Love & Happiness.....

     I saw this layout and design posted on Pinterest by Jo Ham of Its My Creative World.  Can I just say she is one creative lady.  You may have noticed from several of my posts recently I have been making wedding cards for some friends.  It was while wandering through Pinterest one evening that I came across this beauty.  I CASED her work, changing the coloring some, I also changed  the sentiment and die it was printed on, and instead of  using a flower I chose some different embellies.   Jo designed this half round step card for use with a Silhouette, I just had to download it and try it on mine -- I love step cards and just couldn't pass up this great shape.
     There is a learning curve on the Silhouette and on this card I learned several lessons I thought I would share.  First, Jo said in her blog that after cutting and folding you would have to cut the excess outside edge, no problem.  My little experience with Silhouette has taught me that the dashed lines for folding can get a little worn and sometimes tear easily if you are too rough - it took me two tries on this card to get it the way I wanted it.  What I learned was that right after cutting those excess edges, take the time to then adhere the background while it is laying flat.  Playing around too much with my first one caused some stress on the fold lines. I also discovered that the pieces she included in the cut file for the background weren't really to size - while they fit the main circle, the edges of those change after you hand cut it......I am going to play around and see if I can change her pattern and save it.
     The image is from Mo's Digital Pencil -- ya'll know how much I love Mo's designs).  The lovely couple was colored with my Copic Sketch Markers....I also used my Gelly Roll Clear Star pen to give some sparkle to her gown.  I ran my Cheery Lynn small flourish die through my Cuttlebug about 4 or 5 times to create the embellishment behind the couple, the white background was also run through the Cuttlebug with a Valentines embossing folder. After generating my sentiment on the computer I lined up my Opulent Oval die over it and cut it out adding a darling little Dove from Jolees.
     Know that I fell in love with this card and was obsessed all day putting it together.  Using my Silhouette is still very new to me - it can do so much and I know so little.  If it weren't for great tutorials by ladies like Jo, and others I have pinned, I would be at a loss - they inspire me to practice, practice, practice using this fine machine as a tool in my paper crafting world.

Materials:  Silhouette, Mo's Digital Pencil, Copic Sketch, Spellbinders, Jolees, Cheery Lynn, Cuttlebug, Gelly Roll

Challenges:  Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
  

I Do!

    The Inspiration Challenge today at Splitcoast is to find inspiration at Uncle Dan's the Great Outdoor Store.   Recently I have had several requests for Wedding cards.....I enjoy making these type of cards, but more often than not I create 'white on white' cards when I make one. Seeing this sandal I was inspired to finally make a wedding card that wasn't ALL white and I decided to follow through one some other inspiration using a design I came across while "Pinning'  Here. 

     Following the pinning trail led me to the very talented Tilly McLeod who I discovered is a fellow Splitcoaststamper.  Not wanting to recreate the wheel, so to speak, I pretty much CASED her card from Pinterest.  I took a little time and several templates to get the right fit and size (and you can bet your sweet bippy I saved those final templates....I have pushed those kinds of things into the scrap pile and lost them way too often).  

     

    

    If I were to make this again -- and I probably will -- I would use black linen paper for the tuxedo and might consider some glimmer mist on the brides dress....don't you love the ideas that come to you when you finally create a project, guess that's what keeps me playing in my stamp room.  

     I was just thinking that the men's sandal that inspired me might look kinda nice with this tuxedo if it was a beach wedding.....maybe they could find a matching pair.

Supplies:  Black and white cardstock, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Ribbon and bow, Recollection rhinestones, scissors