Saturday 28 January 2012

I Had This Idea

Hi guys,  I should have titled yesterday's post "the love/hate card" as I thoroughly enjoyed reading all the different reactions to it!  It really polarised the comments you left, but that is what makes crafting fun for me.   I don't even like every card I make so I certainly don't expect you to either.  As long as you kind (remember thin skin here), please be honest and let me know what you think as I love to read every ones opinions!  Today's post was truly an exercise in patience!  Whenever I say "I have this idea", I should listen to myself and think about this card!  I had this idea and I just had to do it, but about half way through, I thought "what am I doing!"  I was too far committed at that point not to finish.  It is probably difficult to see this in the picture but with some explanation, I think you will follow.  I stamped the leaves on white card so that all of them were just barely touching each other in some way.  I embossed them with clear powder (black archival ink was used) and I inked them using mustard seed, fired brick and rusty hinge distress inks.  Then, and this is where the fun started (not!), using an exacto craft knife, I cut away all the background white area.  The leaves have this kind of wood block look to them so I thought cutting around them and leaving it a bit jagged would add to this look and give a very rustic look to the left over piece.  After about an hour of cutting because there were way more tiny spaces than I realised, I finished.  What a task!  I mounted that piece using double foam pieces so it really looks like it is floating above the background piece of white card.  I cut a double black frame for it and pierced the top piece.  I matted all of it on a final piece of black card and stamped a sentiment in white on a die from the Samantha Walker Twisted metal tag set.  I cut another tag in white and cut it in half to use as a reverse shadow for the black tag.  After I got the whole card assembled and taped together, I thought it might have looked nice to stamp the leaves again in the background in a pale colour just to add interest (but I wasn't taking that puppy apart after all that!) LOL  So, it is what it is!  Another different looking card for me! 

I have been very bad lately in keeping up with the comment game, but I am getting it caught up now!
Jan17th post: randomly selected number 5 which is Inkypinkycraft!!!
Jan18th post: randomly selected number 33 which is Desiree!!!
Jan19th post: randomly selected number 50 which is Nattyboots (Elaine H)!!!
Jan 20th post: randomly selected number 125 which is Tracy Heaton!!! 
Jan. 21st post: randomly selected number 10 which is Heather!!!
Jan. 22nd post: randomly selected number 58 which is Sue Parish!!!
Jan. 23rd post: randomly selected number 21 which is Jacqui's little piece of England!!!
Jan. 24th post: randomly selected number 42 which is Nzillingworth (Nadine)!!!
Jan. 25th post: randomly selected number 73 which is Elaine W!!!
Jan. 26th post: randomly selected number 56 which is Crafty Jo!!!
Jan.27th post: randomly selected number 23 which is jean.phillips1!!!
I need all the winners to email me at americansue1@gmail.com to verify their addresses
and claim their prizes please.
All for now, Sue x

120 comments:

Anonymous said...

Hi Sue what a feat of patience I love stamping and cutting out the images so this card is perfect for me.
Heather x

Anonymous said...

Goodmorning Sue, I know this card took an age to do but it was worth it, I just love love love it, thanks for shareing, Pauline x

Jan.moogie said...

Your patience is endless but the finished card is worth it. A beautiful Autumnal (not sure that's a word) feel and look, thank you for sharing it with us Sue x

Sonia said...

Good morning Sue, love the colours and the look. Not one for me as I wouldn't have the patience.
Blessings
Sonia - St Helens

Luanne said...

very beautiful card! love the stamping.

Kazbomps said...

Hi Sue. Lovely colours and a great card. You could do the leaves individually which would make cutting out easier. Karen x

Missmizog said...

Hi Sue
This is such a beautiful card, but i really do not have the patience for something this detailed, i also cannot cut for toffee, wish i could. I lile kazbomps idea of cutting each leaf.
Sue

hazel young said...

Morning Sue, i really like the colours you have used to colour your leaves, this is a lovely card. Well done for having the patients to cut out all those leaves. It looks stunning. xx hazel

JAO said...

Love this card , all the work put in was worth it.

mags said...

I love this card. Lots of patience required but stunning. The colours are super.
Mags
x

Lynnus said...

I am useless with a craft knife so wouldn't attempt this but loving the stamps and the colours x

occasionali said...

This is just my style. Love the intricate cutting, reminds me of my days doing parchment and all the patience that needed. Not a quick card to be sure but well worth the effort.

Jenny L said...

Hi Sue, greatttttt card. I too get carried away and have cut out the doily mask after it's been embossed it does take a long time, but the end result is fab as your card is. Congrats to the winners of the comments game.
Lots of love to you and all fellow crafty people. Jenny L

Jacqui's little piece of England said...

WOW what a difference must have taken an age really lovely x

Jacqui's little piece of England said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Patricia said...

Good Morning Sue,
You must have the "patience of a Saint" to have done that card.
I love it, a card I would do... BUT!! only for someone I truly loved.....!!!

Patricia xx

Pam Swadling said...

Might have taken you an age Sue, but it was well worth the effort.

Maryann Laursen said...

I really love the look of this, but I´m not sure, I had the patience to do this much cutting ha ha ha. I love the colors of these leaves, it makes them look so real, and the finished card is really awesome.

Lydia Jordan said...

Morning Sue,
Wonderful card, love the colours, if only I had your skill with a craft knife I would attempt this.
Looking forward to seeing you back on C&C
Lydia
XX

Carole Z said...

Hi sue, I think this card would have defeated me with all the cutting, but all your patience and work was well worth it because it's beautiful! I love the frame too, it doesn't look like card in the photo..amazing! Carole Z xx

Craftin Suzie (Susan Wykes) said...

It was certainly a labour of love but well worth it for the final result! Susan x

Unknown said...

I'd like to see this up close. I can imagine how long it took to cut around the leaves - bet your hand was aching when you'd done. It really is a lovely card though - love the distress inks that you used. Julia xxx

dutchess said...

worth every bit of effort Sue its just wonderful I love the leaves and doing the dimension make them look real!!!!!..just having a day playing cutting out shapes today.....hope you are having a good weekend take care Margaret

jean.phillips1 said...

Morning Sue, Love thoses leaves, I have them too but don't think my cutting out would make them look this good! As you say, the photo doesn't really show them floating but I can just imagine it. Like this one much better than yesterdays. Jean x

Olga said...

Very nice! love the leaves!

Sue said...

This is a beautiful card. The leaves are devine, but I also love all the black mats. This is definitely an idea that I shall be squireling away.
Have a fab weekend x

Alyx said...

I love, love, love this card! There's no way that I'd have the patience to do it, but I'm very glad that you did. It's very effective AND it's shown me exactly why I need to get the square and rectangle dies! I didn't see the point before as I can cut with my guillotine but I can see the light now! Lol.
Thank you for spending so much time on this. It really was very worth it!
xx

Linda said...

Hi Sue, I love this one, have to admit that I didn't comment yesterday because I didn't want to leave anything negative. But todays if fab and I will certainly be having a go at this technique. Linda x

jemet said...

Hi Sue
love the leaves and your committment to cutting them out. Not sure it's my type of card but well done to you!

Jean

Anonymous said...

Hi Sue, I love the leaves and the Autumn colours in this card but i would not be able to cut out with a knife as i have athritis in my wrist, so this one is a no no. Yvonne xx

lockedinmycraftroom said...

Hi Sue, I think this could be a good man's card, I usually struggle with cards for men. Chris

sheila said...

Good morning Sue.
What a card.
The autumn colours so beautiful.
The patience you must have.
Love it x

Clare Powell said...

Lovely card, I love the way the leaves look. You must have some patience to do all that cutting!

Clare x

Marie-Louise said...

Really lovely card. Must have taken ages - so much work but worth it.

marg said...

Hello Sue
I think this card is simple and to the point... but a little bit of bling would be nice..... The colours are very Autumnal Sue..So a lovely card
LoveMarg

Anonymous said...

Hi everyone, congratulations to all the winners. It is great to know so many people are regularly commenting. Sue I love this card. With a different sentiment it would look fantastic framed on my craft room wall. Probably best done with a digital stamp and an electronic cutter though as I'm bound to get most of the way round with my craft knife and then accidentally lop a bit off. Great perseverance Sue. With Love and Light Theresa. H

Craftychris said...

I love autumn colours so this card is just up my street although I would not have the patience to attempt it myself. You did a brilliant job! Congratulations to all the winners xx

Sue J said...

Wow! You have way more patience than I do, I would never manage to cut all that out with a knife! :)

elkeartsandcrafts said...

Hi Sue,
What a lot of work, but it paid off. If it didn't have the tag on it, this could be used as a picture. I love these colours.
Well done!
Congratulations to all of the winners. I am green with envy, ha!

ElaineJ

nzillingworth said...

Hi Sue

well u must have blisters. What a labour of love for your art. I bought spellbinders to get away from my terrible cutting, LOL Maybe leaves good one to do with my cutting, need i say more. Its like a huge decoupage. sounds fun. I have not done clear embossing just black outlines. Another thing i will have to get around to.
You will be having ribbon withdrawl soon, two days no ribbon lol.
Well done all the winners, good luck to rest your turn will come.
Thank you Sue
born again spellbinder
Nadine x hug
nzillingworth@hotmail.com

Anonymous said...

Sue i love it it looks stunning but patience is not my strong point so will never attempt it myself lol
Hugs
Alison Glover x

Sandra Riley... said...

This would make a lovely piece of wall art, it would make a lovely gift for someone to keep as well as a greeting card.
Lovely autumnal feel to it.
Huge hugs
Sandra Riley x

Lynne M said...

Beautiful card Sue, but like other bloggers I wouldn't have the patience so I would have had to cheat and stamp the leaves individually cut them out and then piece together like a jigsaw. This would be easier for me as I could use scissors instead of trying to get into the fiddly bits with a craft knife. Hope this isn't too much of a cheats way to do it. Thank you for sharing, when I get time to make a card using the cheats way I'll let you know. LOL Lynne M

Unknown said...

It's a great fall card. Your patience was worth it!

Debbie Tinks said...

sue lovely card
may get lucky to win when you pick next lot of winners
keep my fingers crossed

yorkshiresue said...

Hi
Love the idea but unfortunately unable to use knife properly so would also have to cut out each leaf and assemble
Having said all that I still love the card
Sue
XXX

Erica said...

This card is stunning!!!! It may have took a long time but what an outcome. LOVE IT
Erica x

Jacky said...

I love, love, love this card - the colours and the leaves are brilliant. I don't think I would have enough patience to do this but am thinking of alternative ways to try to get "the look" I love stamping but don't enjoy cutting.

Jacky said...

I love, love, love this card - the colours and the leaves are brilliant. I don't think I would have enough patience to do this but am thinking of alternative ways to try to get "the look" I love stamping but don't enjoy cutting.

Dawn Louise said...

I really like this card, know what you mean I often start something thinkin would be easy enough to do then an hour later still at it lol, I also like the frame using same colour, something I hadn't thought of before, thanks for all the inspiration x

Uta said...

Great card! It looks like a framed picture.

Hugs, Uta

Lizzie said...

Hi Sue
At first with a glance i thought no its not you but at closer inspection and the work gone into it well it grew on me. I love cutting out so might just try this one Thank You
Lizzie (Serial copycat)xx

Carol S. said...

Hi Sue, It looks more like a framed picture than a card. Stunning! I love the colours as they really show the detail of the stamps. I know the feeling of regretting starting and idea but not being able to stop once started! Must be a woman thing!! Hugs, Carol S.xx

Carol S. said...

Hi Sue, It looks more like a framed picture than a card. Stunning! I love the colours as they really show the detail of the stamps. I know the feeling of regretting starting and idea but not being able to stop once started! Must be a woman thing!! Hugs, Carol S.xx

Claveh said...

Dear Sue,
This one is FAR MORE LIKE IT! for me than yesterday!
I LOVE IT! I think it was definately worth all the effort, maybe you should invest in a Silhouette Cameo machine (I have one being a very lucky girl!) which would have cut all the white pieces out for you!
Lots of love, hope I was not too harsh yesterday, I would hate to deter your enthusiasm!

Fiona said...

I was thinking I might try that until you got to point of telling me you got the craft knife out!

Jane said...

I can't be bothered spending that much time cutting out thank god for spellbinders You must have the patience of a Saint, lol I name you Saint Sue

Jane xx

Anonymous said...

I love the idea of a framed picture for a card, It would be great for many occasions and for a man or a woman. Helen O xxx

PS. I think yesterdays card got such varied comments as it was so different to your regular style, I have to say that even at your level of brilliance your creations will not always appeal to everyone, I think thats what makes crafting so much fun, the endless ideas and versatility, So dont take it to heart, We love you Saint Sue xxx

Anonymous said...

Love the leaves on this card Sue & how you have coloured them. Amazing patience to cut all around them. I have the leaves stamp & the mask (saw you demonstrating it at Ally Pally last September). I don't have the patience for the cutting out though. Ann W

Anonymous said...

I think it was a lovely idea, but sorry it was hard work! I love using leaves in my projects and these are great, the colours and wood grain effect on them is fab! Thanks for sharing!
Love Pearl x

Rita said...

Hello Sue
What a lovely card & what patience you must have think I would have just given up & not finished the way you did ----well done you! However, as much as I like it I'll not be copying as I do not have much skill with a craft knife or the patience unlike you.
Regards! Rita

Vicki Sharkey said...

Not sure if I have your patience Sue, but I know what you mean, once you start on an idea you just have to finish it and it was definitely worth it this time!
Vicki:)

May said...

This is soooooo worth the time you put into it Sue, STUNNING!! just love it, lovin those leaves, Great Job Perfect! Hugs May x x x

nina said...

Nina said
Hi when i first looked at this card i was not sure but it is one that grows on you especailly when you fine out the amount of work that went into it I love the picture frame affect simple but very affective well done

nina said...

Nina said
Hi when i first looked at this card i was not sure but it is one that grows on you especailly when you fine out the amount of work that went into it I love the picture frame affect simple but very affective well done

Sue H said...

Hi Sue
Yep different again :D
I like this but not as a card, as a piece of art to display. Maybe in a plain frame on the wall.
Sue H. xx

Barbara Daines said...

Now, this is more like the 'Sue cards' I love. There's nothing about this that I DON'T love.....colours, frame, leaves. It's fab x but, as you say, I can imagine the time it took :(

gwen70 said...

This card is just gorgeous Sue. I like everything about it colours and style. Well worth all the effort you must have put into it

yorkielass said...

Hello Sue, Well worth your patience, this card is stunning, love the leaves and Autumn colours, my favourites, might give this a go. Thanks for sharing. Congratulations to the winners.
Hugs, June x

craftycarol said...

Hi Sue,
this is a lovely card ,but I'm sorry to say I don't like it,it dosen't appeal to me at all.
Carol x

ang said...

I love all the leaves and the colour schemes, and all the work that has gone into it angxx

SusanneJ said...

I adore this card as I love to cut out and fiddle with ideas LOL amazing love the colours Sue xxx hugsxxxxxxxxxx

Maid of Kent said...

Hi Sue,
Love, Love this card,l always enjoy seeing leaves, must be the result of many holidays in New England. Your patience with this card must be applauded. This is one gorgeous card. Lol Ann

PaulineC said...

This is one of those stamps which I really love. I would probably not had the patience to do all that cutting out but the effect is stunning.

eileen.fj said...

Hi Sue
Love the colours on this card.
Eileen x

Lisbeth said...

I really like this card, the leaves pop out from the background in a stunning way, it was worth all the effort of the cutting out. Brilliant

Anonymous said...

Hi Sue

Well your patience has really paid off, love the card, and think it is perfect without stamping the background.
Carol at Henlow.

CraftyJo said...

Well I think perhaps you should have taken it apart to stamp the background leaves.....NOT. It's gorgeous as it is, it *may* have been too busy if you'd got a pattern behind it. Maybe you should make another and try it? (should I be ducking behind the sofa while you throw things at me??)

Well done for finishing what you started, it is lovely.

Rosietoes said...

Oh, how worth the effort Sue. It's gorgeous and you are right about the woodblock effect. Stunning!

Edna x

kasugga said...

Sue
You must have the patience of a saint to go round all those leaves. It's a beautiful autumnal card, the colours are just right.
Hugs
Katy x

Redanne said...

Sue, the card was definitely worth every minute you spent cutting it out, is is beautiful and has made me want to have a go too! Congrats to all the lucky winners. Regards, Anne Rx

yvonne (seom) said...

ooh i like this one Sue something very simple looking but oh so effective... Yes i like this one

melanie said...

Love the stamps and colour but I don`t think I would do this but wouldn`t mind being to receiver .Melanie

Lisa Minckler said...

Sue, you're nuts! LOL...I mean that in the best way though. I LOVE what you've done here. I was only referring to the cutting out part. I thought you said it took you a half hour and said to myself, "Wow, that's really quick." Second glance, you said an hour. Hahaha! WOW, you have patience like no other. REALLY love the look of this though. Shadow leaves in the back would have looked very nice, but I agree, I wouldn't have taken that apart again either. Wonderful imagination and creativity. Also love the cut white sentiment to shadow the black one. I always learn something new here.
hugs,
Lisa xx

Crafty Loops said...

Oh my word Sue, you did some amount of work here. It looks incredible. Its a really gorgeous card. I love how the leaves appear to be floating. Lee xx

Jeannie said...

Hi Sue, I don't often comment, but I love this, one of the few I've seen suitable for a guy, I find them soooo hard to cater for.
So thats my request, more guy cards please, I need some inspiration :)
Jeannie x

Hanneke said...

Wow, what a lovely card! You have so much patience. I love those leaves and the colors. Hugs, Hanneke

Unknown said...

N a wonderful idea it is to :) thax for sharing .

rosemarie said...

You must have the patience of a saint, I think I would have given up, or knowing me sliced through some vital part just at the end. The card is beautiful though so you should give yourself a pat on the back. xx

Rhonda Miller said...

I love this. It's great how you made it look like a picture frame with the leaves and sentiment inside. TFs.

gwendraeth said...

Thought this would be nice as a framed picture
Gwenda

lesley c. said...

Hi Sue, I really like this one the colours are stunning. I remember making a card like it once where I cut out all the white area around flowers. It took so long and I really loved it, I didnt want to give it away! I did in the end to a very special friend. This one was definately worth the effort.

Cazann49 said...

Was definitely worth the time cutting this one out!! LOVE this card...:)..xx

AnneRD said...

Hi Sue, A beautiful card. The leaves are absolutely gorgeous, love the colours and the technique you used. I also love the way you have used the different layers of card to make the frame. The only negative aspect for me is the solid blackness of the frame which makes it seem so sombre. Anne x

Shelley said...

Well worth the time spent, beautiful card.x

Barbara said...

Not a card I could attempt as like lots of others Im not that good with a craft knife. I would hang this card on my wall, its gorgeous and my fav stamps are trees and leaves. Love autumnal cards!

Clai01 said...

The leaves look great together, and it looks really colourful for the season of Autumn , love it !

baconbits said...

You must have the patience of Job - i really think this card is a stunner and well worth the time that you have put in but unfortunately i would have given up long before completion. I think the colour choices are super.

TFS
Hugs
Amanda x

Brunemma said...

This is exquisite. I absolutely love it. Such Inspiration and even if I don,t try it soon, I hope I will be able to find it again when I have more time to try it out. thank you for every one of your posts. I love them all.
Pam

Melanie181 said...

Love the idea of this one and it's in really pretty colours. Don't think i'd have the patience for it but can still appreciate how lovely it is. Thanks for sharing.
Melanie

Victoria said...

Goodness me, I don't know how you had the patience to cut out all that. I couldn't have done it!! I love the framed look of this card, with all the different layers setting the scene. Love the colours of the leaves too. This definitely gets a big thumbs up from me!!

lilygee said...

I love leaves and this card has a colourful, funky look to it - beautifully made Sue and thank you for showing it.
lots of love lilygee xxx

lainey said...

Very different Sue yet very effective. I'd say keep going with your idea's!! lainey x

Sue Parish said...

Hi Sue, There is so much to admire in this card - not least your patience and fortitude! How your poor fingers coped with an hours cutting with a craft knife I can't imagine - but I know I wouldn't be able to unbend mine if I tried it! What a feat. It's a stunning card. You must be a gardener too, Sue, those colours are so true to life. And I loved the double border, I thought it added great dignity to a very impressive piece of art. Congratulations - you should be getting a prize too! I'm very thrilled to be amongst the winners today, Thank you so much, Sue x

Anonymous said...

I think this card was well worth the hard work, Sue, its lovely.

love and hugs
dawn x

lilysmum said...

Hi there Sue. have to say the more I look at the card the more i like it; I love the autumnal feel to it and think it would be a great idea for a piece of wall art :-)

fluffycat said...

Hi Sue, I love the autumn and all the colours that go with it. I think the colours you have used are just right but oh, all that cutting! I'm not sure that I have the patience or a steady enough hand. By coincidence I have just ordered the fall spledour impressabilities; maybe that will be as close as I get to your beautiful card.
Frances

isobel said...

Hi Sue, what a lot of work, don't think I could start all that cutting, and carry on to finish it, I nearly always want to copy your cards, can't copy this one. When are we going to see you again? I miss you lots and lots, as I am sure every one else does. Many Blessings Patricia

KimberleyG said...

It was well worth the work. It is gorgeous. I love the colours you chose.

Rufus said...

While I love the colors that you've used, don't think I'd have done all that cutting out. I'd have just cut out the leaves and put them back with pop dots. Easier than having to keep them all attached by little tiny bits. Hey it's great that your doing cards that aren't "you"! That's half the fun! Thanks for sharing them all,
R/

Linda (Lindyloo) said...

Hi Sue, this will be short sorry, I'm so tired and must try sleeping. I really like this as I love foliage of any kind and the layering is fab.
Congrats to all the winners.
Regards Linda

Lorraine H said...

Just love this card - such hard work but well worth it. Lorraine x

CathyinMN said...

Sue, I love this card! I know sometimes our ideas get the better of us and things take a lot longer than we think they will, but the results of this card are wonderful!

Vie Carter said...

Very dramatic - Sue you made me a piece of backing paper using this stamp and versamark ink pad - the crumpled look at Ally Pally

I hold it in high esteem

Vie
x

Evik said...

Beautiful card Sue and I really love those leaves and colouring.

Eileen C said...

Whew! What a lot of work but the end certainly justified the means here - I took one look and immediately felt drawn to it. Love it - well done for your patience!!
Eileen (Edinburgh)

Tracy Heaton said...

Oh I'm sooooo thrilled!
Another fantastic card Sue
Tracy x

nattyboots said...

Hi Sue if i was to do this card it would have to be for someone very special, i really dont have the patience ,and if i did i dont think it would turn out as good as yours, i think the the colours are beautiful. Just want to thank you for picking my number in the draw ,im so chuffed to be a winner.Elaine H x

Heidi said...

Hi Sue, your 'i had an idea' ain't half bad. I happen to really like this card. Might have to treat myself to this leaf set of stamps.
:-)

Anonymous said...

Can I put up your submit to my wordpress weblog? I will add a inbound link to your
forum. That’s one actually nice post.

my blog post why am i not getting pregnant