Comments Please! Updated 02/26

Thanks for your comments. I've been playing around a bit...what do you think?

The leaves are crudely stuck in and can easily be removed.

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This blog needs a little attention and affection AND I need your help. There's something missing or ??? with this card.



(sorry for the bad photo but it was dark when I took the photo and even darker now...do you all use a photo light box?)

What are your thoughts and suggestions? Thanks in advance!

And Here It is!!!

I used the waxed paper resist technique to create the background. This was my first time with this technique and it is so easy. (My mind is spinning on the possibilities of modifying this technique!)

Thank you all for your input (yup, ribbon is possible, isn't it, Leslie!) and thanks Paula for this layout. I love it!

And I want to try adding gold edging around another card sometime too Elizabeth. I have another masculine birthday card around the beginning of the year.

Thanks again!!!

Masculine Birthday

I took your original design and did a bit of tweaking. I hope it is o.k. It is just easier for me to take the original and make a card to see if I can work with it. I do not have the stamp set you used but tried to keep the elements about the same size. I did change the card from Horizontal to Vertical to start with because it just was not working for me.

The major change was more layers. It seemed that helped the focal point to stand out more.

I did use retired designer paper because I wanted the brown color, but......you could use any patterned roller wheel to get the same background coverage or something like the canvas, twill or polka dot background stamp. That will give the card some added texture. I also added ribbon. Chocolate Chip ribbon right down the middle just adds more texture. I purposely did not add a bow. I put your focal point at the top of the card and left room for the sentiment on the bottom. I used the ticket corner punch like you did as I like the effect you gave your card. Really the only thing I did different was add more layers and put the sentiment onto a different piece of cardstock. I like your card and really there is nothing wrong with it. I just had to play.....LOL! In fact, you card forced me to do something as I have had a stamp block for the last two days, did not even want to pick up a stamp. Thanks for helping me get energized again. Rubber Hugs, Paula

Masculine Birthday Card Assistance Needed

Fellow stampers, I need your help!!!! My neighbor (who's close to 82 and a delight) purchases custom cards from me and wanted one for her 25-year-old grandson's birthday. She likes very traditional-type cards and wasn't overly fond of my "Lovely as a Tree" designs in the past so I decided to stretch myself a bit. I think I overdid it and now have need of a bit of some assistance as I cannot stretch my poor brain any further.

She ended up taking this one as she said that he would be much more interested in what was inside the card (a check) than the card itself and so was "happy" with it. I'll say "happy" as she didn't gush over it but when I said that it was only partially done when we were having tea one afternoon and showed it to her, she told me to consider it finished as he would be happier to see the check. I have to admit that her telling me that he would be more interested in the contents than the card took some of the joy out of making it but I'm still thinking about it and want your opinions on how I can improve it. I'll make another with your suggestions and keep it available for another masculine birthday which we all know will occur sooner or later!

Thanks in advance for your suggestions!

How to finish this card

I like this background and I like the chocolate cupcake. What should I do for the birthday sentiment?
Vertical?
Large Circle?
Any ideas appreciated- this has been sitting on my stamp table for a week.

UPDATED - YIKES! He's Backing Into the Driveway...

And his birthday card isn't finished. Believe it or not, my husband's birthday is today and here I was without a card this morning. Fortunately, he went running with his buddies before I woke up and since they were running a 13-mile route (yes, THIRTEEN), I had some time. Turns out that I didn't have enough though as I couldn't figure out how to put the sentiment on. I finally just slapped it on as he was walking in the door.

How can I fix it? Yes, I thought about ribbon, Leslie, but only have 5/8" chocolate chip grosgrain and none of the bows I tried worked. I did have a thought a second ago...maybe natural hemp. I still don't know how to best layer/make the sentiment...HELP!

Thanks to your comments, I've come up with this version.



I'm still not 100% about the shape of the sentiment (feel free to add input as I learn so much from everyone's comments) but I do like this version.

Thank you!!!!

Help Baby My Card Layout! (updated 9-19)

Updated 9-19-08
I actually finished the card last week and my husband sent the gift today. No big rush... the baby was born 8-30.

I ended up getting rid of the scallop but I lightened up the carriage, brightened it up by adding more DP and while this is by far my favorite card of all time... I'm ok with it ;)











I really like the scallop with the carriage. I have tried this layout 2 different ways but I really don't like either. Is it that the large panel is too overpowering? I just don't know what is wrong so I'm asking the experts (or people who think they are experts!)

Need help with this

I made this card for You Know You Rock's Metal challenge. I am not sure if I really like it.
What do you think it needs done to it or taken away?

You can see a little more about it at www.stampndaly.com/?p=853

Thank you
Sue Daly

Edited Post- 08/29/08 Ok, I took the comments that I received on the original card which is the one in the bottom right hand corner and came up with the other three versions. Please tell me which one you like the best or should I try again. Note: This is all done before breakfast and I am now really hungry :).

UPDATED: Stuck on Chic Batik Card

I decided last night to play with a new technique and created this batik paper. I want to have this be the highlight of the card. It's a birthday card so I decided to use the sentiment "Celebrate!"



I love how the batik paper turned out but I'm just stuck as it doesn't look finished or special. Maybe I need to scallop the light rose border around the paper? I'd love everyone's suggestions.

Thanks in advance.

UPDATED 07/23/08:

I finally decided that I had to let go of this card and finish it off. I've spent waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyy too much time agonizing over the design of this one little card...the recipient's birthday was weeks ago and I ended up making her another card.

(Sorry about the change in lighting. ) I tried a darker paper in back of the batik paper, a lighter color, white and nothing popped out at me. I liked Paula's suggestion of popping out a flower but I honestly couldn't figure out how to do it (love to hear more on how you would do it with the mulberry paper) so I ended up creating a new layout and adding eyelets. All I can say is that it's done. After agonizing over this for 3 weeks, I think it's time to start something new.

I still have another piece of this batik paper so if you have suggestions, keep'em coming.

Thanks again!

Show Us What You Did!

Hey, Ladies! I would love to see what you changed, if anything, based on the comments you received on your posts. Please show us what you did by posting an updated photo of your creations! That's part of the fun! ;-) Thanks!

Ribbon winner

Ladies- thanks for the creative art and critique for the month of June.

As promised, each artist who posted artwork in June was entered into a drawing for a custom selected ribbon grab bag.

The winner is:

Sue Daly

Congratulations Sue!

Please send me an e-mail:
alces.alces at g m a i l dot com

Easy Embrace Life Card

Brenda,

I love the simple card you did, but you gave me a big challenge....

how.....by needing a simple card....I had not done this in ages so....

just for the fun of it..... I challenged my self to use mostly white card stock with one other color. I only used markers. The flower is colored with Apricot Appeal then I used close to cocoa for the stem. I did cheat a bit and used my aqua painter to dab Groovy guava ink from the pad onto the flower. I scored the bottom of the card three times at 1/2" intervals then added flower brads. You could add ribbon instead, they were already out so I used them.

Now......here is my challenge to everyone else. Make a card with a white background and one color card stock. Only use one embellishment and markers to color your images. Use the stamp set Embrace Life. Lets give Brenda lots of ideas to send off to her cousin. Thanks for playing along. Paula