Followers

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

A challenge within a challenge for Power Poppy.....

Hello everyone: The challenge for the month of July over at the Power Poppy blog is HANG SOME  PAPER!!!!! Hosted by the fabulously talented Leslie Miller . Now, this challenge is not about Card Stock, mind you.....Leslie is asking us to use patterned paper, goodness, gracious!!   Most of my crafting friends know that I just don't like DSP all that much, don't get me wrong,  I love the patterns, most of them are lovely, sharp, colorful but for me, they represent a challenge on their own.  My brain just can't deal with it, no kidding, when I see crafters making gorgeous cards combining patterns and cardstock I get so jealous.  ME?.....well, I see DSP and I freeze!!  I don't buy a lot of this type of papers, I do own some but I don't use it often, specially double sided DSP, if the one sided kind is difficult to deal with, the double sided paper makes it impossible (for me) to decide which side to condemn to obscurity forever.
So this Power Poppy July Challenge made me step out of my comfort zone and try, really try to come up with some kind of design that will follow the requirements for it.....this is the card that I made, please, just bare with me.
Believe me when I tell you that this rather simple card took me almost 10 days to complete!!!!! I made a ton of backgrounds with all kinds of papers from my very humble stash, my craft room look like something weird had exploded in there, there was paper clippings all over the floor and on my work table and on top of the counters, then the mess follow me to the kitchen table, where I showed some of the "layouts" to my ever patient husband who, I think, was even more lost than me when I kept asking "which one of this papers look best, honey?" and kept a stoic attitude through it all, gosh!!  Back in my craft room, I looked like a mad scientist experimenting, cutting, pasting, arranging and rearranging layouts with disastrous results.  So I left this alone for a while, I decided to let my brain rest, regroup, refresh, restart, recharge and I proceeded to cleaning up the mess and vacuuming the evidence of my experimentation, ughhh!!
Well, today I came back to face my nemesis , who patiently was waiting for me to resume the battle, I took a look at my stamped image, which is one from the lovely Potted Primroses by Marcella Howley, and finished coloring it, I stamped the sentiment and die cut the tag, sat at my desk and started again thinking about how I can create a card for this challenge, I really didn't want to give up.  Since I truly do not know how to combine patterns, I finally figured that I needed something that I can start building with so, I went to the closet and grabbed the box of pink paper scraps, I rummaged for a bit and finally I found that wide piece of DSP I placed under the bow, the colors are bright and pretty so I just grabbed it and let it guide me.  The lay out took some hard thinking too, I went from horizontal to star burst to vertical, cut skinny pieces, big pieces, die cut pieces, sheeesh!! until finally I arrived at this layout and when I did, I again walked away because I really liked it and I didn't want to start messing it up, later I came back and glued everything in place, took the picture and I was done.
This is the challenge banner that pushed me into the uncharted territory of DSP.

 http://powerpoppy.blogspot.com/2015/07/winning.htmlI hope you like this card, I know I went on and on about this very simple theme (for most) which is DSP, I know I should not feel so darn intimidated by it but that is the way things are, I wish I could attend a seminar or something where I could learn not to fear this lovely papers and learn how to combine the patterns, that most times are so beautiful, to add variety and interest to my cards.
Anyway my friends, I thank you for reading this post and for your comments and as always, if you have any questions, (which I totally doubt for this post), please just ask me. I always try to reply to all the comments, ok?
Thanks again for visiting.
Many paper (not DSP) hugs for you.

Maria.

18 comments:

Sonny said...

Bravo ! You did a great job . The colors are pretty and the patterns are perfect for your background . I think you should make a promise to your self to do at least one dsp combo card a month . You can send it to me !!

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Oh my friend, it was quite the undertaking for me but I like it, thank you for your sweet comment Sonny, I promise to do one card a month with DSP combinations.

Patti Willey said...

I'm all but rolling in the floor laughing!! Oh thank you for sharing I read every word of your frustrating 10 days!! Have no fear this came out beautifully and there is hope for you and your DSP phobia! Head over to www.onlinecsrdclasses.com and treat yourself to the designer paper class!! You & your husband will appreciate the tips!!

Mary Fish said...

Darling watercolored Potted Primroses!

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Gosh Patti, this was truly, an ordeal but I'm happy with my card. I'm going to check that on line classes, I hope I'm not the only one with this DSP block.
I wish I had taken a picture of my husband trying his best to be supportive, so sweet.

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Thank you Mary, even if it was really difficult to tackle DSP challenge, I'm happy with the results.

Julie Koerber said...

Oh so cute! Love the paper combo you have going on here Maria and the way you colored up those primroses is oh so sweet! Lovely!!

Unknown said...

Oh yes, I know that kind of blocade and to step out of the comfort zone ! That is why I challenge myself at challenges :). For me is finding a layout sometimes hard and to make a cas card is mega hard. Your card is worth the frustration and the hard work : It is great ! Would love to see more dsp , but not if it is taking so hard on you ! Big hugs, Anita

Marcella Hawley said...

Maria, this is just positively GORGEOUS!! I apologize for giving you a challenge that took 10 days...:) Thought if i may confess, I don't pair decorative papers with my artwork after I watercolor them in. I figure after all the time it takes for me to paint it, I might as well sit back and let the image breathe. Hehe! But what you have done here is a perfect example of how the background papers can enhance the artwork! It really can be tricky when there is so much going on in the image itself (as in the Potted Primroses drawing) but you found a lovely balance of color, contrast, scale of the prints, and even texture. WELL DONE!! xoxo

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Thank you Julie, I'm so happy you liked this card, it took some time but it was worth it.

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Hello Marcy and thank you so much for visiting my blog. I'm so glad you like this card, it took some work but it was worth it. I need to get rid of my fear of decorative papers, like you said, they truly enhance the main image on your cards. My problem is coordinating patterns, I really don't know what goes with what, I guess it's a matter of getting used to it and ultimately, enjoy it.
Thanks again for visiting, please come again.

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Thank you Anita, I will keep working on using DSP, I've seen so many lovely patterns but I just can't bring myself to make them look like they go together. That is why this card took so long and why I just added thin strips of DSP.

Sue P said...

I have the same brain freeze as you do with DSP. I love how you broke up the DSP with the white cardstock background. Well done Maria!!!

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Hello Susan: Thanks for your sweet comment, I'm glad I'm not alone in this, I need to get more comfortable with working with DSP, there are some truly lovely designs out there just waiting for me to give them a chance.
Thanks for visiting.

Leslie Miller said...

Maria, I think we each have our own little (or big) brain blocks when it comes to design. I would love to be better at clean and simple, but my brain just wants to put colors and patterns in all that white space. Funny how we're all different, but that's what makes the world go 'round! LOVED reading your story -- every word of it. I wish everyone could read it. I SO admire your perseverance, and if you're going to do one DSP card a month I hope the next one doesn't take you 10 days. I know what you mean about double sided paper. I don't like having to make that decision and banish one side to obscurity. I always hope there's an ugly side, but that's not always the case. Anyway, in the end you made a pretty card with outstanding coloring and a sweet little bow. Your papers all share some colors in common so that makes them come together. Thank you so much for sharing your ultimate success in our Hang Some Paper challenge. By the way, my stamp room always looks like there was an explosion every time I make a card!

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Oh Leslie, thank you so much for visiting and for reading about my struggles with DSP. Like you, I also have trouble with CAS cards, I don't like to leave so much empty spaces on my cards. But the beauty of this craft is that we are all connected through it by sharing what we love.
Thank you again for visiting, I hope you come back again.

Anni said...

Aaaww, these flowers are so beautiful!
Anni

Maria Rodriguez. said...

Thank you for your sweet comment and for visiting Anni, I hope you come back to visit soon.