My SU flower sets are in another box. For now, I'm working my way through the non-SU flower stamps, most of which are from Hero Arts, including today's cards.
I started with the Watercolor Flowers because I've had them the longest and will love them forever. These are the sort of classic images that never, ever go out of style. I colored them with markers or, when I didn't have markers, dew drop pads, then spritzed with Glimmer Mist. Such a pretty effect!
After staring at these for a few days, I decided to dress them up with a touch of bling and, after adding the bling decided they needed rounded bottom corners, too. Wish I had a good design explanation of why that seemed right, but I just heard Obiwan saying, "Use the force, Susan."
I honestly don't have a favorite between the two. The simple, completely flat first version has a wonderful crispness that makes me happy, but then, bling makes everything better, right?
Do you have a preference? If so, which do you prefer and why?
And tell us how your own Use-Your-Stamps Challenge is going!
Supplies
stamps: Hero Arts Watercolor Margherite, Dahlia, Sunflower, Coneflower
ink: assorted
paper: Papertrey white
accessories: Corner Chomper, rhinestones, assorted sharpies to color some of the rhinestones
Generally. I can take or leave bling, but rounded corners really do have a magical way of making a very simple design look more "finished". As you said, I often can't explain how I decide which corner(s) to round, but somehow it just feels right. It's usually fairly easy to decide on one corner, but sometimes the debate is then on as to whether to round another, and if so, which one?!
ReplyDeleteBEEEEotiful selection of cards
ReplyDeleteKathyk
What a nice and varied collection of flower stamps. You picked a nice set to start with. I was perfectly smitten with the first set, but found myself really liking the second set with the bit o'bling and rounded corners as I scrolled down. You've nailed your challenge.
ReplyDeleteSimple. Elegant. Perfect.
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. I like the rounded corners best, and the bling seems to be like punctuation. It just finishes the flower statement nicely for me.
ReplyDeleteI have always liked those HA stamps and you have convinced me of the power of the rounded corners. ;-)
ReplyDeleteWould two brads would give the same type of finish to the cards as the bling does? I am trying to think of ways of use up my huge stash of brads. I have even tried cutting off the fastener part and adhering them like the enamel dots that are popular now. I am asking myself what does Susan think? LOL
Susan thinks that brads would be lovely...just not as shiny. And definitely clip off the prongs and attach with a glue dot if you're using them on a one-layer card, so their ugly butts don't show through. ;)
ReplyDeleteI love the ones with the bling. Everything is better with bling.
ReplyDeleteDoes making several cards with images and old tags floating around my craft table count? I haven't touched my rubber but there's less stuff in my craft room.
Both sets are fabulous! But my heart belongs to bling. Looking forward to a long weekend of rubber therapy!
ReplyDeleteI love the first set. I love the second. And while I love the bling, in my world, there's just something about 'plain'. (not that these are in any way, shape, or form, 'ugly' plain!)It's just that I have a tendency to go slightly overboard, and then my cards get muddled. Both sets of yours are lovely. These are great, timeless stamps. After making a birthday card for my 91 year old church "boyfriend", I have decided to part with at least one stamp set. The card turned out fine, but I was angry with the stamps, and had to restamp one panel several times, and won't use this particular set again! More space in the stamp box, and I'm not unhappy about it. Have a great weekend. Bev
ReplyDeleteDefinitely the second! The bling and rounded corners seem to make the whole more balanced? Love these simple flowers.
ReplyDeleteTo me, the dots and corner rounding make the flowers look more grounded. But I like the first version, too!
ReplyDeleteI do like the bling and rounded corners. These additions seem to just give 'the finishing touch'. Just an addition here - I recognized a few of the stamps from your box and went looking for them. I then realized that I had put them into my pile for 'getting rid of' or 'selling'. I am sorry to admit that I pulled them out and they are now in my 'keep' file. I will never get my stash whittled down. :<)
ReplyDeleteI love the rounded corners. Sometimes that gives cards just the right finished look.
ReplyDeleteUse-Your-Stamps is going fine - I've gotten started, but I have a heck of a lot of stamps to get through!
Isn't it wonderful how different we all are?! I love the bling on the second set, but I don't like rounded corners - don't know why but I never have, and never round the corners of my own cards. Maybe it's because I like symmetry so prefer that all four corners looks the same. I do love the bright cheery colours you used!!
ReplyDeleteSorry Susan, but the bling and rounded corners absolutely look more finished. When the flower is all alone it looks(in my way of thinking) like they are not finished and need a saying or something to keep them from floating. Am I in the dog house now? Just kidding...
ReplyDeleteBoth sets are just gorgeous ... I love the simplicity of the first, and I'm rather taken with the bling too ... decisions, decisions ... I guess my favorites would depend on the occasion I was going to use them for! Anita :)
ReplyDeleteLOL, so funny - and beautiful stamping, with or without rounded corers :D
ReplyDeleteHI, I love the blinged ones more, because it makes your card look just a little more 'finished' like that, and I love rounded corners although I forget to round them most of the time myself.....
ReplyDeleteI like both sets of cards very much! As for my own stamping......there has been none. Any suggestions for when your stamp room is filled with so much stuff that you don't know where to start and don't even want to be in there?
ReplyDeleteVery pretty! Surprisingly, I like the non-bling and non-rounded corners version better. They look like cards that would be in a high-end stationery store.
ReplyDeleteMy challenge is going well. I'm working on the set level rather than the stamp level and I've used stamps from 17 sets. Sometimes I used only a sentiment stamp from a set, but that counts in my version of the challenge. It makes me happy to see all of the little blue sticker dots on stamp cases or pockets! So many more to go, but I feel like my mojo has been supercharged.
Susan, This is such a pretty set of cards. I'm sure these beauties (stamps) are not being purged! I really like the simplicity (no pun intended) of these cards. Blank cards are always needed, but you can easily turn these into anything you need just buy adding a sentiment.
ReplyDeleteMy Use-your-Stamps Challenge is coming along slowly. This is no surprise to me. I'm focusing the down time I do have to more blog posts, but more quality content. Also, after sorting through the stamps I need to use, I've come up with a better way (for me) to catalog my stamps. I hope to share this soon.
I appreciate the motivation your challenge has given me!
I love these cards, but suddenly I wondered if you spritzed the stamps after colouring them, or did you stamp then and then spritz the cardstock? I cannot tell by looking at the photo.....
ReplyDeleteKind regards,
lucy
Lucy, I spritzed the stamp after inking it, so the only shimmer is on the image itself.
ReplyDelete