April 9, 2013

THE BASICS AND BEYOND

Here I am -- with the fourth installment of my adventures with the Stampin' Up! online class, The Basics. Have I mentioned that I am having an absolute blast with this course?? I peeked last night, and was sorely disappointed to discover that I only have FOUR MORE PROJECTS to complete. And then I'm FINished!! So sad.

Project 13
May I present to you the project that has taken over the lead for "My Favorite". I ended up doing it a little differently than was described in the project instructions. My first attempt was disAStrous!! It was the first project I nearly gave up on. But, persistence won out, and here is my result. What a cool technique! I will have to use it again because it makes for such a striking card.

Project 14 -- First Attempt
Alright. Confession time. This is the second project I almost gave up on. The technique being taught was the chalkboard technique. My first attempt was pretty much like the directions were given. But completely without success.

Now, be honest. Do any of you ever have problems heat embossing with white on black card stock? C'mon. Be honest! No matter how carefully I use my little Embossing Buddy and then flick off excess powder with a fine paintbrush, I STILL get stray yukky embossed dots everywhere. <insert scream>

I attempted to get good results several times following the project instructions. To no avail.



Project 14 -- My So-Called Success
Finally, I tried it my way. It wasn't so frustrating with excess embossing dots, but I also thought it resembled a chalkboard a little more than in my first example.

Project 14 -- Close-Up of My So-Called Success
Of course, it's not perfect and won't win any awards. Nor will it be seen in broad daylight. But I let it go, chalking it up (no pun intended! OK. I did intend the "chalk" pun.) to experience. It's just not something I will attempt again. I mean, after all, Babe Ruth didn't hit a home run every time either, did he?

OK. Let's move on. Please.

Project 15 -- Horizontal

Project 15 -- Vertical
Now this one I thought turned out bright and cheerful. And like a few others I've posted on Paper Seedlings, it works both ways -- horizontal and vertical. Any personal preference? It was a fun project to do.

Project 16
My final project for today's post is one I changed up quite a bit, of course, due to the lack of all the supplies called for. So, while following the technique being covered, I got a little wild, and I am HAPPY! 

Now, as I proceed through these projects, if you pay attention to the sample pictures in the instruction sheets I show accompanying my own samples, you can see that I am becoming more and more adventurous in my choices and making the projects my own. I can do this while still learning something from the techniques being taught. It is just so much fun to have these parameters in which to work, but then, because you are learning just for YOU, you have the opportunity -- and why waste an opportunity to grow?? -- to work outside the box and make it truly your own.

Such a gift to give yourself. 

If any of you are interested in having so much fun for yourself, the item number for the Stampin' Up! Online Class, The Basics, is 133385. Believe me, you will not regret this purchase one single bit!

Smiles.




21 comments:

  1. Great cards! I love the chalk board card! Thanks for linking up at the In and Out of the Kitchen link party! I love to see your work!

    Cynthia at http://FeedingBIg.com

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thank you so much, Cynthia. You are so kind. :>)

      Delete
  2. I love your cards. They all came out great. Guess I need this set of classes for myself. Can't wait to see what you're having at your class in May.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Christina, you are always so darling! Thanks! :>)

      Delete
  3. I love coming over to your blog and see all the lovely cards you are making! Thank you for sharing at our ALL MY BLOGGY FRIENDS party :-)

    ReplyDelete
  4. Love all the different flower designs!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Hi there! I have ventured over from No Rules hop. Thrilled to be connecting with someone new!

    XOXO, Mandi @ All My Happy Endings

    ReplyDelete
  6. I'd love for you to link up a few fun posts at my weekend link party@The Weekend re-Treat! if you haven’t already yet this weekend on The Best Blog Recipes!

    Hope to see you there!

    Shauna
    http://thebestblogrecipes.blogspot.com/

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hey Shauna, thanks for the invite! I am there! :>)

      Delete
  7. Looks like you're learning some great techniques.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Linda, you're doing such a great job! I actually loved the chalk card! It was so cute! And the flower card, I like it horizontal best. The cute card holder is adorable...love those juicy colors!
    Thanks so much for sharing your work with us...and your inspiration!
    Blessings,
    Doni

    ReplyDelete
  9. I love your chalk card. They are all so pretty! Thanks for sharing & linking up @ DearCreatives.com Hope you have a great weekend & have time to stop by again soon! xo

    ReplyDelete
  10. Such a great idea. Vary creative and beautiful.I want to start a page as your ans recently I asked a web design company ELCO PLANET (www.elcoplanet.com) to develope the page for me.. I was just interested for web hosting.. can you please advice me about web hosting provider.. have you ever heard for www.elcoplanet.com offering hosting, alpha reseller hosting... ? thanks a lot

    ReplyDelete
  11. Hallo Jean Poylini, never heard for www.elcoplanet.com and I can’t recommend them for web hosting my page is hosted on www.eaglehost.info already 6 years, they have excellent support, fast web servers and also cheap, I am using Alpha Reseller from www.eaglehost.info and I am satisfied

    ReplyDelete