Thursday, January 23, 2014

Color Q #225 and Case This Sketch #60 challenges

Hello again!  This is my second post for today so if you are looking for the card a day blog or fusion challenges please see previous post.

I absolutely adore sketches.  The hardest part of creating cards is figuring out where to put my elements so when I found the Case This Sketch challenge I just had to join in.  Here is the sketch:



Here is what I came up with using the sketch:

I figured why not make things even easier (or so I thought) and seek out the latest Colour Q challenge for my color inspiration.

Aren't these colors gorgeous together and the sketch is pretty simple too...should make for fast card creating.  NOT!  Do you ever have a project where you keep changing and adding things and still it doesn't look right?  Well this was one of those projects.  It started off simple enough but I made it complicated.  Let's see First I stamped the image from Stampin Up's just believe and heat embossed it in white.  I wanted to use the PTI's MIM #45 coloring embossed Images with copics to incorporate the challenge colors.  I love this technique to add multiple colors to non layering stamps!


This technique worked pretty well even on the very textured card stock.  I added a heat embossed sentiment from PTI's Year of Flowers collection stamp set.  I mimicked the stitching in the sketch by using my Sew Easy and the circle pattern.  The image still seemed to need something so I added the tiny pearls and yes I kept fussing with the image still and ended up adding the twine bow.  I put everything together modeling the sketch and still wasn't happy with the background.  I ended up stamping it with script background using distress inks and then sponging distress inks around the edge.  Then I ran it through the Grand Calibur with my favorite texture plate.  Would you believe the card still looked too plain to me.  So I stamped the burgundy strip with PTI's Fancy Flourishes.  Then I added some scallops to the side of the burgundy strip.  Whew!  Now I'm restraining myself from adding anything else!  I really thought this card was going to be simple!  It is a simple sketch..I should try it with a scrap patterned paper strip and a simple focal image sometime. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Please come back again!  Stay warm!

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4 comments:

Deb C said...

Stop Stop
just kidding
what a beautiful card
the eye is drawn to the flowers
you are inspiring two card posts in one day wow

Jen W. said...

Lovely! I like the coloured image and the sweet stitched border! Thanks for playing along with CAS(E) This Sketch this week!

Leigh Penner said...

Lovely card! What a great take on the sketch!

Sylvia said...

Beautiful card, Shelly, love your design and the background especially! So glad to see you at the colourQ, thanks for playing with us.