THE BASICS AND BEYOND

Here I am -- with the fourth installment of my adventures with the Stampin' Up! online class, The Basics. Have I mentioned that I am having an absolute blast with this course?? I peeked last night, and was sorely disappointed to discover that I only have FOUR MORE PROJECTS to complete. And then I'm FINished!! So sad.

Project 13

May I present to you the project that has taken over the lead for "My Favorite". I ended up doing it a little differently than was described in the project instructions. My first attempt was disAStrous!! It was the first project I nearly gave up on. But, persistence won out, and here is my result. What a cool technique! I will have to use it again because it makes for such a striking card.

Project 14 -- First Attempt

Alright. Confession time. This is the second project I almost gave up on. The technique being taught was the chalkboard technique. My first attempt was pretty much like the directions were given. But completely without success.

Now, be honest. Do any of you ever have problems heat embossing with white on black card stock? C'mon. Be honest! No matter how carefully I use my little Embossing Buddy and then flick off excess powder with a fine paintbrush, I STILL get stray yukky embossed dots everywhere. <insert scream>

I attempted to get good results several times following the project instructions. To no avail.

Project 14 -- My So-Called Success

Finally, I tried it my way. It wasn't so frustrating with excess embossing dots, but I also thought it resembled a chalkboard a little more than in my first example.

Project 14 -- Close-Up of My So-Called Success

Of course, it's not perfect and won't win any awards. Nor will it be seen in broad daylight. But I let it go, chalking it up (no pun intended! OK. I did intend the "chalk" pun.) to experience. It's just not something I will attempt again. I mean, after all, Babe Ruth didn't hit a home run every time either, did he?

OK. Let's move on. Please.

Project 15 -- Horizontal

Project 15 -- Vertical

Now this one I thought turned out bright and cheerful. And like a few others I've posted on Paper Seedlings, it works both ways -- horizontal and vertical. Any personal preference? It was a fun project to do.

Project 16

My final project for today's post is one I changed up quite a bit, of course, due to the lack of all the supplies called for. So, while following the technique being covered, I got a little wild, and I am HAPPY! 

Now, as I proceed through these projects, if you pay attention to the sample pictures in the instruction sheets I show accompanying my own samples, you can see that I am becoming more and more adventurous in my choices and making the projects my own. I can do this while still learning something from the techniques being taught. It is just so much fun to have these parameters in which to work, but then, because you are learning just for YOU, you have the opportunity -- and why waste an opportunity to grow?? -- to work outside the box and make it truly your own.

Such a gift to give yourself. 

If any of you are interested in having so much fun for yourself, the item number for the Stampin' Up! Online Class, The Basics, is 133385. Believe me, you will not regret this purchase one single bit!

Smiles.