When I was sitting down to do this last weekend - it was snowing!! It was a beautiful light snow with big flakes - but it was still snow in April which just seems wrong (And it's in the forecast for this week too.) So I went overboard with spring!
It was one of those cards that almost didn't happen. Every last one of you will be able to relate to this although maybe you are smart enough to walk away before frustration sets it. Here's my process on this card...
- See the sketch and immediately know it will be on kraft with soft patterns and flowers.
- Pick the perfect stamp and plan ahead - stamp the solid base in the a.m., let it dry, and in the p.m. add the detail with embossing powder.
- Oh no. Where's the coordinating die for it? Because I do NOT fussy cut. Spend incredible amounts of time looking for the die. Even consider paying $7 shipping just to get a replacement die.
- Give up, walk to the mailbox for a break and realize there's a stamp order there - and one of them is a great replacement!
- Try inks from four different companies looking for matches to the background paper - including a retired ink stashed way in the back of the stash.
- Success!
- Find the perfect sentiment. Lay the actual stamp on the card - then refill coffee. Sidetrack a bit on the computer and tidying up a very messy workspace. Turn back to the card. Oh no - the stamp is gone! (And I'm fairly certain the cat hasn't wandered by - stamps and dies are favorite play toys.)
- Look. Look again. Look in the sink under the empty coffee cup. Dig through the garbage. Crawl around the floor feeling the rug. Track the cat down.
- Tidy some more including putting away the retired ink that's stashed far way in the back of the stash.
- Give up. Find an acceptable alternative stamp.
- Stamp it. Oh no. It's crooked. Re-cut the rectangle and reach for the stamp positioner - on top of which is the packaging for the new stamp set that came in the mail - that I would swear up and down I haven't touched since about the day before when I stamped the flowers. But clearly I had because from the bottom falls the missing sentiment. Joy!!
- Ink it up. Realize the acrylic block is a little messy, but I'm getting a little tired of this card so decide I'll just stamp carefully. Sentiment looks good. Oh no. The messy block got ink on the tulip.
- Dig the ink back out of the retired ink box that's stashed in the back of the stash so I can restamp the tulip.
- Finished. Seriously and truly finished - and I'm not convinced I like the card after all of that. I'm sure it's the trauma of it all.
- Do something a little easier - - - like submit my taxes!!!
And..yes...I do know the stripes are crooked. Tough!!
I hope to see you playing along - and I hope your experience is better than mine!!!
I hope to see you playing along - and I hope your experience is better than mine!!!
SUPPLY LIST
Stamps: Papertrey Ink Bitty Bouquets, Choose Joy (sentiment)
Dies: Papertrey Ink Bitty Bouquets, Taylored Expressions Stitched Rectangle Stacklets
Cardstock: Taylored Expressions Toffee, Stampin' Up Apricot Appeal
Patterned Paper: Sunny Studio Dots & Stripes Pastels
Ink: Papertrey Ink Smokey Shadow, Taylored Expressions Granny Smith, Simon Says Stamp Hollyhock, Stampin' Up Apricot Appeal, Peekaboo Peach and Lucky Limeade
Other: Pretty Pink Posh Valentine Mix Gems
Whew! This pretty card was an ordeal. I'm glad you didn't give up because I love the gorgeous Spring colors and beautiful flowers.
ReplyDeleteYour crafting sounds very similar to mine...lol....I can never "knock out" a card in half an hour! This is beautiful and perfectly done - I am so ready for spring too! It has been one long winter!
ReplyDeleteWhat an ordeal! It's cute nonetheless Kim. You know I love the polka dots!
ReplyDeleteOh I'm sooooo sorry, but I just had to laugh!!! I cracked myself up because yes it is sooooo recognizable!
ReplyDeleteAnd your sentiment fits the occasion just perfectly!!
Are you familiar to Murphy's Law? well it made me think of that law.
frustrating nonetheless, but despite all that, I just have to love your card and your longing for spring i can relate to!
And btw, I happen to think that Pink & Orange are a match made in heaven!!!
Hope this brightens your day a little.
Bye and take care!!
I think this card is wonderful the colours are great and your use of craft card works so well against the pale orange base. I can't tell that the stripes are crooked, are they really? I share your frustration as no matter how hard I try I always lose something whenever I am making a card and spend as long looking for it as I do making the card - all part of the process I suppose. Thanks for persevering, the end result is great xx
ReplyDeleteWhat a sweet spring-y card. I agree, snow in April is wrong. Snowed here this week, too. Great take on the sketch!
ReplyDeleteWow! That sounds like one exciting card making adventure!! I must say I'm very thankful my cats don't play with my stamps!! I think your card is just beautiful and that sentiment is perfect! I love it! The flowers are pretty and the colours match perfectly. If you tilt your head slightly the strips look straight - actually I don't have to tilt my head at all - they just look straight!! It's beautiful! You did great!!!
ReplyDeleteOh, Kim, can I relate to your card making adventure! I've "lost" stamps that attach themselves to any and everything on my desk. I do love the clean & fresh feel of this card!
ReplyDeleteThis is pretty much every day in my stamp room lately. I'm not laughing at you...in fact, I'm kind of relieved it happens to someone else!! And you know how some patterns make even straight layers look off, well, I didn't notice it wasn't straight until you said it. Must be the print is friendly (and we always have the toughest eye). I love this sweet card! And I hope spring is really and truly on its way to you.
ReplyDeleteYour experience is oh-so-relatable! But after all that, you turned out a gorgeous card and given enough time, hopefully you'll get over the trauma and see how gorgeous it is too :)
ReplyDelete