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

Monday, November 4, 2013

long, drawn-out adventure

Seriously, this *one* card took more than two weeks to come together!  Let's have show-and-tell - I'll show it to you and then tell you about it:
stamp sets - Teeny Tiny Wishes, Warmth & Wonder (hostess); ink - Cherry Cobbler; card stock - Old Olive, Very Vanilla; designer series paper - Letters to Santa (retired - Blush Blossom stripe) and Love Letters (not sure about the name - retired - Close to Cocoa print); Dazzling Details - Cherry Cobbler; punches - 1-3/8" circle, 1-1/4" circle, Bird Builder; ribbon - Very Vanilla seam binding; Envelope Punch Board
 
Just over two weeks ago, some of my demonstrator friends were here for Card Buffet and we were talking about the new tools Stampin' Up!® is offering, including the Envelope Punch Board.  I mentioned those "file folder" style cards that are "everywhere", but Rhonda hadn't seen them.  Since she spends the winter in a much warmer state than Michigan, I thought I could send her one for Christmas.  
 
I don't really love file folder cards so I was having trouble deciding how to decorate one.  I mentioned my dilemma to my upline - we both love the Envelope Punch Board, but not so much the file folder cards.  She suggested it's because we use file folders at work every day, making them not very fun (for us). 

Meanwhile, Festive Friday asked for a wreath and Jingle Belles asked for creatures - I was pretty sure a bird on a wreath was something I could work with, but it wasn't quite enough.  Then 52 {Christmas Card Throwdown} posted this sketch which pretty much has a wreath right there:

I have a small stamp box full of Old Olive bird builder punched branches from a class project a couple of years ago, and I even found a lopsided ring punch in my shoebox full of "this may be useful someday" bits, so I glued down the branches and snipped out a little cardinal from Warmth & Wonder, but it still didn't quite come together.  I didn't know what else to put on there, or what other colors to add, and that banner in the bottom corner wasn't really working for me. 

When something isn't coming together for me, I leave it and do something else.  Yesterday, something else was sitting down at the computer to browse my favorite blogs and challenges.  I found some great color combinations, but there was no way I was making a wreath in any other color, since the Old Olive one was all glued together (and I still have branches - not going to punch that many more for a while).  Color Throwdown conveniently happened to be looking for Old Olive, but my Real Red cardinal wasn't really right, and I didn't keep my Close to Cocoa card stock or ink.  Hmmmmm.  It was time for bed, anyway.

Today I finally realized I could rotate the sketch so that the banner was in the upper left corner, right where the label on the file folder was! (duh!)  And, I remembered that one piece of Close to Cocoa dsp from the first package I ever bought.  So, after two weeks (more if you consider how long ago I punched those branches and bought that paper!) I have a file folder card.  It still needs an insert, though..

11 comments:

Mynn xx said...

Absolutely lovely, Kathe! I adore the soft colors and that fabulous wreath! Thanks for joining us at 52CCT! Hope you join us again soon!!! :) Mynn xx

SmilynStef said...

Sometimes the creative process just takes its own sweet time ... I do love the end result through. I just bought the envelope board, but need to watch some videos to figure out how to use it.

Brenda said...

When my creative process stalls, I also put the project aside. Usually a solution comes to mind during the wee hours of the morning. In the end, your file folder card is just gorgeous. I love the colors and the sketch from 52CCT works beautifully. Thanks for stopping by my blog!

Lisa said...

the wreath is just adorable and the little bird such a sweetie. The folder card is new for me and looks good

lauren bergold said...

oh my gosh, i can soooooo relate to cards that *EVOLVE* in their own way and in their very own timeframe! in this case, not only was it worth waiting for, but also you are so right: the sketch was MADE for you!!! very awesome indeed, miss kathe!

Danielle Vincent said...

I still have about 3 cards on my desk from the start of previous challenges...sooner or later I'll get the perfect inspiration and finish them up. I love the end result of what you did and how you used the sketch as inspiration. Thanks so much for joining us this week at 52CCT.

Deborah Frings said...

What a fun idea! I do like the Christmas wreath with the cardinal! Thanks for playing along with 52CCT this week!

Ruth M said...

Great job Kathe your patience paid off, the file folder look is different and I love the red bird perched on your wreath! Great take on the sketch layout! Thanks for playing along with us again at 52 {C}CT, please come back soon! Ruth x

Meredith MacRitchie said...

I love that you added a bird to your wreath! So sorry to be late with commenting, but thank you so much for sharing this with us at Festive Friday!

Patricia Hays said...

Well, your persistence with this card paid off in the long run because it looks great! Thanks for sharin git with us at 52{C}CT.

Louise van Vuren said...

So sorry for my late visit this time - I've not been well! This is a fabulous take on the sketch- must admit this is the first time I've seen a file folder card -I like it! You are right the sketch is perfect for a wreath. Thanks for joining in with the challenge at 52 CCT this week

Louise xx