Timeless Tuesday #260: < = >!

Tuesday, February 25, 2014

Hello, all you Flourishes Fans! Did you hear the news? There is a serious buyer for Flourishes!!! Yay! I SO hope it goes through...don't you? :D Well, while we are waiting to find out, let's play! :)


I'm your hostess for this week's Timeless Tuesday Challenge, and I wanted to give everyone a super easy challenge to work with.









So, here it is...< = >! Or, in non-math terms, Less = More! What does that mean, you ask? Well, simply create a card with a stamped image, but NO coloring! It doesn't have to be a CAS card, but if you really want to embrace the < = > theory, go for it!
For my project, I decided to make a boxed set of cards using some of my favorite Flourishes floral images. And, nothing shows off an image like white on kraft! 
I used Flourishes Classic Kraft cardstock, stamped the images with white pigment ink, then heat embossed large floral images from the Gerber Daisies, Sweet Peas, and Picking Wildflowers stamp sets. In the lower right corner, I stamped sentiments with Versamark ink, then heat embossed them in blue, pink, and yellow embossing powders. The sentiments came from the Sweet Peas, Picking Wildflowers, and Butterflies & Blossoms stamp sets. After cutting the upper right corner at an angle, I sponged Walnut Stain Distress Ink over the sentiments, up the right side of the card, and in the upper left corner. 

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On the inside, I used coordinating, but smaller, floral images, stamped in Versamark ink, but I didn't emboss them. The Picking Wildflowers set doesn't have a smaller image, but the Garden Picks set had a wildflower image that worked great with it.
To finish off my set, I made a box, using my envelope punch board. Jennifer McGuire has a great tutorial on how to do this. Before assembling it, I heat embossed the Sweet Pea image on the flap and on the back side. Then, tied it up with a polka dot ribbon.
Here's a look at the back of the box. Notice the slits that are cut for the ribbon to go through. This is so that when the box is untied, the ribbon won't fall off. 

Now, it's confession time! Remember I said I wanted this to be an easy challenge? HA! It was anything but that for me. Look at all my attempts to heat emboss the images:


Can you see what went wrong??? I had a major embossing powder fail! Before I figured out that it was the embossing powder, and not the cardstock, ink, or even operator error, I tried several brands of kraft cs, and a couple of dark colored cardstocks, too. I also tried stamping with Versamark ink, and with white pigment ink. No matter what I did, THIS is what I got...

Have you ever seen anything like this??? I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I think my embossing powder was absorbing dye from the cardstock because there was nothing in the powder before it was heated. I tested it on white cardstock, and it turned out beautifully. So, to make this project, after working on it unsuccessfully for hours, I finally went out and bought more embossing powder. Problem solved! ;~) But my < = > challenge sure was a lot more difficult for me than I had planned. Fortunately, though, I loved the finished set. So, aside from the ep fail, I have to say...Less=More=Easy Peasy! And, I like that equation!

I hope you are inspired, and will play along with us this week! I can't wait to see what you make! And, remember, you don't have to use Flourishes stamps, but if you do, you get two ballots toward the weekly prize! You can find all the details for the challenge here.

Be sure to visit the rest of the team to see how they've turned "Less" into fabulous "More!"
Thanks for stopping by, and have a crafty week!

~Hugs,

Supplies Used:

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7 comments :

TLady said...

THIS IS BEAUTIFUL CHERYL!!!!!!!:) WHAT A LOVELY GIFT! I have been thinking of doing this very thing for a friend!:)LOOOOOVE that Kraft Card Stock!!!;)

Victoria H. said...

This is a lovely set! Thanks for the tip with the EP as I was just having the same problem but hadn't thought it might be my powder.

Greta said...

I jumped for joy when I saw your challenge this week, Cheryl! Just what a non-colorer like me needs! Your cards are wonderful--love white on kraft! It is odd how many powders work fine for years (over 15!), but once in awhile I'll run across one that needs to be replaced. PS--so glad the little frame I made was an inspiration for you!

Conniecrafter said...

Oh my you had to do a lot of attempts there didn't you, I just love your final result they are just Beautiful, what a lovely gift to be given, I will have to give this a try!

Leslie Miller said...

These are actually stunning, Cheryl! White on kraft -- gorgeous! The floral images are so beautifully detailed and the simple embossing is a wonderful way to show them off. Odd about the embossing powder. They are not all created equal. I had a hideous gold which I finally gave up on and replaced. You are very dedicated to persevere, but I'm glad you did! Keeping my fingers crossed that things go well with the sale of Flourishes.

Katie Sims said...

Well despite all of your trials and tribulations, your card set turned out beautifully. That embossing powder didn't know who he was messing with...he never had a chance....lol! ;) Kraft and white is such a classic! Love that you decided to make a card set....complete with custom envelope! What a nice gift and thanks for a great challenge this week! It was completely out of my comfort zone, but those turn out to be some of my favorite cards! Hope you are having a great day! :)

Heather Rogers said...

What a beautiful set of cards, Cheryl! The white embossing looks fabulous. :)