Elegantly Framed

Have you ever had an idea for a card and as you work on it, everything falls in place, and the card actually ends up better than what you had planned?  That is what happened with this card.  Many times I end up with a card that is totally different than what I started with because my original idea doesn’t work or I keep coming up with new ideas and end up with something much more elaborate and complicated.  Though I usually am happy how it turns out, it takes a lot of extra time and effort to get it to that point.  In this case, I only had to make two changes from my original idea and it was pretty quick and I was very satisfied with the end result. 

I love white cards but have a really hard time not adding a lot of color, at least to the image.  My goal with this card was to only use white and gold and to make an embossed, shaped card.  I used a Spellbinder die for the card shape.  Since I haven’t invested in any Grands yet, this is one of my largest dies that isn’t a square or rectangle.  I started by embossing a piece of white cardstock using a Cuttlebug CutNEmboss folder – my newest one call Carly.  So pretty.  This was my first change – I had originally planned to use a different folder.  After running it through the folder, I centered my die on top of it and cut out the shape.  I took a gold leafing pen and ran it around the outer edge and then on the edge of the cut window in the center.  I took a second piece of white cardstock and folded it in half.  I used the same Spellbinder die and lined it up so that part of the folded side of the card remained inside of the cut area so you actually get a card that opens and closes.

For the image, I stamped and embossed it in gold, centered on the front of the shaped card.  This stamp is from Sweet Stamps and can be found here.   I stamped and embossed it a second time on a scrap piece of cardstock and heat set both.  I cut the three flowers out from the scrap piece, cutting all the way to the center circle between each petal.  I curled each petal back and then layered each flower on a mouse pad and made circular motions with a stenciling stylus in the center, pressing  down gently, and working toward the outer section of the center circle.  I used foam tape to add them to the original image on the card and added gold pearls to each center.  I added the dry embossed shape on top of it, popping it up with foam tape, also.  Thank goodness I had stamped my image pretty much right in the center so it lined up right with the cut out window.  You do not have any flexibility with the top layer as it must lineup with the outer edges of the card.

Here is where I made my second change, which I think really made the card.  I was looking at my gold ribbon, trying to pick the perfect one to add a bow.  I found this great white and gold cording and added it with a very thin line of glue around the gold edged window.  I had picked out some beautiful ribbon to still add the bow and even made a great double bow, but it was just too much.  The elegant simplicity of the cording was just perfect.   I purposely left off a sentiment because with the image and coloring I felt this card could be very multi-purpose – wedding/anniversary card, birthday card, sympathy card, spring/Easter card or just thinking of you!!

This card was entered in the following challenges:

Sweet Stamps Challenge 11 – Frame It

Joan’s Garden’s Weekly Challenge #15 – Color:  White and Gold/Used some Embossing/Few Embellishments/Easter Card

Speedy the Cat’s Friends Challenge #52 – Anniversary Card

Simon Says Stamps Challenge – Emboss it (wet and dry)
CES Challenge #33 - Spring Colors/Images
Creative Crafty World Challenge - Weddings or Anniversary
Cute Card Thursday Challenge #161 - No Text
Totally Gorjuss Challenge 77 - Bling It On!
Totally Papercrafts Challenge #63 - Weddings