June 1, 2011

A Whole Lotta Learning

I love a challenge. Really. I do.

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:

Lesson #1
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

4 comments:

  1. 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!

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  2. So pretty! The tulle is fantastic! The liquid pearls are lovely! Thanks so much for playing along with CR84FN!

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  3. Very beautiful card Holly! Love the fine detailing with the Liquid Pearls! Thanks for the inspiration and for playing along with CR84FN :)

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  4. Learning is good. Your card is beautiful! I have a fondness for Liquid Pearls but Stickles are still my great love! :D
    Thanks 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! :)

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