Jun 7, 2014

Is 12 Years Enough?

Need an anniversary card, not for the husband but for friends.  I need it tonight.  As in an hour.

So I spent all day watercoloring, embossing, stamping, cutting and making a lovely card.  And, as is often the case, I ruined it when I tried to add a sentiment.  Husband observed the carnage and kindly suggested a walk to Paper Source to buy a card.

So I did.

As I was shelling out $6.50 (!) for the card, I noted to the cashier that I was frustrated because I spent 6 hours working on a hand stamped card and ruined it.

To which she observed "It takes a while to get the hang of stamping."

To which I replied, "Is 12 Years Enough?"

MOOD WHEN DONE = frustrated but looking forward to a lovely evening

21 comments:

Susan Raihala said...

No, 12 years isn't enough. I've been at it almost that long and regularly throw away cards that become "fails" at the last step. Stamping teaches humility. ;)

Susan said...

Been there... done that. And it's always a bummer! Good thing your PS is so close! :)

Mary said...

So sorry to hear about your card. You did the right thing by letting it go and buying a card. It happens to every stamper. :) I hope you enjoy your night.

Mary

Vicki Dutcher said...

$6.50? Dam I am so under selling my cards~ LOL :)

Joan B said...

Yes. There were very few anniversary cards to give to a couple, as opposed to give to your spouse. So I had a choice of two. On the other hand, nice card -- may case!!

Joan said...

Been there myself too many times. Finally learned to stamp the inside sentiment and my personalized stamp on the back of the card BEFORE I even start assembling and playing with it. Fortunately, I rarely put a sentiment on the front of my card so this has saved me a lot of trouble and frustration. After making all my own cards for 35 years you'd think it would be foolproof by now - HA!
Joan W.

Joan B said...

great idea. I may just give up on sentiments on the outside of cards.

Kathy D said...

Joan, it happens to me, too! (and I agree with Vicki, I am SO underselling my cards!) I usually end up restamping my sentiment on another sheet of paper and adding it as a banner (or oval, or whatever) over the botched sentiment. I so freak out every time I see a Jennifer Maguire video where she stamps her front sentiment LAST!! (and I have screwed up cards stamping my personalized stamp on the back, too)

Susie said...

Sentiments are my love/hate part of stamping. I rarely know where to put them. Sometimes I will stamp them on a plastic sheet and put that over several places on the card to see where it looks best - but in the end, I rarely am pleased with the end result. I've spent days on one card, leaving it on my table and hoping some ray of inspiration will come. It is frustrating to work so long, and thoughtfully too I might add, to have the entire thing dashed in one stamp of a sentiment.

~amy~ said...

I was doing that for co-workers...walking to whole foods and buying $6+ cards that were, meh. It pained me to spend that much but I wasn't ready to show them my crafty side.
I gotta tell you that every time I do that finishing touch with a sentiment, I ALWAYS hold my breath.

kramomma said...

I just asked on "simplicitybylateblossom" if she stamps her sentiment first, then I come here and find you have the same problem I have...I have gone to not putting any stamped sentiment on the inside of the card due to ruining too many cards at the end. I adhere sentiments on the front and seldom do one-layer cards due to stamping issues.

Joan B said...

My problem is putting a sentiment on the front of the card!

Starla said...

I actually giggled out loud when I got to your reply to the sales gal!!

Leslie Miller said...

I'm with Starla -- I burst out laughing when I read your comment to the sales girl! I've been in that position many times and I feel your pain. Even with a Stamp-a-ma-Jig I can sometimes blow it and have to add a banner or something. 12 years is not enough. No number of years is enough. But $6.50 is too much!

Erica said...

No. 1, obviously she doesn't stamp.
No. 2, I think I am giving the deepest discount on earth at $1.00 each or donations.

Tanis Scott said...

Well, we've all been there! I usually salvage it by gluing something over top of my boo boo. Usually another sentiment stamped on a die cut or punched label/oval/banner/whatever.

Tanis Scott said...

Still hoping we get to see the card sometime soon!

Joan B said...

hmm.....not sure I have the nerve!

Monica K. said...

Lol, I think this has happened to all of us, Joan! I made peace a long time ago that my original justification to start crafting (so I could save money not having to buy cards), was just not going to happen. In the end, I think it's more important to focus on making people feel special--whether the card is handmade or store bought. :)

Pat Robinson said...

I can't stop giggling from this post. I have 'ruined' many a card in my day. But my friends were always digging them out of my trash, so now I have learned to save those cards for them and somehow they make them work.
I just found your blog tonight, and I like how you 'say things'. THANKS!

Meghan said...

Oh, how I laughed out loud at this!