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

Wednesday, September 5, 2012

a difficult adventure

I had difficulty with every aspect of this card, other than choosing the colors - which came from the completely new Color Me Beautiful challenge - and choosing the stamp set - which was inspired by the leaves or trees theme at The Paper Players:
stamp set - Lovely as a Tree; ink - Lucky Limeade, Perfect Plum, Rich Razzleberry, Wisteria Wonder, Versamark; card stock - Basic Black, Basic Gray, Rich Razzleberry Whisper White; Big Shot with Argyle textured impressions embossing folder and scallop oval frame (retired), Black Stampin' Emboss powder, Stampin' Dimensionals, sponge daubers
 
To be specific (since I'm sure you're interested in my sad story), I started with stamping sponges, which didn't give me the coverage I envisioned.  I turned the card stock over and started again, using sponge daubers.  That was better, but my sponging skills still didn't provide the coverage I envisioned.  Then I stamped the image in Basic Gray, and it disappeared.  I got out my Stamp-a-majig and re-stamped using Basic Black.  Still not quite what I had in mind, so I cleaned the stamp, re-stamped using Versamark, and embossed it.  I evidently missed a spot with the Versamark impression, so I tried to pick out the missing detail with my Versamark pen. It looked blobby with the embossing powder on it, so I brushed it off and tried again.  No improvement; I brushed it off. I got the Stamp-a-majig back out, used the Versamark pen on the stamp in the missing area and went from there.  It was somewhat less blobby, so I went with that.  Meanwhile I had smudged and wrinkled the card stock that was supposed to be clean white, so I trimmed it down and added a scallop oval frame.   Sigh.  

And, really?  I was supposed to be designing cards for my Stamp-a-stack event, since I'll be out of town next week and the Stamp-a-stack is the day after we return.  This won't be one of those cards.

10 comments:

Dorlene Durham said...

Well, thanks for not giving up on this color challenge. The card is beautiful! Great use of the challenge colors. Thanks for playing along. I struggled with my first color challenge too but it'll get easier :).

Kerry Parkinson said...

Kathe your story made me laugh out loud! I can soooooooo relate to this! Good on you for persisting and congrats on a lovely card as the end result. Thanks for joining us at Color Me Beautiful.

Margaret said...

I think it turned out beautifully and I love the framing! I know what you mean about having a picture in your mind and trying to get it on paper... But your end result is lovely! So glad you joined us at Color Me Beautiful!!

Dawn Easton said...

I think it turned out beautifully! Don't be so hard on yourself. I honestly think we are our own worst critic!!! LOL!
Thanks for playing along with us at the Paper Players!

Unknown said...

Despite your difficulties this turned out great. I love this effect!

Jacquel said...

Well, despite all your difficulties; I think you made a pretty cute card & I do like that background! Thanks for playing with us @ Color Me Beautiful!

Connie Stewart said...

Oh I feel your pain. What's funny is when you are dealing with a difficult card you will do anything and everything to fix it. It's an obsession! I must say, I would have had NO clue that you had issues with this. The sponging is SOOO pretty!!!

stressfreestamping said...

Well, your card turned out great! I love the sponging. It is good to know that I am not the only one who doesn't always get my cards perfect the first time I give it a try. :) Thanks for sharing your story and for playing along at CMB this week!

LeAnne said...

Well, we have all had days like this, haven't we?! I am glad you persevered because it really is a lovely card! Thanks for playing at the Paper Players this week!

Amy White said...

Well done for persevering with yuor project - I can certainly relate to the process you described lol! You're more patient than me though because I probably would have just started again! The combination of colours in your background is fabulous! Thanks for playing along with the Paper Players this week!