still frozen.

[Susan Ewart]

On 4/6/2025 at 1:10 AM, Sue Thomas said:

I used one of my own oval templates.  I wasn't certain whether I was to write the words myself, or use a hand written font, or either one.   I decided to write my own , using the scribble text technique. Coloured tape tutorial fitted the bill for this  brightly coloured layout. Scotch tape.  The rectangle doily is one of Carole's.  Like everything else in nature, flowers never cease to amaze me, especially when I get right up  close to shoot them, then research them.   

This is so interesting; thinking of plants in this way.  We just take them for granted without realizing the wonder that they are.  I learned about dandelions closing up at night.  I know some flowers do this but I didn't know dandelions did until I went to photograph them at night, only to discover they were closed up tight and fast asleep. I tip-toed away slowly and quietly as I have heard if you wake a sleeping dandelion they turn into a venus flytrap and eat you!

Kidding aside, it blows my mind they can even do that, I think it must be fairy magic (and little help from their biological systems).   

[Susan Ewart]

6 hours ago, Sue Thomas said:

Enjoy your trip, having a fabulous time with your family, as I  currently am with mine.  Everywhere is ablaze with spring  flowers. Whilst back home the ground is still frozen.

We are getting above zero mornings now.  It's glorious.  Corrie, have a wonderful trip, looking forward to both you and Sue's photos from each of your trips.  

[Sharla]

Created in Affinity. The image is an AI creation on the theme of 'In the Garden'. The papers and words are from a Jessica Dunn mini kit called Cherish. Tape from somewhere… Doily from Rachel Martin’s Lydia kit.

 

[Corrie Kinkel]

10 hours ago, Sue Thomas said:

Enjoy your trip, having a fabulous time with your family, as I  currently am with mine.  Everywhere is ablaze with spring  flowers. Whilst back home the ground is still frozen.

Thank you I will and I noticed that when you fly back to Canada I will fly back too. I'm only staying 3 weeks because that is the most I can/will leave my husband alone. Maybe our flights will cross somewhere over the ocean; a strange thought.

[Corrie Kinkel]

3 hours ago, Susan Ewart said:

We are getting above zero mornings now.  It's glorious.  Corrie, have a wonderful trip, looking forward to both you and Sue's photos from each of your trips.  

Thank you and hopefully I see some nice flowers, my daughter just said it is still green from last winter's rain.

[Sue Thomas]

On 4/10/2025 at 3:00 PM, Susan Ewart said:

This is so interesting; thinking of plants in this way.  We just take them for granted without realizing the wonder that they are.  I learned about dandelions closing up at night.  I know some flowers do this but I didn't know dandelions did until I went to photograph them at night, only to discover they were closed up tight and fast asleep. I tip-toed away slowly and quietly as I have heard if you wake a sleeping dandelion they turn into a venus flytrap and eat you!

Kidding aside, it blows my mind they can even do that, I think it must be fairy magic (and little help from their biological systems).   

Many flower species close at night. It is called nyctinasty. They have evolved mechanisms, which allows them to guage the time of day, probably by levels of UV, or visible light. That signals to the plant to not waste resourses and risk of damage to itself unecessarily by remaining open without any repoductive gain. It has been proven that they can feel pain, also hear. They are after all living complex organisms. Their complexities are beyond my comprehension. 

Edited April 12 by Sue Thomas