You're One of My Nicest Thoughts

The Dare to Get Dirty challenges are in full swing over at Splitcoast. Here's another challenge sample I put together, this time for AndreaEwen's challenge that posted this morning. (The link with challenge details is available only to SCS Fan Club members -- sign up today and join in all the fun!)

I could spend the rest of this post gushing over Andrea and her beautiful work, so I was thrilled (and a little nervous) to make a sample for her! I'm always inspired by the elegance of her cards, her creative embellishing and her punching prowess -- today's card is my tribute to her.

The sentiment, from Verve's Small Phrases, is the BEST! I die-cut it with Verve's Charming Oval die set -- a perfect fit!

The medallion at the top was fun to make -- here's a break-down of the layers:

• In the back is a hand-made doily, punched with the Martha Stewart's Swirling Lace corner punch. I used Becca Feeken's tutorial, beginning with a circle that I die-cut using the second-largest circle die from Spellbinders Small Classic Circles Nestabilities set and punching eight times
• Then comes an accordian-fold rosette -- no dies for this one, just old-fashioned scoring (love my Scor-Pal) and folding. I sanded the edges for some contrast against the Kraft doily
• Next is a layered flower created with Verve's Floral Circles die set and some of the neutral patterns from the Reflections paper pad
• At the very top is a blingy flower center from a Prima pack that I found during my Hobby Lobby shopping trip with Kristin Eberline.

I used the Swirling Lace corner and edger punches do the border around the perimeter of the card. I started with two pieces of 5" x 6.75" Kraft, punched around the page on both, and adhered them together easel-style with a strip of Scor-Tape along the very top, just below the punched border.

Disclaimer: One punch was seriously stressed , but not permanently injured, during the making of this card {grin}. The kraft card stock that I so, so love, by Papertrey, is a little too heavy for this border punch.  Even though I'm not a fan of the Stampin' Up kraft I've had on hand since my demonstrator days (the color seems dull and grayer), it IS slightly lighter and works beautifully with this punch. To warm up the color, I inked the edges with Brushed Corduroy distress ink.

Happy hump day!




Stamps: Small Phrases (Verve Stamps)
Paper: Prima Reflections dp, Papertrey Kraft, Stampin' Up Early Espresso
Ink: Ranger Old Paper, Brushed Corduroy, and Walnut Stain Distress Inks
Accessories: Prima flower center bling, Verve Floral Circles and Charming Ovals dies, Scor-Pal, sanding block, Pizazz Aplenty chocolate pearls, foam adhesive, Martha Stewart punch, corner rounder, Spellbinders border die, Papertrey buttons, MFT Jumbo Scallop border die, burlap string, distressing tool, Scor-Tape
Size: 5" x 6 3/4"