Way back - well, maybe four or five years ago - when I'd just discovered stamping, and then the world of the online stamp challenge, I came across a speed challenge at As You See It. I was so intrigued by the idea that you could make a card in a sprint! Maybe that revelatory moment is why I harbour a secret love for the speed challenge. That's right, this week, it's Speed Week once again! This time round, we're working with shades of brown to create a card in ten minutes or less. Before you go off thinking that's impossible, it's not! I love the challenge of thinking up an idea that might work, then assembling what I need. You're allowed to have your stamps mounted and out on the desk, the embossing folder already out of the drawer, the die cutting machine all set up. But once you take the first cut or ink up the first stamp, make sure that timer is turned on. This is what I created in 8 minutes, 33 seconds. I had the idea of what it would look like and I had all the tools out on my desk before I started the timer. I always cut the base first so as soon as I picked up the piece of A4 Early Espresso to cut and fold, the timer went on. It helps to have some shortcuts thought up too, just in case some things take longer. For instance, I coloured the pearls with the Soft Suede marker but if I'd been running out of time, I'd have put them on uncoloured. Or, if time had been looking like it was going by too fast, I'd have punched out the sentiment rather than die-cutting it with the Stitched Shape dies. We'd love to see what you can do in a sprint with shades of brown. You can see what the rest of the team have done, and link up your entry, at the As You See It Challenge site. The challenge is open until Wednesday 12 February (11.55p.m. PST). If you live in New Zealand and don't have a Stampin' Up Demonstrator, I'd love to be yours. I can help you with ideas, get you catalogues and provide you with Stampin' Up products. You can leave a message in the comments or contact me using any of the methods listed in the Contact Me tab at the top of the page. You can shop with me from anywhere in New Zealand by clicking on the SHOP NOW button in the sidebar or clicking on any of products below. Product List Very Versailles Cling Stamp Set [149275] $48.00 Early Espresso A4 Card Stock [121686] $18.50 Very Vanilla A4 Card Stock [106550] $20.50 Early Espresso Classic Stampin' Pad [147114] $15.75 Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad [147115] $15.75 Crumb Cake Classic Stampin' Pad [147116] $15.75 Soft Suede Dark Stampin' Blends Marker [146875] $9.50 Parisian Flourish 3D Embossing Folder [151474] $20.00 Stitched Rectangle Dies [148551] $74.00 Stitched Shapes Dies [152323] $60.00 Pearl Basic Jewels [144219] $10.50 Stampin' Dimensionals [104430] $7.25