Welcome back everyone! Whether you're a longtime reader or coming here for the first time from the amazing Lounon, I'm excited to see you!
The Squirrel Squad and I are back again this month with a new challenge! This month, we focused on stamping or die cutting along the edge. The technique was die cutting or stamping on the edge. This is another technique that I was interested in, but had somehow never gotten around to trying. To top it all off, the theme was spring and boy was this whole card not easy on me!
When we picked the technique, I immediately knew what die cut I wanted to use. That leaf edge had been sitting in my stash for a long, long time. It had been part of a free gift, along with a set of stamps, with a paper crafting magazine. The stamps (some of which are represented here) had been given quite a workout, but I'd somehow never quite figured out how I wanted to use the edge die. I think I'd always figured I would come up with a more creative way to use it besides just embellishing a card edge. With the pressure on, I....
Used it to embellish a card edge.
AND I procrastinated on making this card until literally the day before! Ok, not 100% intentionally. But work and personal had both been busy and, well, I kept hoping for a bigger strike of inspiration. So I sat down in the early morning hours, before coffee and before any true stirrings in the house. I shuffled my stamps and die cuts around and glanced out the window for some inspiration, and....
IT WAS SNOWING! Not exactly the springtime song I'd hoped would fill my heart.
Undeterred (much), I decided simplicity would be my friend. I die cut the edge. Then I cut my green square mat and my white base. I figured a fussy cut bouquet layered in the center would be sufficiently springy! I decided to take it easy on myself and use the well-detailed stamps and pink ink on three different shades of pink paper to substitute for coloring. Green ink on light green paper was equally effective. I shall certainly employ this technique again! I turned to my sentiments to find something appropriate and to plan the spacing of my layout. I flipped through the pages and....
Discovered that I must hate spring. I have lots of fall-related sentiments, a ton of winter, even a summer or two. But NOTHING particularly spring related except ONE Happy Easter. We'd already decided that Easter certainly counts, so I went with it. I decided I simply couldn't handle anymore complications.
In the end, despite the complications, I actually think the card is charming in its own way! I will say I got a little extra with the dimensional mounting for the top flower. I would change that in a future riff on this card. But in terms of an educational mistake, I've definitely done worse!
Thank you for stopping by! Be sure to keep hopping! The Squirrel Squad is a small group so the hop won't take you long, but will leave you feeling totally inspired! Next up: the brilliant and talented Anna! If you love what we're doing, please leave a comment! We love it even more when you subscribe!