Sunday, August 1, 2010

JUST ADD INK #28

The fabulous team at Just Add Ink have come up with a double challenge this week - to incorporate these yummy colours

  





in a man's card.  Now, that in itself is not really a challenge, because I love making cards for men and boys, and these are some of my "go-to" colours.  However, in the process of making my card I learnt the value of "less is more".  I'll explain.  I had a very clear vision in my head of what I wanted this card to look like.  You know, simplistic design, grungy and distressed looking background, bit of edge distressing and some faux stitching (all staple elements in many of my male cards). 

I started off with a panel of Kraft card, and stamped the Sanded background in Sahara Sand.  Nice, subtle, texture, and I should've left it at that.  But, no, I decided to over-stamp it with Sanded again, in Baja Breeze.  Hmm ... not quite the look I was going for.  I applied a bit of Chocolate Chip ink with a sponge, to my stamp of choice (the brocade image from Friends 24-7), to give a subtle, masculine look to one side of the card.  In an attempt to cover up the Baja Breeze stamping I'd regretted, I stamped Sanded AGAIN, this time with Chocolate Chip ink.  This detracted from my subtle brocade-y pattern, so I stamped the brocade bits again with full-strength Chocolate Chip ink.  Now the card just look imbalanced, so I proceeded to stamp the brocade pattern all over my card (with ink sponged onto the rubber, so it wasn't toooooo dark).

What I've ended up with is a card that very nearly got thrown in the bin.  However, because I've been rather short on "stamping just for fun" time, I decided to share my creation with you instead!  I'm hoping I'll get a chance in the next few days to make another card that is more to my liking.

I don't have my grandfathers any more, but my boys do, so one of them might just be lucky enough to receive this card one day, LOL.


Oh, to top off the "this isn't working out as I'd planned" experience, when I stamped "Wonderful", I got a small line of ink where I didn't want it.  Hence the lightly ruled line underneath that word - it was an attempt to salvage the Baja Breeze panel.  There are no mistakes in stamping ... just creative opportunities!

Here's what I used to make this card:

Stamps: Sanded, Friends 24-7, Wonderful Favourites
Card: Kraft, Chocolate Chip
DSP: Parisian Breeze and Baja Breeze Patterns Designer Series Papers
Ink: Sahara Sand, Baja Breeze and Chocolate Chip stampin' pads, Chocolate Chip stampin' write marker
Other: Stamp-a-ma-jig, Jumbo brads, mat pack and paper piercing tool, sponge dauber, edge distresser

20 comments:

  1. Ha I'm still laughing at your stamping story - sounds so much like my kind of 'creative opportunity'. Glad you shared with us because despite it not being what you had originally envisioned, it's still a great card :o)

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  2. I am so impressed that you persevered and ended up with a gorgeous Christine-Creation. Love your card. Also impressed that you managed to photograph it outside in the middle of the winds that are buffeting Melbourne today!

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  3. I love this card Christine and the great story to go with it LOL!!!

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  4. I love it too Christine - that's what I do ... stamp a bit of this and then bit of that ... and of course a bit of sponging ... then when I go to write it up for my blog - I can't remember all the sets and colours LOL

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  5. There are no mistakes, just creative opportunities...love it Christine!
    Love this background and think you have done a great job on the card.

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  6. Love the 'creative opportunity' you have going here! TFS.

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  7. I think it's a fantastic card!

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  8. Just gorgeous Christine. That background is divine.

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  9. You are one clever cookie Christine! I think your "grungy" background looks awesome despite it not being what you originally planned. What a great male card. TFS

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  10. Your card is fantastic, I love that grungy look, its perfect for men of all ages.

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  11. Hey Christine, missed you last week! I can count on one hand the number of times a card has turned out exactly how I envisaged it! This is a great card no matter what it was 'supposed' to look like!

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  12. Loved your story that went with the card Christine - all that layering and distressing has paid off though - it looks great!

    Kim

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  13. I love this card, what a great job!

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  14. Wow, I really like it! It's hard to believe you nearly binned it!

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  15. Life is one big creative opportunity, right? Love your stamping Christine and love your little stories, Claire xx

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  16. I learnt that lesson AGAIN this week - "Less is more" on my upcoming JAI card.....when will I learn!
    And I do those accidental little lines all the time, but never thought to try and incorportate them - great idea!!! Thanks for sharing!

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  17. Christine I am glad you persisted with this card as it turned out great! Often our 'mistakes' end up being redeeming features of our end result or atleast what we do to 'fix' our mistakes!

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  18. Acutally, for all the "cover ups" you tried, I think you really pulled off a fabulous card! It's really kinda moody, and what Man isn't, lol! Great job Christine!

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  19. I love it...... But when do I not love your cards Christine! Gorgeous.

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