Most recent cards...

In the last several weeks I've made a few cards I kinda like.
In fact, its a new experience for me to look at the cards and feel proud of myself.
I'm not used to it.
Its very confusing.

A sympathy card...


A 'de-stress' card...


A birthday card...friend


A birthday card...nephew


A birthday card...one year old.

Final card

This morning it occurred to me that I have lots of embellishments and I have to remember I have them. I found the metallic circle stickers and put them on. Now the card feels complete. I used only 4 pieces of double-side tape to put it all together. I don't know if that's the right thing to do, but I've found that when I start adhering all the pieces of a card together, that's where I have problems - glue stick in particular smudges and gets all over everything. Ugh.

I don't want to belittle my efforts, but I do recognize the level of complexity is low. But, I did it on my own. Yay! I may make this the template for my Christmas/New Year cards.

UPDATE: Card was mailed, received and appreciated...though, to be honest, to get the reaction I wanted I had to dramatize the process for all I imagined it was worth. HA HA! And I'm sure the recipient noticed I needed the reaction and was kind enough to give it to me. Still, all in all, a huge personal and creative success!

Revised Card

Okay - so here we are. My second attempt at the same card. It turns out I don't have a steady enough hand to free draw outlines. I took more time and used scratch paper to define the border on both the white card and the stamped card.
My instinct was to give up and use the card as it was. I don't think that instinct is helpful. The moral of the story is that practice makes perfect.
I think the card is missing something textural (I embossed the border of the stamped piece) - metal or fabric or something like that. I'm afraid to experiment at this point. I got the card to look relatively decent and not all mussed up. I'd like to leave well enough alone. Maybe when I'm better at 'creating' I'll feel more comfortable taking it a step further. As an 'artist' its important not to get too wrapped up in losing a piece. I remember that from when I took a ceramics class. You never can tell if the piece will break in the kiln.
I guess the difference is the kiln is out of my control. Whereas, taking time learning to make a card look less childish is in my control. Phew! Its tough trying to be crafty and creative!!

Card

I'm disappointed. I like my paper choices. I like the colors. I like the stamp. I like the design. I even like the corner punches. But, it needed more, so I embossed around the edges of the stamped piece and I put a color border around the white card. That's where it got sloppy.

I like this card

Here is a card I made a couple weeks ago. I have demonstrated some progress in card making, but not photography. the lighting is bad. Lighting is my Achilles Heel. Its imperative that I learn how to make light work for me.