Recycling from a Catalog-Another Joy Fold

Yesterday was one of those days. I've got tons of Design Team and personal projects in the queue but for some reason I just couldn't get going on them. I still felt like creating though and when I looked down on my messy table I saw a cover from a Nordstrom catalog I'd saved since March because I thought I could use it on a card. I carefully cut around the lovely image. She reminds me of a wood nymph or a fairy and her floral headpiece really begged for more embellishment so I added some gorgeous Primas. I loved the Joy fold card I used yesterday and adapted the dimensions to fit the image. I have no idea what I'll use this card for but I had a good time making it. Now back to the drawing board.

Paper Blooms Emboss Resist Challenge

I love Wednesdays because that's when Paper Blooms comes out with their new challenges. This week it's emboss resist. I have to laugh that I stamp so seldom (even though I've got WADS of stuff) that I had to go to guest designer Tracy's blog to actually find out what that meant. Well the point of a challenge is to be challenged so I thought this would be fun, especially since I had bought a whole bunch of distress ink at M's on Memorial Day. I checked out my stamps and found this leaf block by Stampendous and stamped away. I couldn't figure out why my embossing looked so dull and difficult to see until I looked at the powder and realized I was using clear on white paper. It turned out much better when I switched to opaque white. Then I scanned my Paper Blooms, inks and papers and came up with this color scheme. I soon realized I do not have the right tool to rub the ink on the paper without making streaks or globs so that's why the color is so subtle behind the embossing. I used Dusty Concord and Weathered Wood Distress Ink.

Then I had to come up with some layout. (Where are those sketches when I need them. LOL)My dear friend Lillie and I had been talking about the Joy Fold card from SCS and I thought that might work. I looked all over the place but could only find the gallery so I had a basic idea but no actual dimensions so I cut the card to fit my stamped pieces. To hold it closed I used a length of ribbon instead of the raised label or little metal thingy (Man, my mind it drawing a blank here) and I gussied it up with a gorgeous double layered Paper Bloom and some MS punched butterflies embellished with adhesive rhinestones. The inside sentiment is Stampin'Up. Lillie helped me finally find the directions for this card AFTER I had made my own version but if you really want to see a Joy Fold card check out Lillie's Blog HERE. And be sure to stop by Paper Blooms to see their beautiful examples of emboss resist. Thanks for a great challenge Leah, I'm definitely gonna play more with this technique.