Love, Miss You Card

~ photo heavy post ~

This post is  l o n g  and has several images.  So, grab a latte, tea, or any other beverage of choice. {smile}  Lately, I have been surfing the internet.  Love the internet! and Pinterest!  With this 'free' time, I wanted to create something pretty.  Only because I don't feel so 'pretty' today {frown}.  Ugh.  So, let the crafting begin!  I stopped by a favorite sketch challenge site:  Mojo Monday: #382 - tall & skinny.  If you aren't a fan of 'tall & skinny', you are free to adapt the sketch to whatever length/width that fits your fancy*.

I also stopped by a favorite color challenge: Creative Color Challenge: #28 - photo inspiration

use pink, green, pattern papers and laces

And then, finally, I went to a challenge site I frequently visit: Craft Hoarders Challenge:  choose your challenge.  For this month's challenge, there is a grid of different crafting elements, and you are to select at least one option from the list in each category (coloring medium, fiber, technique, texture, and embellishments).

ok, so that you have an idea as what I need to craft, let's just get to it!  

Here is my card:

So. let me explain my card, and how it fits these challenges.   Let's start with the sketch - I turned it upside down!  How clever, right?  For my circle element, I used a large fabric blossom.  The green polka dot pattern piece is the 'grey' rectangle piece. The 'green' rectangle is actually a layered element.  I used a wide, silk ribbon.  Then sewn a piece of layered, ruffled tulle, and sewn a piece of crochet trim on top of the tulle.  And finally, the thin banner piece was created with two elements to create a line: the 'love' bulb, and the green seam binding bow.

The creative color - I used two pattern papers.  The largest pattern paper has pink blossoms, and pink stripes over a sheet of music.  The large blossom and large sequin are both pink.  The small, green pattern paper has green polka dots.  There is a green seam binding bow, and a pair of green sequins.   The lace portion, is a bit of a stretch.  I have a piece of layered, ruffled tulle, along with a piece of crochet trim.

And finally, the craft hoarders challenge -  the coloring medium: ink and paint.  The 'miss you' sentiment is stamped, and the edges of pattern papers are sponged.  I painted the edge of the pink button and white resin frame, with white paint before dunking them in glitter.  The fiber choice: twine, ribbon, and seam binding.  The twine was tied through the distressed button.  Pink silk ribbon, cram tulle, and crochet trim across the card front.  Green seam binding tied into a bow.  The technique I used was stamping.  I stamped the sentiment.  The texture I selected was distressing tool.  I distressed the edges of the pattern papers with a thread cutter.  The embellishments I selected were flower, button, and bling.  Bling was defined as glitter, pearls, and sequins.

Ok, now for the recipe:  Whew!  Never thought that we would get to this part!  The card base is blushing bride by Stampin' Up!.  Love their heavy weight card stock.  Just wonderful to work with.  The two pattern papers I used are both digital papers, and from the same collection.  I used a thread cutter to distress the edges, and sponged crumb cake classic ink.  I ran a simple stitch along the edges of the pattern papers.  I also did a little zig zag stitching to add some pizzazz!  

I wrapped a wide strip of pale pink silk ribbon around the card front.  I did some sewing to hold the layered, ruffled tulle to the silk ribbon, and then one more layer of sewing - the crochet trim on top of that!  I think it adds a sweet, soft, delicate, shabby chic-ness to the card {smile}.

For the blossom, it's a Prima pink, felt-like flower.  I painted the edges of the petals with glue and then sprinkled some fine gold glitter from Martha Stewart, onto the blossom.  I just love how pretty gold and pink are together!  I used my hot glue gun to adhere it to the card front.

I tucked in a Prima treasure 'love' light bulb.  I just adore these little treasures {smile}.  To give my blossom some foliage, I added a light green multi-loop bow, made with 'Ocean Front' colored seam binding.  I tucked in a white distressed, tiny pink button tied with cream twine, just below the seam binding bow.

I stamped my sentiment with baked brown sugar classic ink, from the Mixed Messages stamp set by Paper Trey Ink.  I adhered a tiny white resin frame, from Melissa Frances, around the sentiment piece.  I painted some glue on the edges of the tiny frame, and added more fine, gold glitter. I also tucked this piece in between the blossom and green bow.

To add a little bling, and continue with my shabby-chic look, I added two faux pearl swirls, and a pair of faux pearls at the bottom right corner.  And finally, I added a trio of sequins: a pair of small green sequins near the top right corner, and a lone large pink sequin above the bulb.  I thought these little touches help create a home-made, shabby chic card {smile}.

Whew! a lengthly write-up.  But, I like to give you info on what I used, so you have the information.    And as always, if you have any questions, please let me know {smile}.  Thank you so much for stopping by!  I sure do love the company.  I also hope that I have inspired you to participate in any or all of these challenges!  And remember, whatever you do, do it from the heart {love}.