Sunday, January 13, 2013

OWH Sketch #155

Have you ever worked on a sketch challenge that completely threw you for a loop? Well today is that day for me! I've been spending way too much time today trying to come up with a card for this week's OWH Stars and Stamps sketch challenge #155. Here's a picture of the sketch....

It looks simple enough, but the panel across the oval just stumped me for some reason. I started off with this card.....

It was OK until I tied the twine around it, and I didn't like it draped on the lower half of the oval, but it was done, so I tossed it aside and decided to try another approach. Next came this card......

I decided to scrap the oval all together and use a rectangle along with a pre-colored digi. I added a clip to the side where I tried to tie some narrow pink ribbon, but that wasn't working at all either, so I left the ribbon off, and just left the clip with the little heart there. It's an OK card but I thought it just needed something more. I felt I could do better, SOoooooooo I tried making a third card.....
 This might have been the best of the three UNTIL I put that grey sentiment  panel across the center of the oval! I should have placed it more to the left (with a shorter tail) and put a larger embellishment (like a button) where the star is, but I'd already stuck it down and it wasn't moving. Then I thought the black looked too plain and perhaps I should have embossed it. Know what? I've had one too many "I should have done this" thoughts for one day, and I'm throwing in the towel! My brain simply isn't cooperating with my hands today, so I think I'll go read for a while! LOL

I'm going to blame my crafting block on the cloudy, foggy weather today. Yep, that's it! It's too foggy outside which makes my brain too foggy to create!

Have a wonderful day, and thanks for hanging in for this longer-than-usual post. Mamma said there'd be days like this :)

Carol

20 comments:

Donna Hanley said...

Carol, I love the way your first card came out. Your tulip embossing looks sweet on this card. If you noticed on my card I moved the horizontal strip because I just could not make it work in the center. I really like your other other two cards as well. I have those "I should have" days all the time. In fact I feel I should have outlined the outside of my oval as well as the inside, but then I was afraid I'd ruin it. We should just forget it for today. I'm going to play bingo tonight, (first time in years) I hope my brain works better there than it has here today.

jimlynn said...

Um....I have days like this every day, Carol! LOL! Actually, I think you're too hard on yourself since I like all of them. LOVE that twine on the first card! The second is as cute as can be, and on to the third one......LOVE IT! Perfect to have that strip across the image - no matter what color.
Great set of cards.
Lynn

Linda said...

Do not be so hard on yourself...all your card are wonderful...the sketch is a place to start...three great finishes...and I like the gray strip!

ThePurplePlace said...

Hi my Friend,

Sorry I have not had much chance to keep in touch, but I had seen and rad all the wonderful posts that everyone has left for me.

I also felt all the love and kind thoughts and everyone shared for my Mom and I and I'm happy that she is recovery and doing well. She is not feeling nearly as well as she had hoped, but she is getting stronger each and every day and it will take time. Being that she had never had any major surgery or health issues, this has been a lot harder than she ever imagined and that's getting to her. I think she is upset that she is still feeling so crappy, but Geesh, it's only been 4 days since major open heart surgery and to see her looking better each day, up and walking and talking..is truly a miracle of medicine and for that I'm very grateful!!

Big Hugs,
Lis

PS: Your cards are wonderful...you are so fast!!

Diane said...

I like all of your cards- and I think the first one is great, love the embossing around the edges- can you take the twine off if it bothers you? The middle image is sweet- and I love your color scheme for the last card! I am on my 3rd card for this sketch... will not be posting my failures-lol!

Darnell said...

Having had many of those days, if I'm doing a sketch now that I'm not getting that immediate "feel" for, I do a quick and dirty mockup on scratch paper. It takes five minutes longer, but it beats those slumped shoulders in the end.

Having said that, I have to add that in this case, Carol, you are being too hard on yourself. Each card is wonderful and none of us would have seen those "cocked-head, hmmm" things if you hadn't pointed them out!

You're talking to yourself too much! Time for a lunch out with some girlfriends!!

xxoo Darnell

StampTramps said...

You're too hard on yourself. All three cards are fab. I love the stamp on the 3rd card! I'm having a dreary day today too, in my head and with the stupid weather. You'd think the sun could show itself for a minute or two! I have a vacation day tomorrow, maybe I'll have better luck with the cardmaking then!

Benzi said...

Wonderful cards, Carol. Yes, I have had those days. As a matter of fact, I created the simplest card today and just as I finished it, I noticed a boo and had to start over on a new one. I guess it happens to all of us.
Anyway, you've made three very pretty cards so not to worry. Tomorrow will be a better day.

Marlene Diefendorf said...

Carol, don't beat yourself up... you've created three beautiful cards from this sketch. I love the border embossing on the first one, the rectangle shape on the second, and the striking colors on the third. That being said I can sympathize with you on your feelings. Yes, mamma said there'd be days like this, but sometimes I think those days are a little too close together. Thanks so much for playing!

Jen M said...

Carol, if you only knew how many crafting days I have like yours... :) I actually like all three, though the second is my favorite!

Desert Rose Stamper said...

Carol -- all of your cards are wonderful. I too struggled with this sketch -- but looking at your cards I would never have guessed you had any trouble at all. Thanks for all your inspiration.

Sharon

Unknown said...

Great cards. I know how you felt, many days I spend way too much time on one card. The problem is we don't give ourselves enough "slack", we think we have to produce the perfect card the first time through!. TFS!

Unknown said...

Pretty cards. The trouble with sketch challenges, is we think we have to create the perfect card the first time through! Oh I wish! Thanks for showing all the different ideas!

Mary Anne / MA54K said...

Wow, I don't remember you sounding so frustrated before. These are wonderful, whether you want to believe it or not. Sorry I have missed so much, but it was perfect weather to make the Christmas stuff scoot to the attic. Love the way they hyped us on this warm weather, huh? Warm, I think the house is so chilly!

Wendy said...

Awww, Carol~ your post made me giggle because I remember having days like this too! Actually it seems most of my days are like that! HAHA! All 3 of your cards are wonderful and I love the last one! The black & gray just went along with yesterday's weather because it sure was a yukky day to say the least! Today isn't really all that much better atleast here! Hope you can soon get some springy thoughts on your mind and your hands will hopefully play along!
Have a good day! :)

JD/ Jill said...

Have I ever worked on a sketch challenge that has completely thrown me? All the time! LOL, Sketch challenges seem to be the most difficult challenges for me. I do much better with a theme challenge. However, You seem to EXCEL at any challenge you do. Including all of these great cards you just created!

Lee Mae said...

Aw Carol, I'm sorry you had one of "my" days of struggling around with a sketch. Your cards came out great, however. Each one is a nice variance on the sketch. I do like the first card best simply because of the colors and the embossing plus the pretty floral image.

Shannon White said...

I'm With Lynn Miss Carol! You are Way too hard on yourself!! I Like all of them too!! Such pretty colors and Sweet flowers on the first one. Love the Darling image and Fab dp's on your second one. Your third one is soo Pretty and Classy looking!! Just a Wonderful Selection of Beautiful cards Lady! ;-)

Hugs
Shannon

Donna Nuce said...

I love your third card the absolute best! It has that vintage feel to it. (my favorite) Have a great day.

www.hokiecoyote.com said...

The yellow card with the birds is very striking. I would love getting a card like that for my birthday!