Toy's Haven

Dare to Get Dirty Day #4

    G’day mates!

I just made an observation about my cards.   I make a LOT of thank you cards.   I like to say thanks.   In fact, I want to say thanks to you!  Can you believe I’ve been blogging for nearly a year?!  Yup, going to have a blogaversary at the end of next month.   I’ve got a little suprise in store for ya…. but I can’t give it away just yet 😉

I do have a secret (kinda) that I can share with you!   Today I’m hosting a Dare to Get Dirty Challenge!!   You can see the challenge HERE.   I’m also going to have a *chat* thread… so if you’re not doing anything, drop by and say HI!   It will be posted by 12pm EST…. and it’s a fun one :).  **note: the link to the challenge will only be visible to SCS Fan Club members.   If you’re not a member and would like information, you can find that HERE.

Let’s talk about layouts.   I’m drawn to layouts quicker than anything else.   I see layouts in all kinds of things.  I especially like to watch those cheeky home improvement shows (like clean house).   I tend to look for room layouts  and  color schemes.   I think I mentioned before that I like geometrics.   They always feel balanced to me and that it soothing for some reason.  I like balance!!   After I receive the inspiration, I use a program that most everyone has on their computer… ms Paint… to create my layout.   Try it out, if you haven’t already!   Where does your layout inspiration come from?

Ok, remember the card at the top of this post? LOL.. well this is my submission for today’s challenge.  

I wanted to create something elegant and interesting.   Of course, it’s a thank you!   I have really shunned this set (Carte postale) since I purchased it.   I love the images, but couldn’t  quite make them work for me.   Then, the other day I was in Joann’s and they had their dp on sale.   I found this piece of dp and just went WOW!  There is a richness AND a coolness to it, at the same time.   I wanted to keep it rich, so I pulled the chocolate chip out and went to work.   The focal image is first stamped with French Script (Hero Arts) in chocolate chip.  Then I added the small floral in black.   The bird was stamped on very vanilla in versamark and embossed black.  I cut it out and popped it up.   I used both sides of this gorgeous DP…. turning a corner down to reveal the “merci” and then as a 1/2 mat.  Then I added the velvet chocolate ribbon for a little more richness. 

Here’s the deets:

Stamps: Carte Postale (SU!) and French Script (Hero Arts)

Colors: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, DP

Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black, Chocolate Chip, Versamark

Accessories: vanilla brads, chocolate velvet ribbon, oval scallop punches, mat pack (for piercing), black EP, dimensionals.

TFL!~ and have a blessed day!