Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator - Coldwater, Michigan - KatheD@gmail.com

Thursday, December 5, 2013

faux-framed evergreen adventure

I have this fabulous stamp set that up until now was unused; I thought of it right away when I saw the Evergreen prompt at The Paper Players.  It didn't take long to think of the faux frame from Technique Time Tuesday as a great way to spotlight it, either.  But it took two evenings to make these two cards, and neither of them turned out quite the way I envisioned.  Let me show you the one that comes closest, and I'll tell you my tale:
stamp set - Special Season; ink - Garden Green, Versamark; Stampin' emboss powder - Clear, Silver; card stock - Garden Green; Silver 1/8" ribbon; Big Shot with Apothecary Accents framelits; sponge dauber

First, thinking of sky, I chose to do the faux frame in Pool Party.  The tree trunk seemed "wrong" in green, so I colored it, but then the decorations needed to be colored as well.  I had already decided to use the little bough stamp as a frame around the edge of the card, but couldn't decide on a base color that would combine well with green boughs and the Pool Party "sky", so I set the whole thing aside and started over with this monochrome scheme.  By the time I got the bough frame and the faux frame done it was LATE in the evening.  It seemed like a good idea to heat emboss the tree and sentiment, but that meant the rest of the card front needed to be really dry, so I gave up and attempted to get some sleep by *not* thinking about which embossing powder colors might work best...

This evening I stamped the tree with Garden Green (for better color intensity than Versamark) and quickly clear-embossed it.  I removed the paper frame while trying to decide on a color for the sentiment.  I wasn't as careful as I could have been, and created the "embellishment opportunity" (in a non-crafting household, that *may* be known as a mistake) which is now hidden under ribbon, so the sentiment color was decided for me. 

Meanwhile the colored version was still on my crafting table, and I still need about two dozen more cards, so I couldn't just store it in the bin of "bits that will be useful later".  Although I was still struggling with the unusual color combination I had self-imposed, I pressed on:

stamp set - Special Season; ink - Garden Green, Pool Party, Real Red; Stampin' Write markers - Crushed Curry, Real Red; card stock - Coastal Cabana, Crushed Curry, Naturals White; punch - full Heart; Big Shot with Apothecary Accents framelits; sponge dauber, Stampin' Dimensionals
Who knew stamping could be so difficult? By now, I've lost track of my initial vision; I probably need some blog and Pinterest surfing time!


12 comments:

LeAnne said...

Well, both cards are very pretty....and I know just what you mean about a card not turning out the way you envisioned!! But your colors are fresh & fun...so glad you played this week!

Nance Leedy said...

Kathe, you're being to hard on yourself, these are lovely! The colors are bright and cheery on the second but I love the monochromatic look of the first one. The faux frame technique is beautiful for the tree and I love the boughs framing the outside of the card. So glad you joined us at The Paper Players!

Nance Leedy said...

Kathe, you are too hard on yourself--these are lovely! The colors are bright and cheery on the second one and I love the monochromatic look of the first one. The faux frame technique is perfect for the tree and I love the boughs framing the outside of the card--gorgeous! Thank you for sharing with us at The Paper Players!

stampwithsandy said...

Oh Kathe I loved reading your tale! Embellishment opportunity? Love it! We have all been there, LOL! I love both versions of your card and thank you for joining us this week at The Paper Players!

Unknown said...

Sometimes the best "mistakes" are great just like your two cards here! The monochromatic card is lovely as is the multi-colored card! You did a great job with both Faux Frames! Thanks for joining at Technique Time Tuesday! :)

Mynn xx said...

Both of these are amazing!!! LOVE the green one--especially the added embellishment opportunity! ;) Both are fabulous, though! Thank you SO MUCH for joining us at TTT--hope you join us again soon!!! :) Mynn xx

Katy said...

Both of these cards are beautiful! Great faux frames on both of them! Thank you so much for joining us at Technique Time Tuesday! Merry Christmas! :)

Rocky said...

Both cards are great, my favourite would have to be the green one though, even with an 'embellishment opportunity'it's fab.Your faux frame is ace, thanks for joining us at TTT.

Unknown said...

Oh my I just love both of these. Sometimes I feel like I am trying to fit a square peg in a round hole.....usually when I have a preconceived notion for my card. Most often they turn out different from my vision. In your case, both cards are just amazing! Thank you so much for joining us at Technique Time Tuesday!

Karen Petitt said...

Both of them are gorgeous! Thank you so much for joining us at TTTC for our Favourite 2013 Technique challenge. We really appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to 'play' along with us and hope to see you again soon Karen P Technique Time Tuesday Crew http://stampinginpink.blogspot.com/

Unknown said...

Don't you just LOVE this technique! Thanks so much for sharing with us this month at Technique Time Tuesday :) We sure hope to see you back again in the New Year!

Karen Petitt said...

Both of these are gorgeous! Thank you so much for joining us at TTTC for our Favourite 2013 Technique challenge. We really appreciate the fact that you have taken the time to 'play' along with us and hope to see you again soon Karen P Technique Time Tuesday Crew http://stampinginpink.blogspot.com/