Hello crafting pals!
I ran out of white card stock the other day - aaargh! - and, while ordering some, spotted an A6 die by Gemini called Country Garden, which I thought might be a good investment for the Craft Square Metre. It duly arrived and I had a play with it today. Oh dear. A huge heap of card fragments went in the recycling bin and I ended up with that horrible frustrated feeling you get when you've wasted time and materials and have nothing to show for it.
But while clearing away the pile, I had the idea of snipping out a few bits from the ruined panels. Most of those didn't work either but I did manage to salvage a small piece. Come and see what I did with it:
I thought I'd make an inked background to show through the die cut piece, so I masked off an area on my card base and made a background by sponging distress ink into it. It looked awful! The card stock I'd bought is weird - slightly coated I think. I tried my Stampin' Up inks over the top and that worked better as I have darker colours in those and the coated card stock enabled them to blend easily.
To hide the raw edges of my salvaged die cut, I used two Heffy Doodles stitched rectangle dies to cut a frame out of a dark honey coloured card stock. I used a glue pen to stick the die cut down but it didn't work very well - I think I need to run that sticky backed stuff through my Big Shot at the same time as the die in future (if I ever use it again!)
The sentiment is made with sticky letters from Hobbycraft. I had carefully eased them off another card when I had decided to change the sentiment on it, so I was pleased to repurpose them. I can't imagine myself sending this card to anyone though as it's just making me feel cross!
CHALLENGES
I shall link this card up with The Snippets Playground as I salvaged bits and pieces to make it; I'm also playing along with Inspired By, where Yellow Makes Me Happy is the theme; and the happily revived NBUS Challenge, where I'm show-casing some weird new card stock and a die that I've already taken a disliking to!
AND IN OTHER NEWS
I took Eva for a walk today and although I ASKED her not to go into the mud, she gave me a cheeky look that said "Pardon? Oh sorry, I'm a bit deaf this morning!" She came out looking as if she was wearing black knee high socks, so then I had to let her go into the river where she swam about collecting up sticks in the absence of any ducks to terrorise.
Here she is awaiting a good rub down...
... and (for any Star Wars fans out there) looking as if she's joined The Dark Side!
I ran out of white card stock the other day - aaargh! - and, while ordering some, spotted an A6 die by Gemini called Country Garden, which I thought might be a good investment for the Craft Square Metre. It duly arrived and I had a play with it today. Oh dear. A huge heap of card fragments went in the recycling bin and I ended up with that horrible frustrated feeling you get when you've wasted time and materials and have nothing to show for it.
But while clearing away the pile, I had the idea of snipping out a few bits from the ruined panels. Most of those didn't work either but I did manage to salvage a small piece. Come and see what I did with it:
I thought I'd make an inked background to show through the die cut piece, so I masked off an area on my card base and made a background by sponging distress ink into it. It looked awful! The card stock I'd bought is weird - slightly coated I think. I tried my Stampin' Up inks over the top and that worked better as I have darker colours in those and the coated card stock enabled them to blend easily.
To hide the raw edges of my salvaged die cut, I used two Heffy Doodles stitched rectangle dies to cut a frame out of a dark honey coloured card stock. I used a glue pen to stick the die cut down but it didn't work very well - I think I need to run that sticky backed stuff through my Big Shot at the same time as the die in future (if I ever use it again!)
The sentiment is made with sticky letters from Hobbycraft. I had carefully eased them off another card when I had decided to change the sentiment on it, so I was pleased to repurpose them. I can't imagine myself sending this card to anyone though as it's just making me feel cross!
CHALLENGES
I shall link this card up with The Snippets Playground as I salvaged bits and pieces to make it; I'm also playing along with Inspired By, where Yellow Makes Me Happy is the theme; and the happily revived NBUS Challenge, where I'm show-casing some weird new card stock and a die that I've already taken a disliking to!
AND IN OTHER NEWS
I took Eva for a walk today and although I ASKED her not to go into the mud, she gave me a cheeky look that said "Pardon? Oh sorry, I'm a bit deaf this morning!" She came out looking as if she was wearing black knee high socks, so then I had to let her go into the river where she swam about collecting up sticks in the absence of any ducks to terrorise.
Here she is awaiting a good rub down...
... and (for any Star Wars fans out there) looking as if she's joined The Dark Side!
Stay safe,
Well if that's not turning lemons into fantastic tasting lemonade! I love how your card came out Vicky and your bold black sentiment was a great finishing touch. Thank you for sharing with us @ Inspired By.
ReplyDeleteAw thanks for being so nice Danni!
DeleteOh my ~ It's always frustrating to buy something and have it not work out the way we expected ~ Crafting is never a waste of time or money however, it's therapeutic and we all need more of that while in quarantine. Eva made me smile ~ she has a mind of her own! blessings ~
ReplyDeleteI put it down to lack of sleep Karen. This morning I'm ready to try again with the die! Eva definitely does have a mind of her own!
DeleteYour card turned out wonderfully and what a great save of that die-cut. I had to google and see what the die looks like before your 'save' and it look very intricate... must admit I've had a few purchases like that myself and just given up.
ReplyDeleteLove the photo of Eva - looks like she's trying her Jedi mind tricks on you.... "you will give me a treat"! xx
It's an A6 die and I've worked out how to get it cut properly now but it needs a bit more thinking about I think. I will not be defeated!
DeleteLol, she's an expert at manipulating us - not sure she needs The Force to help her! xx
Must be a really big die if this is only part of it. Great background and from what I can see here I think I would love the die too. Fantastic contrast with the black sentiment. Aaww what a great photo.
ReplyDeleteKath x
It's an A6 die Kath, and it isn't its fault it's mine. I'll get there with it! x
DeleteBeautiful flower die, Vicky, and I love the glossy HELLO sentiment with it!! Had to laugh at your pup - what a fun story!!
ReplyDeleteShe's wicked isn't she?!
DeleteIMHO you've made a great job of that card despite your frustration with the die.
ReplyDeleteLOBE that picture of Eva! I can picture her waving her paw in front her and saying: "This is not the dog you are looking for!" LOL xxx
You're kind Sarn.
DeleteHaha, she's more likely to be saying this IS the dog you're looking for! She is an attention seeker!
xxx
Vicky, the card is gorgeous! And so, of course, are you and Eva xoxo
ReplyDeleteLol! xx
DeleteWhatever happened to your original card your result is gorgeous, sunny and happy.
ReplyDeleteLove Eva like that, reminds me of our dog, she would go into the river and pout when I called her out for home, she wouldn't even shake herself and her tail would be right down all the way home, she looked like this then LOL. Thanks for the memory.
Keep safe and well
Faith x
Eva's tail doesn't know how to go down - she's looking at me like this because "Enough with the camera thing, where's my nice rub down with a warm towel?!!!" Stay safe too x
DeleteI spent a whole day trying to create a card for hubby’s birthday. Got very frustrated! Then found a card of yours from 2011 & job done in no time! Thank you. More importantly I found your wonderful blog. I too hoped for an elaborate April fool but crafters like you will help us make it through xx
ReplyDeleteMandy, this is the loveliest message! If I have inspired anyone to make anything, that is the best compliment I could ever receive, so thank you! Keep crafting and stay safe xx
DeleteYour card is absolutely stunning. And, I know the frustration you went through when a die did not cut like you wanted it to. But I am glad you salvage some of it as this is beautiful!
ReplyDeleteWell, hmmm, you DID use your NBUS, Vicky, even if it's prolly going in the recycle bin! I have to say I admire your perseverance and it paid off in the end. I think your card is gorgeous! And I love that you finished it off with a repurposed sediment!! As for Eva ... you're a true pal to let her have dirty fun! Keep safe and take care! And thank you so much for sharing at NBUS!! Hugs, Darnell
ReplyDeleteA great save and I love the colors!
ReplyDeleteWonderful card Vicky - a brilliant save! The die looks like a tricky one but so worth hanging onto. And I do love the piccie of Eva, she's so funny :)
ReplyDeleteHugs
Di
xx
Well, despite all your trials and tribulations you ended up with a fantastic card. I do hope you use the die again as it looks really good. It is funny how you buy something thinking it will be great and then struggle to make it work, it has happened to me a number of times xx
ReplyDelete