Going over the edge .....

I really love the new Less Is More Challenge, and promised myself I would play along every week. Unfortunately the past 2-3 weeks have been so hectic that I haven't had chance, particularly given that (as I'm sure we all know by now) "clean and simple" is definitely not the same thing as "quick and easy" !!

However this week I just had to go there, so I set about making a one-layer card card that was stamped off the edge. Boy did I have trouble with this one!! Below follows a few observations on the trials and tribulations associated with making a one-layer card - I'd appreciate anyone's views and/or tips.

My starting point was that having seen Chrissie's delish Rollagraph card, it reminded me that I have a Rollagraph I bought at a craft fair and have never used - nope, not once!! So I dug it out of the back of the cupboard and got to work ... I had but the two rollers, and the butterflies and cherry blossom seemed most appropriate for the task in hand. Several practice rolls later I decided on a stamped panel of black ink which I would then emboss with holographic embossing powder, and colour in with a wash of pink Cosmic shimmer paints ...


This is where things started to go a bit pear shaped ..... first of all I found that stamping direct onto linen card (which I always normally use for my base) doesn't give a good impression at all - several wasted sheets later I dug out one of my few smoother sheets of base card and tried that.

The stamped panel and sentiment still didn't come out perfect but I pressed on ... I washed around the flowers with my Cosmic Shimmer paint (leaving the flowers white) but my paints would not behave themselves on my base cardstock and dried very blotchy - plus I could not successfully "feather out" the edges of the painted panel as the paint kept drying into a harsh line. I rooted around until I found some matching ribbon to stick down and conceal the edges; and smoothed over my blotchy paintwork with a damp baby wipe - paint job was now smoother but of course flowers were no longer white - AAARRRGGGH!

So out came the glamour dust to whiten up the flowers. However I couldn't use a glue pen on top of the paintwork, so had to use some clear glue and then dab it to thin out on each individual flower, so I could get a sheen rather than a lump of glamour dust on each one. Time was really ticking away by now .....

Lost the will to live yet?? I had gone completely over the edge by this time!!

Fundamentally I'm finding stamping and use of colouring media direct onto base cardstock very problematic. This card took well over two hours and still looks rather rough and ready for my liking ... but at least I had a go!!

Recipe:
Main image: Rollagraph, embossed with holographic embossing powder and colour washed with pink Cosmic Shimmer paint;
Sentiment: Hero Arts "Chinese Happiness Wish" (E1718);
Supplies: teeny black gems and ribbon from my stash.

Challenges:
Less Is More #6 - One Layer Card - "Off The Edge"
One Stop Craft Challenge #122 - Clean and Simple
Paper Sundaes #60 - Keep It Simple

That's all for now ... hope you're having a great week !