Before I share these cards, I want to put a bit of context to my slightly OTT use of the music background stamp over the past few days. I do all my crafting on a tiny budget, as I'm desperately trying to save to buy a house (a seemingly impossible task!), so everything I buy has been thoroughly considered in terms of its' value. I rarely spend more than a few £ on a stamp, and lots of my stamps are preloved from table top sales and such like. This music note stamp set me back £15 (which I know a lot of crafters won't consider to be much at all!) and I thought about it for SUCH a long time before finally caving in. As a result, I now feel that I simply have to get the best value out of it, so sat down to REALLY use it a few days ago. Hence all the music backgrounds. I have been on the hunt for a script background at a reasonable price, and I think I am resigned to having to spend the same again! If anyone sees one in a sale, I'd love to know!
Anyway, enough waffling. In yesterday's post using my music background stamp, I mentioned that I also had bright blue and hot pink backgrounds stamped and waiting for some inspiration.. Well here they are :)
Stuck to a nice simple layout for the blue one...
And something altogether more girly and frilly for the pink one! I've taken the pic at a funny angle so that you can see the shine on the frame - clear embossing. It looks so deep and rich in real life, with a real texture to it. I have been trying to incorporate more ribbons into my cards, because it's something I'm not great at! They always look so messy, I have to tie and re-tie them a million times before I'm happy with them!
I've entered the pink one for the Pan Pastels challenge - Add a Flower and the Fashionable Stamping challenge - embossing.
Thanks for looking, I'd love to know what you think of them.
Two lovely cards! Love the blue one especially... and you're right to get as much use out of your stamps as humanly possible - crafting is a costly business - I look at lots of things I would like then refuse to buy them because of their ridiculous prices - am a great believer in 'getting your money's worth' so good on you!
ReplyDeleteOh and the one thing I have found the most useful... was a 'bow maker' which a fellow crafter bought me for my birthday a couple of years ago!
ReplyDeleteHeh M, love the cards (l too, like the blue one the most) and think you are right to get the most out of your stamps. I wish I had some of your willpower as I have bought stuff in the past and have NEVER used them! I have a bow maker which hubby made for me out of a block of wood drilled with spaced holes and dowle that can be moved to make different sized bows. It's great.
ReplyDeleteBig hugs Rach xx
This is a lovely stamp to have and I'm sure you will make great use of it. Money worth spending!
ReplyDeleteYour cards are fab using it. I love your blue one in particular. x
Really gorgeous, love the colour and the flowers and the music notes look fab. Thank you for joining in with the PanPastel challenge blog
ReplyDeleteLindsay xx
Good work here... they are very attractive' good to look at cards X Thanks for joining us in this weeks PanPastel Uk Challenge.
ReplyDeleteEileen xx
Hi M
ReplyDeleteI am loving your music note backgrounds .. .. great look.
Gorgeous colours too.
I know what you mean about the expense of stamps etc. A large amount of mine has been pre-loved too. But I really do think you will get value for money out of this one. So such you will be able to do with it!
Hope you have a good week.
Love Jules xx
Two wonderful cards, thanks for joining us on FSC this fortnight.
ReplyDeleteI love your music stamp - it's such a useful one to have and this one is particularly good. Crafting is NOT cheap and you are right to get maximum use out of your purchases.
ReplyDeleteI really love the pink one above. I can't resist certain florals and these are wonderful.
I know what you mean about making a bow - I usually give up after spending ages trying! I like wired ribbon because I can seem to make it behave a little better and without quite so much angst!
I'm your newest follower because I've enjoyed reading this post - you sound a bit like me!!
Regards, Julia
These are both lovely but I like the simplicity of the blue one best. Your music background is fabulous M and I love the different looks you're getting with it. I agree with you that when you're on a budget (or have limited space!) it's a good idea to buy stamps that you'll be able to use in lots of different ways. I like my stamps to work hard to earn their space in my craft square metre!
ReplyDeleteWonderful cards and I really admire you for being able to craft on a budget.... I could learn from you! My favourite is the pink one, but the blue one is lovely too. Music and script stamps are always great, you can use them in so many different ways!
ReplyDeleteHi M, your manuscript stamp was a great investment, it can be used for both sexes and most occasions too :0) I've heard it said that if you can think of 5 different ways to use a stamp then go for it!!
ReplyDeleteBoth cards are pretty, I love the CAS nature of the first. I hear you about ribbons...I have a few but hardly use them either :0)
Jenny x
Wow! I'm in amazement with both these cards and how you can transform one step into two cards that look so unique and pretty! Great pops of color, great cards! When I first started stamping and blogging I got a lot of my supplies by entering random draws and challenges, that was pretty nice for me because I was also on a limited budget!
ReplyDeleteThese are Fabulous M! I am on a tight budget as well. I almost never buy anything unless it's on sale or I have a coupon. The majority of my stamps are bought in thrift or as you call them charity shops. When you have some time pop over to my blog and check out some of the Cheap Tricks I use to save money. HOpe you can find something helpful.
ReplyDeleteHugs
A fantastic creation with great details!
ReplyDeleteThanks for joining us at the Fashionable Stamping challenges !!
xxx Ellie xxx
Hiya two beautiful cards, the gorgeous pink card is perfect for this fortnights challenge, thanks so much for joining us at FSC. xx
ReplyDeleteBeautiful cards, love that musical stamp, I'm sure it will be worth every penny
ReplyDelete