Friday, May 27, 2016

Lessons Learned


I'm a real person, I make mistakes and I don't hide them. I set out to try the technique for Papertrey Ink's Make it Monday 250: Masked Backgrounds and I in my head I pictured an absolutely brilliant and breathtaking card. What I didn't realize is how very messy masking would be, and therefore there are a lot of mistakes on my card!

Since mistakes are ok in my book, and I know that I tried something new  I needed this card the next day, I persevered and just went with it.


1. I didn't have any painter's tape on hand so I tried some sort of post-it paper. I didn't realize that the paper wasn't flush with the top of bottom of the card, therefore I got ink on the edges.
2. Then, I stamped the grass and pictured more detail, but after I spent so long inking up the background I was too scared to attempt anything else!
3. The sentiment stamped ok, but when I went to pull the card out of the MISTI, I had some "reserved" ink left on my fingers and got a smudge of black ink on my nice, white border.
4. I tried to erase the ink (it was Versafine Onyx Black, and sometimes I can erase it!) I made two more smudges with the eraser.

Therefore, I had to cover the smudges up with something, and added the black rhinestones. I would have rather done without them, as they make the design a bit wonky, but...as I said in the beginning, I'm a real person!

Lessons learned on this card, lessons learned.

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge is Anything Goes, so I'm entering this card for that challenge too.

20 comments:

  1. Well, it's beautiful.
    The masking is so awesome, the colors POP.
    I ALWAYS seem to have inky hands/fingers. Thank goodness for bling/enamel dots/sequins.
    Happy Friday!

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  2. Simply lovely card! Love those handy rhinestones. Can't tell you how often they've saved the card!

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  3. I think it is beautiful!!!! I love the striking simplicity of the card.

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  4. Your card turned out wonderful and I like the addition of the rhinestones!

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  5. This is beautiful, Karen!
    You are not alone.... I often get a smudge on my card from the versafine onyx black and yeah, sometimes I can erase it and other times, no. Very frustrating, I agree. But your inking is gorgeous!

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  6. Ha...I have made everyone of these mistakes multiple times. Not patient enough to go wash off my hands. I LOVE your card!!

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  7. Love the way this turned out! I know I have made all the mistakes possible!

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  8. All I see is a stunning and brilliant card--no mistakes! What you had described are the regular occurrences in any stamper's room. Thanks for sharing the process. I love how this turned out and that you persevered!Happy Memorial weekend to you!

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  9. Wowie Karen!! I love this card! including the addition of rhinestones! It is fun that you shared your trials with this card but they sure aren't apparent when you look at this little masterpiece!

    Patti

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  10. I'm not good with 'messy' and I think that's why I don't do a lot of ink blending, but I do make lots of mistakes and always try to recover the card, sometimes they actually work out better than the original plan I had (and I hate to waste). Love your card and it was a great save, your blending is so much better than mine, I definitely need some practice lol.

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  11. Mistakes or not it's still gorgeous and thank goodness for rhinestones when the eraser won't work! (I am forever erasing VersaFine smudges)

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  12. I would never have known this was anything but a beautiful, CAS, serene, perfectly designed card if you hadn't mentioned it, Karen! Seriously, what my eye saw was CAS perfection. To me the rhinestones add to the design. I cover mistakes ALL the time on my cards, I'm kind of messy :)

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  13. Love this! The off-centre rhinestones are terrific! Sometimes elements can be too balanced.

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  14. Love your card!! The black on your sponged background is totally awesome!

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  15. Karen, this is beautiful even with your confession about smudges. Yes, we are human and creative. Great rescue with the rhinestones!

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  16. Your card turned out just beautiful Karen, and that's why God made sequins and crystals...to hide boo boos! The only reason my card didn't have any ink smudges on it was because it was my 2nd try! I think we've all been there...such is the life of a stamper!! But anyway, your inking is just gorgeous, and I love the simple grasses you stamped...I see perfection when I look at this card! :0)

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  17. OH, Karen, this is simply beautiful.
    Striking colors & fabulous design.

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  18. Wonderful CAS card Karen! Your ink work looks lovely.
    Thanks for joining us at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge
    Mandy xx

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  19. Beautiful and peaceful!! I think we all get smudges and the frustrations that go along with them LOL!!

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