Vintage Hope

Good morning!

Remember how I said yesterday that I was going to be working in the yard all day today?  Well, I didn't.  The sprinklers went off as they usually do on Saturdays, and I completely forgot about them and wasn't prepared for how wet the garden was.  I don't work on wet soil - it's a terrible thing to do to it - but I there I was in my gardening clothes, ready for work, when it dawned on me that my garage needed some serious attention as well.  So....that's what I did - cleaned out my garage.  Doesn't that sound like a fun way to spend a Saturday?  I can think of more entertaining things to do (ummm... like making cards?), but it had gotten to the point where I became cranky every single time I went out to get in my car, not to mention the fact that I'm turning the garage into another work space, this time for the big, messier projects.  So now it's 90% clean and straight with just a little finishing to do on Monday when I will have some big things removed and taken to storage.

Of course I headed straight to the craft room as soon as I came in and had a shower, and this is what I came up with.   

It is an easel card, only the second I've done, and the first full-sized one.  They are surprisingly easy to make.  I used a color which I haven't used in a long time (Pool Party) and combined it with pink and brown, plus Echo Park Paper Co. Everyday Eclectic for the bottom panel.  

The card is for several challenges, among them distressing, swirls, buttons, and bird challenges.  I used Sissix Tags Scallop Combo 2 for the tag.  I roughed up the edges with the SU distressing tool.  Stamps are SU Papaya Collage (image) and Flourishes Calla Lilies (words), and the frames around both words have been heat embossed with Zing! brown embossing powder.  Dienamics Fancy Flourish die, Framelits Labels Collection, Word Window and SU Fancy Fan embossing folder round out the tools.  I was very pleased to find printed paper that looks almost exactly like the embossed and distressed top layer.  I sponged the edges of the embossed layer with TH Distress Ink in Tea Stain, then I very gently brushed the sponge over the tops of the embossed fans to color just the tips of the paper.  Doesn't it look almost exactly like the paper on the bottom panel?  

The embellishments are real vintage buttons that I found in various thrift shops.  I will use the little cards they came on when I'm finished with them, either on cards or decoupage pieces.  Waste not, want not.  A pearl, a dab of seam binding, and some linen thread, and the card is finished!!

Thanks for looking and visiting my blog. 

Have a lovely day, and Happy Crafting!!

Challenges entered:

SCS - HYCCT1213 - Hope is the Thing
The Shabby Tea Room - Link Up for Pink
MFP - FOSTV Challenge #41 
Tuesday Throwdown #119
Anything Goes Challenge #77
MFP - Simple Salutations 
Simon Says Stamps - Dies and/or Punches 
Fussy and Fancy Challenge 73 - Easel Card  
MFP - Speedy Fox & Friends Challenge 129 - Inspiration Photo
Word Art Wednesday - Be Ye Kind 
Oozak Challenge #7 - Die Cuts 
Red Carpet Studio - RCS#7 - The Birds

and last but not least,

MFP Speedy TV. - Sketch w/a Twist (add 3 or more buttons)