Abstract:
A scrapbooking board game having a game board with a continuous travel path divided into stations having markings, including instructions for the completion of a scrapbooking layout and/or interactions with other players, through inherent messages, keyed relationships to cards containing or displaying messages and/or images, and/or one or more chance-controlled devices. Movement of a game-piece along the travel path is determined by a chance-controlled device. When a player completes the instructions associated with a given station on which the player&#39;s game-piece then currently resides, the player marks the completion of that space&#39;s respective instructions by way of a token. The method of determining a winner is variable, but is generally determined by whichever player completes the most challenges within a given time period.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No.  61 / 823537 , filed May 15, 2013, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    This invention relates in general to a system and a method for developing, communicating, and inspiring layout designs for individuals engaging in the art and science of preserving images in embellished fashion, commonly referenced by the term “scrapbooking”, though not limited to that specific use or any particular definition. 
         [0003]    Throughout this application and related documents, the term “scrapbooking” is used to refer to the aforementioned activity, the term “scrapbooker” is used to refer to an individual who participates or engages in a scrapbooking activity, and the term “scrapbook” is used to refer to a design or collection of designs that have been created during a scrapbooking activity. These three terms are not limited to any stricter definition as might exist in any established industry, society, or technical language, and are used solely to facilitate the explanations of this invention within this application and related documentation. 
         [0004]    As in many, if not all activities that utilize human creativity, time, energy, and mental fixation can frustrate progress or production, such as when a writer encounters “writer&#39;s block”. This invention is designed to assist an individual scrapbooker or group of scrapbookers in minimizing the effects of such frustration by providing direction, inspiration, and pre-designed frameworks for use in scrapbooking, in both solitary and social settings. As this invention is classified as a “game”, in can be used in competitive environments and gatherings, but it can also be effectively used in non-competitive environments and gatherings, or by lone individuals as well. 
       BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    This invention relates to game of prompts and pre-designed variables that provide inspiration to scrapbookers that can be played both physically and virtually. It is set up in what might be referred to as a traditional board game format, with a playing board with marked squares, individual playing pieces for each player to mark their location and progress on the marked squares, and various playing accessories such as dice and cards with written instructions for the players to follow, as applicable, in either designing their scrapbooking layouts, or in interacting with other players. 
         [0006]    The basic version of play involves a player rolling the dice, and then moving their respective playing piece clock-wise around the board, the number of marked squares corresponding to the resulting number of pips displayed on the dice. The player then follows the directions either contained on or referenced by the marked square where their playing piece comes to rest. Upon receiving the respective directions, the next player performs the same sequence while the first player is engaged in executing the directions received. Each player plays in similar fashion until all players have so moved their pieces and received their corresponding directions, at which time play proceeds in the order in which the players complete their received directions. 
         [0007]    Virtual versions of play may or may not include the image of the traditional board, and may include variations of play style. 
         [0008]    Individual play can include the use of the traditional board, and may also only make use of various combinations of the cards. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING 
         [0009]    In the accompanying drawings, in which is shown an exemplary embodiment of the invention: 
           [0010]      FIG. 1  is a plan view of the game board in accordance with the present invention showing a travel path; 
           [0011]      FIG. 2  is a plan view of one of the clear sleeves that are affixed over given spaces on the travel path, shown with a representative “Joey Challenge” card for perspective; 
           [0012]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view of a stack of “Joey Challenge” cards utilized during game play; 
           [0013]      FIG. 4  is a perspective view of a stack of “Sketch” cards utilized during game play; 
           [0014]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view of a stack of “Color Palette” cards utilized during game play; 
           [0015]      FIG. 6  is a perspective view of a stack of “Recipe” cards utilized during game play; 
           [0016]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a stack of “Crop Challenge” cards utilized during game play; 
           [0017]      FIG. 8  is a perspective view of a stack of “Free Choice” cards utilized during game play; 
           [0018]      FIG. 9  is a plan view of a representative game-piece; 
           [0019]      FIG. 10  is a plan view of a representative token; 
           [0020]      FIG. 11  is a perspective view of a six-sided game die; and 
           [0021]      FIG. 12  is a perspective view of a 12-sided game die. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0022]    The invention is a board game of scrapbooking challenges. The invention type is a manufactured article, design, and method. This detailed description of the invention makes use of the following definitions: 
         [0023]    Challenge: Predetermined guidelines that a Player must follow when completing a scrapbooking Layout that include one or more of the following: color, style, pattern, quantity, theme, concept, idea, techniques, embellishments, etc. 
         [0024]    Challenge Requirement: The individual elements that make up the challenge. 
         [0025]    Crop Challenge: A specialized scrapbooking challenge that is socially interactive in nature as opposed to stipulating the required elements of a layout. 
         [0026]    Sketch Challenge: A specialized scrapbooking challenge that provides a player with an outlined diagram of a layout designating certain elements such as the size, location, and quantity of certain elements that the player must follow in creating a scrapbooking layout leaving undesignated elements up to the player&#39;s discretion. 
         [0027]    Color Palette: A combination of a picture and a set of colors derived from the picture, used by a player as a prompt or requirement in the completion of a player&#39;s layout, in accordance with the instructions found on the player&#39;s selected Recipe Card, which could include, but is not limited to the colors, textures, patterns, or quantities depicted on the color palette, or the emotions evoked by the color palette. 
         [0028]    Prompt: An object or suggestion from which a player may derive inspiration for any aspect of a scrapbooking layout. 
         [0029]    Recipe: A set of elements that make up the requirements for the completion of a layout. 
         [0030]    Difficulty Ratings: The difficulty rating of a challenge is determined by the complexity and quantity of the elements found in that challenge&#39;s requirements. Easier challenges are those that require fewer elements, and elements of a more simplistic nature. Harder challenges are those that require more elements, and elements of a more complex nature. A challenge&#39;s difficulty rating increases as the elements included in the challenge&#39;s requirements require more skill, effort, time, and/or creativity to complete. For example, the requirement to use a 10-inch piece of ribbon anywhere on a layout would be easier than the requirement to make a flower out of a 10-inch piece of ribbon. 
         [0031]    Joey Challenges: The cards that slide into the clear sleeves covering the color family spaces on the game board. 
         [0032]    Referring now in detail to the drawings, the reference numeral  14  denotes generally a scrapbooking board game in accordance with this invention. The board game  14  includes a game board  15 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , having a substantially smooth planar surface bearing a pattern on one face thereof which defines a travel path  16 . The travel path  16  is segregated into spaces or stations  17 , including stations associated with designated color families  27 , over which are affixed clear sleeves  18 , as illustrated in  FIG. 2 , for the insertion and removal of various “Joey Challenge” cards  19 , which are illustrated in  FIG. 3 . 
         [0033]    The game board  14  is further divided into eight color families  27 , differentiated from each other on the game board  15  surface by Arabic numerals 1 through 8, and which can be further differentiated from each other by specific colors, either by way of coloring or tinting the clear sleeves  18 , or by placing colored material either inside or underneath the clear sleeves  18 , or by any other specific method of specifying colors, either permanently or temporarily. 
         [0034]    The game board  14  further includes spaces  17  along the travel path  16  designated as “Recipe Challenge” spaces  31 , “Crop Challenge Card” spaces  32 , “Sketch Challenge” spaces  33 , and an “On Your Markers” space  34 , which said “On Your Markers” space  34  also functions as a “Sketch Challenge” space  33  during game play. 
         [0035]    Further, the game board  14  includes a color wheel  25  with penalty spinner  35 , located in the center area of the game board  14 , interior to the travel path  16  around the outer edge of the game board  14 . This color wheel  25  is divided into multiple segments, with this typical embodiment of the game being divided into 12 equal segments. Each segment may depict, display, or reflect a number of various types of scrapbooking elements, with this typical embodiment displaying the elements of color and type of embellishment. The penalty spinner  35  is affixed to the center of the color wheel  25 , and is able to spin around the color wheel  25  when moved by a player. 
         [0036]    The game apparatus also includes a game-piece  22 , illustrated in  FIG. 9 . In this typical embodiment, there are four game-pieces  22 , each being a unique color for differentiation. 
         [0037]    Movement of the game-piece  22  is determined primarily by the throw of the six-sided die  23 , illustrated in  FIG. 11 . 
         [0038]    If a player&#39;s game-piece  22  lands on a “Recipe Challenge” space  31 , that player selects a “Recipe” card  20 , illustrated in  FIG. 6 , and follows the instructions and/or prompt displayed on that card. If a player&#39;s game-piece  22  lands on a “Sketch Challenge” space  33 , that player selects a “Sketch” card  28 , illustrated in  FIG. 4 , and follows the instructions and/or prompt displayed on that card. If a player&#39;s game-piece  22  lands on a color family space  27 , that player follows the instructions and/or prompt displayed on the “Joey Challenge” card  19  contained in the clear sleeve  18  that overlays color family space  27  on which the player&#39;s game-piece  22  has landed. If a player&#39;s game-piece  22  lands on a “Crop Challenge Card” space  32 , that player selects a “Crop Challenge” card  21 , illustrated in  FIG. 7 , and follows the instructions and/or prompt displayed on that card. 
         [0039]    The 12-sided die  24 , illustrated in  FIG. 12 , is primarily utilized in conjunction with the color wheel  25 , such that when a player is directed by the games rules to spin the penalty spinner  35  on the color wheel  25 , that player also rolls the 12-sided die  24 . The result of the spin of the penalty spinner  35  on color wheel  25 , said result being the displayed contents of whichever segment on which the penalty spinner  35  comes to rest upon ceasing to spin, determines the type(s) of scrapbooking element(s), and the result of the roll of the 12-sided die  24  determines the quantity of that or those same scrapbooking element(s) so designated by the result of the spin of the penalty spinner  35 . 
         [0040]    The game apparatus also includes a token  26 , illustrated in  FIG. 10 . In this typical embodiment of the game, there are 128 tokens  26 , with a set of  32  each in four unique colors, with each of the four unique colors corresponding to one of the four unique colors of the typical game-pieces  22 . These tokens  26  are used to mark a given player&#39;s completion of the directions reflected on the “Joey Challenge” card  19  displayed on any given color family space  27 , or the corresponding “Recipe” card  20  subsequently selected after a player&#39;s game-piece lands on a “Recipe Challenge” space  31 , on which that player&#39;s game-piece  22  has landed, in accordance with the game rules. 
         [0041]    This typical embodiment of the game apparatus further includes a plurality of game cards, some of which have been heretofore preliminarily introduced, namely, “Joey Challenge” cards  19 , “Recipe” cards  20 , “Crop Challenge” cards  21 , and “Sketch” cards  28 ; and two (2) of which are hereby introduced, namely, “Color Palette” cards  29 , illustrated in FIG.  5 .; and “Free Choice” cards  30 , illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
         [0042]    Further, with regards to the “Joey Challenge” cards  19 , the “Recipe” cards  20 , the “Crop Challenge” cards  21 , and the “Free Choice” cards  30 , each of the cards bears a message. The “Joey Challenge” cards  19  provide the player with a single stipulated element for a scrapbooking layout, the “Recipe” cards  20  provide the player with a set of multiple elements for a scrapbooking layout, the “Crop Challenge” cards  21  provide the player with directions for a specified interaction with another player, and the “Free Choice” cards  30  provide the player with the option to move that player&#39;s respective game-piece  22  to any space  17  on the travel path  16  as that player so desires. More specifically, and by way of example, the “Joey Challenge” cards  19  include, but are not limited to the following typical messages: 
         [0043]    Use a Monogram on Your Layout 
         [0044]    Use an Animal or Animal Print on Your Layout 
         [0045]    Use a Song as Inspiration! Include a line, lyrics, or title as part of the Layout 
         [0046]    With regard to the “Recipe” cards  20 , the following are typical messages: 
         [0047]    Two Page Layout—Five or More Photos—Die Cut Title—Something that Sparkles—Banner 
         [0048]    Color Palette Card—Three Colors—Five or More Photos—Frame One or More Photos—Hand Stitching—Bling—Twine or Ribbon 
         [0049]    Chipboard—Ribbon—Chevrons—Flowers—Three or More Photos 
         [0050]    With regard to the “Crop Challenge” cards  21 , the following are typical messages: 
         [0051]    Look at other players&#39; pages, and use an idea on your next page. 
         [0052]    Collect a small embellishment from another player. 
         [0053]    Offer to share a tool with another player. 
         [0054]    Each of the “Free Choice” cards  30  bear the same exemplary message, namely: 
         [0055]    Move to any space on the board!—(You may use this card at any time) 
         [0056]    Further, with regards to the “Sketch” cards  28  and the “Color Palette” cards  29 , each of these cards bears a picture—the “Sketch” cards  28  provide the player with a picture outlining design elements of a scrapbooking layout, and the “Color Palette” cards  29  provide the player with a picture presenting specified color elements for a scrapbooking layout. 
         [0057]    General Rules of Play 
         [0058]    The game is played according to the unique set of Instructions, Suggestions, and Rules of Play (rules), said rules alterable all-inclusively by individual players, the patent owner, and any authorized licensees. The game is intended for play by from single individuals to an unlimited number of participants. In typical group play by two or more individuals, all cards ( 19 ,  20 ,  21 ,  28 ,  29 , and  30 ) are kept either on or near the game board  14 , sorted in piles by their unique card types, and each player selects a unique game-piece  22 . If more than four players are playing, there are multiple options for additional game-pieces, including that players may provide their own game-pieces not provided with or by the game, or they may acquire additional game-pieces  22  in additional unique colors. 
         [0059]    Game Set Up 
         [0060]    Insert one “Joey Challenge” card  19  into each clear sleeve  18  on the game board  14 . Keep all other card types ( 20 ,  21 ,  28 ,  29 , and  30 ), face down on or near the game board  14 , in individual stacks, according to their unique card type. Place all players&#39; game-pieces  22  on the “On Your Markers” space  34 . Give each player the set of 32 tokens  26  that corresponds to the color of each individual player&#39;s game-piece  22 . 
         [0061]    Play 
         [0062]    The initial play is turn-based, with one player selected to go first, with all other subsequent players taking their individual turns consecutively, until all players have taken their initial turn. On a player&#39;s turn, the player rolls the six-sided die  23 , moves his or her game-piece  22  the number of spaces  17  according the result of the roll of the six-sided die  23 , moving clockwise around the travel path  16  of the game board  14 . Upon a player&#39;s game-piece  22  coming to rest on a space  17  at the end of the movement of that player&#39;s game-piece  22 , that player must either scrapbook a layout that fulfills the challenge requirement(s) displayed on the space  17  on which he or she lands, if that space  17  contains specific challenge requirements, or draw a card of the respective card type, if that space  17  does not contain specific challenge requirements, and follow the instructions displayed on the drawn card. Once those challenge requirements have been met, the player places one of his or her tokens  26  on the completion strip  36  directly above the color family space  27 , “Recipe Challenge” space  31 , or “Crop Challenge Card” space  32  corresponding to the completed challenge. 
         [0063]    The first player to complete the challenge for any given color family space  27  “owns” that space. The player then rolls the six-sided die  23  again, and continues to move clock-wise around the travel path  16  in accordance with the result of each roll. After the initial round of turn-based play, all subsequent turns are performed as a player&#39;s layouts or game instructions are completed, without any specific order of play. Each player simply takes another turn after completing any given challenge. Once a color family space  27  is “owned”, any player who lands on that space must spin the penalty spinner  35 , and roll the 12-sided die  24 . The 12-sided die  24  determines the quantity of the item(s) indicated by the penalty spinner  35  that must added to the challenge requirements reflected on the color-family space  27  on which that player&#39;s game-piece  22  has landed. In other words, that player must complete a layout that meets both the requirements of the “Joey Challenge” card  19  contained in the color-family space  27  and the additional requirement resulting from the roll of the 12-sided die  24  and the spin of the penalty spinner  35 , in order to complete that challenge. Once that challenge has been completed, that player stacks one of their tokens  26  on top of any other token(s)  26  already there. 
         [0064]    Example: A player lands on a color family space  27 , the challenge listed on the corresponding “Joey Challenge” card  19  is “Do a Monochromatic Layout”, and someone already owns that color-family space  27 . The player whose game-piece  22  has landed on that color family space  27  has to spin the penalty spinner  35 , and roll the 12-sided die  24 . The 12-sided die  24  roll results in “9”, and the spin of the penalty spinner  35  stops on a segment of the color wheel  35  displaying the word “Brads.” That player then has to do a monochromatic layout, and use nine (9) brads on that layout, in order to complete the challenge. 
         [0065]    If a player game-piece  22  lands on a “Recipe Challenge” space  31 , that player must draw a “Recipe” card  20 , and include every element listed on the drawn card on a layout in order to complete the challenge. If the “Recipe” card  20  includes using a sketch and/or color palette, the player must also draw the respective “Sketch” and/or “Color Palette” cards ( 28  and  29 ), and include the elements listed on those cards in their layout in order to complete the challenge. 
         [0066]    If a player lands on a “Crop Challenge Card” space  32 , that player must draw a “Crop Challenge” card  21 , and follow the instructions on the drawn card. The “Crop Challenge” cards  21  are meant to encourage interaction with other scrapbookers, and foster closer friendships with those with whom players are scrapbooking. 
         [0067]    After a player completes a challenge, that player replaces any drawn card(s) to the bottom of the respective card pile(s). 
         [0068]    “Free Choice” cards  30  are earned by the first player to complete all of the challenges within a given color family  27 , all of the “Recipe Challenge” spaces  31 , or all of the “Crop Challenge Card” spaces  32 . A player that earns a “Free Choice” card  30  may use the card to move that player&#39;s game-piece  22  to any space on the board. “Free Choice” cards  30  may be used immediately upon being earned, or they may be held and used at a later time. 
         [0069]    Super Challenge: Each set of three (3) challenges within a given color family  27  represents a “Super Challenge”, said Super Challenges being considered completed by the first player to complete all three (3) challenges within that given color family  27 . A player does not have to “own” any of the spaces within the color family  27  in order to complete the Super Challenge for that color family  27 . Only the first player to complete all three (3) Challenges in a single color family  27  is considered to have completed the Super Challenge, even if additional players later complete all three (3) challenges within that color family  27 . 
         [0070]    Super Recipe Challenge: The Super Recipe Challenge is considered to be completed by the first player to complete each of the four (4) “Recipe Challenge” spaces  31  on the board (one on each side). Only the first player to complete all four (4) “Recipe Challenge” spaces  31  is considered to have completed the Super Recipe Challenge, even if additional players later complete all four (4) “Recipe Challenge” spaces  31 . 
         [0071]    Super Crop Challenge: The Super Crop Challenge is completed by the first player to complete each of the four (4) “Crop Challenge Card” spaces  32  on the board (one on each side). Only the first player to complete all four (4) “Crop Challenge Card” spaces  32  is considered to have completed the Super Crop Challenge, even if additional players later complete all four (4) “Crop Challenge Card” spaces  32 . 
         [0072]    The end of game play may be determined by any method the players choose, including a specified time limit or number of challenges completed. If all the challenges are completed and the players still want to continue playing, new “Joey Challenge” cards  19  can be inserted in the color family spaces  27 , and game play can continue. 
         [0073]    Individual Play 
         [0074]    There are a great deal of prompts in this game, and while sitting at a small space may not allow enough room for a single scrapbooker to set up the whole game board  15 , an individual player can use the “Recipe” cards  20 , “Joey Challenge” cards  19 , “Sketch” cards  28 , and/or “Color Palette” cards  29 , and draw random cards or combinations of cards for inspiration. 
         [0075]    Electronic App Version 
         [0076]    There can also be an electronic version for players in an app medium with various set-up configurations, including: 
         [0077]    Game Play 1—For set-up, players use their phone or tablet to take their own picture. This is made into a virtual “Scrapbooker” game-piece. Challenges for the board will be randomly distributed. When the player pushes the “roll die” button, a number will randomly be chosen, and the players&#39; game-piece will be moved. The space landed on will be displayed on the screen, and the player will have the choice of “accept” or “skip” the challenge. A layout is completed with each challenge. When the player is done with their layout, the “roll” button is pressed, and play continues. If the player lands on a “Recipe Challenge” space, the recipe will be displayed. If the player lands on a “Sketch Space” the Sketch is displayed on the screen. Each time a new challenge is displayed, the player gets the choice of accepting or skipping the challenge. There are only 24 individual challenges on the board, outside of the sketches and recipe cards. If the player skips too many times, the game will recycle the challenges that have been skipped. 
         [0078]    This version of game play is able to link play with other individuals who have the app. There will be an interactive board to view so you can see where other players are on the board, and what challenges and super challenges have been completed. There will be a place on this interactive version for players who have completed challenges to post a photo of their creation for others to see. 
         [0079]    Game Play 2—This version allows players to choose use any or all of three decks of electronic cards, corresponding to the “Sketch”, “Recipe”, and “Joey Challenge” Cards ( 28 ,  20 , and  19 ). There is no board, no interaction with other players, and no repeated challenges. Should the player choose to skip a challenge, they will be given a new one and will not be presented with the skipped challenge a second time in that session of game play. 
         [0080]    Wall Mounted Version 
         [0081]    This version of the game is the similar to the typical embodiment previously described, with the exception of the game board  15  being entirely magnetized and displayed vertically, so that all players can see the board from individual locations. There are mounting holes on one edge of the game board  15  (said mounting holes not depicted in the accompanying drawings), and the clear sleeves  18  snap into place over the color family spaces  27 , opening facing up. 
         [0082]    Travel Version 
         [0083]    This is a miniature-sized board similar to the typical embodiment previously described, excepting that the “Crop Challenge” cards  21  and “Crop Challenge Card” spaces  32  are not included. 
         [0084]    Website Version 
         [0085]    Players can log in to play with other online players interactively, very much the same way as previously described in the app version, Game Play 1. There is a gallery for players to which they can upload their layouts, and a message board on which players can chat with each other. 
         [0086]    Although the previously presented technology has been described with reference to particular means, materials, and embodiments, it is to be understood that the disclosed technology is not limited to these disclosed particulars, but extends instead to all equivalents within the broad scope of this disclosure, drawings, and exhibit(s)/appendi(x)ces.