Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 62 - A Recipe!!

This week's challenge is hosted by Kim, and she has given us a "1,2,3" Recipe to use!! She would like us to use the following:  1 Image (preferably stamped), 2 Background Papers and 3 Embellishments - at least one of the embellishments must be a heart. On your blog post, please state what your 1,2 and 3 are.

This week's sponsor is Di's Digi Downloads who is offering a $10 voucher for her online shop!! 

Now, when it comes to baking I can follow recipes no problem, but I have to say that I really struggled to follow this recipe. This is actually my second attempt at the challenge. With the first one, I managed the stamped image, and the two papers, but when it came to the embellishments, the card screamed out for paper flowers. I spent ages trying to work out how I could make 2 flowers and 1 heart work. And it wouldn't. So, I took a deep breath, and decided that I wasn't going to compromise with the card just to make it fit the challenge. It won't go to waste I can assure you!!

It also made me realise that I have a very specific way of making my cards, which maybe isn't that compatable with a recipe. I start with the image - this will often dictate the size and shape of the card (although when I do commissions, its often the size and shape that comes first). Once that is sorted, I pick out a selection of suitable backing papers and decorative card. Then I work out the layout (including if I want to use ribbon), making a final decision on the papers at this point. It is only when all this is sorted do I then even think about embellishments - and then I choose what I think enhances the card.

So, back to the drawing board, and a trawl through my limited stamp collection. Eventually, I decided on this Kanban Urban Belle (from the aptly named Love Hearts set!!!). The papers are both Brenda Pinnick. They came from a huge 200 sheet pad. I love the cheerfullness of the red paper, and thought that the mottled buttery colour of the second set it off really well. To give more definition, I used brown Bazzil cardstock to frame each layer of paper.

I stamped the image onto Neenah Card, using Stazon Timber Brown, and watercoloured the face, hands, hair and buttons. I stamped the image onto the two papers, and did a little paper piecing - not a technique I've used before, but thought it seemed appropriate to use the two papers for her clothes!! I finished her off with glossy accents on the buttons, and sepia accents on her hair.

I created my three embellishments by layering pink hearts onto frosted hearts and attaching them together with scraps of thin cream ribbon. The sentiment is from the same stamp set.

I really enjoyed making this - and did you notice - not one bit of die cutting in sight!! Must be a first for me!!!

Make sure you pop over to Crafty Cardmakers for more inspiration, and to enter your creations!! Look forward to seeing them all!!

I'd like to enter this card into the following challenges:
Card Makin Mamas - Birthday Card
Craft Your Days Away - Paper Piecing
Paper Sundaes - Birthday

Cxx