TGIF Challenge - Take Two!

You ever make a card you don't love at first but the more you look at it and think about it, the more you like it?!  Or is it just me?  

Well, earlier tonight I posted here two cards I made for the all new TGIF Challenges blog.  The original card I made just didn't do it for me.  But the more I looked at it in person and on my blog, I really started to love it.  

And it just so happens, I can enter twice.  So why not?  I just have to blog about it separately.  Sorry to bore you!  Wait, you're not bored, are you? :)

So here is color challenge:

Here is the original card I came up with.  I wanted to tie in the stars somehow because they're apart of the challenge blog's design.  I placed each star in the stars embossing folder and pressed the paper with my hands. This gives it a little texture, but not the full effect.

I stamped the chevron background lightly with versamark ink.  I didn't want it to be crisp, I wanted it be be messy.  Then I sprinkled all three colors of embossing powder on the background and took the leftover mix and embossed the sentiment.  

I sure do miss my macro lens. My 85mm just can get close enough to show the detail! 

(Note: Do not let your camera near children under the age of 4).

Overall, I guess I though this card was just missing something... But I'm happy with it now!  Sometimes you just need to walk away and come back later!  Hope you enjoyed it too!

See you Tuesday for Ten Minute Tuesday!

-Holly

TGIF Challenge 01 - Love Who You Are!

It has been such a busy past week prepping for a nautical birthday party and finishing invites for another friend's party, that I almost forgot about the BRAND NEW Challenge that started on Friday!  James Weber (the Stampin' Stud) and his wife teamed up with some amazing talent and they have created the TGIF Challenge blog!!  I'm talking past and present Artisan Design Team members!!  This might just be my new favorite site to visit :)

But here's the problem I came across today... I know James has seen my cards before - he and I are on the same blog hop - but talk about some big pressure to impress the rest of this A-team! 

I remember when Stampin' Up! contacted me last November and asked if I would make some samples with the Banner Blessings set that I had designed for SU! - that was tough!  Not only did I have to come up with new cards with a new set, I had nothing to CASE and I knew that I wanted to make SU! proud...

I'm talking too much aren't I? haha! Point is.. the pressure is on! 

But let's get on with the challenge!  This week is a color challenge using their "team colors".

So this is the first card I came up with for the challenge.  I wanted to use stars because it's part of their logo.  I also wanted to use my embossing powders that are the challenge colors because they're retiring and I love them! 

I stamped the chevron background stamp (also retiring.. sniff sniff..) and then sprinkled all three powders on.  I did the same for the sentiment. 

Now, I'll be honest.  I LIKE this card, but I don't LOVE it...

I was trying too much at once.  Trying too hard.

So, just like I did last November, I took a breath and thought "just be yourself".  So I got out my go to stamp - Gorgeous Grunge and took off.  I chose to use the "love who you are" stamp to remind myself to have fun.  That's why I love stamping anyway - because it's fun!  And as a mom of three small boys - it's my escape.

I still used the embossing powders to bring in the colors. 

I embossed the splatter in Pool Party and added some typeset DSP to the inside of the card. 

Sweet and simple. :)

So I hope you like these and are inspired to be yourself!  To thine ownself be true, right?

Plus, if I don't win this challenge, or any challenge, I know what I love and that's stamping!  No need to impress anyone - just have fun!

Happy Sunday (again..)

-Holly

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