Ladies and Gentleman, May I Present...Comedic Relief!

Way back when, and I'm dating myself, there was a song that started with, "Ladies and Gentleman, May I Present...Mambo #5!"  Do any of you all remember that?  I loved that song, but it was the only song on the entire CD that really amounted to anything!

Well, Ladies and Gents, let me first present comedic relief in the form of Blogger's Challenge!  Today, we were to do a one layer card.  Now anyone who has ever stamped with me knows this is nigh impossible.  But I tried...really, I did!  I came home after work and went right to the task.  I had an idea and new rubber -- now, how hard could this be, I reasoned?  Well, the first attempt was a fiasco at best, even using the StampAMaJig, which I will affectionately refer to as SAMJ in this post from here on out.  Here was my second attempt:

You will note that I attempted to "dim all the lights, sweet darlin',..." but that is another song that isn't fitting for this post!  The idea was to use a mask I had cut from acetate in the form of the top note die.  Great technique and I love the background look.  I sponged this in Pale Plum and Not Quite Navy.  Soft and easy, glistening like a beautiful winter night at dusk.  But, it went from good to bad in a heartbeat! 

I wanted my cardinal in flight to be in the moon.  No problem, Tami, I thought to myself.  Just punch a 1" circle punch and position it.  Okay, so self said, first stamp the image on the SAMJ and you'll know where to layer down the circle.  Okay, steps 1, 2 and 3 done.  Image stamped.  Check.  Circle Punched.  Check.  Circle Placed (with a bit of dotto adhesive so it won't move while being sponged.)  Check.  Well, Self thought, this is going very well.  I can DO this!

Pulled out the sponges and set to work, softly sponging my background.  Placing the SAMJ on the card stock to see if I've gotten the sponging where I want it.  Check.  So good so far.  Now, at this point, self is getting prideful.  Wait until they see this card, Self muses.  Check.  I'm doing it, I'm really doing it! (And truly, you know where this is going...here is where the background music softly starts in the video...) 

Pulled out the Handsome Hunter marker and markered my trees.  Check.  Looks good.  Pulled out the blender pen and removed ink from the snow swells because I didn't want them to be green.  Check (learned this from first attempt! that you are not seeing!).  Well, self thought, you are really getting good at this.  You are going to be wowing them tomorrow!  Can't wait to get this one posted!  Used the SAMJ to position, misted rubber with water from the water bottle that self remembered to pull out and stamped the image.  Prepared to impress self and ARRRRGH!  The water mist actually made the Seasons Greeting sentiment appear on the cardstock.  WHAT IS UP WITH THIS???   Self said, "Minor Setback.  Refuse to be defeated.  We can DO THIS!"

Blogger's Challenge - One Layer Card -- Take Three (Post Two!)...

Okay, self decided to notch it up (who wants to see a beautiful card like this on plain old Whisper White cardstock anyway -- would have had to do it over to get just that right GLAMOUROUS look) and we started with (are you ready?) Shimmery White cardstock.  Always good for a WOW, right?  Repeated all the steps.  Positioned the mask.  Check.  Positioned the moon.  Check.  Colored the Image.  Check.  Used the SAMJ to position the stamp.  Check.  Misted the image and dried the sentiment (self is getting prideful here again -- not making that stupid mistake again and aren't they going to be wow'ed!  Stamped the image and removed the stamp and AAAARRRRGGGHHH!  Forgot to remove the moon mask!  Now self is miffed!  Well, I hate to stamp single layers anyway (commence breathing hard and heavy!).  Huffing and Puffing.  Pull out first card and use shimmer mist to try to camouflage mistake.  Left Shoulder Self argues that if we light candles and take picture in the dark, setting the mood, mistake will not be seen.  Right shoulder self says, "Use the SAMJ and fix the second image. You teach this stuff and you can DO this!" 

Right Shoulder self wins.  Remove the Moon mask. Check. Color the Image.  Check.  Huff on it -- forget that misting nonsense anyway.  Must.  Fix.  This.  Image!  Position SAMJ.  Like the placement and stamp the image and AAARRRGGGHHH!  My trees have double tops.  Self sits back in mortification.  What has happened here?  Why did this not work?  Why am I such a failure at this stamping thing......Well, self says, "Someone needs to teach all those stampers out there how NOT to do it!"  Self perks up.  That is it!  Our first video will be a comedic relief video on how NOT to do it so people don't make mistakes like we make.  We'll make millions making stamping mistakes showing others how not to do it and we'll make them laugh in the process.  Self inks up Sentiment in Not Quite Navy and uses SAMJ to position, stamps and smiles. At least we have a plan.....

We hope you enjoyed this presentation of how NOT to stamp a single layer card.  The video will be out shortly.  All proceeds shall benefit the "Stampers Anonymous" organization in hopes that those of us who experience extreme frustration will live to stamp another day on MULTIPLE LAYER CARDS!

And the winner of the blog candy for finally getting over 2,000 views (a huge milestone!) is Jean Fitch!  Random.org loved you Jean!  Please email me at tami@MakeMineStamps.com or leave a comment with where you would like your card box sent and on Monday, I'll get this out to you.  I may even send you a promo copy of the video, "How NOT to stamp a Single Layer Card."

Blessings to you all.  I'm off to find out if someone else can instruct me in how to stamp a single layer card professionally.  And then, I'm going to contact Bonnie who can teach me to score a card with no stamping that is prettier than anything I've ever imagined.  Self tried to do this as well but gave up shortly before we approached the "just slit your wrists and get it over with" step!  End the madness -- stamp multiple layers and be happy!

Comments

[Nikki]

You are tooo funny! I think your single layer card looks fabulous! It really is elegant and shimmery....I really love it! {SMILES}

[Mary Jo Price-Williams]

You are so funny! I don't think it is nearly as bad as you say, I actually think it is very pretty. And I would not have noticed the double tops on the trees if you didn't say anything. Great job--you should be proud of your effort!

[Lisa Somerville]

Love your stamp story! Wonderful job on the "challenge", very pretty!

[Robin Merriman]

You had me cracking up at the image of you trying to make this BEAUTIFUL card! I know you have angst about it, but really, the final result is really pretty. I love the idea of the top note mask, I'll be trying that for sure!
And if no one else wants it, you can send it to me for Christmas - I'll display it proudly!

[Selene Kempton]

This is gorgeous Tami! I think you're being too hard on yoruself. Way cool! I heard postage to Virginia is extra... (tee hee) you can always send it to Massachusetts instead. :)

[Lorie]

Tami you are too funny! We are all our own biggest critics...I really like your card! :o)

[Rachel Hope]

You are too hard on yourself...I think it is Beautiful!!!

[Shelly Schmidt]

You are too funny- my first two ended up in recycling- too bad t=for pictures! You made a lovely card! I love all of the glitter.

[Amy Caraluzzi]

Wow, I must be blind because I think your card is WONDERFUL! Trees with two tops? So what! They look lovely and full! Seriously, to me this is proof that we are our own worst critics because your card is beautiful!

[Jean Fitch]

Looking out the window my dozens and dozens of pine trees pretty much all have double tops. I'd never have noticed if you hadn't pointed it out. That said my first thought when I opened your email blog update was - breathtaking! Then reading the post it was...still breathtaking but possibly because the laughter was quite literally taking my breath away. So Breathtaking on both scores! Thanks for the inspiration and the oxygen deprived high! I've heard of a stamping high before but this time no ink or cleaning product was involved - LoL!

As for the video's...Sign me up! Maybe with the Comic Relief title we can get Whoopi to narrate them!

Hugs and blessings (and oh yeah...thank you, thank you, thank you for the box! - I sent you the address!)

- Jean

[Ida]

Oh my goodness you did "crack me up" reading about your card making process. Guess what? I was "wowed" anyway because I think your card is wonderful. I've also seen double topped trees (we had one one year for our Christmas tree before we went fake.) Love the shimmer this card has.

[Kimberly Gajewski]

I think that you did a wonderful job with this challenge Tami! This turned out beautifully! :D

[Barbara D]

Well, I definitely think you are being way too hard on yourself....because you card is really fabulous! I LOVE how it came out. BUT, I understand how you feel, because it was really difficult to not do layers.....I know my one layer card looked kind of "naked" to me!

[Lisa Bohler]

I love how it turned out!!! Excellent card and it just beautiful!!!!

[Lori]

I really like this! I think it turned out great.

[Chris Dickinson]

I agree - it turned out great!

[connie Paxman]

I was frustrated also...but a good challenge for us...You did wonderful...in all aspects of the card.
connie paxman

[jeanne nielsen]

I'm sitting here at work, almost middle of the night and everyone can't figure out why I'm laughing!! So funny! Now I have to add that you're way too hard on yourself and I don't think anyone would or could see the problems that you supposedly had with this!! Very pretty card!

[Toni]

I think it's a fabulous card Tami! Great job with the sponging and masking...it's beauiful!