Mojo Artistic Etchings

I just love the set Artistic Etchings, it gives me the sense of being in Paris at a sidewalk café sipping a cappuccino and people watching.  I just love it when paper crafting takes me somewhere else.  This morning I went to check out the Mojo Monday sketch and have to tell you, I struggled.  The Mojo just wasn’t flowing.  Then I decided to go to one of my favorite stamp sets – Artistic Etchings.  The card then quickly came together – the stamping not so much…lol!

This morning I had to repeat the crown literally…NINE times!!!  The sad thing is that was even using a Stamp-a-Majig!  I know, you’re saying…I’m so glad it’s not just me sometimes!  (Okay, I should stop using exclamation marks so much in the morning…but that’s how I feel!)  The sad thing is that my first go at the crown was perfect, till as I put the whole card together, some Basic Gray ink got on my fingernail and (can you see where this is going) ultimately my perfectly stamped square.  Normally I don’t care too much, but it was squarely in the white area and just didn’t make the cut anymore.

Okay – on to the creative tips part of this card…

Creative Tips:

• When I pull the Eiffel Tower stamp out I immediate gravitate toward my Basic Gray Ink Pad.  I know, cliché, but I can’t help it, any other color to me just isn’t right (it’s a total personal choice)
• I knew I wanted the Eiffel Tower in the center, long and popped up, so the other two main images were easy to choose.  The dimensions just kind of happened.  I used my Grid Paper (can’t live without it), to help me perfect the size.  I wanted to have just a pop of Basic Gray Cardstock, so I knew I wanted a 1/16th border.  My dimensions settled on 1 5/8” x 1 3/8” for the smaller white and 1 5/8” x 2 7/8” for the Tower.  Increase your Basic Gray dimensions by 1/8” width and height for the 1/16” border – 1 3/4” x 1 1/2” and 1 3/4” x 3”.
• I decided to use a Cherry Cobbler backing of 5 1/4” x 4”.  I put a 2” x 5 1/4” piece of Designer Series Paper from the Fan Fair collection on the bottom.  It had some Basic Gray and Cherry Cobbler in it that added some great character to the card.  I love this collection, it feels worldly to me.
• I used some 1/2” Seam Binding Ribbon in Cherry Cobbler and tied a flat knot. 
• I went back and forth on whether to even put a greeting on the card, but ultimately decided on the Amour stamp that comes with this set.  I think it was the use of Cherry Cobbler in my project that swayed me – this card screams love to me – maybe it’s the whole Eiffel Tower/Paris connection.
• As finishing touches I added the three sizes of Pearl Basic Jewels as an accent to my greeting and popped both the greeting banner (made with a 1” Square Punch) and the Eiffel Tower up on Stampin’ Dimensionals.

Ultimately I love the final result, but I have to say it was a little difficult this morning…lol!  I do love this challenge and I encourage you to take the Mojo Monday sketch above and give it a shot!  Have a great week and be sure to check back Wednesday – our retiring list is coming out!!

To Shop 24/7 in the Creative Store – Click here!

Stamp Sets – Artistic Etchings (118517w, 120573c) Paper – Whisper White (100730), Basic Gray (121044), Cherry Cobbler (119685), Fan Fair Designer Series Paper (DSP) (126918) Ink – Basic Gray (126981) Cool Tools – 1” Square Punch (124094), Stampin’ Trimmer (126889), Craft Scissors (108360), Stamp-a-Majig (101049), Grid Paper (102787)  The Perfect Finish – Pearl Basic Jewels (119247), Stampin’ Dimensionals (104430), Cherry Cobbler 1/2” Seam Binding Ribbon (120992)