Yes, it's true! I finally stamped a card. I hope that means my stamping mojo has returned. You may not realize it, but it is somewhat difficult to switch between traditional stamping and digital stamping...at least it is for me.
To work through my slump, I thought I would try my hand at Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch Challenge. It's been so long since I've done one of these. Typically, I avoid any layouts which require circles or ovals, but I threw caution to the wind and decided to break out my Spellbinders Nestabilities (non-SU) and give this challenge a try. Karen's sketches are my absolute favorite of all the sketch challenges I have tried. Clean & Simple sketches are a close second.
I began with a standard size (5.5" x 4.25") base of Not Quite Navy card stock and layered on some Pear Pizzazz In-Color DSP (Hostess Level 1). I added a strip of DSP from Elegant Soiree and topped it off with some Pear Pizzazz 1/2" Stitched-Poly Ribbon. For the focal point of the card I pulled out the set, Herb Expressions (#113224) and stamped it in Basic Black ink on Whisper White CS. I am ashamed to admit that I got this set a while back, but I just haven't given it the love it deserves. This is the first time it has actually seen ink. It was super easy to color with Stampin' Up! markers. I used Pear Pizzazz and Old Olive for the leaves and Bashful Blue and Baja Breeze for the flowers.
The card still looked a little bare, so I added a punched birdie and some brads to give the card a more complete look. Here's my rule of thumb: if it looks like something is missing, then it probably is. You go through a similar process practically every morning when you dress for the day. You look in the mirror and think, "hmmmm, this outfit needs something". It's exactly the same thing with your cards. Often times I see a card that gets off to a really great start, but it looks like they forgot to finish it. In this case the bird and brads were exactly what this card needed to look "fully dressed". Sometimes it helps to set your card on a table or shelf and just look at it from a distance. You can usually tell right away it something needs to be changed.
Thanks for looking & have a blessed day!
