Saturday, March 20, 2010

Alphabits...Rethinking the Great Purge

I'm still planning on selling stamps via this blog in the near future, but as I've made a card with each set I'm selling, I've replaced a few sets back into my regular stash. One such set is Alphabits, a StampinUp set of four stamps that each have an alphabet arranged in a rectangular block.

I played around with one of the alphabets, punching out individual letters to spell various greetings. It was fun, and I liked the results.


Both cards use bold brights and flower images from The Little Paper Shop. On the card above, I glued the punched circles down and blinged the flower, and on the card below, I popped the circles...and blinged the flower. Of course.


Which do you like best? Why? I'm leaning toward the second one because I really like how the flower stem rises out of the "l." But I just don't know.

43 comments:

  1. ...-PHEW-... happy to hear you've re-thunk this one?! {smile-wink}

    This is a great go to set for smidgies, crossword/search-a-word... anything & everything!

    Enjoy your blog!

    TFS,
    {-A-}

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  2. I like the second one. I have the Alphabits set and sad to say I think I have only used it once in the couple of years I have had it :( Thanks for the inspiration to actually use it again :)

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  3. I like the second one best. Since the circles are punched out it just looks cool to see them popped up! I'll say it again ... you're brilliant!! :-)

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  4. What a great idea, I did some major purging last night...mostly supplies but my husband has been urging me to use those old sets instead of letting them sit around.

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  5. I have that set but no punches that small - I'll have to change that now!

    I like the second one too - something about all the letters being in one row and being popped up that appeals to me.

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  6. great cards...love the second one too! I have some alph sets that I have barely used...may have to get them out and see what I can come up with.

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  7. I like the second better, too. Maybe try the flower on the first one on either end of the sentiment.

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  8. the second one looks better because of the popped up circles.... nice dimension.

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  9. I like the second one better as well, it's a bit easier to read having just one line of words, and the flower stem gives the flower some height that the other is lacking, but they are both lovely.

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  10. Oh Susan, I'm so glad you pulled out this set! I've got it too.........and haven't used it in forever. I've forgotten how cute it can be! I like the second one --- I just love things popped up. I made your card from yesterday and loved it, and I'm going to make today's card, too. Thank you for sharing your creativity so unselfishly with us! Now, what can you show us with the other 3 alphabets in that set?

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  11. I like the second one better, too! I like the letters popped up. I really need to make cards with every set I own, too! Are you using every stamp, or just something from every set?

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  12. BerryBlue, I'm using every image stamp in every set I plan on keeping. For the sets I'm selling, I'm just making a card to include with the set when someone buys it. Eventually, I'll have to use the other three stamps in Alphabits since it's a keeper.

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  13. Both cards are really cute, but I also prefer the second one with it's popped up letters and stemmed flower. I make a lot of cards for my mother to send out, and the flatter they are, the better. I'll be digging out this set now!

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  14. Ah, yes, Alphabits....what a cute little set, but kind of a pain to stamp & punch.....but you made it seem worth it here! Love the second card, that's the sweetest!

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  15. they are both darling. it's hard to get rid of stuff isn't it??

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  16. Both cards are great and I think the "hello" card just has a little extra oomph to it!

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  17. I really like the first one, but I like the second one better! They are both great, as always.

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  18. Susan -
    When that set first came out I was so excited - I was a new stamper and I had to have it plus the two punches to go with it - I think I've used it once - But now, maybe, I'll rethink it -
    BTW - I like the second one better - the flower is super cute!

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  19. i, too, prefer the second card. the flower is more to my liking. and this isn't original, but true, you ARE brilliant!! you are also fun!
    thanks for sharing.
    marty ferraro

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  20. both are cute but I'm liking the second one a bit more.

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  21. I like them both! I'm totally loving the bright letters on the punched circles! I like that the flower in the second card has a stem. I might give it a leaf too, but I'm excessive like that.

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  22. I'm happy to say I have the Alphabits - unused as well. Now I am going to find it!! I like both cards but I always think its nicer to pop unless I am going to mail and it makes them too bulky.

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  23. Do we really have to choose? I don't wanna.

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  24. I fiddled with putting the first flower with the second sentiment, and then popping up the first sentiment, and then changing the order of the colors in the sentiments, and have this to say about that.........you've done it again, perfect proportion on both, thrown awry by anything I tried to do with it. How could I choose between perfect and perfect?

    I'm so curious how your mind put the color of the stem with the color of the "l", or was that just a happy coincidence? And since the order of the colors is the same in both sentiments, but reversed, there must be a reason.....perhaps the sixth sense of the born-artist?

    How lucky we Followers are to get a behind-the-scenes peek into the mind of a born-artist.

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  25. I love both cards, but I prefer the second one, too. How could a person not smile if they opened a card like that? Pure magic, I tell you.

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  26. I'll add my vote to the 2nd-card-preferers... I like the cleanness of the 2nd flower image. I think I'll have to try this with a little Studio G alphabet set I have!

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  27. Bahb,

    The stem coming out of the L was totally planned. I put the stem above the second L so it wouldn't be dead center in the word...a little asymmetry makes it more interesting. That L was green for that reason.

    I did put thought into the order of the colors, but I'll be darned if I can recreate the thought process. They are in rainbow order but start at different places on the rainbow. I just fiddled with things until they looked right--I'm very visual. The flower on both cards is the same color as the first letter of the words (well, the first word on the first card).

    I suspect you're being WAYYYY to hard on your versions of my cards and wish you'd photograph them and upload them to SCS so I could see!

    Blessings,
    Susan

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  28. Susan, these cards simultaneous make me quite happy and kinda sad. I had this set, but I'm pretty positive I sold it in a garage sale last summer - sad. But your cards are so rainbow-y delicious! So, happy.
    Oh, and thanks for your kind comment on one of my cards on scs -- I had a feeling you'd dig the inspiration :)
    it's this card: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1653517?&cat=500&ppuser=129457
    Thanks again for making my day!

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  29. I love the hello card, it's so cute! I was eyeing the Alphabits set before it retired, but I decided not to buy it as I didn't think I'd use it that much. You make me regret that decision! :)

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  30. the second card really sings, i like them both, but the second is a sleeker look

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  31. I've got this set too. Can't wait to dust it off and "copy" your idea. thanks for all you fabulous ideas. (BTW, if I had to choose, the 2nd card is my fav) On another note, just curious if you have the SU set Noteworthy . . . would love to see your take on it . . I'm stumped, take care, Mary M

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  32. Susan, uploading photos of my cards is way beyond my computer skills. I tried adding my photo to my profile, twice. The first time the dialog box said the photo was too large. The second time it seemed all was well, except it doesn't appear next to my name, so obviously it didn't work.

    A major goal for the year is to stop stamping long enough to learn how to post photos and become an Ebay Seller.

    If my life depended on it, I couldn't have said the order of the colors in a rainbow. But that's why you're the genius around here. :-)

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  33. You're the kind of gal that makes me think I NEED things I don't have when I see your creations!! I'm thinking of taking you off my sidebar as I'm scared of how much money you might cost me, lol (just kiddding of course). I like them both, by the way.

    Hugs,
    Caryn xxx

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  34. I love the 2nd one...the way it looks like the stem is connected to the letter. You really are talented.

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  35. I like the second one the best and after 5 minutes of going back and forth I can't tell you why either, but I love it!

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  36. The second card rocks! (don't get me wrong....both are fabulous!) Kinda makes you rethink your alphabet stamps!

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  37. Mary, Noteworthy is one I'm selling. It's a great little set (and the card I made with it almost changed my mind), but it's mostly about the sentiments, and I have a bajillion sentiments. Look for the card when I post the SU sets I'm selling!

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  38. I like them both! I still have the Alpha Bits set, too, as I am sure ONE day I'll find a use for it. I love punching out all the little letters (really!), but I never see to remember I have it!

    I like Noteworthy (also in my "don't sell" pile) for the flourish. I like using it on the top of the piece of white c/s I sometimes put inside a card.

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  39. Oh these are both great cards, but I do think the second card is my favorite.

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  40. Both cards are great, but I'm with you on this one because of the flower stem and the "L". Great use of a tiny alphabet stamp set.

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  41. The second one is my favorite too - I noticed it on SCS and loved the way the l is green like the stem above it! Great job as usual!!! Thanks for sharing with us.

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!