Tuesday, May 22, 2007

Try Something New Tuesday

Well, can't it be said that sometimes, things just don't turn out the way you planned? That's the story behind my second project for Try Something New Tuesday. I thought about not showing the card at all, but then that wouldn't have been very honest, would it? Not everything I make works or looks good. It's a fact of life. I don't want all my fabulous blog readers to think that everything I make turns out perfect every single time. You know I'm real about stuff like that, right? Most of us only show the stuff that TURNS OUT on our blogs! If that's all I show, that wouldn't be a very accurate reflection of what goes on in my studio--every single day I experience hits and misses with my work!

The first thing I made though to share with you today is an altered recipe box (I am doing this for a class at my very favorite scrap store Memory Creek!). I don't know who makes the box, but it's made out of thick chipboard. Instead of making it as a recipe box, I thought it would be more universally useful as a photo storage box! Everyone has photos they need to store. And why not have a pretty storage box that you can leave out on the coffee table to share with visitors? I used the new line of Crate Paper (Baby Collection, Pollen, Little One, and Catapillar) for the outside of the box, using Pollen for the sides and Little One for the removable top. Inside, the box comes with 6 dividers that I covered in Bazzill cardstock and Catapillar paper.

For a special touch, I used a sentiment ("a happy life is made of little things")from my PaperTreyInk/Little Lady stamp collection all the way around the perimeter of the top of the box. Right above that, I tied a GORGEOUS velvet ribbon, complete with a bow! I love this ribbon!!!! I have never worked with velvet ribbon before, but I loved it, so you can bet I'll be finding more and buying it! To make sure people knew it was a box specifically for photos, I used my Cuttlebug Olivia alphabet to spell out PHOTOS with some coordinating green designer paper. The letters are glued to the top of the box!

That's my first Try Something New project for today. When I find out who the maker of the recipe box is, I'll let you know.

Ok, on to today's second project. Let me first say, my inspiration came from a card in the new Paper Crafts magazine, page 86. The designer, Melissa Phillips, made these adorable cards with big, fat flowers on the front. They look like they're made out of paper, but I don't think they are. Actually, they are Vintage Blossoms from Attic Heirloom. Anyways, when I saw these flowers, I said to myself (famous last words) "I think I could make these"!. Well, not really. I thought I would try to make a flower like these out of my window punch, which I have never done before (which is why I thought this project would qualify for "Try Something New Tuesday"!!!!).

Before you know it, I had grabbed a ton of scraps from my scrap drawer and started making my flower "petals" with my window punch! The next thing I did was punch one circle out of scrap paper as the base to which I would glue my flower petals. Oh, and one more thing. After I punched all the "petals" out, I put each one into my Martha Stewart flower punch (I'm not sure which one I bought, but it's got the "frayed look" on the edges of the flower) and gave the "petal" a fringed look on the end (I know this is a little confusing....). Now I was ready to start gluing the petals onto the base. I did this in a roundabout fashion, until I had used up all my petals. For a sentiment, I punched another circle out of Pink Passion cardstock and stamped "hello" in the middle of it (from my Paper Tray set). It's matted with black cardstock, then glued to the center of the "flower". When this was done, I sat looking at my flower going "this is butt ugly". But I had put so much time and effort into making it, I was determined to see it to the end.

The flower still needed a little something, so I curled the edges of the petals with my scissors like you do when your curling ribbon. That made it look slightly better! I placed the flower in the top left corner of the card, and used the sentiment from Little Lady (the same sentiment as I used on the box) as the "stem" of the flower. I cut out some leaves using scrap designer paper. The card was still missing something though, so I doodled around the edges with a black marker and my Uniball white pen. There. Finished. Complete. Done. It was time to go to bed after I finished this baby. Maybe, just maybe, it would look better to me in the new morning light.

Well, it did look slightly better this morning when I came down to my studio! I'm sure I won't be mailing this to anyone since the petals go off the card making it too large to fit in an envelope, and because it's not some of my best work. But, that's life. That's especially the life of an "artist". You win some, you lose some. And I'm cool with that! Don't ever feel bad about creating something that in the end, just doesn't trip your trigger. But don't hide it either. We learn from our mistakes. If we don't make mistakes, we don't learn. It's as plain and as simple as that. Have a wonderful day!

Hugs,
Amy

25 comments:

  1. I enjoyed reading your post today. I am guilty...sometimes I post things on my blog that I'm not particularly proud of. The reason is primarily because I don't have time to make another project! Everything can't be a masterpiece!

    Frankly, I like your flower card!

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  2. Anonymous9:18 AM

    We are so hard on ourselves aren't we? I actually really like the flower card. I think the detail of the flower works really well with the simplicity of the rest of the card. I don't think it is BUTT ugly at all...in fact, I rather like it. REALLY!

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  3. I like your flower card. Cool box, too! Question... when you cover large areas like that with patterned paper, which adhesive do you prefer? I haven't come across my favourite yet and since you create every single day, I thought you might share!

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  4. Sorry but I have to disagree with you. I like this whimsical, colorful flower and the clean simple design on the rest of the card really balances well with it. I would be proud to send or receive such a card. Of course, these days it would cost extra postage-lol. BTW- love the photo box!

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  5. Anonymous12:09 PM

    I cannot believe that you do not think the second card is some of your best work. It is really a great card. Maybe it is just different than what you normally create. I think it is fabulous. Great job.
    Dawn B>

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  6. I think your flower turned out great! We're our own worst critic, though! Your post is very funny for me because yesterday I asked my husband if he like something I made and he said "yeah", very unexcitedly. After I asked why he didn't sound like he liked it, he said "because everything you make is beautiful. . and that's boring. Why don't you post something ugly for a change?" I laughed and laughed, but he's right! :)

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  7. Great petal/flower card, Amy -- love how you created it!

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  8. Anonymous2:49 PM

    Well, you know that old saying "One man's 'trash is another man's treasure'? Well, I'm not saying your flower card is "trash" by any means. Just that one person may not like it as well, and lots of others may!! (like all of your readers! ;) I love this flower and can't wait to try it on a larger card format. I think it is a great idea and will use up all kinds of wasted scraps lying all around my room!! Thanks for taking a risk. :) Barb

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  9. Amy,
    I really like the flower card. What a cute way to make a flower. I love your honesty!

    Pat

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  10. Anonymous4:28 PM

    I think this is fabulous. I love all the different papers and how you did the ends of the petals with your MS punch. Now I'm going to have to try that. You can send it to me! Just put it in a bigger envelope! lol

    Melody

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  11. Anonymous7:20 PM

    I like this card. Thanks for sharing your process.

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  12. Anonymous7:21 PM

    I think your card is very cute. I love all the patterns of dp against the bright pink. While I'd be thrilled to receive it, I'm not sure I'd have the patience to create it.

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  13. Amy, I really like your scrap flower. You did a good job on it.
    Hummmm....now I may have to go take a look at those Martha punches.

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  14. Very creative, love it :)

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  15. I think your flower is just so pretty!!

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  16. I have GOT to get some of this crate paper. I've been drooling over everything anyone has made with it. The colors just "speak" to me. Your recipe box is FAB! Check out that perfectly gorgeous orange velvet trim. ...A N D...I like the flower card. It's funky, and I mean in a good way :)

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  17. What an awesome box! Love that paper and the idea of turning a recipe box into a photo box. The flower card is really neat, Amy. I love how you used the sentiment as the stem and I thought the petals were made out of ribbon until I read further. Very unique...and it's the trying new things that keep our art fresh and exciting.

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  18. Anonymous11:53 AM

    I LOVE this card, Amy!!

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  19. Anonymous12:44 PM

    Wow! You sure are creative! I love your projects today - so great!
    I have lots of velvet ribbon and have been lamenting on how to tie a nice bow since the material is so thick! Your sample here on the box is perfect! I'm going to try that the next time I use my velvet ribbon.
    Also, the flower - using scraps - is pure genius! I love the look AND the idea! Wonderful! Thanks so much for sharing!

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  20. WOW! I think your flower card is wonderful. Very creative and out of the box.

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  21. Hey now, I am loving the flower! So fun and unique ... that's the great thing: it's not something you see everywhere and that makes me adore it all the more.

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  22. love love love the card! saw those cards in PC magazine today and was wondering too if i could recreate them. gorgeous card!

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  23. Anonymous10:08 AM

    I got a good laugh from your "butt ugly" comment. Seriously, it's a cute card! I would be happy to receive it! Thanks for all your inspiration - you rock!

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  24. Well, it floats my boat or catches my train or is my cuppa tea, you know what i mean, right! I think it's really neat. I like the hand crafted rustic look of it! I give it an 'A' for Originality too even though it was inspired. Thank you for sharing the process. It makes you post so meaningful how you revealed your feelings as well as technique.Seriously and 23 commenters agree with me!

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  25. Anonymous4:22 PM

    Well...this is my first ever post but your honesty about your "butt ugly flower" prompted me to thank you...for your honesty and explanation that you too are prone to the "oops" designs we all face. I am new to this and one of the reasons i turned to cards was my photography and my stacks of supplies i have already collected. But i can't seem to do a full scrapbook page without second guessing myself or being displeased half way through. Cards allow me a small project that i can either keep, send or learn from. And if it works, all the better to host my photgraphs...thanks,
    debbie in North Bay, Ontario, CANADA

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