Best (Bridal) Wishes

Today's Bridal Shower card was made as my July Design Team contribution @ the Mix It Up Challenge Blog showcasing "Distressing" techniques and using the June Card Team's sketch from Stick It Down, but I missed the cut-off to enter since today is July 1st already, but that's ok...maybe my timing will be better next time around, lol. In the meantime, I will be entering it @ Words 2 Craft By for "Keep Love In Your Heart", @ Frilly and Funky for "With This Ring" and @ Double "D" Challenges for "Anything Wedding". 

The stamp set I chose is a retired one from Close To My Heart and contains very detailed stamps, so I have found Memento ink to be a good choice for capturing all the fine lines. Using the stamp positioning tool helps with re-stamping if necessary.

The card was make from a speckled white A2 side folding card base and I cut the pink patterned paper to the full size card front to start with. Then I gently tore the edges to get the softly distressed look along each side. Using the wide paint brush, I spread a thin layer of gesso across the center of the paper to tone it down and give it another level of distressing.

Once the gesso was dried, I splattered FSJ Gold Silk across the front and adhered it flat to the card front. Using Spectrum Noir pens, I carefully colored the cake centerpiece.

I don't know if you can tell from this photo or not, but I used Crystal Lacquer on the ribbons that are on the cake to add shine and dimension. I also colored over all the flowers with a clear Wink of Stella pen for a subtle shimmer. I really love how the gesso dried so that you can see and feel the actual brush strokes!

Using foam pop dots, I adhered the cake to the card front, die cut "Best Wishes" from gold glitter paper and added 3 gold sequins to complete the look.

On the inside, I used left over patterned paper as accents, stamped the sentiment in grey ink and traced/shadowed it with a clear Diamond Dust sparkle gel pen. The tiny hearts were die-cut from scrap glitter gold paper. Another of my nephews is getting married in October and this card is for his future bride...we have 2 family weddings, for 2 nephews, coming up this year! 

Until next time,