Here goes nothin'...

Greetings fellow papercrafters! I have been wanting to create a blog for quite some time now. In fact, it was on my list of 26 things I would like to accomplish before I turn 27. ;) With the start of Dawn McVey's Raspberry Suite Color Challenge, I decided that now was just as good of a time to start as any. Never mind the fact that my hubby and I are moving this week and I have yet to pack up the bedroom or my papercrafting supplies... ;) A girl has to have priorities, right?

Dawn is known for using fab color combos on all of her creations and I am very much looking forward to what she will have in store for us each week, as I'm sure most of you are too. (That is being a little bold on my part-actually assuming someone is reading this.) Anyhoo-since I have yet to own all of the Papertrey Ink colors, I had to improvise a little and use some Bazzil. I promise that the Mango color (used to make the flower) is more of an orange sherbet color in real life and doesn't look so much like the Pollen color used to make the yellow panel. I'm still new to this whole blogging thing and have a few kinks to work out. ;)

For this card, I chose to use the Caardvarks Hero Arts Challenge Sketch as my starting point. Sometimes card sketches are super fun and get my creative juices flowing, and other times they frustrate me beyond measure when my creation doesn't turn out looking like I think it should. Not too long ago I decided to follow one of AmyR's sketches and after about three attempts, I was ready to never stamp again. Okay, I wasn't that upset, but I was frustrated. It was then that I realized that EVERYONE creates differently. Sometimes a sketch will work out for me, other times it won't. I was focusing too hard on making my card look exactly like the sketch that I was missing the point of the exercise. Sketches (and color combos!) are meant to inspire you-help get those creative juices flowing. It should be FUN-not stressing. I've tried to be a bit more laid back about my creative process. Remind me of all of this the next time a sketch has me in near tears, okay? :)

Supplies:

Stamps: Polka Dot Basics {Papertrey Ink}, Thoughts of You {Studio G}

Paper: Dark Chocolate, Rasperry Fizz, Linen Vellum Cardstock {Papertrey Ink}, Pollen, Mango {Bazzil}

Ink: Rasperry Fizz {Papertrey Ink}, Versamark

Ribbon: Raspberry Fizz {Papertrey Ink}

Other: Chocolate Embossing Powder {Zing! by American Crafts}, Raspberry colored button, Corner Rounder punch, Scalloped Sentiment Punch (Fiskers)