Tuesday, September 29, 2020

Mega Fail or a Happy Mistake

Good Morning my friends, I'm sharing a card I made last Friday, a disaster of a day if ever there was one but all will be revealed later, using Tim Holtz/Sizzix Poinsettia 3D Texture Fade, intended for a DT project but it didn't float my boat and was tossed into the "lame duck/a bit of a disaster/might use someday" box. But, on looking at it the next day with fresh eyes, it gradually began to grow on me and I rather liked the chalky washed out look on the poinsettia which I hasten to add was not intentional but rather down to me being too lazy to walk around my desk and get my Distress Ink re-inkers and the fact my brain failed to register that, if you are going to attempt watercoloring with Distress Oxide inks, the more water you add, the more they are going to oxidise. So, with my adorable Professor's wise words - "don't freak your freak/embrace your imperfections/get over yourself and What If ? ringing in my ears, it was time to attempt a little resurrection and you know what, I rather like it now.


I trimmed Distress Watercolor card to be slightly smaller than an A2 card blank and spritzed back and front with water. I smooshed a Black Soot Distress ink pad over the debossed side of Tim Holtz/Sizzix Poinsettia 3D Texture Fade, spritzed lightly with water, added the card and ran through my Big Shot 3 times.
So far so good.
I coloured the Poinsettia with Spiced Marmalade and Barn Door and the leaves with Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint and Pine Needles Distress Distress Oxide inks using a Distress Detailer Brush, drying between the layers of colour and this was the stage where it was destined for the bin. The more colour and water I added, the chalkier it got.
But after spending so much time on the colouring, I wasn't going to give up on it and the rescue attempt began. I inked the script stamp from Tim Holtz/Stampers Anonymous Dearly Departed with Distress Embossing ink, stamped randomly on the background and heat set with Ranger Superfine White Embossing Powder.
I wasn't out of the woods yet and decided it needed a real pop of something to make those flowers come to life so I sprinkled the flower centres and the background randomly with Stampendous Frantage Aged Black Embossing Enamel which is a mix of chunky black, brown and gold granules and heat set from underneath.
To finish I added word stickers from the Idea-ology Christmas Sticker Book, outlined with a fine black liner pen.
Not my favourite card ever but not worthy of going in the bin either so all's well that ends well.
But back to the saga of my disastrous Friday. Do you ever have days when you're up and about and feel that your brain has missed the morning alarm call and when it does join the party, doesn't seem to be on your wave length at all. Old age doesn't come by itself and if truth be told, my body reminds me of that saying everyday but up to now, the old brain didn't seem to be ready to join that club, or so I thought. For some reason, on that particular Friday morning, I got it into my head it was Saturday and posted on Facebook not only wishing everyone a Happy Saturday and a great weekend but shouting from the rooftops about joining Tim and Mario that evening for the reveal of the STAMPtember release. Luckily a kind friend pointed out that I seemed to have gained a day and I quickly edited my post, crikey there's nothing worse than folks turning up for a party 24 hours too soon. Then an e-mail from Royal Mail popped into my Inbox to say they would be delivering a parcel between 7.46 and 11.46 on Saturday so although I had already been reminded it was only Friday, why was I constantly waiting for the doorbell to ring and bad mouthing our postal service when it failed to turn up. Happily,  my brain and I seem to be singing from the same hymn sheet again and I'm confident it was just a temporary short circuit because if it's a sign of things to come, I need to book in for a reboot now. Will I be using the same technique to watercolor again - probably NOT but it just goes to show that what you think is a mega fail, can sometimes turn into a happy mistake so keep on believing, my friends and I'll be sharing a far easier, less traumatic version of this card next week.
Hugs Kath xxx

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22 comments:

  1. Oh Kath you have made me LOL, it happens to us all, especially at the moment, which I personally find bizarre because my life really isn't changed that much, haha.
    Your 'disaster' card is a real triumph, its simply stunning as all your creations always are.
    Take care and stay safe.xx

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  2. Brilliant recovery (in fact, since I'm not a fan of red poinsettias, I like this a lot more than what you were probably aiming at!!)... love the script stamping in white and the perfect black seedheads/stamens from the Frantage.

    As to your Friday/Saturday frazzle... it's a rarer day that I do know what day it is than when I don't at the moment! At least you were within 24 hours with your guess.
    Alison x

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  3. LOL...having a Senior Moment? Good thing my watch has what day it is...it seems to be a part of this foul lettered word called 2020...great recovery...

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  4. Your happy accident is stunning, the colours look amazing and its such a nice change from the traditional festive red. I've just been to dig out my embossing folder ..... thanks for the inspiration.
    As for knowing what day it is, if it wasn't for the Fitbit on my arm I'd have no chance!! xx

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  5. Days merging is par for the course in 2020 worldwide - I suffer weekly here in Oz!!! Another way to look at it is it was probably Saturday somewhere Hahaha. I must disagree with you though, that card is not a fail & if i wasn't sure that i have that 3D folder in my order before, if has cemented it for me.

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  6. It looks fantastic Kath.Way to turn a card around!

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  7. Looks fantastic. I love it when a plan comes through eventually LOL.

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  8. This is stunning 'a happy accident'love the colour of the poinsettia.
    Debbie x

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  9. Gosh I love the card so I would have never know you considered it unworthy! I thought it looked like the perfect card to send during fall! And as far as mistakes go, I made a huge one on Sat (I won't even go into it) but I felt like a big idiot all day long...worried about what people thought and if my boss saw it. I still have no idea (and I'm not going to ask) but it's Tuesday now so i'm done thinking about it. Time to move forward.

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  10. I had many chuckles reading this post! I still like your poinsettia. πŸ’œ

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  11. Gorgeous creation!!! I got a kick out of your waiting for the package delivery a day early :-)

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  12. So glad you got yourself out of that pickle and it won't be any consolation but I never seem to know what day it is at the moment - lol. I love your card, the poinsettia is gorgeous with the black embossing enamel. A real triumph my friend. Hugs, Anne xxx

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  13. This is breathtakingly gorgeous!! Your descriptions and photos are outstanding!!

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  14. OMG what a stunner, so glad you pulled this out of what did I do pile. Love, love, love the effect and want the EF :)

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  15. Never would I have ever thought that this gorgeous card was a mistake!! Although I have been in exactly the same place as you and quickly tossed it into the bin to come back to it and think, why that isn’t as bad as I first had thought. Lol! And as it goes for being a little early for the party. It’s always better to be early and not find out that you had missed it altogether πŸ˜‰πŸ˜‚...hugs to you my friend! ♥️

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  16. I can relate to the waiting for a parcel on a day it wasn’t to happen so yes days like yours are so familiar...lol your card though mistakes or not is truly gorgeous love your poinsettias and the colours are gorgeous always like to see print on cards too! enjoy your day xx

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  17. I'm really glad you pulled it back from the bin and didn't give up on it because it came together very, very well!!! Beautiful!!!!

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  18. I just love it. Thanks for the tip of spritzing the card both sides before embossing, I had an issue with creasing due to the lovely depth but this is now resolved. Stay safe love Jane x

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  19. I think this card has turned out brilliantly, such a good technique and don't worry about your brain, everyone has these moments, it doesn't matter how old you are xx

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  20. Wouah ! moi j'adore cette carte, c'est tout sauf une catastrophe. Magnifique je dirais. BONNE ANNÉE !

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  21. I just came across your beautiful card in Pinterest and came to take a look, i love your honesty and how you felt.. i have the toughest time throwing things away.. even when i don't like it... i try to revive it and usually it takes longer than my original attempt. lol. And guess what, in the end people love it way more than i ever did. Makes me wonder if mistakes are a thing.

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