It has been a couple of weeks since I have participated in a card challenge other than WWYS. Taxes and chores have gotten in the way. Taxes! Ug. I am almost done but am cutting it pretty close to the deadline. Just a few tiny items to track down and verify and then I can submit them. What a relief that will be!
I needed a creative break, I don't know about you but this is how I relax and unwind. I sat down this weekend and created two cards for two different card challenges: The Global Design Project and Color Throwdown. Anyone participate in card challenges like these? I'm always looking for others. It's like a game! I challenged myself to use a single stamp set from the Occasions catalog that I have not stamped with yet. I choose Grateful Bunch.
Grateful Bunch is a rather eclectic stamp set. The primary reason I purchased it was for the lace border and the 'You are Totally Awesome' phrase (which I say all the time). I wasn't initially a fan of the flowers (the shape) but after stamping with them I am totally swayed. Stamp, color and punch!
Grateful Bunch - Stampin' Up! GDP030
Global Design Project - Sketch Challenge #30
I love a sketch challenge. It takes all the hard work out of starting a project. For this card I started with all of the elements needed to replicate the sketch almost exactly. Then I start to play and remove or move things around to make it more of my own. This card ended up being fairly simple and almost one layer. I embossed the white lace piece with white embossing powder directly to the card front and then added little pearls to the lace for dimension.
I recently purchased a Mini Misti. Do you use one of these in your stamping? AMAZING! I needed to be sure my greeting ended up straight & exactly where I wanted it and this was the perfect tool! So much easier and faster than the Stamp-a-ma-jig. Boom.
Grateful Bunch CTD387
The Stampin' Up! Colors I used to achieve this challenge are: Coastal Cabana (retired), Real Red, Tangelo Twist and Daffodil Delight.
I embossed the verse and the leaf stamp in white embossing powder on white watercolor paper and then added a bit of watercolor over the top to make the stamping pop. I love this technique.
Thanks for stopping by and continue to have a great weekend!
