I've been in several color swaps, and color meant varied things like "Forest Floor" or "Under the Sea" or "Sunset." However, Patt's instructions were to use one color only. I had the backgrounds created before I realized that I was doing it wrong. Patt encouraged me to continue with my color, so here are the fronts.

I kept working with the backgrounds until I was at least a bit pleased. Then I glued the two sides together and used a "regular" Rolodex card to mark where the tabs should go so I could position the suns directly above the tabs. More on that later.
Next, I swiped old hymnal music with gesso, which turned the gorgeous old paper a stark white, which was not what I was going for. I then colored the sheet music with red and gold fluid acrylics. As the paint was drying, I cut a sun template. When everything was dry, I cut the suns and added rays using a blue ink pen, which promptly turned green for some unknown reason. I positioned the suns directly over the guide holes I had marked and glued them to the backgrounds.
I didn't realize that Dana's punch created tabs that were so much shorter than the pre-punched ones, so after I punched the tabs, I not only had floating suns, but I also had pencil marks on my cards that didn't want to erase. OK, I've done about as much damage as I can do on the front, now on to the back.

While bailing water in my basement (odd how my mind works), I remembered I had a moon stamp. Not being much of a rubber stamper, I don't often think of stamps as embellishments. I got the stamp out and put red on one side and blue on the other side of the stamp. I tried to position the stamp, but I'm not very good with wooden stamps. Some stamped really well, others only so-so.
I know the cards I get in return will be so beautiful. I only hope that the other swappers can forgive me for such plain cards. I really did put a lot of time and effort into them, but sometimes things just don't turn out the way you expect them to. One thing I can say about them: the backgrounds are very "COLORful."
2 thoughtful remarks:
It is so refreshing how you share your trials & tribulations with us! i don't think the finished product looks "plain" at all...I like the multiple colors very much! hope you don't have to bail the basement very many more times...
You may not have (inadvertently) followed the rules...but I think the final version of these cards is really great and definitely colorful!
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