FREE AS A BIRD

FREE AS A BIRD

STEPPING OUTSIDE THE COMFORT ZONE

SHAKING THINGS UP ONE CARD AT A TIME

When it comes to card making I have certain go to colors, techniques, card layouts, and color themes I tend to use over an over and over again. Doing so makes my card making quick, and mostly easy. It can also make all my cards look way too similar, and make crafting the cards boring. I decided to step outside that comfort zone and create some cards using the Free As a Bird stamp set. 

For the first card out in the not so comfortable zone, I chose a shaker card. I do make shaker cards from time to time, but to “shake things up” I made myself use Old Olive.  I do not dislike Old Olive. I have tons of Old Olive cardstock, the ink pad and refill, marker, Stampin’ Blends, etc.; I just tend not to use the color all that much. Here is the card:

I paired my Old Olive card base with some of the beautiful Ornate Garden Specialty DSP! The gold foil design of this paper is so pretty! I was quite pleased with myself for creating a card using Old Olive cardstock! Yes! I broke with routine, stepped out of my comfort zone, and it did not hurt a bit!!!

But..... I felt I needed to do a bit more with Old Olive! 

I really like the Free as a Bird stamp set. I thought one more card using Old Olive would be easier using a stamp set I truly like. Here is card #2: 

My out of the comfort zone move here was pairing Old Olive and Petal Pink. I do not recall using this color combination before, and this time it just sort of happened! I was pleasantly surprised to find these two colors compliment one another just fine. The ribbon on this card is a piece of the Whisper White Crinkled Seam Binding Ribbon I died with the Petal Pink (dark) Stampin’ Blend. That is such an easy way to color ribbon! 

I am happy with the two cards I made, and happy I took a step (even if just a baby step) outside my comfort zone. Now to continue this practice on a routine basis. It will help keep my cards fresh and exciting, keep the creative juices flowing, and maybe begin making a dent in that stack of Old Olive cardstock!

My challenge to you today is - step outside of your card making comfort zone, and try something new. It does not have to be anything elaborate. It can be as simple as using a color of cardstock you are not particularly fond of, or using a new color combination, or maybe pull out a stamp set that has been sitting on the shelf intimidating you, and see what you can create!

I hope today’s post provides you with Greatinkspirations!

Until next time...

Stamp Happy!

Kim