Have you ever had one of those days when things just don’t go well? One of those days when everything you touch or do ends up falling apart, going to pot and looks like crap! I had one of those days Wednesday. Which is the very reason I have not posted in a couple of days and why I have such a garbled mess to show you today.
I was so excited Wednesday when I went into the studio. It was Sketch Challenge day, my favorite day of the Splitcoast Challenges, and I was eager to start on the sketch. I had a great idea in mind, and went madly to work. I finished the card, layer upon layer, sewing each layer with great care. I had already stamped the image, colored it, based on the colors of the designer paper I was using, and had sewn it in the middle of a number of layers. I carefully punched holes for ribbon, tied off the bows, and was getting ready to attach the carefully designed card front to the card. I looked at it one last time —- and AAARRRRGG, the image DID NOT MATCH the card! Not only did the image fail me, but so did the colors.
So, determined to save the card which I had spent all day working on, I chose another stamp set. I stamped out flower images on matching designer paper, embossed them for a little more glitz and bling, glued them down to chipboard coasters and very carefully cut them out. They looked good, I liked them, I was excited once again. I was also in the process of cooking dinner (see it had been a very long day), and in between a stir here and a stir there, I was running back and forth to the studio finishing the flowers. The white around the edges bothered me, so I decided to cover the edges in black marker. I outlined two of the flowers, set them down and went back to the kitchen. Time to set the table, get dinner out and feed the troops.
Sometime after cleaning up the dinner mess and a number of phone calls, I headed back to the studio. I looked at my flowers, and the black marker had bled, all along the edges of the designer paper – AAAARRRRRGGGGG, once again something had gone wrong with the card! I was just devastated, how was I going to salvage this card. I walked away once again, and decided just to plant my flabby fanny on the couch and cruise Splitcoast. While reading and cruising, I decided I needed to call my friend Jeanne. I hadn’t talked to her for at least a day, and just had to tell her latest. I was explaining to her about the card I had worked on literally all day, walked back in the studio and ranting and raving over the phone, all of a sudden had a moment. I’ve got it I yelled, I’ll cut the middle out and see what I can do. The whole time we were chatting, I was still cutting replacing inserts, etc. The more I worked the worse it got, Jeanne was laughing louder with each outburst, and she finally told me to put the darn card down and walk away. Of course, now I was distressing the inner ovals – I said wait, I might have it, darn it now it’s even worse — OMG! So heeding Jeanne’s advise I put the card down and walked away! I don’t know how long we talked, but I do know that I finally went to bed around 2:00. End of day one!
Yesterday, day 2, I woke up at 6:00 a.m., and was just not myself. I think I might have been still a tad tired, actually overtired to the point of not sleeping. I began cleaning, reorganizing in the studio a little, and really not doing much of anything. I fell asleep on the couch at 2:00 in the afternoon and at 5:00 I woke up the sounds of “Mom, what are we having for dinner?” Heck, I wasn’t even thinking about dinner and they wanted me to make dinner! Needless to say, no stamping was done around here yesterday.
Today, day 3 of the ominous card! Determined to finish this card, while once again chatting on the phone with a friend, I had an idea. So I stamped out a new image, changed up some ribbon, and finished the card! I’m still not happy with it, and I show it to you only because it has given me inspiration for another project! I so feel that you need to see this to understand where I am going to go with the never-ending card!
Stamps: It’s Elemental by My Favorite Things
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, BasicGrey Romani from Jacksonbelle Embellishments
Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black
Accessories: Curvy Cutter, Punches, Ribbon, Sewing Machine
It was worth the effort Sherry!!! It came out great! I love the ribbon borders 🙂
Ugh, sorry you’ve had such a tough time with this darn card! But it’s a little encouraging to read that even “the great ones” struggle a bit and don’t pump out beauties every time they sit down to stamp! 😉 And I do like your take on the sketch challenge – how the striped paper is cut, and the way you added ribbon! Neat!
Oh, Sherry, I feel your pain. I have those kind of days/weeks sometimes it seems. But I have to say, your card is beautiful. I love all the ribbon.
Ooohhhh, I can hardly wait to see where this is going!
Oh Sherry, I’m so glad you have those days too, although that’s pretty much everyday for me. Your card still turned out fabulous. Can’t wait to see what else you come up with.
Don’t know what you’re talking about, girlfriend. You consider this a bad creation day? I should have such a bad time!
This is very nice! Your sewing is perfect, and I love all the pretty ribbon! I’m sorry this card gave you such a time, but I think your end result is lovely!
Sherry, sorry this gave you so much trouble, but it’s well worth it. The card looks great.
Well, you wound up with a darn cute card in spite of all your trials and tribulations. I would have been so frustrated! I don’t know if I could have persevered like this–my scrap drawer is full of false starts. This is like a breath of fresh air and I’m glad it made it out alive, however it morphed along the way! Good going, Sherry!
With all those ravens and your story, all I can say is, “Never More!”
But then again, those could be partridges in a pear tree… right? I still think it is a lovely, and cool card. Love the perfect stitching, the barely there black border, and the other design details… really, sometimes it feels worse for the wear, but it is All Good.
Keep on truckin’ !
Oh no, what a lot of trouble you had. Your card looks pretty. I love all that ribbon.
I feel your pain! But WOWza! I love how you angled your paper and stitched it all together. I wish my screwups could come out this good! hee hee!
It makes me feel halfway normal that I am not the only one to spend several hours, or days on one card! ; )
Oh Sherry! I hate days like that but I give you credit for continuing to try and coming up with a nice card. I would have yelled, tossed it, and busted out a Corona!
You have this happen, too!!???!!! (jaw drops open)
WOW! I feel a little better about my failed attempts, if this happens to you, too. 😉
So glad you took the break, but didn’t give up!!!