Well, ok. Sometimes, in the middle of the challenge I don't love it so much but after its all done and finished, I'm feelin' good. At the end, there's some satisfaction in knowing you've "won" - that you've figured something out. You learn some lessons along the way. And with that, here's today's card, a CR84FN challenge card:
I love Liquid Pearls. I'm building my collection of colors. I used White Opal on this card. You can add that pearl element in any size you want so you don't have to stock up on a ton of adhesive pearls.
My other "new" favorite is tulle ribbon. I'm using it on everything right now. I just love how fluffy it feels, not to mention the fact that I don't normally run into color matching problems like I do with ribbon.
THE LEARNING
Today's card wasn't a challenge in that I couldn't find the right paper. It wasn't that I didn't know what kind of sentiment I wanted to use. It wasn't that I didn't know how I wanted to pull it together. No, no. Today's challenge was more along the lines of my stamping skill. I must have die cut and stamped the sentiment and flourish 8 times (or more?). You think it's easy until its not.
And my lessons learned:
While I LOVE my Tim Holtz Distress Embossing Ink, I learned that my kraft paper doesn't (well, maybe it likes it too much). It kept absorbing into the paper before I could get the entire stamped image covered with embossing powder. Let's just say I refined the technique of moving swiftly!
Lesson #2
I learned that if you leave the die cut in the die, it makes stamping a bit easier. It didn't turn out perfect but it seemed to be closer to being in the right place when I stamped it this way than when I didn't.
Lesson #3
Ink is tricky sometimes. This time, I learned that chalk inks don't make good images on kraft, even the light shade of kraft I have (its actually Speckletone Papers in Oatmeal by French Paper).
Bonus Lesson: Paper Pleats
Lesson #4
Scoring is like cutting. Measure twice, score once. I messed up on the pleats and had to start over because I mis-measured. Waste of time, waste of paper.
Challenges are good. They're one of the best ways to learn your lessons. Now...onto the next one!
Have a great week!
Holly
Holly - thank you for sharing what you learned today! It made me smile - I remember occasions like this :) Anyway, your card is lovely, so it was worth it! I do like the liquid pearls! Thanks for playing along with CR84FN this week!
ReplyDeleteSo pretty! The tulle is fantastic! The liquid pearls are lovely! Thanks so much for playing along with CR84FN!
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful card Holly! Love the fine detailing with the Liquid Pearls! Thanks for the inspiration and for playing along with CR84FN :)
ReplyDeleteLearning is good. Your card is beautiful! I have a fondness for Liquid Pearls but Stickles are still my great love! :D
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing all the tips. I don't figure it has been a good stamping session unless I have 'learned' at least one new thing! :)