It’s Thursday…and time to play with the Pals at Pals Paper Arts. This week we have a color challenge for you. Three colors that strike fear into my heart, when combined together, are Pool Party, Summer Starfruit, and Lucky Limeade. Have you ever been so overwhelmed by a color challenge that you completely lose your mojo? That’s what happened to me with today’s Pals Paper Arts card. It didn’t help that I waited until Monday to begin creating the card. Design Team cards are due into our blog master by Noon EST, Tuesday before the challenge. For someone like me, who can spend hours on any card, this was cutting it a little close.
I began like I always do with any color challenge…I laid out the card stocks and a selection of Designer Series patterns in the challenge colors. I thought I would use one of the retiring sets, Cherish Friendship, and feature the Chair stamped onto a Summer Starfruit pattern. I was going to create little card stock flowers and feature them in the basket, which I was going to paper snip out and mount on a dimensional. I was thinking “wow factor” all the way. Well, it didn’t take me long to realize this looked hideous.
So I pulled out a faithful friend, French Foliage…one of my “go-to” sets. I would once again showcase how beautiful this set is. How you can ink those leaves in any color and they look mah-vel-ous! NOT!
So back to the drawing board I went AGAIN. I knew what I would do! I would showcase the new Mosaic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder. Everybody loves new product peeks! I would brayer the embossing folder with Pool Party ink, and zip it through the Big Shot. How cool would that be! Well, it wasn’t so cool. Some of the ink ended up in the cells of the mosaics. Ugh! So I decided to just brayer the ink onto the pattern AFTER embossing. Double ugh! I usually have a light touch on the brayer. What was wrong with me!
Well, on my fourth trip back to the drawing board, I decided just to stamp images from the Mosaic Madness set and use the coordinating punch. I would add pearls…and a banner! I would distress it! Oh, yeah! I was in my element for sure this time. Except the end product did not trip my trigger. Ugh! Ugh! Ugh!
By this time, I was really frustrated, and practically in tears. My table was a mess, as was the kitchen island.
My fifth card, where I inked up the new Morning Meadow stamp with Stampin’ Write Markers, ended up in the trash, a Morning Meadow Mess. By this time it was nearly two in the morning, so off to bed I did head…only to find my place already occupied by three Boxers. I set my alarm for 6:00 AM and curled up at the foot of the bed to grab a couple hours of sleep.
Under the gun, I just had to be satisfied with whatever developed. I decided to use all three colors sparingly, and make white my main color. Less than one hour later, this is the result:
Finally, a card I could live with. It’s not my usual style, but it makes me smile…with its Cloudy Day Textured Impressions Embossing Folder background and its pearled “rays of sunshine”, cut from Summer Starfruit paper from Birds of a Feather. A trio of Pool Party Butterflies, created with the Beautiful Wings Embosslit, flitter across sky.
There are no traditional Stampin’ Schach Design Tips today, because I don’t have a lot of tips to share with this card. Essentially there is just one: Don’t force the colors to work with each other. If you are having problems, use them sparingly as accents against a neutral. However, I did glean a few snippets of wisdom from my ordeal.
- Sometimes the best solution is the simplest.
- Things usually look better in the morning.
- Those who bring sunshine into the lives of others really can’t keep it from themselves.
- And if you want a good nights sleep, get to bed before the dogs.
I hope this little card has brought some sunshine into your lives today. Until next time…
Stamp Set: Feel Goods; Inks: Lucky Limeade; Designer Series Paper: Birds of a Feather; Card Stock: Pool Party, Lucky Limeade, Whisper White; Tools: Big Shot, Cloudy Day Textured Impressions Embossing Folder, Labels Collection Framelits; Glitz and Glam: Basic Pearls
Some times it can be a struggle, creating with especially difficult colors like Summer Starfruit. But your decision to use white as the primary color was a perfect remedy.
And the card you ended up with is delightful! I love the rays of sun stretching out from under the sentiment focal point! The butterflies add a nice touch as well.
Thanks for sharing, Ann!
I absolutely love it! Another treasure to copy. Thanks, Ann!
Just lovely, thanks for sharing your all of your pictures!
Thank you SO much for sharing your creative process! I can relate – and I would have quite a time with these colors as well but you did a great job and your final card was very clever! You are right about the dogs, too! You for sure made me smile this morning with this post!
Wow….that was quite a road not followed….but I love your end result! If I followed color challenges, I would have said no thank you and gone on my way…LOL! Tried and tried and tried again…you rocked this and I totally agree, less is more of the colors that we are not in love with! Thanks for sharing your story on this card!
You certainly made me feel better today. I’ve gone through this process a few times but at least you created a beautiful card. Mine usually ends up as scraps. I did enjoy your thought processes.
Ann, I’m sorry you had a hard time but you have no idea how that encouraged me! I feel like I’m often sitting in that situation and look forward to the time that I’ll be like you and whip out one fabulous card after another. It’s often easy to assume that I’m the only one stuck. I learned so much from you sharing your journey, thanks! Sorry, the dogs stole your bed.
I really appreciate that you shared your story on the many attempts before the perfect card. Really does encourage me to try something “out of my comfort zone” — because cardmaking can be a real learning experience.
I was also interested in your comment about the Mosaic Madness set. Although it is nice how they go with the ef and punch, etc… will all the cards come out looking “the same?” I don’t see it as being very versatile. I look forward to seeing what you do with that set!
Thanks for once again being an inspiration!
Tough color combination! But, it’s good to hear that even my Stampin’ Idol struggles sometimes. Love your
take-a-ways!
I can so relate to your entire card making dilemma Ann-I have been there a few times myself- all except the dogs in the bed-but sometimes when you have had a few hours sleep you come up with a different idea. I like the end result
Your card is fantastic. I love your writing style, too. What a great storyteller you are. I have experienced that frustration. For what it`s worth, I liked the card with the Mosaic pieces raised up, too.
You ended up with a fun card with lots of great details though! Hope you didn’t catch this from me! I swear the SU headquarters must have some special lights since they all seem to love the starfruit color – I can tolerate it but love, I don’t think so. Anyway, I loved your story and can relate about the dogs in the bed. Are you getting snow today? We have some now and they had to cancel a bunch of the Tulip Time festivities.
Chris R. from Iowa
It’s so nice to know that you get stressed over being creative too at times. Lovely card in the end, though!
Ann I really got a kick out of your post today…thought those types of things only happened to the likes of me.
You final product looks fabulous and I loved all your Tips too! So true! hugs.
Love your card! I, too, struggle with the summer starfruit color. Your cards are always so lovely, Ann, that it is nice for me to see there are times that even you struggle, too. Thanks for sharing!
Oh I have so been in your situation – and it makes me so happy that I am not alone 🙂 But the sunshine always comes out after the rain! And your sun is beautiful!
So sorry about all this. Your end result is beautiful, but, yes, it is different for you. I really like all your tips very much. And I love my Beautiful Wings Embosslit. I use it a lot, so versatile.
Your card and post brought sunshine to my day! You are so funny.
p.s. With three Boxers I’m surprised you could find any room to curl up!
Oh my goodness, I’m sorry about your troubles making this card but it all worked out, it’s beautiful. I like the one before the final one too, why did you ditch that one? You cracked me up about sleeping at the foot of the bed. I thought I was the only one that won’t move my pupsie if he’s in my spot in the bed. Happy Stampin!
I loved this post! So many times I’m starting over that this made me smile. You do amazing cards to just to know that sometimes you have to think them through again give me hope.
BUT, I will say that I also like the others too. 🙂
I am glad you showed the journey of your card. I don’t feel alone. The card is beautiful.
Oh Ann Schach!!! You have definitely made my day!!!! ….at your expense!!! LOL!!! I just thought I was having a hard time with the colors until I read your post!!! …. and then to lose your spot to the fur babies!!! Oh my!!! Your card ended up just adorable!! Love it!! Hugs to all!!
I’m still laughing at your descriptions – especially the one “well, it looked hideous.” It seems when I am trying to create that I have to go through many “trys” before I can get it right. Your idea to not FORCE the color combinations is very smart and you softened it all with the white. And what a neat idea coming out into early spring – but to create sun rays. You did it! But I am still enjoying your story of creation for this card. Glad to know I’m not the only one!
Sorry the color combination proved to be such a challenge but thank you for sharing the whole process of coming up with the great card at the end. Those wouldn’t be colors I’d be able to use together and would have given up long before you did. You are a real trooper! (Loved the lessons you learned at the end of your post!!! Your posts always make me smile.)
Ann, your “ordeal” made me smile :-). I often run into the same problem, especially when I’ve got a deadline. Your finished card is absolutely beautiful, as usual. LOVE you work!!
I am not one to laugh at someone else’s pain, but your wry wit came through as you were describing your ordeal. I could not help but giggle a little. I think the card came out great. Definitely not your usual style, but it’s totally post-worthy. Please tell those doggie children of yours, for the millionth time I’m sure, how very lucky they are to have a mom who’d take the foot of the bed for them.
Chellie
Thanks for the laughs Ann! I felt your pain because I went through the same type of ordeal. But, your card is cheerful – love the rays of sun.
VERY pretty!! I know it’s not your usual style, but I still love it! I hate to say this, but I’m glad to know that I’m not the only one who struggles with mojo some days! I much rather prefer the easy crafting days, but it’s the tough ones that make us create different & yet beautiful cards!!
Ann! I thought I was the only one that struggled with my mojo. I find if I don’t create al least every other day, my mojo gets lost and hard to find… Well this outcome is fabulous. I love the sun burst you created along with the sentiment TFS your creativity Ann! Have a wonderful day!
Our trials and tribulations, eh ! I love your website and how you word things. Your card turned out beautiful. Color is always one thing that I have struggled with. Thanks so much for sharing!
Your card makes me want to sing “you are my sunshine”! For all the frustration, I feel your pain, it turned out beautifully! Who chose these colors anyway? 😉
Your card makes me want to sing “you are my sunshine”! For all the frustration, I feel your pain, it turned out beautifully! Who chose these colors anyway? 😉
I have many days like that. They seem to run in a row then pow I am overwhelmed with ideas. Loved your card. It reminds me of happiness.
Thanks for your poem. It also helped someone else that lost their faithful friend the same day.
Wow, Ann. I think we can all relate to frustrating failed attempts at card making, though I think any of your previous projects would have come out beautifully. I do love your end result, though. Love the rays of sunshine atop those pretty clouds. Hugs 🙂 Sandy
Love the card and your chronicle of card attempts! We all have days like that, but I bet that mine outnumber yours! LOL you can always make me smile, Ann, and for that I thank you. Enjoy your day, those sweet doggies, and hopefully a good night sleep!
Ann, your hard work ended up in gorgeous results. Your card is bright and cheery and you tackled this very maybe odd color combination beautifully. Those puppies of yours are lucky they weren’t kicked out of your bed, I have to confess that I might have very kindly asked them to get down.
that was quite the ordeal but you ended up with a very fabulous card.
Your card brings a bit of sunshine to all our lives.
I bet your dogs where much more confy in bed then you where.
So sweet Ann! I thought I was the only one that redid cards four or five times!
You are one smart cookie – and still smiling at the end of all that. The card is beautiful – it just “radiates” spring and summer and happiness. Perfect. That is an especially awful color combination. I think it says something about you (and me too because I would do the same) that you didn’t kick the dogs off the bed : ) Of course, it says something GOOD! Oh, and now you know why I get up so early in the morning : )
Well, girl…you powered through and you did it! I’m glad I didn’t have to work with that color combo. You did a great job with a color combo that just should not be. (That’s my opinion…) I love the little butterflies, and you were so smart to make white the main ingredient. We all have cards that wrestle us to the ground and make us cry “uncle”! But you triumphed! Give yourself a big ole pat on the back!
Ann, thanks for sharing your long road to the final card. I can certainly identify. The final card can be so different from the first idea. Your card looks great with white as the primary calor.
Some days making a card to suit a set of colors can be stressful! Really like the card you ended up with. Had to laugh that the dogs took over the bed!
The little pearls sets off the card beautifully I love it too! If you are like me, I can’t work or create new things when my table is in disorganized mess. I enjoyed your work as always
Nicole
Well I can surely agree with you about that color combo….not one I would choose first! But you came through beautifully. Your bright card would make anyone’s day a lot better!
Quite the journey, Ann! Your card is beautiful — I especially love the little pearls.