When Minutes Count

I take my time when making cards. I enjoy the process, not to mention the fact it can take me HOURS to pick the images, just the right colours... So when my friend Emily first encouraged me to check out the current 10 Minute Craft Dash challenge, I thought yeah, no. However, she continued to encourage me -- AND pointed out the prize this week was a Paper Smooches gift certificate. Hmmm... Finally, I decided I might as well try! At the worst, it takes me more than ten minutes and/or it's a disaster and I recycle it. 

Look! I did it! Not only that, I even incorporated the current Paper Smooches SPARKS Picture Perfect inspiration challenge. Kim says you can "follow the inspiration closely, or use it loosely", so I thought going with a love theme was a reasonable interpretation. And you are allowed to gather all your supplies and have your idea in mind before hitting the timer, thank goodness. Here's how my time broke down, more or less: 
     — Stamping and heat-embossing the soulful puppy: ~2 minutes
     — Colouring with Prismacolor pencils: ~3 minutes
     — Stamping on banner from die-cut stash: ~1 minute
     — Stamping paw heart and cutting out: ~1 minute
     — Putting it all together: ~2 minutes
All that and I had about twelve seconds left over! I thought it was okay to pull out an already cut piece to use; it's not like I purposely cut it out ahead of time just for this card! As it was, I had to cut down one end a bit, because of course I didn't centre the sentiment exactly. As you can tell, the puppy is quite roughly coloured; there's no time for careful shading! 
Although the pressure is all self-imposed, I found the time constraint a little stressful. So I'm not sure the 10 Minute Craft Dash will necessarily become a regular stop for me, but it was fun to try! I guess I better enter this into Simon Says Stamp's Anything Goes challenge, too. ;)
P.S. Paper Smooches (hee, aka P.S.!) is having their February DT blog hop starting today! Looks like more fun new dies from Kim.

     

 Supplies: white & Stampin' Up kraft cardstock, Paper Smooches Woofers and Tweeters stamps, Brilliance coffee bean, Memento rose bud & Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay inks, clear embossing powder, Papertrey Ink double-ended banner, pop-dot tape