Last year I took on the #The100DayProject for the first time, completing 100 sketches over the 3+ months of the project. I thought about taking on the same project again this year, since sketching seems to be one of my creative endeavors that often ends up on the back burner.
Recently, however, I reorganized (and purged) my large collection of stamps. In the process I found multiple sets that have seen little (or no) love. Then I realized that my Pinterest board titled Cards: Techniques had over 150 pins. Not all those pins represent new techniques for me, but many do. So this year I've decided to try the #100DayProject again by committing to try a new technique, or use a new or unloved stamp set every day. Some days (most, I hope) will result in a card or two. But some days it may just be an opportunity to play around with the creative process. One goal is to master the art of ink blending which always seems to be a challenge for me. I’d also like to improve in my use of layering stamps, as well. Then there are all those pins . . . some represent style more than technique, but each time I pinned the card it was something about the technique that appealed to me. I also have a Pinterest board titled: Cards: Design, so I may take on a few of those as well. Hopefully, at the end of the project, I’ll have a stash of cards put away.
Today is Day 1. The project's goal is to post one photo every day to Instagram, but we all know how reliable I am about that! I am planning to blog at least once a week with some of the techniques I’ve tried, and a couple of the cards I made. That seems a bit more doable.
Today I started with a design I saw just this week on Heather Nichols blog. It's a new design for me (the white outline with a colored image on top) and a new technique (watercoloring on Bristol paper with Zig pens). When I went to find a stamp that would work with this design I was surprised to discover that with all the floral images I own, I have almost no floral stamps that include a grouping of flowers. I was short on time, so trying to mask and stamp a floral group seemed out of the question. Then I discovered the Penny Black "Botanical Notes." It's a stamp I've owned for several years and used only once or twice---a long time ago. So there it is: a new design, a new technique, and a seldom used stamp. I doubt I'll hit all of those categories each day, but it should be a fun project.
I love the bright orange on the gray paper, and I like the white outline images as well. I'm curious to see if I can get this design to work with other stamps sets.
I haven't decided yet whether to add a sentiment strip to the front or not. If I do, I'll emboss one on a black or vellum banner. The card itself will work for more than one occasion, so I'll just wait and see.
I've given some thought to how I might keep up with this project when we travel, which we certainly will during the next 100 days, but I think it will be doable. If some days don't work out, I'll double up---I have no issue with that, but I do expect to have attempted 100 techniques, designs, or cards with an unused/unloved stamp set.
