Monday, July 18, 2011

I'm Not Finished With You Yet


I have loved reading Max Lucado's Hermie: A Common Caterpillar to each of my children throughout the years. As Hermie, a "common" caterpillar with seemingly no noteworthy characteristics, repeatedly asks why God made him so plain, God answers again and again, "Be patient, Hermie, I'm not finished with you yet." By the end of the story, you can guess, Hermie has become a butterfly. Whenever I read Philippians 1:6, I can't help but think of Hermie and his transformation. We're all works in progress, something I would do well to remember every time my perfectionism rears its ugly head!

Philippians 1:6 is the newest Scripture stamp in Verve's Plain Jane collection. I love the font treatment Julee has put together -- it feels so dainty and sweet. I die-cut the sentiment with a Spellbinders Lacey Circle die, sponged the perimeter (with the die in place), and accented with two red mini roses and some foliage (stamped with a leaf image from Bloom & Grow, then die-cut with Verve's Elegant Leaves die). The papers are from Cosmo Cricket's Odd & Ends 6x6 Mini-Deck. I'm just loving the combination of the tiny red flower pattern and the blue polka dot print. The layout is from Chupa's Sketchbook Saturday Challenge #18 from a couple of weeks ago -- great sketch!


The card as I've shown it above is a slightly re-worked version of a card I made for Verve's most recently release. I wasn't all that happy with the original (it just felt like it was missing something), and in the process of doctoring it up, I was reminded of the "Less Is More/More is More" comparisons the SCS Dirty Girls upload to the Fan Club gallery each month. I thought it might be fun to show both!

Here's the original:


Changes I made:
+ switched to a Kraft card base for a little more contrast
+ added a strip of red double-stitched ribbon behind the twine, again for more contrast and "pop"
+ stitched along the embossed ridge on the Lacey Circle

Sentiment detail, before:






Sentiment detail, after:




And after all that, I'm still not sure I like it any better than the first one! Don't get me wrong, I don't hate it, it's just not my favorite card ever :)

Hope your week is off to a great start! I'm pre-posting, so if all has gone as planned, I'm sitting on a beach in North Carolina soaking up some rays. Doctor's orders, too {*grin} -- my Vitamin D levels are extremely low! That'll surely go on my "you know you're stamping too much when ..." Top 10 list -- teehehe!



Stamps: Philippians 1:6 Plain Jane; Bloom & Grow (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Papertrey Vintage Cream and Kraft card stock; Cosmo Cricket Odds & Ends dp
Ink: Versafine Onxy Black, Versamagic Wheat and Tea Leaves, Brushed Corduroy Distress
Accessories: Verve Elegant Leaves Die, Recollections mini roses, Spellbinders Lacey Circles Nestabilities and scalloped border die, sewing machine, Papertrey twine, Pizazz Aplenty pearls, Papertrey ribbon, paper piercer/needle/thread
Size: 4 1/4" x 5 1/2"

20 comments:

Iwona Palamountain (Chupa) said...

OMG Amy! I'm truly honoured to see you working with my sketch... I didn't see that coming! As a long time admirer of your work, I can officially say that you made my day :)

Ali said...

These cards are absolutely fantastic i like it...


Scratch Card Printing
Discount card printing
Plastic Cards

June Houck said...

Beautiful, Amy! I love it :)

Jen Shults said...

You crack me up girl. I totally get where you are coming from but I have to say both of these cards are gorgeous. I do really like the changes you made and they definitely give the card more pop. BUT, the first one was great too. We are always just too hard on ourselves aren't we? :)

carole (TruCarMa) said...

Absolutely stunning, both versions, Pickler! I loved reading your post, too, and that definitely sounds like a must have for Mr. Carter's library. Thanks! Have a wonderful vacay, and soak up the sun!

Marisa said...

Oh happy sigh...my life verse!! I am still giddy with joy that Julee created this one and can't wait to use it now that my Verve came in :) Love how you used Chupa's sketch for the card - both times LOL! Enjoy your Vitamin D acquisition on the beach :)

dpkennedy said...

This is really beautiful Amy! I love the sweet floral paper with that wonderful sentiment. Just stunning!

Gail said...

I love the added ribbon. I think that really brought out the roses and flowered paper :) But as always you're cards are beautiful without adding more or less!

Vickie Z said...

Your cards are always perfection!!! Do think the kraft and red ribbon add a little pop but, they're both gorgeous!!! Enjoy the sun, we have some wonderful beaches here in NC!!

~Tammy~ said...

Amy, I love both versions, and I love your story! :-)

Carla said...

Well, Amy, I think it's gorgeous, but I'm biased-I've loved everything you've made for years!

Debi said...

Would you consider selling this card? I have a friend who just left for alcohol treatment. This totally lines up with what we've been talking about and would love to make one for her, but don't have the stuff or time right now to do that. Please email me: debihadley@hotmail.com

Heidi said...

Amy- wow this is a beautiful card, love the papers together and of course, what can we say about the sentiment- beautiful.

Susie said...

Amy, I loved this post. And, I loved both cards. I like both. I definitely like the stitched red ribbon behind the sentiment. I love your post write-up. I think we've all been there. Vance reminded me this weekend to step away from the card *laughing* before I did the "more is more" thing. : )

Hugs,
Susie ~

Daria tworzy said...

Super:)

Debbie AKA swldebbie said...

I love the do-over. Your changes were perfect to take it from nice to lovely. But I know what you mean about not hating a card, but just really not finding that one change that will make it a WOW card in your mind. I hate when that happens! Rest assured, though, it is a very pretty card.

Anonymous said...

Really love your card! The changes you made, wonderful! This verse is so beautiful, so encouraging!
xxx
Dutch Tulip
Marja

Kathy Jones said...

Well it might not be your favourite card ever, but I *LOVE* it!!! It's just so pretty and all the stitching detail is gorgeous, beautiful paper and beautiful verse!! AND - I love Hermie too!!! I have read that same book to my children! What a special memories - thanks Amy!! :)

Jessie/knightrone said...

Gorgeous!!

Irene said...

Very-very cute!!!