Apr 27, 2016

Blog Talk v. Reality


Sometimes I try and sound professional on this blog but I can't pull it off for long.

Blog Version of Making This Card:

A Five Minute Card!!

1. Blended inks over Hero Arts Delicate Petals Stencil.
2. Blended same inks over scrap paper and stamped sentiment from Hero Arts Many Everyday Messages.
3. Die cut sentiment.
4. Adhered over messy gold thread nests and
5. Added some clear drops.

So easy!!!  I love stamping!



Real Version of Making This Card:

Three days ago I started to make a card.  All I wanted was a decent looking card to send to someone who recently had surgery.

MONDAY

1.  Stamp and mask hydrangeas.  Should be ok, but every sentiment I tried looks too busy against the flowers.

2.  Paint stripes on top of card.  Such a cool idea, except it looked awful.  (Mike: "Is that some experiment?")  I wonder if I should take art lessons.

3.  Die cut balloon animals in different colors.  Colors were terrible together and the whole concept not related to purpose of card.

TUESDAY

4.  Stamp rose stem flower using Distress Stains.  Not bad and could send to my friend, except it was identical to another card I blogged about, and therefore, made no sense to blog about it again.  I mean, is there any point in making a card if it isn't going on the blog?

5.  How about stamping a background and adding a sentiment in vellum?  Apparently not.

WEDNESDAY

6.  This shouldn't be this hard. Remember the Hero Arts Delicate Petals stencil, which I found immediately because it was in a file folder marked "stencils".  Excellent omen.  Let's try using it. Blend ink over the stencil. Shockingly, looks good the first time.

7. Add sentiment stamped on vellum because I refuse to give up the vellum idea, and die cut with oval die.  No.

8. Stamp sentiment on white cardstock and die cut with circle die.  No.

9. Blend inks on scrap cardstock and stamped in black.  Ok.  Except for weird black thing hanging from the "h".

10. Stamp again and sentiment now clear.  Die cut again with circle die.

11. Place on card.  Have lost ability to judge, but it appears to need something.  NO -- NOT THE DREADED THREAD NEST.  It always a disaster when I try and be trendy, but I've run out of ideas. Try it with yellow thread.  No.  Try it with gold thread.  I DON'T CARE ANYMORE.  Just glue the d*** thing on the card.

12. Adhere clear drops because other people do and it seems to need something.  Decide to sell all supplies and take up crochet.  Except I can't crochet.

13. Just get it in the mail.

MOOD WHEN DONE -- Hey, it's a hobby!!

46 comments:

Jackie said...

I feel your pain. Everyone makes it look so easy, but as Leslie Hanna used to say, "Stamping is hard, people!" I miss her. That brand of metallic thread is a beast to work with. I got the kind Lara Bassen uses and it's so much easier! It's Coats & Clark and I can get the number of it for you, if you want.

Jackie said...

PS - your card is beautiful!

Libby Hickson said...

I love you.

Susan Raihala said...

Yes. Just yes.

Joan B said...

how do you know what brand I used?? Would love to know other thread that actually works.

Yana Smakula said...

yes, this is the story of me making cards, lol!

Ardyth said...

ha, ha, ha! You nailed it, my friend! I keep the Toronto recycling people in business - for every card I post there are probably 6 or 7 in the bin!

LaurieJ said...

Hey, I just learned how to crochet by taking a class on Craftsy. It turned out to be amazingly easy! Love the card, super loved the commentary.

Unknown said...

This post makes me so happy! Sometimes I get a little embarrassed when I see how easy it seems to be for talented ladies to whip-up a gorgeous card in 10 minutes! :)

Diane Jaquay said...

I can totally relate, Joan, you just described me to a T! When things get crazy I always say to myself, hey, this is supposed to be FUN!

Leslie Miller said...

I laughed so hard and so long over this! All the way through. It could have been me every moment of the way. It's sad, isn't it? Stamping is not always fun and easy. I'm so glad you told the real story because you're one who makes it look easy. I marvel at your CAS skills. In the end it turned out fabulous!

Patricia said...

If only the recipients of our cards new the agony we go through to send them fine art. After 25 years I have learned to accept the little imperfections.

Susanne Vargas said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Susanne Vargas said...

Hahaha! So funny and true! You nailed it! And your card is fabulous!

kari said...

Exactly what I thought when I read this - I LOVE Joan!

Tracey McNeely said...

Ain't that the truth!
Well said!

Tricia T said...

Oh goodness. I needed that tonight! It was one of those, "everyone is perfect except me" nights. Thanks for being real!!

LauraJane:) said...

This is why I don't make videos!! You always make me smile!! LOVE the colors on the stencil!

Meghan said...

You are just lovely; and your post is so very true!

Rubeena I. said...

Omg thank God I'm not the only one LOL

Unknown said...

I literally BUSTED out laughing at your "real" version....PRICELESS!

Jaya Christina said...

Hahaha.. Here I'm sitting in my car in the parking lot .reading and laughing out loud...
I think the best blog post ever :) :)
If posts read this way - genuine - we may have more crafters and the world will be a better place :)
Thanks Joan

Joan B said...

I'll look into it!

Anonymous said...

Love your finished card, Joan! And laughed out loud at the "real" timeline to get there! So true. I have the metallic thread, and have never taken the "messy nest" plunge.

Amy McCue said...

Dear paperlicious, it is nice to know I am not the only one! Sometimes, I have to set down something I started and leave it for a day for it to come together into something I actually like. I always save the parts that I attempted, because you never know when you might use them again on some other project. Frequently, I do find uses for them. I enjoyed your blog vs. real version. It made me laugh first thing in the morning to start my day, so thanks!!!

Kimberly Eddy said...

Oh dear Joan, you are a treat! Loved this and it made me chuckle first thing this morning. I always feel like I am the SLOWEST card maker. Trying to come up with an idea and then actually putting it down. It's such a small piece of paper. How is it so hard and time consuming sometimes?!! Ha ha. But the joy of a wonderful finished card always brings happiness!!! Hugs!!

Marcia P said...

I can't add much to the comments already posted, so I'll just say "ditto!" Not only are you talented, you are funny, and that is one of my favorite character traits. I will say one thing: sometimes my desperation to make a card for an upcoming class or an online challenge, and throwing most of the samples into the wastebasket, will produce an unexpected winner. Desperation can be a great motivator! (Or the reason for more hair loss.)

Suzanne Russell said...

priceless. I quit blogging a while back and now enjoy card-making a lot more...even the ones that I leave on my desk for days and stop to stare at when walking past in hopes of an AHA! moment. Sometimes that works. I really like your card!

rhoffer said...

Thank you! Loved this post and related to every word.

Teresa Doyle said...

LOL! How true is THIS??? I have made a few like this these past 3 months. I made a 6oth birthday card for my sister and it took an entire week. It looked NOTHING like what I had imagined it would. I was 5 DAYS making it and determined she was getting THAT card regardless to what it looked like. It took another 2 days to make the box to put it in! In the end it was alright but rest assured, there will never be another one of them! Your card is great for all your struggles.... Thanks for sharing this, makes the rest of us feel a little less alone in this. HAHA

Cindy O said...

YES to all that! I've often thought when I post my supply lists, the longer list would be the supplies I tried and didn't use! Your finished card is lovely and will bring a smile to your friend, but I think you should share this post too, because as they say, "laughter is the best medicine." Thanks for a very funny slice of creative life!

Cathy P in AZ said...

You totally crack me up, Joan! All crafty bloggers can relate to this frustrating hilarity-after we take up crocheting! ;)

Carol D said...

Thanks for the reality check! I feel so much better now.

Carolyn L said...

Joan reads our minds.
Hilarious.
Scary.
xoxo

Elaine C said...

Oh I just burst out laughing reading this...it is SO me!! I thought I was the only one!! But my version is knitting, and I do already knit. When it takes me so long on a card, I figure I should just be knitting instead :)Thanks for making my day!

Jeanne H said...

Me too - laughed out loud at the end of your post! And I don't laugh very often! Thanks so much. I have a scrap of paper on my monitor that says, "It's only paper!" Not sure who said that first, but it helps me. P.S. Love the gold thread on your card, Joan.

Ginger said...

Oh so true. I'm so glad we stampers persevere through these trials, because our creations do bless those who receive them. Please continue sharing your thoughts and your creations for we are blessed by them.

Patt H. said...

Finally! The real story comes out! This is soooo true. Love your blog & the final card is awesome! Thanks for sharing.

vdoyle8 said...

LOL! That's exactly how I work - and those darn thread nests. Can't make those look decent. I'll teach you how to crochet. We could have a heck of a garage sale.

Karen @ Misplaced Mojo said...

Remember how excited we all were when we thought of how cheap we could make a greeting card for??? Ha! Oh, I know that even if you got it all perfect the first time you're using a $15 stamp set, $5 ink pad, etc, etc. but it is just cray-cray when you think about the failed attempts and the products pulled out in the effort. BUT, the final card... PRICELESS! Love it!!! And besides, all the $$$ for the supplies is our hobby and no different than spending it on golf clubs or any other hobby that you would enjoy spending time on that happens to cost a small fortune. :-)

Jackie said...

It's the brand everyone was talking about - DMC, so I bought it, too, of course. Then I noticed Laura Bassen's metallic thread came off the spool in a nice neat circle in one of her videos, so I asked her what it was. Coats & Clark Metallic, 29650 (silver, gold, and copper). You're welcome :-)

SherylH said...

Thanks for telling like it is (at least for me)!!

Meg M. said...

Ha, Joan! You are loved by many and I appreciate you keeping it real. And in the end, I am sure your friend who had surgery appreciates your thoughtfulness. Heck, you thought about the card for nearly a week! Thanks for always sharing.

Glorie said...

LOL Joan! That's how I am too :)

Chris K said...

Thanks for the reality check!

Chris K said...

Thanks for the reality check!