Birch Frame

I don't talk about it much, but every now and then I'll struggle with a stamp set or a card, and when I struggle, I reeeeeally struggle!  Sometimes I'll take a break and come back around to it. . . or not.  On the really bad days, I'll proclaim myself the world's worst cardmaker (EVER!) and throw a self-loathing, peanut M&M eating, pity party for one.  This new Birch Frame stamp set by Whimsy Stamps was one of those stamp sets that challenged me.  It's a beautiful stamp set, but not particularly "my style."  I'm not even showing you the first two cards I created using this set that I promptly declared "disastrously hideous" (which is like a bajillion times more hideous than hideous) and threw in the rubbish.  BTW, "rubbish" sounds way better than "trash" or "garbage."  So, no worries, these two cards actually went to a happy place! ; )

This time, instead of that M & M eating, self -loathing pity party for one, and before I threw in the proverbial towel, I decided to try this stamp set one more time with a more optimistic outlook and was able to create a card that is actually quite pretty.  I'm not saying it didn't take me 4-plus hours, but it's also not "disastrously hideous," so that's a craft win in my book!

Card details: 

*A full supply list is located at the end of this post.

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I stamped the Birch Frame on a piece of white carsdtock and colored it using Copic markers.  I then fussy cut the entire frame out.  I stamped the sentiment from the Beaucoup Bouquet stamp set in  Merry Merlot ink.  On a 4 1/4" x 3" piece of Crumb Cake cardstock, I stamped the Leaves background stamp in Versamark ink.  I heat embossed the leaves in white embossing powder.  I matted this leaf embossed piece onto a piece of Merry Merlot cardstock before adhering both layers to the bottom of the card.  I then adhered the Birch Frame to the center of the card popped up on 3M foam adhesive for added dimension.  

I know I'm not alone in my crafting challenges.  Tell me all about yours in the comments below!

XO, Crystal 

List of supplies: