Bits and Pieces: Unique Wedding

Today's card is a bit unusual, I have to admit. I was playing around with some bits and pieces that were on my desk, and liked the idea of a monochromatic look of grays, silver and white with a slightest touch of pink. None of the grays match perfectly, but they still flow well together.

Once the card was completed, it reminded me of the engagement announcements my friend Ashley sent out recently. It featured a black and white photo of a vintage bear and doll sitting together in wedding gear, and I liked the idea of using favorite childhood toys/memories for a wedding card.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Bits n Pieces: Acorn Thanks

Thank You cards are probably my favorite kind of card to make. There's never a shortage of uses for them, and I'm free to use any theme or color combination I'm inspired by. I also make a lot of birthday cards. Birthday cards are fun, but you don't really want to make a somber birthday card - and you can certainly make something more serious for a thank-you sympathy card.

I grabbed a couple of the acorns I colored in September's Stash Kit project using Lawn Fawn's Into the Woods stamp set.  I decided to use them in a very feminine card - something that might be sent out after a wedding or a girl baby shower. So, I chose pinks and browns, with a pretty ribbon bow to tie everything together.

Although the card is simple, it packs a punch with the ombré paper. It would be simple enough to make a whole bunch of and give away as a card set gift.

Thanks for reading!
~Elle~

Pink Wedding

 One of the things that really pushed me into card-making is that ability to tailor the card to their recipient. From their favorite color and current hobby to inside jokes and personalized sentiment, you're practically guaranteed to make a one-of-a-kind card they'll never get elsewhere. I, personally, take great joy in making the card fit their person. And those little details do get noticed (much to my surprise and delight)!

I suppose even before getting into card-making, I was that one girl standing in the card aisle, mentally agonizing over which of those two cards would be just perfect. So, suddenly having the freedom to just make it perfect is awesome!

And then last week, a dear friend requested I make a card for a couple I'd never met. This was one of those... I'm making a card for my friend's co-worker's sister, who in turn is giving it to one of her client's grand-daughters for her wedding (talk about complicated!). And it needed to be made that day because the wedding was over the weekend...

After my mini-panic-attack, I asked for any info they had about the happy couple. They had the wedding invitation, which was very lovely and featured an engagement picture. That was enough to get some creative wheels turning, and I came up with the card you see above.

I used Some Odd Girl's First Dance Mae stamp set, because it has a beautiful couple dancing. I colored them in with my Copics, making sure they matched the engagement picture. I was really happy with it, and then got stumped again. What kind of background do I use?!

So, I drew on the wedding invitation again and pulled the colors - pinks, creams, reds and a touch of black. The invitation had a more modern (even artistic) feel, so I chose a pretty watercolor paper and a scripty love die. A few paper flowers and pearls later, I had a finished card.

The card was very well-received, as a thank-you card from the bride confirms. And as scary as it was to make a card for someone I didn't know, it was also very fulfilling. Maybe I will challenge myself to make a few more "anyone" cards...

~Elle~