Monday 21 March 2011

A quick card...or not

Have you ever had one of those days? Well I certainly had one with today's card, which is my entry for Inkspirations Challenge 62. This week is a colour challenge & here are the colours.
Initially, I wasn't sure whether to try the challenge, because of the daffodil delight (not a big yellow fan), but then last Friday night, I saw Helen's cute one layer card & decided to have a go, but had no idea of what to do yet. Saturday morning, I woke up & had a really clear idea in my head - a very rare event let me tell you. I wanted to use this week's clean & simple sketch - FLT132, use lots of white space to tame the daffodil (like Helen's cute one layer card), & use the Aviary set for the stamping.
10 minutes later,it's really coming together until I stamp the last image....& it blurs. No worries, I'll stamp another one...& I drop the inked owl stamp on the card. Take three & it's all going well, until I get some ink on my hand & it goes on the newly stamped page (sigh). Well, at this point, I have to leave it to get some other things done.
Sunday afternoon, I start again & manage to leave a shadow of an omitted greeting image on attempt 4. At this point, I'm thinking maybe this card wasn't meant to be, but I really need to get 2 cards in the mail for friends' birthdays, so I kept going with attempt 5 &.....success!! I manage to stamp & finish a card & even after all my stuff ups...including a dodgy inside greeting which I covered up (shhh) I'm very happy with how it turned out. So, with no further slip-ups, here's my entry for Inkspirations challenge 62!
& here's the inside too.
This is the great clean & the simple sketch I used too...if you're interested. I stretched the sketch & used a little extra ribbon, but I think it's still clearly there.
 Meanwhile, back in the craft room, I start on the second birthday card, but decide to change the colours a include some baja breeze. Even better, I manage to stamp & layout most of another card without any further boo boos.....& then I start seeing the migraine lightning bolts in my eyes. It's time to stop for now.
So, now it's today, I've finished the second card & am happy with it too.

It's very similar to the first, except for the baja, a different ribbon detail & add a little rhinestone bling. The inside is very similar too.
I can't say who the cards are for, as they're in transit but when the recipients receive them, you'll know who you are (grin)....& apologies that they're a little late now (sorry).

Anyway, what's the moral to this story?
... Inspiration does come when you least expect it & can come from many places.
... Be patient with yourself (& inanimate objects!)
... Keep trying & you'll get there eventually.

Anyway, thanks for stopping by & thanks very much if you actually made it through this whole saga. Hope you have a happy day. I'd love to hear what you think.
Inky wishes, Di

PS: When I was getting all the links for this post, I realised that the fabulous Kirsty Brown used Aviary in her Inkspirations card too. I don't remember seeing it when I first saw the challenge colours, but maybe my subconscious did & helped my idea along the way. Anyway, thanks Kirsty!
PPS: the finished card front is 10cm x 21cm & fits in a DL envelope.
PPPS: if you have any other questions, just drop me a line.

Edited: Wednesday 23/3 - one more with the scraps!
Since I'm still stuck in my craft room with the floor work going on, I thought I'd pop back in to show you a final version of this card I made with some of my errr..extra bits! This one is a smaller, regular sized card, so the stamping takes up more of the card & gives it a different look. I  kept the ribbon simple & just added a little 'Itty Bitty Shapes' flower & some more rhinestones. This one isn't for the challenge, as the base is pretty in pink & chocolate. I just had some bits handy.

Thanks heaps for all the lovely comments you've been leaving too. I love hearing from you. Bye again!

Supplies:
Stamps: Aviary (Summer Mini), Afterthoughts (hostess L1), On Your Birthday
Card/Paper: regal rose, early espresso, whisper white, Brights Patterns DSP (regal rose)
Ink: early espresso, regal rose, daffodil delight, baja breeze ink pads,
Accessories: espresso satin ribbon, fire rhinestone brad (pink), flower brad, basic rhinestones.
Tools: stamp-a-ma-jig

14 comments:

Sarah Milbourn Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator said...

Oh Di, sounds like that card was hard work! It was worth it though, very cute! I love how the owl is sitting on the upturned stand, very clever and cute! S xx

Anonymous said...

Hi Di, This card is beautiful and I love the inside too. Great creation!!!
TFS Suzanne :0)

Cindy Major said...

Super cute - inside and out!

H2 :) said...

I love it Di! The cages are a great take on the flowers in the sketch. The owl sitting on the perch is so cute & the touch of pink in the cage details is very sweet. Glad you perservered, because it is such a great card. Even though I'm very partial to blue, I like the impact of the colours on the first card. :)

Marisa said...

This is such a cute card!! Love this set and you have used the sketch and this week's colours fabulously. Thanks so much for joining us at Inkspirations this week :)

KimB said...

Glad you persisted Di!! what a saga though - but it always feels so good to get that idea from head to paper :) Love how you perched the owl on the upside down stand!
Kim

Kristin Moore said...

This is amazing!! Love what you've done! I used the bird cages for the FTL challenge too- what a coincidence!

Kitty said...

Adorable cards! Your description of the setbacks you faced reminds me of the motto of the state I was born in (Kansas)- Ad astra per aspera- to the stars through difficulties (^-^)

Creative Juice by Loni said...

Darling Birdies...and love your take on the C&S sketch! TFS

Natasha said...

Oh my goodness! These are all so adorable!!! What a great use of the Aviary stamp set!

Julie said...

These are beautiful! Congratulations on being chosen as the Inkspirations Color Challenge Winner! A well deserved honor!

Sarah Milbourn Independent Stampin' Up! Demonstrator said...

Congrats for being the winner! All that perserverance paid off! :)
S xx

Sarah Klass said...

OMGoodness, that first one landed in MY mailbox! Thanks so much Di, it was such a gorgeous surprise and so very sweet of you!

And lookie, you won the Inkspirations challenge with it too! Now I feel even more special to have it sitting on my very own mantelpiece!

S x

Jo said...

This is awesome Diane! I love your take on the sketch and the inside is amazing too!