Saturday, October 1, 2011

Chateau de Versailles

It's Saturday, and the weekend is upon us!  I hope you all have time this weekend to do something you love.  Today, is Oct 1, 2011...its World Card Making Day.  And the wonderfully creative Lori has a great challenge for us and you, @ Our Creative Corner Challenge.  The challenge is to create a card using another country as your inspiration.  And I don't think that it will come as a surprise, when you see my card!  
I love things French.  I'm not sure why.  I'm not french, but I gravitate to french inspired things.  I'm even a fan of French cooking.  And so, I started my inspirational search looking for things associated with Marie Antoinette.  You remember her in history, when referring to the poverty and suffering of her own people, she said, 'Let them eat cake!'.  Marie dressed in very exaggerated gowns.  Lots of lace, ruffles, pearls, bling - all things pretty, feminine, and just gorgeous!  Then, I searched the Internet for some photographs of the interior decor of Chateau de Versailles.  The rooms that I saw, were decorated extravagantly.  Lots of bold colors, patterns, and large scale architecture.  So, with those images going through my head, I sat down at my craft table, and put together this card.


I took the wall paper inside Versailles as my inspiration for the main panel.  
To show some of the architecture of Versailles, I used an oval frame embossing folder to create the oval piece.  I stamped a pink flourish inside the oval.  I stamped 'Bonjour' inside the pink flourish.  I added a white resin floral piece.  
To add some elements from Marie's gowns, I created the vertical strip.  On a strip of Very Vanilla card stock, I stamped some 'music' on it, and then created a box pleat.  I wrapped a piece of ruffle ribbon and created a multi-loop bow.  I hot glued a white button and pale pink faux half-pearl to its center. 
I wanted to add another feminine and pretty piece, so I created the flower.  I cut some floral shapes with a die, using sheer fabric and text paper.  I stacked the pieces together and added a scrap piece of white crochet trim.  I added a wonderfully pretty rhinestone brad to the center.  I adhered the flower to a white paper doily.  To add some softness and innocence.  
I did stamp on the main panel.  I stamped a Paris address in the upper left corner, in a brown classic ink.  I stamped 'Paris' in the lower right corner, in a black classic ink.

Thank you for looking, and I hope you have been inspired to join us @ Our Creative Corner, for this fabulous challenge!  Remember, it's World Card Making Day!  Please, use this 'holiday' to create something wonderful! and share it!

6 comments:

Tui Nathan said...

This is fabulous Sharon ... I can soo see the French influence in your card - from the beautiful embossed frame and resin floral detail to the soft pretty flower and doily design ... this is so chic and oh so "je ne sais quoi" ...

Linda Coughlin, the funkie junkie said...

Wow, Sharon, you really took this international challenge seriously. I'm so impressed with the research you did and the card you came up with. I loved it right away, but even more so after reading your description on how you came up with all the elements of your card - absolutely too cool. Love all the colors and elements - just a gorgeous piece of work!

Have a great week!

Hugs,
Linda

Marjie Kemper said...

Sharon, this is so beautiful. So many gorgeous details. I love that strip of punched music paper and that gorgeous blue ribbon, and your flower is simply amazing!

Jennifer Rzasa said...

I love your Marie Antoinette inspiration...so beautiful! Your card is luxurious, with many very pretty details. Hope you're having a great week!

Lori Rider said...

Wow, fabulous card! I've been to Versailles and you really captured the opulence well. It's gorgeous! I love all things French too - what's not to love? WOnderful work on the challenge!

Vicki Burdick said...

Such vintage fabulousness, Sharon!!! Sorry I am so behind with my commenting lately!!!