Oct 16 2008
In the Shadows Wreath - Tutorial #135
You will see as you go through this tutorial today a bit of my thought process when I don’t like how things are turning out, lol. This card almost went in the trash about 10 times as I was making it. There are elements I love about it and some I really dislike, but here it is anyway. I’m keeping it real and showing it anyway.
The morning started out OK at 3:30 a.m. with a cup of coffee and an oatmeal cookie. :) Breakfast of champions, ya know, lol.
I had an idea in mind for a card, so I started pulling out supplies:
| Stamps: Close to my Heart “Festive Frills” and “Treasure Life” |
| Paper: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Always Artichoke & Bravo Burgundy |
| Ink: Adirondack Oregano, Egg Plant, Butterscotch, Raisin, Lettuce Slate |
| Accessories: Versamark Pad, Gray Marker, Fine Point Black Marker, Sponge, White Gel Pen, Sharpie Metallic Gold Marker, Dimensionals, White Ribbon, fine detail clear embossing powder, heat gun |
I’m stuck on leaves this week so I stamped the leaves from Close to My Heart “Treasure of Life” set a few times by first loading my stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Lettuce ink before stamping it on a 4.25″ square piece of Whisper White card stock.
Heat embossed it using fine detail clear embossing powder.
Stamped the Wreath by first loading my stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Oregano ink before stamping it. “Hmmm, that Oregano looks a little dark, I’ll work with it anyway”.
Ooops! Missed a picture. I heat embossed the wreath with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Need to lighten that wreath up. Stamped the wreath again by loading the stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Raisin ink before stamping. “Hmmm, I really don’t like that, but I’ll keep working with it”, lol.
Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Ok, need to use a warm color to give some life to this wreath. Over stamped the wreath again by loading the stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Butterscotch ink before stamping it. “That’s a bit better”.
Oops! Miss another photo. Heat embossed the image using clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Need to balance this out a bit, stamped some more leaves on the left side of the card stock by first loading the stamp with Versamark and then loading it with Lettuce ink before stamping.
Heat embossed the leaves with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.
Oops! Missed yet another photo, sponged Slate ink all over the card stock being heavier with the ink on the top and left side.
Also, sponged Egg Plant ink on the top, left sides of the card stock and over the actual wreath, being careful not to get the Egg Plant ink on the inside opening of the wreath.
Well for heavens sake, I missed yet another photo. Stamped leaves at the top of the card stock with Slate ink.
“Yikes! This background looks really dark, yuck!” “Hmmm, I’ll continue working on it”.
Stamped some more leaves with Egg Plant ink at the top of the card stock.
Used my sponge to wipe the ink off of the embossed images.
Ok, this really needs some light!
Added some dots of white gel pen to the wreath so it looks like babies breath.
Now, that helped a great deal. Shesh!
Used a fine point black marker and outlined the bottom of the wreath and the bottom of the inside of the wreath to make it stand out a little more.
With the Brush end of a Going Grey marker I outlined the bottom of the wreath and the left side of the inside of the wreath to create a shadow. This adds quite a bit depth to the image.
“I’m feeling like this is not a complete waste now”.
Edged the card stock with a Metallic Gold Sharpie Marker, by holding it half on the card stock and half on the scrap paper and running it straight down the edges.
Also did this step to my Always Artichoke panel.
Started assembling my card front. Added Dimensionals to the main image panel.
Hello! How do you get the paper off of the back of these *!@*!@# things? Sorry, a little frustration coming out, lol.
Whew, here we go the finished card, measuring 5.5″ square.
Thanks for hanging in there through my craziness. My next tutorial should be better, let’s all hope so anyway. Maybe tomorrow I will have two cookies, yeah, that’s what I need. 
May your day be smooth sailing.
Until my next post. . . . .. . . . . .
Hugs,
Michelle
Links to all my tutorials can be found here: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/tutorials-ive-written/
Here is a link to my workshop calendar if you want to get info on beginner and advanced Brayer workshops: http://zindorf.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/workshop-calendar
I wish the cards I disliked when I was making them turned out this good! I really like the card. Thanks for sharing both the ups and downs with us. I actually wondered the other day if people gave up on cards and started over like I do. Sometimes I keep these stubborn cards to remind me what didn’t work. Your card however, totally works! Thanks for sharing with us.
I like this card. Thanks for sharing all your work…
Maybe 2 cups of coffee before beginning at 3am? Just kidding - this is gorgeous and anyone would be happy to get this card.
Michelle, you crack me up what you think is a disaster, looks gorgeous to me . giggle. I love this ok….
Evelyn
Okay, at 3:00 a.m. who on earth can be creative? Wish I could be this creative at anytime of the day! I think this card works. Stop beating yourself up over this tutorial! I think you have done a great job with it! I really like the added “baby’s breath” to the wreath. I wouldn’t have thought of it. Loved this tutorial because it tells me what you are thinking when it sounds like things aren’t coming together as you would have thought, and how you correct them. Every card I make I go through the “I don’t think this is working” stage however I never seem to know how to “fix” the problem. I just start guessing. Sometimes it’s okay and most times I mail it with the thought of “This still needs something”. LOL
Michelle: It would take a lot more than two cups of coffee to get me going at 3 in the morning…I don’t know how you do it! Love the card, as always. Shirley.
*LOL*!!!!
Love this tutorial! I have many moments like that and sometimes never do use things that just went wrong. It’s great to see that others go through that too. You “saved” this card and it looks great…..lots of depth. Thanks for sharing your thought processes even when you were frustrated. It made my day!
Trish
HA!! This is hilarious!!!!! Must be the cookie!!
I wish someone would make me cookies. I need a wife!
PS - to get the *#($&^ paper off the dimensionals, stick your thumbnail HARD into the center - this will kick the edges of the paper up on each side. Voila!
Have a great day.
Michelle, whatever you do I always find myself in love with your work!
Wow Michelle… I don’t know how you do it! HOW on earth could you possibly get up at that hour and come up with things that look so stinkin’ good??? What time do you get to bed?
Thank you so much for sharing. As a spectator that was too funny. I think maybe you could try a little chocolate, maybe even drinking chocolate to get you revved up.
Hi Michelle-
Don’t mean to be a pain in the …, but the name of the set is “Festive frills” not “Festive Fall”. I didn’t want people to go looking for it and be disappointed.
By the way, the card you made with it is beautiful and off to try this, since I have both these sets. Thank you for the inspiration.
Oh no, another illusion shattered… I didn’t think you would ever go wrong Michelle! LOL only joking - in fact it is quite a relief to discover that even the most talented stampers (such as yourself) are not perfect! The wonderful thing is that you seem to know just how to rescue something that you are not happy with… and the end results are always fantastic!
Talented AND funny!!! Everything you create is beautiful.
OK first of all the fact that you can stamp let alone take a properly focused picture after getting up at 3:30am makes all of these cards even more amazing. I do not function properly until 7:00am and even then I don’t stamp until afternoon. And it takes me all afternoon to decide what card to do and how to do it. My hat goes off to you because I know I certainly couldn’t do it, LOL!
Ummm…..Michelle, what was in your coffee Darlin???? I think you got the “leaded” coffee instead of unleaded because you were reaved up this a.m. It was very entertaining to go through your tutorial but at the same time, refreshing. I never knew you went through the same drama I sometimes do when something isn’t looking quite right. I love this one and I’m going to give it a try. Let you know later how I do.
Beautiful stamps! Gorgeous card!! I really enjoyed seeing(?) your thought process, lol. It’s refreshing to know that there may be an occasion that you struggle, too, like a lot of us - and me in particular
I enjoyed learning why you did what you did to make it a better. That’s really helpful. Thank you.
Sooo funny, Michelle! I love it! This is almost as good as the “messy room” pictures of the stars… Now, go take your well-deserved nap!
If only oatmeal cookies and coffee could make me stamp like that. I like your card. TFS. Hugs,
Anne
There are three elements I try to accomplish when stamping; color, depth and texture. This is why I admire your works so much cuz that is what is always there!
What is the maximum superlative? Whatever is after fabulous describes you. Thank you. Since I bought my first brayer a few weeks ago, I’ve been experimenting following your clear directions. I am so grateful to you for sharing your talent so freely.
I really like the final card. I wish I had the patience just to go with it wheter I liked the beginings or not. Take care Michelle!!!
Bev
Ha ha ha! Love your thought process and you use the same words I do when trying to attach those dimensionals! Ha ha ha! It is a great card, and I can’t believe you can do this at 0330! Awesome!
Loved that you shared the progression of your card! It did turn out lovely. I was wondering…you use the Versamarker a lot - how often do you go through them? Can you refill them?
Thanks for the inspiration!
OMG, Michelle….we eat alike so why can’t I stamp like you????? This is soooo gorgeous…..I can’t believe you almost threw it in the trash!!! I know where I am going dumpster diving, for sure!!!!!
Oh! It’s rather comforting to know that someone so talented also struggles with their projects from time to time. It’s an odd card, I didn’t think I liked it when I saw the photo at the top of the tutorial, but then I read thru the tutorial and by the time I got to the last photo of the finished card at the end I found that I did like it after all, it seemed to grow on me! I even scrolled back to the top to see if the card looked the same in the top photo as it does in the one at the end and it does!
Such an amazing card, as always. Geez, I’d really like to see your rejects. I’m wondering how much stamp cleaner you go through, and how do you keep your versamark clean!!
Cheers,
Hayley
Phew! If this is an example of you on a bad day then I don’t think you have anything to worry about.
I’ve never bought “tree” stamps before, even though I love trees. Thanks to your tutorials, Hubby picked me up a couple of snow covered tree stamps on his way home yesterday so that I can see what I can come up with for some wintery cards. I’m really glad you’ve opened my eyes in different directions when it comes to stamping.
Another thank you for all your great tutorials,
Angelique
3:30 in the morning!!! Is that your secret? If I have to get up that early in the morning to be brilliant, all is doomed!
Cyndi
Off to the kitchen to make a pot of coffee and some oatmeal cookies. Do you think eating like you will give me some talent? Silly me just had a handful of candy corn and I’m bouncing off the walls on a sugar high!
In spite of all your frustrations, missing photos, etc., I think the colors and card turned out very well. If only my oopsies would turn out so nice. How you manage to do that at 3:30 am is beyond me. Maybe that’s my problem, I don’t start early enough. TFS
Carole
You must be one of those people that survives on hardly any sleep. 3.30am!!!!!! And you still manage to turn out a great card.
Michelle,
What a lovely card and how gracious of you to share the process with us! 3:30? Girl I routinely feel sorry for myself that I have to get up at 5:00 because the kids have to be to school by 7:00. Ouch!
Take care of yourself,
Shawn
Well, I guess we all have one of those days.. even you… I start my day at 5 AM, and would never be able to start stamping at that early hour… I’d be in such a fog, I probably use my brayer to get the dogs hair off my clothing and then wonder why I have ink spots on my shirt..lol.
Your card is truly beautiful and as always thank you for sharing your talent, getting up at such an early hour. and sharing your tutorials with us… I have truly learned so much and you’ve opened up a whole new world to me
Great card as always…
Debbie
Michelle- Thank you so much for your tutorials. As I grow & evolve in my stamping I’ve found msyelf being more creative but lately had this urge for more artistic. You nail artisitc on the head! Thank you for showing us how to create beyound just stamping an image on cardstock & surrounding it in designer papers. I love your work so much I have added your website link to my blog site. Your have a very beautiful & colorful mind. Keep up the great work!
Hi Michelle,
I’ve only recently discovered your blog (thanks to Glenda -AKA ‘Artylicious’- at Graphicus/Elusive Images here in the UK) and I am now soooo hooked on your work. Awe-inspiring is just not a sufficient phrase for your creations.
Thank you so much for sharing your talent. Your tutorials are so instructive as well as inspirational, this one especially so; your thought process as you ‘rescued’ this piece was fascinating.
I cannot thank you enough for introducing me to the real beauty of the ‘resist’ technique in all its glory
even when things go they turn out amazing. Michelle this is so beautiful.
3:00! I couldn’t even think color or lay out! I would love to receive this card! It turned out gorgeous!
Loved reading about the thinking behind your process - and I love your persistence even though you weren’t happy with the way it was going.
It turned out to be a great card!
This tutorial cracked me up! I think it came out great, but it was fun to see how someone besides me will struggle with the creative process too. Thanks for sharing!
Absolutely lovely - but at 3 a.m.?? The cookie looks delish tho! You do such beautiful work, you are a true inspiration to myself and everyone in my stamping/scrapping group. We are actively following your work!
You go girl!
Linda
Reading this post was like reading one of the most funfilled articles in a magazine! I love your writing skills. I found myself laughing every time you stated you missed a photo! Laughed right out loud about your comment about getting the paper off the back of those sticky things (being a guy with big fingers I so can relate to that!) And all the time while reading, I was totally pulled into your trials and techniques looking closely at all the pictures following along. And at the end being totally amazed at the outcome. I am so in awe of your talent! Thanks for sharing it with us mere mortals! Best, Curt
Another beautiful card…you always amaze me.
Loved reading how things go for you sometimes too! I guess the saying is true,”we all put our pants on one leg at a time!”…..Now if only my cards could look like yours!
You are such a generous person to share your knowledge and talent with all of us.
Thanks again, but for today a little extra entertainment too!! LoL
Great Card too by the way….
WOW!!!!
what a wonderful card.
your blog is on my blog with the title: Art for astonished!
(sorrry, my dictionary says this word… my english is not very good..)
Hugs Rosa from Germany
Michelle, your disasters would be my art! I read you every day, and was proud when you commented on one of my Halloween cards the other day~ ‘zindorf liked my card!’ The problem is the time of day, not the muse! Well, could be the flavor of coffee was wrong, lol, maybe it was too dark of a roast?!?
Your artwork is so amazing! I love everything that you have shared wtih us.
God has blessed you with a wonderful Talent.
One thing I need to do is find my Heat gun. This way I can try to make some of these goodies.
Thanks for sharing your artwork with us!!
Michelle, I love this card and would’ve believed it completely intentional until I read your tutorial. Hilarious, but I would hate to share my thoughts when my creation is going awry!
I have always wanted to be a morning person - but NOT. I don’t think I could put a complete sentence together at 3AM as I’m not completely sure I even have a brain that early. I can barely find the bathroom! LOL! But after 10PM, I can shift into overdrive and accomplish miracles. Then I can’t go to sleep. Sigh, oh well, I guess some are morning people and others are night owls. Hoot! Hoot!
Thanks for the inspiration, the tutorial and the entertainment.
-mary