Simple Friendship - true friend

Hi Everyone.  Welcome to Jaydee's SU stampin space - where you are always welcome :-)  Back to my normal blog banner tonight.  Bilbo has decided that two days in the spotlight was quite enough... well, what he doesn't know is that he will be making an appearance again for Christmas :-)

Today's card, using the Simple Friendship set, was designed for my best friend in South Africa, to say thank you for spending time with me during my last visit.  I do miss her a great deal and really enjoyed our time together.  It's a fabulous thing when you can see someone so rarely, and yet fall back into a comfortable discussion and it is though you were never apart.  I do miss you Suzie and am blessed to call you friend.

I decided to use two challenges for this card - one was a layout challenge from the talented Gretch Barron - this was the Weekend sketch challenge - Inspiration in Action 108.  (Gretchen is also a member of the Stamping411 design team.)  I actually created two cards using this layout, but this one I turned portrait instead of Gretchen's original landscape. 

You all know by now that I love doing the challenges.  They really force me to do something different... and I've just started to incorporate color challenges.  Some of them really push me out of my comfort zone - and the color throwndown challenge # 66 certainly did.  The challenge colors were Rich Razzleberry, Elegant Eggplant and Bordering Blue.  Oh boy... did I have to think about that one for a while! :-)  So, thank you LeAnne for forcing me to think outside of the box.  I was really pleased with the final card and glad that I incorporated both challenges.  Although... I noticed that the colors are showing much cooler when I import them than the actual card itself.... mmmm...

 

• I stamped the image in Bordering Blue  on Whisper White card stock
• I then "rolled" the stamp in my Elegant Eggplant
• I stamped the en Francais stamp (my favorite background stamp!) on Elegant Eggplant
• I then cut a piece of Rich Razzleberry DSP and used my eyelet border punch on both edges
• I then put a piece of Rich Razzleberry ribbon around the DSP - polka dot side down :-)
• I matted the image on both Elegant Eggplant and Bordering Blue card stock
• I stamped the sentiment from the stamp set in Rich Razzleberry and used my modern label punch
• For the final touch, I stamped the butterfly again using the same colors - except this time I did one extra step.  I inked up my stamp again with White Shimmer Paint and stamped over the second dried butterfly image.  I let it dry and then cut it out using my paper snips.
• This last step gives a phenomenal sheen and sense of luxe to the image.  I attached the cut out butterfly over my stamped image with some snail and lifted the wings.  The double wings give a natural shadow and make it look like a double winged butterfly.
• A couple of pearls from the pretties kit... and voila... all done.
• I attached the matted image to the cardstock with some stampin dimensionals

Here's a closeup of the details for you... I love the fact that the script of the sentiment echoes the script on the background stamp. 

For my newsletter subscribers... I just wanted to let you know that I am updating the format of my newsletter and will be including some tips and techniques.  The tip and technique for this month will be using my shimmer paint to create this card.  To sign up for my newsletter - just click HERE

I hope you have a fabulous Monday and that those of you who celebrated Halloween had a fabulous night with the little ones.  A shout out to Kelli - who was my blog candy winner.  Kelli's children love Halloween and I love the pictures that Kelli has shared on her blog. :-)

As always, thank you for spending time in my little area of the stamping blogosphere - your visit is always much appreciated - as are your comments.  If you have any questions on today's project, or any other project you find on my site, just send me an email, I am always happy to provide further information.

Peace and blessings

Jaydee

Comments

[Gretchen Barron]

Jaydee -- wonderful job with your card. I love the colors you selected and the way you switched the sketch around! Fabulous!!! Thanks so much for playing along with last week's sketch challenge. Please stop back soon for more challenges and inspiration! Blessings, Gretchen -- www.gretchenbarron.typepad.com

[Kelli]

Thanks for the shout out! I LOVE this card. I love the technique of stamping and then havnig the cut out on top. And I love the Modern Label punch. It is on my list. Wish me luck as I try and figure out my Christmas cards.

[LeAnne]

Very pretty, Jaydee! It is striking, yet simple--I'll have to check out that sketch! Thanks for playing and stretching yourself by using the challenge colors!
LeAnne

[Tammy Hershberger]

Beautiful design! Thanks for playing the Throwdown!

[Tami Black]

This is one gorgeous card! The colors really rock together and aren't "heavy" at all -- beautiful!

[Jean Fitch]

I love this color combination and what you've done with it Jaydee! Tres elegante! (imagine the accent marks please - lol!) I have a card in process for this challenge and the 411 challenge but I don't think I'm going to make the deadline. Oh well I'm just starting to get into the challenge scene and for me so far its more about the doing than the posting. Great stepping off points especially on the color challenges. I'm thinking a bedroom done in these colors would be interesting.

So are you thinking a Santa beard on Bilbo? Or hitched to a string of reindeer? Can't wait to see what you come up with. Hopefully more poetry too? I've kicked around the idea of a cats version of the Night before Christmas but just can't get it to work right.

Sweet dreams my friend.