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Friday, June 4, 2010

Inspired by Jessica Witty

Card Creations Vol. 8 contains the following card by Jessica Witty:



Gorgeous! I love the subtle colors, the big blue flowery button, the glitter, the dotted ribbon, the punched border...raptures!

But...that big blue button is, well, really BIG, and the other buttons are a bit thick as well. And glitter is so messy. And I don't have that dotted ribbon or the dotted border punch.

Whatever is a girl to do?

Improvise.



The Primas are a good, flat substitute for the buttons, and the bling doesn't add enough bulk to matter. The satin ribbon adds a touch more shine to the matte finish of the cardstock and white ink; I opted out of the knot because this ribbon is not double-sided and the matte/shiny sides would be distracting. Plus, it's simpler this way. Finally, the apron border punch adds a nice scalloped feel to reinforce the scalloped ends of the Prima petals.

Whenever you see a card that you love in a magazine or on a blog, don't feel you have to do everything the same. Improvise and play around with what you have. Modify the original design to express YOUR crafting style and values. Go confidently in the direction of your own artistic vision. (Gandhi was smart, and his sayings so adaptable!)

And when you post your inspired creation for the world to see, always acknowledge the source of your inspiration. It's the right thing to do.

Thus speaks the English 102 instructor who once had the entire MLA Handbook memorized.

So thanks, Jessica Witty. I couldn't have done it without you.

Supplies
stamps: PTI Beautiful Blooms, Birthday Basics
ink: SU white craft ink, close to cocoa classic ink
paper: sahara sand, white
accessories: primas, rhinestones, ribbon, apron punch

37 comments:

  1. Oh, I love the second card. But I have a question - does that ribbon wrap around the backside of the cardstock and if it does, how do you make it look nice without tying it? Also, I have that scalloped punch which I love but I can't get it to punch through cardstock. Suggestions?

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  2. Improvising is a very good thing....and much better than dashing out to buy stuff. Terrific make-over!! I also am wondering how you finish off those pesky ribbon ends. To Susie above....I purchased a pack of 65# white paper for punching with my detailed designs (since I usually just do a border strip, rather than punch the actual card).

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  3. Susie,

    I wrapped the ribbon around and covered the seam between the white and the sahara sand, overlapping the ends, which I angled. It's not ideal, but it is better than bulging the white layer over the back of the ribbon. At least, in my opinion, LOL!

    Also, the white cardstock is the lighter-weight SU whisper white (or Beckett Expressions Iceberg, basically the same thing), not PTI or Gina K. I can't get that particular punch to work on any thicker paper, either.

    Hope that helps.

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  4. You so amaze me! This is over the top elegant!

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  5. Very pretty, Susan! Very nice job of taking an idea and making it your own! Beautiful!!!

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  6. I agree with you about the bottons being a bit big and think although the original is a beautiful card..... I like your version much more.....far less fussy!

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  7. Great Remake! Trying to use less buttons so my cards are losing weight!!! You use tons of bling - mind if I ask where you purchase it?

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  8. Hi, I'm a new reader of your blog. I enjoy it tremendously especially because I identify with some of the crafting 'hurdles' that you write about. For instance, some supplies that seem terrific today, I have no idea what to do with them tomorrow & so, like you said, what was I thinking? This has motivated me or actually challenged me to use some of the supplies I usually pass off and also the simplicity of the cards and the ideas. So, much that I see these days, has several techniques including several elements as well on a single card. While I don't deny most results are beautiful, but its quite daunting for a beginner or even an intermediate crafter. Thanks for the daily 'simple' inspirations.

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  9. Is it a bad thing that I still have the MLA Handbook? I love what is inside that book, what it holds.

    Love your take on the card too.

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  10. may i just say SPECTACULAR!!!!
    you make improvising look so easy and effortless. it is much harder for this chickie.

    i sometimes punch a circle (or two) of cardstock (maybe white and kraft) and glue them over the ribbon ends inside the card. it adds a little surprise inside, and covers the raw edges.

    love your card.
    have a great weekend.
    marty

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  11. You "DO" that so well!! awesome!!!

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  12. I love your take on her card. In fact, I think I like the "simple" version better!

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  13. Metelko Family,

    I buy my bling at my local Michael's (great to stock up when 40% off) and StampinTreasures (online). The bling at my Hobby Lobby isn't very good quality (looks kinda cloudy).

    And yes, I do use a lot of it! I recently started using clear ones and coloring them the color I need with Bic or Sharpie markers.

    Hope that helps!

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  14. The source of my inspiration......that cracks me up! Now I gotta remember how to spell your last name.

    I look at cards that inspire you and ask myself always, "How on earth did Susan get to this from THAT?" Being able to casify the way you do is, I think, an art form in itself. You excel again!

    There are only 7 basic plots for novels, I've been told. I wonder how many sketches for cards.

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  15. I do the flat ribbon treatment all the time. Easy to mail, no fussy knots to ruin.

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  16. love your version of the card - and those are my colors! was wondering if stampin'up white ink is the best? - have tried pti fresh snow and several others and have not been happy with the coverage. or is there another one you could recommend? btw - i still use mla when i sub - i'm always the one who "gets" to correct bibliographies for one of the media specialists!!

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  17. Betty,

    I love SU's white craft ink. I finally had to reink it a few months ago, and I've had it for years.

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  18. Another brilliant casification! US Mikes must carry better bling than Canada, as I rarely seem to see good bling.

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  19. Love how you simplified your version of Jessica's card. I think the blue satin ribbon gives it just the right touch of elegance. Very well done!

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  20. Another lovely creation Susan!

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  21. What about APA? :) My field required APA..

    This post reminds me of a question I had last week when I created my first card for one of your challenges: I did, of course, mention and link to your blog when I wrote about my card, but I wasn't sure if you would have preferred that I also post a picture of your card. In the end, the colors weren't a good mix so I didn't---what would be your preference in the future?

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  22. wow! I love love love your card! It makes me excited to try my own version. Thank you for sharing your inspiring ideas and words of wisdom =)

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  23. Hi,
    Love the color palets of both these cards! The layouts are great! Thanks for sharing
    Bethann aka PawwPadd

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  24. love your simplified card...genius!

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  25. Love the colour combination Susan and will employ your suggestions by looking at the work of others with "another pair of eyes". I really need to start to use what materials I have already, rather than mentally creating shopping lists, under the heading "must have", as I go!

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  26. love it....I have been colouring all my 'bling' using sharpies too....

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  27. Shh! Don't tell. I like your card better ... much better!

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  28. My schedule has not allowed me to stamp or create anything in a long time - but your card makes me want to run to my craft room and recreate it RIGHT NOW! Beautiful! Thanks!

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  29. Susan, please please tell us who puts out the apron punch. It looks like a Martha Stewart but maybe it's not as there are so many look alikes out there. I agree that I like your card much better than the inspiration card. Thanks for the motivation.
    Marge P

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  30. Found the punch. It's called Doily Lace. I label the MS punches on the back as soon as I get them. Also write on the metal part of the SU punches then I don't have to check the catalog to see if I have them.
    Marge

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  31. How good you are at improvising! Me ~ not so much, but I case pretty well! Ha! Both cards are beautiful!

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  32. Marge, thanks for your investigative work! I've been calling that punch by the wrong name all along! Doily lace, doily lace, doily lace....wonder if I'll ever remember that.

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  33. Susan - not sure how I missed this post but I'm glad I saw it tonight. Wow I love your version of Jessica's card! I have to case this one!I love this color scheme and I think I'll do it in PTI's Sweet Blush ink too.
    Thanks for the inspiration!

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  34. What an absolutely gorgeous card - love your version, Jo

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  35. Gorgeous!!! Love the layout. Very elegant and pretty.

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  36. I love, love, LOVE your card, Susan! So excited to see this today!

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Thank you so much for taking time to comment!