Usually of late I seem to be rushing breathless and headlong into closing challenge doors. This time I am entering two challenges with lots of days left on them, so if you like what you see, you actually have time to make a card and play along! What a concept!
I think I might have had an ePiffanary. I'm not sure, we'll work through it together. For starters, I was looking through my merry-go-rounds of embellies for my little heart charms and I came across other fun goodies that I had forgotten I had. I immediately stopped the heart business and went off in search of a couple of challenges to showcase my find.
Ah, bliss. The current Fusion Card Challenge (Hypo #10) was just the ticket.
The colors of "Lesley's Challenge" weren't going to work, but "Jackie's Challenge" sketch could not have been more perfect. I love it when that happens. So no "fusion" for me this time, just a flat-out CASE of Jackie's fun sketch.
~~~
And for colors, you won't believe what I found at The Play Date Café:
magenta, teal, light gray
~~~
Because, drum roll, my little found embellie tiles are magenta and teal! Shut up!
(The teal looks more blue than teal for some reason, sorry.)
The only adjustment I made to Jackie's sketch was the triple-time colored sediment. I just thought the message with the fun fishie ocean paper and faux pier and flip-flops bore repeating. Bared repeating? I choose bared, as in bared shoulders sitting on the beach in the sun.
I'm sorry the inking is not very bold. I stamped on scratch paper first, but still, the stamping on the card could have been better. Like a dough-dough, I stamped the sediments after I complied the little tiles. I thought about tracing over them with a marker to make them bolder, but I'm not THAT big of a dough-dough. Instead, we will just think of them as being waaaay out to sea!
~~~ ~~~
Deep Thoughts
Sigh.
And then there are all those new stamps and new dies and new embossing folders in indecent quantities in the Playhouse that beckon me to please use them at least once, for crafting out loud.
Back Story
I have a routine. Okay, stop laughing. Of course, I have a routine. What else would you expect from someone with Organized Crafting Disorder (OCD)!
When I started trying my hand at challenges, I quickly loved how choosing a challenge sparked my fuse and I was off and running. There was Make It Monday, and Template Tuesday, and One Layer Wednesday . . . and then I expanded my horizons and started finding competing daily challenges like Merry Monday and Mojo Monday and What's On Your Workdesk? Wednesday, and Tri-Tip Thursday and, wait. What?
So I have happily been alternating challenges, or doing them all some weeks, and in doing so, all the various and brilliant sketch challenges and color challenges and I have gotten along famously. What I'm trying to say, in as many unnecessary words as possible, is that the challenges were the foundation for my cards.
The problem is, I would then reach for those old familiar stamps. As for dies and embossing folders, I'm still so new to them, that most of the time I just plain don't think of them. I need to find a way to stop this from happening and start really using my schtuff.
Now then.
My epiffapony will gallop you all the way back to the beginning of our story, to wit: I'm going to try to reverse this process of first taking a challenge and then picking out the product. Like today, for instance, I took those three simple tile embellishments and found I was able to find challenges to fit them!
I am going to see if I can continue with this new-found routine. Imagine that! (I'm sure a lot of you smarter stampers already do that!! Just hush your face now about what a slow learner I am.)
Now and then I also hope to CASE a card on my "Card Ideas" Pinterest board. Sometimes I may even make a card and post it without entering it into any challenges. Gasp! Frank Lee, I don't see that happening too often. There are so many wonderful challenges out there and I think I can still play in them with my new reverse routine.
It's like an adventure!
This was Day One. The product: dimensional tile embellies from Doodle Bug Designs. The name of my new adventure shall be NBUS for "never-before-used-schtuff."
~~~
I'd love to hear what your process is.
- Do you have a set routine where you pick the product and then search for challenges?
- Or do you pick a challenge and then search for product in your craft pantry?
I know some of you leave a new product on your work area until you use it, which I think is a brilliant thesis. Unfortunately, my OCD means I find all that stuff on my desk to be too distracting for me to be creative, so that doesn't work for me. I dutifully put my new stuff away, in its proper place. Where it becomes part of the black hole otherwise known as "Out of Sight, Out of Mind." OOS,OOM as the kids would say.
- Or is your method more like, "Sare Anne, dip the tea!" and you find all this deep thinking to be just silly?
~~~
Just in time for the adventure, please welcome our new friend, Laurie Unger of Laurie's Stampin Place! Laurie has been making sensational card art and blogging for years and years and years. You are gonna want a delicious beverage and a whole lot of time to dedicate to a visit to her inspirational site! Thank you, Laurie! We are so delighted to have you along!
~~~
Thanks for bearing with my blitherings on this post; even for me this was a long one!
Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy. LITS*!
Enjoy your day! No, seriously, enjoy. LITS*!
And thank you so much for stopping by the Playhouse. Special thanks to you if you take the time to leave a comment or join as a follower!
*Life Is Too Short!
Paper: PTI white, unknown DSP
Stamps: PTI Fillable Frames #8 and
Button Boutique
Inks: SU! taken with teal, Versa Color
magenta, and Vivid cobblestone
Doodle Bug Designs tile embellies
I like your thinking - it's hard to get it all done AND still have fun. And if it's no fun, well.... So far it's working for you - love the fun colours and the layout!
ReplyDeleteLove the card! Even more, love the meanderings of your thoughts, deep and otherwise. Your posts ALWAYS make me smile. Love coming here! At this point in time I don't do challenges..I make my cards as I need them. Not really up to speed on picture taking and posting them somewhere. Do hope to change all that when I retire..in 13 months. (why yes, I AM counting!) I do like the idea of taking something you want to use and then finding the perfect plan.
ReplyDeleteLu C
Great card. Loved reading through your post too!
ReplyDeleteI like the flip flop tiles, my summer shoe of choice! I've been picking the challenge and trying to fit my stash to that. Need to reverse it I think so I can use neglected stamps and stash!!
ReplyDeleteDarnell, your post has added a whole whack of dendrites to my brain, because now you've got me thinking - what DO I do? Sometimes, it's the product that I 'force fit' to the challenge; other times the challenge 'invites' the product, and on the rare occasion (as in very rare), there's the magical match of both. At this stage of my newbie-ness, I'm at a loss unless there IS a challenge; something about them 'organizes' my OCD. Without challenges, I'd be ever too loosey-goosey with my cards. Can you imagine - I'd be putting as much as possible (okay, okay, sometimes I still do!) on those little canvases. Messy. Very! Anyway, your card and post DELIGHT as always!! And I'm off to try to meet some challenge deadlines, too! Have a most excellent Saturday, Darnell; you've definitely made mine precisely that!!
ReplyDeletec
Phew-I need a lay down ;)Such gorgeous cardmaking and so many belly laughs in tonight's post Darnell !!What do you mean you found the embellies and then found the challenge ?...blimey! I have enough trouble trying to follow the blinking sketches -the thought of trying to find a sketch to fit what i have in my stash would send me stupid!!
ReplyDeleteNo,i'm going to be sticking to following simple instructions !
Have a great weekend Darnell :)
Hugs,Nessa xxx
I just love the way your mind works Darnell..... love your brilliant card too, those tiles are fabulous. I like your logic too about finding products and then looking for a challenge. What do I do, well I do it the way you did before you changed to this way...... it will be very interesting seeing how you progress... and then I may follow... Love your post today, you are the most fun person I know! Hugs, Annie xx
ReplyDeleteThanks for the shout out and warm welcome! This post cracked me up! I force it to fit and sometimes waste a lot of my time.
ReplyDeleteI love this card! That bright blue and the tiles - and oh, the sentiments in the different colors just gives it class!! So pretty.
ReplyDeleteI usually find a sketch and then look for an image to fit it.....um...I may have to try your way now and just reverse my thinking. Great idea!
Lynn
Your card is wonderful Darnell. I love the tiles and brilliant sentiment.
ReplyDeleteI enjoyed reading about your routine and will be interested to see how you get on with your planned changes!
Sue xx
Great card with those cute flip-flops! If I look at a challenge and an idea comes to mind, I'll search my stash for something that works. If I'm in the mood to make a card, I'll create it, snap a pic, and tuck it in a file on my pc, waiting for the appropriate challenge to slide it into a linky. I have to have my cake and eat it too, so I do my cards both ways :)
ReplyDeleteI love your new routine! I like that you found your tiles and then looked what challenge they would fit! Love the bright card Darnell! I find I make cards I don't need ,so I am trying to see what I need and if I might like a challenge that I coul use. Sometimes a challenge totally throws me off! I wish I had a system .
ReplyDeleteLovely card Darnell - your post cracked me up. I'm afraid I'm the other way round and find the goodies to fit the challenge. I'd be perusing blogland all day otherwise!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great card! I love the fish paper and the CAS layout!
ReplyDeleteI am in the process of sorting ALL my craft stuff, it's taking forever because I keep finding stuff I've forgotten about, or stuff I've hoarded 'just in case.' I have a butterfly brain which flits from one thing to another, then by the time I get down to making something I've usually missed the intended challenge!
I love your posts, they can never be too long for me because you always make me smile!
love Mags B x
However you made it to create a fab FUSION card, I'm glad you got there :)
ReplyDeleteIf you do start crafting backwards & looking for challenges to fit your cards, you will find a visit to http://felineplayful.blogspot.com/ most enlightening (or overwhelming!)
Looks like you and I both have been doing some deep thinking. I'm trying to go with the dipped tea method. I look at my challenges and if something hits me, I'll do it. Otherwise I may be inspired by some paper, or a technique, or a card need.
ReplyDeleteYour tiles work so well and make a great summer card with those fish. Challenges sometime inspire, and sometimes hedge in the creativity.
ReplyDeleteYou've got a great plan, and you'll have much satisfaction using up items in your stash.
Does flying by the seat of my pants count as a process?? LOL Oh Darnell you make me smile every day. :) OK now to bore you to tears. Usually at the beginning of the week I make a visual list of challenges I want to do. I have a folder on my desktop that I save the images from the challenges, the picture or the sketch etc. Then I decide what stamps would work for for visual cues. Often what I end up with is not what I planned but at least I feel I have some kind of process.
ReplyDeleteNow I also do what you do with the embellies, find something i like and plan to make it fit. Those tiles are gorgeous and look so fun on your fabby card.
I am always startled at what is hiding in my room and struggle with the OOS,OOM syndrome - I've become pretty ruthless at clearing some things out (for my dear husband the rules I use are "if it was bought in the 80's, hasn't been worn since the 90's and doesn't make a good costume, we can get rid of it"), but somehow crafty things bring out my hoarders tendencies. How fabulous that you found a challenge that went with your great summer tiles!
ReplyDeleteDarnell...you are so funny! Your posts always bring a smile to my face. I love your new system, my fingers are crossed that it works and I look forward to hearing all about how it has worked for you. I know what you mean, too many cards and not enough hours or days left in my lifetime to make each and every one. I used to do counted cross stitch all the time and used to say that about all the patterns I had. I only make cards that I will use or have have making...once it becomes a chore it is time to stop. So far I am still having fun and hope that continues for many more years!
ReplyDeleteforgot to comment on your fabby card...love it when I find little goodies that have been hanging our for years and finally get to use. So much fun and wonderful card!
ReplyDeleteHi Dolly. Great card ... love the fun embellies and the colors are so bright and fun!!! ... just like you!
ReplyDeleteAnd that's what it's all about - having fun! So, do whatever makes it fun for you ... pick a challenge and then make the card, or pick a product and find a challenge. It really doesn't matter. I do both ... but mostly I find the challenges that appeal to me and go for it. Lolly xx
LOVE this sweet card! The embellies are so fun! Glad you had a chance to use them! I think I need to make a goal to either use some of the stuff I hoard...ahem...keep for future use, or else sell it or something. HUGS to you! Fabulous summer card! :)
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun card...
ReplyDeleteand how fabby that you found not 1 but 2 challenges to play along with using those fabby embellies!! :)
And I usually find a challenge that I want to play with...
then go on the search...
sometimes never finishing. :(
Your card is adorable! I really enjoy every post you do long and short...always such a fun read. I'm trying NOT to go to the craft store these days, and just use what I already have. It's difficult ignoring those 40% off coupons from the big box stores.
ReplyDeleteDarnell, very cute card. I never would be able to do what you did, by finding a challenge for the embellies. I always look at the challenge and then look through my book of stamp sets and see what fits the challenge. I also keep my new sets on my desk until I use them. Otherwise I think I would forget them completely. I would like to know what everyone does with all these cards they make. When I need a card for someone I don't go to my stash, I have to make it personnally for them. Oh well....
ReplyDeleteThanks for inspiring me to think about my own crafting! I'm totally disorganized and most definitely a panic driven crafter! I leave all my card making to the last minute, do a quick surf & make! I don't often join challenges, as I'm not organised enough! Love your card and thoughts and looking forward to following how you progress. TFS C x
ReplyDeleteGreat blog post and a great card , the colours and sketch are spot on :) No planning or routine ever come into my card marking/crafting ...well very rarely lol...im a blagger as in i tend to start something and just hope it goes right haha.
ReplyDeleteKate xx
Oooh, you are getting deep! I also pin, then hardly ever refer back. I start a routine or system, then after a while I abandon it for another more interesting way of doing things. I make a list. Then another list. Then ignore them. But usually, it's the challenge (or combination of challenges) that dictates the card (except for orders, then it's the recipient that dictates what the card will be). I don't have OCD but could do with a bit of it then I might sort out my piles every once in a while :) But that's another story.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, love your embellie card!
Amazing how you got to this fun and fabulous card, Darnell, from a little tile embellie ... brilliant! As far as process goes, I'm still at such early stages, I can see almost all my supplies with one sweeping glance! OCD-ness ... I do keep a running list of the challenges I'd like to enter for the week (with their thumbnails) ... trouble is that's where quite a lot of them stay! At least it gives me plenty of scope about where to spend some fun crafty time! Anita :)
ReplyDeleteThis is a very cute card, and I enjoyed reading about your creative process. I do the same thing as you with pinning--pin pin pin, and then forget to go back and look! Sometimes I choose a supply and the perfect challenge appears, and sometimes I choose a challenge, and the perfect supply pops into my head. Often, neither perfect thing appears anywhere! You will be happy to see later today that I am posting a card for no chellenge--just something I felt like making that I cased from a PIN--so it can be done!
ReplyDeleteHe he you are quite mad me thinks... you make me laugh out loud too! What's more worrying is the fact all you say reminds me of myself.I save loads on Pinterest and never have the time to go back and look. Oh my now I am rambling too!!!!! mean't to say I love your card, great colour and craftiness. Keep on doing what you do as it's all fabulous....and I need to see there is someone else as crazy as I am :)hugs Viv xx
ReplyDeleteGreat card Dippy - those flip-flops seem on trend at the moment. Now as for your dilema - choose your "weapon" and then choose your "opponent" (challenge) or vicky verka? Well I must admit to seeing a challenge and then finding something in my stash to fit and haven't actively gone looking for different challenges - in fact I am quite in awe of bloggers who post a card and then enter it into about a dozen different challenges....I mean how do they find the time? I'm sometimes hard pushed entering one challenge in a week.....sigh! And I have to admit to having a pile of new stash on my desk ready to play with....if I put them away I'd never find them again! lol Can we still be friends.....pretty please?
ReplyDeleteHugs.
Karendipity xxx
This is thee perfect summertime card! Love how you were inspired by the challenge!
ReplyDeleteI go with the challenge, and then my supplies. I have piles and piles of unloved, highly neglected crafty goodness....
Thanks for playing with us at Fusion!
Love these charms! Isn't it fun to find something you've forgotten you have. Kind of like an unbirthday present. I kind of do a combination of this plan. I'll do a challenge then look around and see how many other challenges it will fit. It's amazing how I can usually find at least one. Sometimes I just make a card for fun and see what I can find. If I can't find a challenge, I'll post it anyway or draft it for later.
ReplyDeleteDear! Dear! Dear! What's a crafty girl to do???? We just have to have this or that and then we have so much we forget what we have! Whew! I usually try to follow the challenge first and then find something to make it! But I think I am gonna do what you are trying!
ReplyDeleteLove your card! The tiles are perfect! You rocked the colors!
Darnell, you outdid yourself in this post! I have only read a few post back replies, and have to come back for MORE!
ReplyDeleteWhat do I do? I have written down the challenges on a calendar and I check it everyday to see what is going on. Some I participate, some I don't. Some I really want to every time! I usually think about the challenge a few days so I don't rush into it and post something that may not work as well as others. Sometimes I gather materials for it and just pile it all together and take a day to think about how it may fit together. Other times I know right off what I want to do.
Your blog is a kick.
Thanks for your encouraging words for mine!
You are AWESOME Darnell!
OK, so I got my answer about challenges leading the way...
ReplyDeleteOOS, OOM. Got it too. Challenge doors slamming in my face. Yep. Pinterest problems - nope. Never joined that bandwagon. Kudos to you for taking the approach that will help you dent your stash cuz I think your playhouse would look silly with a garage for storage ;) So next question for ya, why are we drawn to challenges like mosquitoes to light (can you tell we've had WAY TOO MUCH rain around here lately??)
You are so hilarious! Love your card. Glad you were able to use some forgotten supplies. Process? What process? I wish I had one. Where do you find one? I like to fly by the seat of my pants and always last minute, too!
ReplyDeleteI like your blogging style, I am a recent follower of yours. You are so sweet in what u write and ur card is equally cute and lively :)
ReplyDeleteHi, Darnell. Love your card and your new routine. I try to use inspiration (whether it's a pin or a challenge or an online class) to motivate me to make what I "need" to make (birthday cards, thank you note, etc.) or to motivate me just to play around. Half the time I get inspired by a challenge and then never get around to posting and linking up. But in the end, I was inspired and made something, so it's all good. :-) Happy Monday! ~ Laura
ReplyDeleteForgot to comment on the FUSION card entry - LOVE the little tiles, way to go! Simply superb!
ReplyDeleteLoved the card, saw nothing wrong with your triple stamping either. I just figured you planned it that-a-way. Enjoyed reading your musings- kept me entertained to the very end. I pin stuff planning to CASE, then when I go to make a card, all the plans go right out the old mind. I'm not OCD (I may be AC though!). I sort of just stumble into a card. Guess I pick colors or an image first. I'm trying to get better with challenges, and use sketches. I really need to work on my card folds, and water coloring too. So many things. But it's fun, and I learn something with each card. Sometimes it's more 'what not to do', but I'm honest when I post, and tell all my boo-boo's. Hope it helps somebody else. TFS a great post.
ReplyDeleteI loved your post - sounds so much like me, LOL! Usually so I find a challenge and them rummage through my stuff....An yeah - all those new stamps that are sitting around somewhere.... where???? Mostly I cna;t use new stuff - it need to "ripen" first....
ReplyDeleteI love this cute card....I am a flip-flop kind of girl! ( In aussie we call them thongs, but I didn't want your mind to think of other things....) I hope your enjoying your hot weather - hugs xx
ReplyDeleteCute, cute card, Darnell. ;-) Those little tiles are fantastic! I'd say your strategy paid off here.
ReplyDeleteI don't have much of a routine for crafting. If an idea hits me, I try to go with it until I've created something I like. I haven't been able to keep up with many challenges lately, but I usually go from what the feel of each sketch or color combo is and then search for supplies. But there are times when I do find particular supplies that I want to purposely use. I don't search out challenges for that, though - I'll just create based on those supplies and leave the challenges behind.
Anyway. I enjoyed reading your thoughts today, and thank you for joining the Fusion this week. ;-)
What an awesome post! I loved your card and laughed with you about the creative process and what works or doesn't. I don't enter many challenges - so I save card inspiration and when I get a chance to create I often start by cleaning up a little and discovering some tidbit that sparks my idea. Then off we go! I use my cards (desperately behind on both birthday and anniversary cards!) so those are my most often themes.
ReplyDeleteYour card with the summer tiles is just darling! I love the choice of three ink colors for the sentiment (like waves). It's great to learn how real artists work and I thank you for the refreshingly open sharing! Hugs!
Sare ann, dip the tea. Took me a minute, lol! I do both - sometimes I just go with what I want/need to make, and then find it fits a challenge. I have a list of challenges I regularly play with, and I make a note of what's on this week on a piece of paper. That way if inspiration strikes I have my list handy to know what to post it as.
ReplyDeleteFor sketches - I always have to go searching for what I've got. My fave challenges are the ones that are general - use flowers, make a father's day card, that sort of thing. Broadly interpreted!
I have some Doodlebug charms...mine are lime. I think they're going to come play now that you've showed me yours!
Cute! Love those little medallions - fun, summery goodness! Thanks for joining us for this week's Play Date Cafe Challenge!
ReplyDeleteI love this card and those shiny little tiles, Darnell! So bright, cheery and summery! And, since you asked...it goes in phases for me...I've been creating more for challenges lately, but I went through a long phase of just creating for the fun of it, with those new sets and dies I was so inspired by at various companies' release times. Kind of got away from challenges and just enjoyed experimenting and creating cards I needed for friends and family. That was good for me, too,...I've really changed as a crafter, and that is part of the reason why, I think. I am really enjoying challenges again, though, and the new sweet friends, like you, that I've met through them. So very nice to visit you today!!!
ReplyDelete