Some random thoughts

Hello!

I've been pondering my cards and what I like about them, what other people say they like about them, which ones get visited when they're first posted, and then which ones gain attention in the more anonymous world of Pinterest.

I've almost given up on making cards with a view to pleasing anyone but myself. I would never be able to predict which cards will end up being popular, so I just play with my stamping for my own satisfaction these days. :-) It's quite liberating. That doesn't mean that I'm not still attempting to be published, or that I don't plan on entering challenges (I LOVE challenges), but it does mean I'm not second-guessing other people's opinions and tastes while I create.

What I find a little frustrating sometimes is when something I submitted for publication is not selected and then it goes on to be loved by my readers, loved on Pinterest, loved everywhere, except by the publishers. (It's okay, I know that lots of AWESOME projects are not accepted, it just frustrates me that I haven't yet cracked the challenge of publication even once.) I'm not going to tell you which ones were not selected and then became popular. ;-)

So let's talk about cards.  Here is one that I don't think I shared yet. It was submitted for Paper Crafts Magazine July/August issue (and not selected).

It's simple, but I really like it. :-) It still appeals to me as much as when I made it. That's the good part of creating cards that I like myself.

Now let's look at the card that has been repinned so many times I couldn't tell you where it now lives in the internet. It keeps coming back. It still sits at the top of my traffic count every week most weeks. It is the top post of all time on my blog, thanks to Pinterest.

I loved it when I made it, but I wouldn't call it my best card ever, and yet here it is, my most popular card ever. Go figure!

The next most popular card is this one. It took a while to take off, but again it was Pinterest that brought in the traffic, and it is still being pinned, crazy!

This one was a CASE of Laura Bassen, (who I would CASE everyday if I could get away with it) and I'm still in love with it. I just LOVE this card. I'm glad other people like it.

A couple of other cards that have gained attention are... Most recently this one.

I do like this card. I love how the glitter adds texture and interest. I love the black stars on the bright orange watercoloured background.

From last year this one.

I do like this card. I really love the watercoloured butterflies. But, the card as a whole never really grabbed me. But other people LOVE it. A lesson in "always share your work, even when you aren't totally happy with it".

And before I go, some cards that I like most from my collection (but not all of them, I do like quite a few).

Yep, definitely a CAS girl at heart. I'd better stop there, or you'll get worn out with all the scrolling.

Anyway, it is way past my bedtime, so I'll sign off for the night.

Thanks for visiting, and I hope I'll be back with something new very soon.

Michelle
xxx

Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop - Part II

Hello!

Good morning! This is my second card for the Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop where the theme is Marvelous Monograms. I have a limited selection of alphabets in my supplies. One set of dies and one set of stamps. I used the dies for my two cards, and promised myself I would buy more alphabets sometime VERY soon!

I used Lovely Layers and Think Big Favorites #13. The "F" is from Block Alpha Lowercase dies.

My friend loves purple and black. I hope she loves this card.

Thanks for coming to visit.

Michelle
xxx

PDCC#170 and Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop

Hello!

Another weather update. I think I prayed too much for rain to break the unrelenting heat yesterday. It has been pouring down all day, and I think we've had more than 20cm (6-7 inches) of rain today (the pool is overflowing). The rain would have been beautiful if I didn't have to make my way through it to get to and from work!

Tonight I bring you a card for Papertrey Ink February Blog Hop, where we've been given the theme "Marvelous Monograms". I have actually made two cards, they are a matching pair, for friends who are celebrating their birthdays soon. They are husband and wife, and the cards are masculine and feminine of the same design. Tonight I'm putting up the BOY version, and then tomorrow I'll post the GIRL version when I link these up to the PTI Blog Hop (which goes live right in the middle of my beauty sleep). :-)

I used Lovely Layers and Think Big Favourites #13 stamps. The letter "A" is from the Block Alpha lowercase dies. 

The colour scheme I took from The Play Date Cafe Challenge #170.

Thanks for coming by to visit! I'll be back in the morning with my second card. ;-)

Michelle

xxx

Designer Strawberries!

Hello!

After I put the kids to bed tonight, I was determined to sneak in a little bit of "me" time before retiring myself. I achieved this, and while I was playing at my craft desk, I tried out a "new to me" technique. I'm a little excited! :-)

I used PTI Strawberry Patch and Strawberry Patch Sentiments. I inked up in PTI Fresh Snow and used SU! pastels. Card base is PTI Fine Linen, Card panel is SU! Night of Navy (night time photography makes it look a bit bluer than it is).

The new technique is a very OLD technique of white pigment ink coloured with pastels (using sponge daubers). I've never, ever tried this, and I was amazed at how well it worked. I sprayed over it with a fixative when I was finished, because I wasn't convinced the pastels would stay put. The fixative brought out the colours beautifully.

This card was made in response to two challenges. The first was Runway Inspired Challenge #30.

When I first saw this picture, I wasn't sure I would be able to come up with anything in response. The colours and designs are bold and dramatic, and not really in a style I usually work in. But I was struck with the creative problem/challenge, of getting bright colours to pop out of navy, so I've been working on this in my head for several days. I'm still working on how to make a card using the graphic yellow and black pattern. ;-)

The other challenge is being run by Lucy Abrams. Lucy has given us four sketches to consider, and I've been wanting to respond since the first one was released, but life has been a bit busy.  The sketch this card is based on is her second sketch.

All four of the sketches are down on my craft desk, waiting for some attention. I'm not sure I'll get to them all, but I'll give it a go. 

Thanks for dropping by!

Michelle

xxx

Retro Sketches #52

Hello!

It's hot and sticky here today. So uncomfortable. I'm praying for a big storm to bring some relief.

Retro Sketches #52 is inviting us to choose one of the past 51 sketches to use for our entry this week.

This is my card.

I used Mama Elephant Nursery Deco and Basic Borders (those spots on the giraffe), and a PTI Think Big Favorites (not sure which number). Ink was Memento Grey Flannel, SU! Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue.

The sketch I used was this one.

Off to try to squeeze in another card or two before I finish the week-end. We've had such a busy week-end, I've found crafting time non-existent! This working five days a week gig is very bad news for the crafting life, LOL!

Thanks for dropping by!

Michelle
xxx

For Your Inspiration #40

Hello!

It's time for another beautiful inspiration photo at For Your Inspiration!

For Your Inspiration challenge #40 has this gorgeous scene on offer.

So pretty!

It took me a little while to figure out what I'd make because I just wanted to fill my card with pink! But, at the same time, this picture has a delicate feel - small flowers, fine branches. There is a lot more to use which I didn't even get to, the road lined with pink, the forest feel... oh, I could go on!  In the end, I went with my impression of a Japanese scene and used my cherry blossom from SU! Eastern Blooms.

I used SU! Eastern Blooms, Hero Arts Say It All (sentiment). Colours are SU! Early Espresso, Real Red, Pretty in Pink. Since I don't own any markers, I used a blending pen to pick up the colours and colour the stamp. 

The rest of the team have come up with some beauties, why don't you pay them a visit too?
Debbie
Karen
Mynnette
Regina
Rochelle
Rudlis
Sara
Steph
Vicki

Thanks for coming by! I hope to see you over at FYI very soon!

Michelle
xxx

CASology - RED

Hello!

I'm about to head off to sleep, but I wanted to squeeze just one more card out of the week-end.

CASology #31 has the theme RED this week. I made this card with RED in mind. I couldn't get past red berries, so I made my card with what was in my head. But, I can't help thinking that the CASology team had a little more RED in mind than what I have used on this card, LOL!

I used PTI Harvest Berries stamps, Mat Stack #1 and Mat Stack #1 Layerz dies. 

Colours are Memento Tuxedo Black and SU! Real Red.

Edited to add: This card also qualifies for CAS-ual Fridays #90, so I'm entering this as a second entry over there. :-)

Thanks for coming to visit!

Michelle
xxx