L'Eiffel Bridal Luncheon Invitations

In less than two weeks, one of my BFFs is getting married, and I'm really looking forward to being there with  her to celebrate her marriage.  We're having a bridal luncheon for her while I'm there, and it will be at a restaurant with Parisian decor and food.  I wanted to create some very special invitations to the luncheon that incorporated that theme along with Cherry Cobbler, which is pretty close to one of the colors she's chosen for the wedding.  Here's what I ended up designing:

The frame is from the Papaya Collage Stamp Set, the Eiffel Tower image and "Amour" are from Artistic Etchings, and background images are created with the French background stamp from French Foliage and with the Very Vintage Wheel.   "You're Invited" is from the retired Sincere Salutations set.  The frame, Eiffel tower, and "You're Invited" are heat embossed with Versamark and Black Embossing Powder.  

The heart background was created using a mask and sponging, and it's difficult to tell from the pictures, but is actually sparkly inside.  I embossed the inside of the heart with Versamark and Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder.

The right side of the Cherry Cobbler card base is embossed using one of the Delicate Designs Folders.

The ribbon looped under the greeting is the 1/2" Striped Satin Ribbon from the Holiday Catalog.

 I also decorated the outside of the envelopes to go along with the theme:

These were fun to create, and I hope the recipients were surprised and excited to find them in their mailboxes!  Hope you like them, too.

Thanks for checking out my blog!

- Michelle

A Case of Watercolored Blessings

Hi, everyone!  Here's the second card sample I created for this past Sunday's Creative Connections class.  For this card, I started with a sample I spotted in Stampin' Up!'s wonderful magazine for demonstrators, Stampin' Success.  There are so many beautiful ideas in there -- definitely one of the great perks of being a demonstrator!   

One of the things that caught my eye in the Stampin' Success sample was that the artist used the new Woodgrain Textured Impressions Embossing Folder as a stamp!  Don't know why, but that hadn't really occurred to me before, but that's something I'll definitely be trying again with the Woodgrain and other embossing folders.  I also ended up changing one of the layers in the middle of the card to include some actual embossing, and switched out the Vintage Faceted Designer Button they used for one of the Brushed Bronze Designer Buttons.

Here's my version:

The card base is Soft Suede, and I used the direct to paper technique with Whisper White Craft Ink on it.  The image from the Full of Blessings Stamp Set is embossed on Watercolor Paper with Versamark and Early Espresso Embossing Powder.  I watercolored the image using Stampin' Write Markers and a Blender Pen.

The middle layer is Very Vanilla card stock, embossed with one of the Delicate Designs Folders, and lightly sponged with Soft Suede ink.

The bottom layer is Old Olive, stamped with the Woodgrain folder and Old Olive ink.  I tied Early Espresso 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon around that layer several times and then into a bow.

There's Natural Linen Thread threaded through the Brushed Bronze Button.

During class, I actually had a chance to make one more of these, and for my second card, I did the watercoloring using Stampin' Write Markers and an Aquapainter, which resulted in a more subtle look:

I sponged the edges of the Watercolor Paper on this one with Soft Suede (thanks for the great idea, Rach!)  I also decided to tied my ribbon a little differently, and so far I'm liking this version better without the button. What do you think?

Thanks for visiting my blog!

- Michelle

Marlene's Natural Composition Card

My amazingly talented friend Marlene Caravello and I have been swapping again!  We decided to swap cards made with new products from the 2012-13 Idea Book.  Here's one of Marlene's beautiful creations -- this one is made with the new Natural Composition Specialty Paper:

Marlene also used the beautiful new Delicate Designs Embossing Folders and I think the coordinating Large Scallop Edgelit die.  The texture of the embossing on this specialty paper (both from the embossing folders and the way the glossy patterns are printed on the paper) is wonderful -- such an elegant card!  Thanks so much, Marlene, for sending it to me!!!

And, thank you for visiting my blog!

- Michelle