It's funny how a card evolves...how it starts out with one thing in mind, and it ends up not only different, but may spark other ideas that you never would have thought of otherwise. Last night's Craft Roulette. Episode #291 resulted in 4 unique parameters that initially I thought might be a bit of a creative challenge to work with, but, once I buckled down, it actually fell into place. I'll address and justify this card and how I applied the 4 parameters. I'll also explain the twists to it, and how one parameter started out one way, and interestingly resulted in something else.....
The Parameters and MY interpretation:
1. Postcard Project: First, I'll start out by saying, I'm thrilled to have a massive collection of stamps, card stock, designer paper, embellishments, etc. I always felt, the more you have to play with, the more options you can do...and along the years, I have managed to accumulate through purchases, gifts, yard sell acquisitions, club subscriptions, etc...enough of all of the above: (stamps, card stock, designer paper, embellishments, etc.) to open a small retail store. I'm not disappointed with having it all, it's funny how way back when, I would never have imagined one day, I could refer to my craft studio as my craft playground.... and that is exactly what it is... my playground! I'm now close to 100 entries to this really cool and fun weekly challenge, and each week, I am as excited to learn what my criteria will be...so... I went straight for the stamp that I own that is a POST CARD stamp. It may be a little covered up with my holly leaves here, but...clearly, I hit the first parameter with ease....
2. Easter Basket Colors: Each week, as a Craft Roulette member...we get the opportunity to "veto" one of 4 randomly selected options per parameter... When "Easter Basket" colors pop up...I veto that one, because I just don't feel the Easter vibe right now, and it's not doing it for me. So, last night, when it popped up...I got to thinking...really, any color would work. I was going to go "chocolate" brown, because of the traditional chocolate bunny found in an Easter basket. I thought orange too, for the jelly belly carrots that my business makes/packages every year, and sells commercially. The more I thought about it, the more colors came to mind...as my company has a huge presence of Easter novelties each Spring, so getting hung up on that parameter started to actually spark some interest. The Post Card image, with the "brown" vibe was starting to feel vintage to me... and I started thinking Victorian Easter...so, my colors were starting to sink in.... I found a couple of pictures online for inspo:
3. Pack(s)(ing) Element: This one was the one...I thought I had nailed it. I was hung up on that Victorian vibe, and pulled out a stamp kit I had acquired along the way from a previous
Unity Stamp Membership offering. I'm fairly confident the kit has since retired, but perusing through the massive options through Unity Stamps there are
other options that may work as well. So, I googled PACK...I honestly don't remember why I googled "pack of holly", but it was showing up, with descriptions; as where to buy a "pack of holly". Last night, it made total sense, today...not so much. I see a pack of holly leaves as a craft store purchase, I don't think there is such a thing as a pack of holly in nature. So, I kept trying to justify why I chose that...yikes. Then it dawned on me: I have PACKED this card full of holly leaves. There you go...hahaha But that doesn't explain the twist....it took the 4th parameter for me to really justify the PACKED element.... I'll explain after I explain the 4th criteria to finish up this card.
4. Shiny Random: Easy peasy. The little gemstones are shiny...and obvious. But, I wasn't quite done yet. When I looked and looked and looked at this card...and only after finding the sentiment I chose...I was getting a memory ... a very fond memory ... of years ago. And this is where I get teary. So much has happened in my family over the last few years, a lot of really hard stuff, that unlocking memories of childhood, where things were easy and carefree gave me a sense of happy vibes... the past PACKED full of memories, as a timeless treasure, will ALWAYS be there. The memory? So, every year, during Christmas time.... my Mom would get out the box of little 3D card stock made houses. Each little house was decorated with glitter, snowy rooftops, and a little dark green tree... They were in a variety of PASTEL colors, some similar to my card, and embellished with shiny bead type trim, etc., (who knew I'd be recollecting these houses towards the end of my card design)... I was loving this memory...how excited my sister and I, "the little girls" were to place these in the windowsill every year.... the glittery house memory lead me to grab my "wink of stella" glitter pen and start glittering up my sage leaves....but I still wasn't satisfied...I needed that forest green tree vibe...so, I added the forest green holly leaves.
So WOW ... this card may mean more to me, than satisfying the parameters of episode #291. And the little card stock Christmas houses has nothing to do with the parameters at all...but...the memories that are packed safely away in my heart, even though they are being a bit guarded ... they are still there, and I am seeing a little sparkle of hope that they will come to the surface more often. I wouldn't doubt it if somewhere, we have that box stashed. I'm sure they are not in any condition to put in the windowsill... I wish when my kiddos were littles, I would have had little houses to put out...I know they can be made, I see the elements in the stores...I even know you can buy the little trees in a 12 PACK, lol. So there you go...ALL PARAMETERS are doable, even if you have to justify after the matter. :)
Till the next time! I have a couple of VERY BUSY weeks ahead, we may be landing not one but TWO very large orders, one actually for an aerospace company...wouldn't that be coolio!? I see my style has evolved to a little more easy/simple, and that's ok too. I wouldn't be able to play during the holidays otherwise, as soon, very soon...I'll be living in the chocolate factory for awhile! Gotta get all those chocolate orders done, just thankful we are still thriving after close to FORTY years!
Have a nice week!
