Swirls and Pearls

Update:  I have corrected the photos, now that I was able to download them.  These should be better than in the original post.  Thank you for your patience.

Just a quick card that I played with, trying a couple of different techniques.  My card is inspired by several different challenges including a photo, a sketch, and a color theme.  I used some pink decorative paper to represent gingham and did paper pleating, using my mini ScorIt, and added it to the left side of my card.  Then I used a Spellbinder die to cut out some green polka dot cardstock and tucked this just under the paper pleating.  The die I used reminded me of the shape of the cupcake papers in the photo inspiration below. 

I used the Elegant Filigree Oval image from Sweet Stamps for my image.  I embossed it in white onto pink cardstock, and then trimmed it just around the framed area.  I stamped and embossed it three more times using the pink gingham paper, the green polka dot cardstock, and some vellum.  I cut the center of the image out of the vellum, using a Spellbinder scalloped circle nestability and layered it over the image on the pink cardstock.  Then I cut out the flowers and leaves from the embossed pink and green and layered these on top of the vellum image.  I used some foam tape to pop the flowers up a bit.  The idea was a combination of “paper piecing” and the “Spotlight Technique”.  In the spotlight technique you actually add color to only a section of your image, usually in a circular area that will stand out.  I used the scalloped circle for this and added my color with the paper piecing.  Though it may not stand out quite as much as the usual spotlight technique, I still liked the effect it gave.

To finish the card, I ran a light pink jeweled swirl on the right side.  Then I added some sheer pink polka dot ribbon across the center, tying it together on the far right side.  I layered a thin, green, polka dot, triple loop bow on top of that and added a pink, polka dot button and a large white pearl.  I used foam tape to pop the image on top of the ribbon on the left and added small white pearls to the image swirls on the frame.  All of this gave a real mixture of elegance and fun.

This card was entered in the following challenges:

Sweet Stamps Challenge #19 – Embossing/Heat or Dry

Crafty Catz Weekly Challenge #87 – Fancy Folds

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 85 – Pearls and Swirls

Delightful Challenges – Anything Goes

Speedy the Cat's Friends Challenge Week #60 – Buttons

The Shabby Tea Room Challenge Week #67 – Classic Patterns (Using Photo Inspiration Colors, and Polka Dots and/or Gingham)

Art Impressions Stamps Challenge #20 – Buttons and Bows

Charisma Cardz Challenge #24 – Pink and Green
Lexis Creations Challenge #42 – No Sentiment
Clearly Inspired Challenge #30 (CIC30) – Sketch