Challenge 38 Patterns-Bending the Rules!

Hello! I am so glad you stopped in today!  I am sharing my project for Anything But a Card's Challenge #38 which is to use patterns.  Originally, the plan was to make it Zentangling, but we decided to make it a little more open.  

I love to doodle and have made zentanglesque pieces (new word!) without really knowing what I was doing.  However, I haven't made an actual project where this was the intent and I thought it would be fun to try.  My original plan was to go with the traditional black and white, but after I stamped my flowers, I changed my mind and used three different colors for my patterns.  I also bent the rules of patterns by using my new star mask.  The stars are very random-no pattern there!

 

I've had a pretty stress filled month so far and making all of those dots was very therapeutic!  When I finished, I was looking at all of the white space around the flowers and while I know it doesn't fit the Zentagle design to leave it, I really didn't want to 'over-doodle' this.  The quote was one that I saved from a card I received many years ago and I love the message of hope it delivers.  Is there anything more inspiring than knowing that even in the barest soils, we can grow a garden?  Quite fitting for our return to school too!

If you are a regular visitor to my blog, I am so sorry I haven't been around!  We've had some family medical issues added to my already busy  back-to-school schedule.  Everything is going fine now,but it's going to take me a bit to catch up.  Hope to see your blogs soon!

Project Recipe: Quotes Journal, Stamp Set-Time Well Spent (ret), Ink-Memento Tuxedo Black, Crisp Cantelope, Bermuda Bay, So Saffron, Baked Brown Sugar, Stampin' Write marker, Accessories- Star Mask

Flashback Friday- Unpacking the Packed

Hello! I am so glad you are here!  Yesterday was the first day of school for us and thankfully it was only a two day school week!  It seems like no matter how prepared you are, things are still a bit hectic.  Add to that mix a new principal and two new supervisors at my school and let's just say I'm so thankful it's Friday!

Before my summer break ended I tried to make several birthday cards so I would have plenty on hand.  I also tried to use some stamps I either hadn't used before or hadn't seen ink in a while.  Today's card features one I haven't used much.  This is all one image and could be bought individually or as part of a set of 'packed' items.  I decided to try coloring only a few of the images and it didn't turn out too bad.

You will also notice I went back to my 'go to' layout! Old habits die hard!! I did manage to sneak another strip of ribbon on there and I noticed this particular ribbon is almost gone-makin' progress!

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderfully creative weekend!

Card Recipe: Paper-Play Date dsp (ret), whisper white, chocolate chip, Stamp Set-Packed for Birthday(ret), Bloom with Hope (sentiment), Ink-old olive, so saffron, tempting turquoise, real red, chocolate chip, Accessories-modern label punch, real red grosgrain ribbon, brights candy dots

Flashback Friday-Visiting some old friends

Welcome! I am so glad you are here! Today's card is a true flashback; the only current items are the whisper white cardstock and the crumb cake ink. That's it!!  I pulled out two much loved and long neglected stamp sets and one recently retired set.  

After my recent table cleaning/organizing, I decided that I really need to use more ribbon! I have so much in so many different colors, yet I don't usually pull it out.  You may have noticed I started adding ribbon to my cards and projects in July, but I don't think you can tell by looking at my collection of ribbon!

The sand dollar is one of my all time favorite images.  This was one of my earliest Stampin' Up purchases and it has seen so much ink over the years.  The 'celebrate' comes from another favorite set that I used quite a bit when I first started making cards.  Even the card design is a copy of one of my first cards although I think I like the original card better than this one.  I think I should have gone with island indigo ink for the sentiment and star banner to zazz it up a bit.  I do like the little folded up flap tied with ribbon on one side and stapled on the other. Don't look too closely though; my first stapler did not do a good job and I had to remove the staple and try with a different one-didn't quite line up...grr...

I hope I have inspired you to dust off some of your old favorites and use up some of those neglected supplies!  Have a great weekend!  

Card Recipe: Paper-Sycamore Street dsp, whisper white, sahara sand, Stamp Sets-Nature's Wonders, Wonderful Words, Banner Blast, Ink-crumb cake, Accessories-whisper white stitched ribbon, island indigo satin ribbon, hole punch