Another design sample as part of the Splitcoast Stampers Sketch Challenge Guest Design Team! I have participated in these challenges basically since I found SCS, and to have been given the amazing opportunity to contribute a card to the weekly inspiration roundup that goes along with it is humbling and I am incredibly grateful, excited, and, well… nervous!
Current and past sketch challenges, as well as all of the details, can be found here. Past sketch challenge design team samples I have created can be found here and also in my gallery on SplitCoast.
Without further ado, here is my card for this week’s sketch challenge at SCS!
For those of us in the working world, we have the opportunity to work with others, get to know others, laugh with others, sometimes cry with others, and, best of all, celebrate with others. In the field I am in, many of the “others” I work with are hundreds of miles away, and some I never get to meet face to face nor even speak with on the phone!
Though I have spoken to this special lady by phone for some of our work, most of our communication over the past few years has been via email – she sends me something that needs to be processed and I do so, back and forth, a time or two or more each week. She’s one of those folks who when I see an email pop in from her, though I expect it to contain more work, I actually smile – because more often than not, it contains something cheerful to go along with it, a kind word, or simply a how-do-you-do. Jane and I hoped to meet earlier this year when I was in her neck of the woods for a horse event, but due to an unforeseen circumstance, that fell through. And now, after her talking about it for quite some time, I am excited for Jane that she has just a few days of work left before she heads off into an exciting next chapter of life – retirement!
Though I originally started off to use this week’s sketch for something else entirely, as I got in my craft room Monday night I had a sudden inspiration instead to create for Jane, something autumn-inspired because of the lovely autumn-like weather we were experiencing and because her retirement takes place in September, and something with the beauty of trees within it, because Jane just so happens to work for our forestry division. So off I went!
After reading this week’s Technique Lover’s Challege – Recessed Panel cards – I knew just what I wanted to do. That, combined with one of my favorite purchases from last holiday season, I set off to create the perfect card for my dear colleague.
I learned some things along the way while making this card, that I hope will help anyone else hoping to complete the two challenges concurrently like I did:
- First, plan. Make sure you’ve left enough edge to accommodate whatever foam mounting product you own. I struggled to cut my dimensionals down to a size that would fit the ever-so-narrow strips I left at the edges.
- Pre-mark your corners with holes from a pin or other such tool – this gives a perfect “stop” to your craft knife to prevent you from accidentally over-reaching where you intended to end your cut.
- Have fun! Whatever happens, roll with it – if there’s an oops, it just opens up the opportunity to get a little extra creative. 🙂
And, as always, is any project actually complete without a little sparkle? 🙂 Just a hint on the tree trunks and primary branches to catch the light and draw the eye in to this pretty stand of trees.
Thankfully for me, Jane and I do have plans to finally meet up over dinner next month, post-retirement, when I’m in her area for work-related travel. I can’t wait, and I pray God allows it to work out as planned this time around! 🙂
Thanks so much for stopping by today, and I sure hope you enjoyed my card!
Blessings,
Chrissy
| Title: SC764 TLC757 For Your Retirement, Jane! |
| Keywords: SC764, TLC757, stampin up, SU, Recessed Panel, tree, nature, autumn |
| Stamps: Winter Woods, Let It Ride, Birch (all Stampin’ Up) |
| Ink: Gray Granite, Tranquil Tide |
| Paper: More Mustard (SU!), 80# Solar White (Neenah) |
| Paper Size: A2 |
| Technique: Recessed Panel Card, faux framing, distressing, glitter, dimension, second generation stamping (on the “ground”) |
| Accessories: Tranquil Tide marker, sanding block, gold cord, Gelly Roll glitter pen, Stampin’ dimensionals, Everyday Label Punch |
DancesWithHooves 