Have you ever finished a project and just felt so-so about it? That happened to me for this project. So, what do you do when it just doesn’t feel right? Well, make a tiny switch and then just like Emeril – BAM, that’s just what it needed!
I created a clean and simple polka dot/striped card and entered it into three of my fav challenges – the Merry Monday Christmas, CAS(e) this Sketch, and Virginia’s View Challenges this week. Here is what I came up with and how a small change made all the difference. If you’re part of the VIP Community – there’s a step by step video tutorial on this project for you!
Creative Tips –
- To create subtle stripes, grab those left over 1/2 inch strips that you have from trimming down your card stock and cut them into 3” long strips.
- Arrange them at the top in a back and forth pattern for a great backing to any element.
- Cut out a shape – here you see Deco Framelits by Stampin Up and emboss your greeting – I used a bold greeting to be able to keep up with the polka dots.
- For the polka dots, use any tiny circle stamp you have. This is a double circle stamp I have from a floral set by Simon Says Stamp – love these little stamps!
- Stamp them in versamark and emboss with clear powder
- My original card used Gold Embossing Powder for the greeting and around the card front. The gold got a bit overpowered – I’m not sure if it was all the elements or the Cherry Cobbler color, but it just wasn’t working for me.
- To give the card a little more pop and make it work, as Tim Gunn says…I switched to White Embossing Powder for the greeting
- I loved the embossed edge on the card front – so I duplicated that in white. It’s kind of hard to see the white edge in this photo though…
- The original card uses pearls, but that didn’t work for me either, so I switched to sequins and BAM – perfection!
Here they are side by side – see the difference? It’s night and day. Sometimes minor changes make all the difference in the world.
So don’t settle for mediocre, next time try it a second time and enjoy your success!
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About Ingrid Blackburn
Ingrid, your card jumped right out at me in the line up!! Wow, so stunning and well done on managing to include the stripes and polka dots. Such a clever idea for the stripes xx
The white embossing stands out beautifully! Fabulous CAS design!
One word, okay, maybe two words. Elegant Winner. This is so well designed and beautiful.
Oh, I love this! Fabulous take on the sketch!
LOVE!!! Love the little bits of paper and the added sequins are the perfect touch! Thanks so much for playing along with us at Merry Monday.
Deanne 🙂
Love this- it shows what a difference colours can make! I do like the version without the gold better.
These are fun, my fave is the white on red 🙂 Thanks for playing with us this week at Merry Monday!
I love how you used the white strips to create the background – such a great idea!! I agree that the embossed white looks better – it’s brighter and works perfectly with the background. Beautiful!!!
The embossed sentiment really pops – love the dots and stripes too! Great CAS design 🙂
What a cool and fun design, Ingrid! The background is sophisticated yet so subtle! GREAT call on the white embossing of the sentiment! Love it! So glad that you join the fun over Virginia’s View Clean and Simple Challenge!
Wow, the strips of paper really add lots of interest! Fabulous CAS card. Thanks so much for joining us at Merry Monday.
This is a great card and I agree the white embossing looks better. Thanks for showing them side by side. Thanks again for joining us at Merry Monday!
What a fabulous take on the challenge! Great combination!