'for you' {CR84FN #30 & CP sketch #117}

There are a few challenge sites that I just go to; like a habit.  Cupcake Creations color challenge, and Card Patterns sketch challenge, just to name a few.  And this past weekend, was no exception.  So, the colors are: light blue, light yellow, and kraft.  The sketch calls for a center object with an object above and below.  Sounds easy enough, huh?  Here are their inspiration boards and sketch:

This past weekend, was a nice break.   It gave me time to catch up on some household chores, and some time to do nothing.  So, I feel a bit revived, and want to sit and create!  So, here is what I created with the inspiration and guidelines from these two wonderful challenge blogs:

My card base is Crumb Cake (Kraft).  I layered a scrap piece of Daisy D's pattern paper as my main paper.  I had a piece of Very Vanilla Satin ribbon that I wrapped around the card front.  I cut a strip of the lace pattern paper into a banner.  The blue is the other side - 2 sided paper!  I collected two Kraft buttons out of my 'jar o'buttons', threaded some 1/8" Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon through the button holes and cinched the satin ribbon, tying the skinny ribbon into a bow.  I found a doily tag, from Martha Stewart, and layered two circles on top of it.  The largest circle is punched from a piece of Crumb Cake DSP (1 3/4") and the smaller circle is punched from a scrap piece from the Bella Blue DSP (1 3/8").  I stamped the 'for you' in Crumb Cake classic ink, using my stamp-a-ma-jig.  I wanted it to be off-center and high.  The flower I made myself.  I used Shimmer White card stock and sponged the edges with So Saffron classic ink.  I used two different dies and a hand-held punch to create the three different flowers, and then stacked them.  I added a light yellow button to the center.  The leaves were made with a die and the other side of the Crumb Cake DSP.  I used glue dots to hold the leaves on. (the leaves are actually one piece.  I cut it into two pieces so that I could have leaves at the top and bottom of the flower.)  The butterfly was made with a butterfly die and Soft Suede card stock.  I added two faux half-pearls for the body.

I really like how my card turned-out.  I did have a few concerns about the flower.  At first I put it right smack in the middle of the doily.  But, then changed my mind to an off-center look.  I balanced the flower by adding a dark butterfly to the opposite corner of the middle circle.  I really wanted to add a faux half-pearl flourish on my card, but I didn't 'see' a good spot.  The button in the middle of the flower looks 'naked' to me, but I couldn't come up with a solution that didn't look yukky.  Any suggestions?

So, if you have a free moment, please stop by both challenge sites and enter!  Its fun!

The Wonder of Weaving @ OCC

Jen, from Our Change of Art, is our hostess this week @ Our Creative Corner challenge blog.  Jen, has challenged us, to add some type of weaving to our card/project.  I tell ya, these girls are super creative! and they challenge me every week.  So, here is what I came up with:

I wanted to use some 'different' colors this time.  Alot of folks are using pinks, and yellows, and bright colors.  I guess everyone is pretty tired of the snow and cold weather.  Anyways, I chose a neutral color palette.  The black and cream pattern paper is a scrap, but I think its a paper studio piece, from one of those big box craft stores.  The rest of the supplies are from Stampin' Up!: 

Stamp set:  Water Color Trio

Cardstock: Basic Black, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, and Old Olive. and First Edition DSP.

Classic Ink: Basic Black, Marina Mist, and Old Olive

Tools: leaves die, beautiful wings die, top note die,  2 step bird punch, scallop circle punch, and the 1 1/4" circle punch.

I used a shaped die to cut-out the 'window', which was placed crooked on purpose (but now you can't see).  I then punched out some leaves, and put them into the weaved lattice I made with strips of Very Vanilla card stock.  I punched my flowers out with the scallop circle punch and circle punch, and rolled the flowers.  I sponged the tips of the 'petals' with Old Olive classic ink.  I was going to use a pink color, but then I changed my mind, and decided to go with the green.  I added some half pearl jewels to the center of the flowers.   I used a stylus to create the 'vein' in the leaves. (those didn't photograph very well.)  I sponged some Marina Mist classic ink on the wings of the butterflies to give them definition.   Here is a close-up of my weaved card stock pieces:

Well, thank you for looking!  And if you have a few free moments this weekend, you should play along with our new challenge over at Our Creative Corner challenge blog.  We would love to see what you made!  And don't forget to stop by Jen's wonderfully creative blog Our Change of Art.  You'll be glad that you did!