Home Tutorials About Me Video's Cards for Sale

Thursday 5 March 2015

Clean and Simple


I came across this underused Memory Box die the other day, I think I have only used it once, it was high time I thought of something to do with it.  To tell you the truth, I am not very good at looking at dies and imagining how they will look when cut, so I didn't twig that this was a negative sort of die until it was too late and it had taken up residence in my cupboard. So I die cut a rectangle with a stitched border, then die cut the flower out of that....


I made a couple of very light pencil marks to give me an idea where the die cut panel would sit on the base card, then just sponged some colour onto those spots.....


and here is the finished card......


It's a pity you can't see the pretty Wink of Stella sheen that is on the flowers.....


It was interesting how many of you from North America commented on our school system yesterday, I think it is a bit different from America. Children go to nursery school at three years, usually doing half days,  then move into full time nursery in the year they reach four - so if they are four on the 31st August, they move into full time school in September even though some of their classmates may soon be having their fifth birthday, almost a whole year older than them, Kiki and Monty, both having June birthdays, are young in their school years, but seem to have coped with it

 So they are reading and writing by the time they get to year 1 the following year when they are 5.  They either stay in that school until eleven, or their area may have a middle school system that they move to aged seven, then stay until eleven. Then they go to their secondary schools, where they stay until 16 if they can't wait to leave school, or 18 if they are going on to university or want higher level qualifications. Our public schools are called State Schools and our private schools are called Public Schools! I know, I know, we like to confuse.........I think I read somewhere that in America the children are no longer taught cursive writing (or I may have got that wrong), here, my grandchildren have all been taught to write straightaway in cursive. 

I reckon I understand the USA system pretty well after our years in Florida, but haven't a clue what a sophomore is, or what sorority (is that how you spell it?) is in colleges....one of you will tell me....

See you tomorrow x

21 comments:

  1. What a gorgeous way to use the die!
    Jane

    ReplyDelete
  2. Fab card Enfys and a great explannation of our school system! X

    ReplyDelete
  3. What an awesome die this is. I love what you have done with it ... your coloring behind the negative image, the little gems, the patterned tag with the sentiment, the layers, the depth, the textures. This is one of those cards that appears simple at first glance, but becomes more and more complex the more you look at it. I do wish I had this die, you've made my mind swim with dozens of creative possibilities for it. =)

    Our system here in the US is definitely different, but then it also varies here, depending on the particular town and/or school system you are in. I started typing out the basic structure, and variations of our school system ... but several paragraphs later, I realized it was not only way too much information, it was also totally confusing. So I deleted that (You're Welcome!) *wink*

    However, since you asked about a Sophomore ...

    High School - (generally grades 9-12 or 10-12). This is where the school system has BOTH a number grade, and a grade class name. 9th grade is a Freshman. 10th grade is a Sophomore. 11th Grade is a Junior. 12th grade is a Senior.

    Similarly, a 4-year college or university would call the first year student a Freshman, a 2nd year student a Sophomore, a third year student a Junior, and the final (4th year) student a Senior.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I always love the look of a card with a negative look. I always think I will do that and then when I'm working on something it doesn't even occur to use this technique. Then I see a very creative project done this way and I want to smack myself in the head (just like "you should have had a V8") and say "you should have worked with a negative look!" You did an awesome job!

    Hats off to Carol, her explanation was perfect, simply explained and direct to the point!

    ReplyDelete
  5. I never tried this, but then, I don't have any negative dies. Now, I will have to look for one, as this is very pretty, and different! The explanation by Carol is perfect. A Sorority is for girls what a Fraternity is for boys. A club (usually with a Greek name, Alpha Sigma Delta, etc) that is supposed to provide support, and promote integrity, honesty, etc. Many of them do, but some are more of the sort in "Animal House", and end up on the news! For many colleges, sorority sisters come back for years to have reunions, and it is a happy time for them. Hope this helps.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Actually the government here in Britain announced that they were increasing the age at which school leavers could leave school to 18, but no idea when it starts.

    ReplyDelete
  7. Thank you Carol and BethAnn - at last it makes sense!

    ReplyDelete
  8. This comment has been removed by the author.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Maryellen WebberThursday, March 05, 2015

    You have taught me something new today, thanks for sharing this negative die cut. Your card is so pretty. Thanks for explaining your school system, very interesting. I loved the pillow you made for your daughter, I forgot to comment yesterday.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Enfys, A sophmore is a second year high school student. There is 1st, freshman, then sophmore, then junior, and finally senior. then gtaduation around 18. College comes after it if they want to go. Sororoty (sic) is a girl's group with latin words for their titles. Fraternity is a boy's group again with latin words for names. You have to be invited to join, I think. Usually they have a house of their own thiat they live in while in school. Some live other places, but the house is the main area. Another words it is a place where they party a lot, with their member friends. If I missed anything, I am sure someone will fill in the gaps that I don't know about. This may be like oyour Oniversity. Getting a degree in something they want to be...

    ReplyDelete
  11. Your card is lovely! I'm glad you stepped out of your comfort zone and used that neglected die :o)
    TK Watson

    ReplyDelete
  12. Love your pretty CAS card, Enfys - such a clever way of using that delicate flower die! Will have to look at mine a bit differently and see if I can recreate! Really like the sequin sprinkles too - something else to go on my crafty wish list! Hugs, Lisa x

    ReplyDelete
  13. Stunning card Enfys, never would have thought of doing that either. Bit like you with dies, really have to work at them lol.

    ReplyDelete
  14. Love the card! I need to try that technique.

    I would like to provide clarification regarding fraternities and sororities. They are greek, not latin. They are college organizations and there are 2 types, social (fraternity for boys, sorority for girls), and professional (called fraternities that have men and women). A person will generally go thru "rush" their freshman year of college, but sometimes wait until their 2nd year. I don't remember how the professional fraternities have people join, it was a long time ago! I was in a sorority and a little sister to a fraternity and very involved with the greek system at my university. Once initiated into a fraternity or a sorority you are a member for life. There is a whole lot more info, but you probably don't want me to write a novel on the subject!!

    ReplyDelete
  15. Awww Enfys this is so adorable x

    ReplyDelete
  16. Thank You! I have that die and did the same as you with it - put it aside, now I see just how lovely it can look.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Love this card design. Very simple, but it looks more complicated. Very, very pretty. School systems are so diverse, it's tough to figure them out sometimes. In my area, if you want you can send your child to nursery school at 3 & 4 yo, then kindergarten at age 5, elementary school is grages 1-5, middle school is 6-8 and high school is 9-12. Most graduate high school at age 17 or 18 depending on your birthday. Our high school years are 9th is freshman, 10th is sophomore, 11th is junior and 12th is senior year.

    ReplyDelete
  18. What a pretty card, clean and simple and so effective. Parts of the north east still have 3 schools system. First school 509, middle school 9-13, high school until 17 or so. Other parts are primary 5-11 then high school. Pat x

    ReplyDelete
  19. Pretty card. It's all different here in Norway. They have kids in Kindergarden in prams up to 6 when the start school. I don't understand the year numbers, but then I don't understand them in the UK either now. It's all changed since I was a youngster. Hugz

    ReplyDelete

I love reading your comments, thank you for taking the time
Enfys x