A Tale of Two Challenges

There are many things I'm not good at, but handwriting is not one of them. I've been a geek about "pretty" handwriting since elementary school, when the dots of my "i"s were either big circles or flowers (lol!). So this week's Limited Supplies Challenge on Splitcoast, which was to use handwriting on the front of your card, was perfect for me! Except for that "limited" part. My design took on a life of its own and as a result, I can't find a single limited thing about it. So I traded the handwriting for a stamped sentiment and bailed on the challenge altogether.



Stamps: A Little Birdie Told Me
Paper: Ruby Red, Basic Black, Ginger Blossom dp, Groovy Guava, stamper's select white card stock by Papertrey Ink
Ink: Jet Black Staz-On, Ruby Red
Accessories: black ribbon (source unknown); sewing machine, dimensionals, corner rounder, 1/4" circle punch, vintage brads, distressing tool, sponge daubers
Supplies by Stampin' Up except where noted.


I was much more successful with Sharon Johnson's (No Time To Stamp) Stamp Simply Challenge #23, which is to use flourishes on your project. I made this card last weekend, but haven't posted it yet because I keep looking at it wondering if it needs something. I think I'm ready to call it done and move on :)



Here's a great tip I got from someone's blog (by the way, for the life of me, I can't remember where I read this, so if it was on your blog, please speak up): when making cards with white as the base, use Papertrey Ink's 110-pound Stamper's Select cardstock. It is thick and heavy enough to load up with embellishments without the card buckling under the weight. It's also works well with Stampin' Up markers (no streaking) and limited watercoloring (for extensive watercoloring, I still reach for 140-lb, cold press watercolor paper).

Stamps: Kind Thoughts
Paper: Stamper's Select White cardstock by Papertrey Ink, Chcolate Chip (SU)
Ink: Chocolate Chip, White craft
Accessories: styled silver hodgepodge hardware (coming March 1); brown satin ribbon, dimensionals, Heidi Swapp jewels, corner rounder for scalloped bottom
Supplies by Stampin' Up except where noted.