WWC323 - Cathy's Challenge: All Things Feminine

 I'm really excited about this card!  It "grew like Topsy".  I had a plan which, bit by bit, I discarded as the card evolved and became what it had decided to be.  Does that ever happen to you?

My mail arrived with a new stamp by Ellen Jareckie.  You know how much I absolutely love her House-Mouse images.  Well, this one was just released this year and spoke to the plant-lover in me.  I immediately stamped the image twice, once on Coloured Pencil paper and once on Mixed Media paper.  I wasn't entirely certain which way I would go.  You see, I have a new set of General's Pastel Chalk Pencils and was anxious to try that media for a change.  My "insurance", in case I absolutely hated the look, was the image on the Mixed Media paper, for which I would use my watercolours.

Well, the pastel chalk pencils worked out beautifully and I was all set to use the image for the front of my card.  Somehow, despite my plans, I prepared my Base of Heavy Whisper White for a gatefold.  Fine, I hadn't made a gatefold in a while and so was willing to see where this would lead.  It led to my using several dies which I hadn't yet used as well as some silver foil paper which I hadn't thought to use for quite a long time.  I also found and used some retired designer paper and used that.

When the gate opens, the grid and leaves come up and reveal the little mouse, happily napping in its scented "bed".  

Opening the other side of the gate reveals the full scene.  Doesn't the colour of the chalk pastel pencils simply "pop"?  I love it and will likely use this medium quite often.

The close up of the inside shows the subtle blending possible with the pencils.  It's a completely different look from the watercolours.  This "something new" is definitely a happy surprise.

Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday, September 6th, 2021.

I've also entered my card at the following challenges:

House Mouse & Friends Challenge #347 - Anything Goes or option Water Play

Lemon Shortbread Challenge #153 - Anything Goes

Unicorn Challenge #68 - Anything Goes

WWC282 - Fifth Week Anything Goes Challenge

Every month which has five Wednesdays we have a special challenge for our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge.  It's an Anything Goes challenge and I decided to create another special fold.  This time it's very simple.  It's a gate-fold but is made special  by the gorgeous Designer Paper which I used.

I used the Heavy Whisper White for my base, cutting it to 5 1/2" x 8  1/2".  The gate-fold is created by scoring first at 2 1/2" and then at 6 3/4".  I purposely made an uneven gate.  The Designer paper seemed to want to be cut at that point and so I went along with it.  My matte is the lovely Highland Heather cardstock.  The Designer Paper is the retired but, nevertheless stunning, Perrennial Essence.

 At this slight angle, you can just see how I've added some sparkle to the centres of the blossoms  with my Sheer Shimmer Stix Dauber.  It compliments the sparkle of the scalloped circle mattle under the stitched circle of the sentiment.  I stamped the sentiment using  Rich Razzleberry ink which is close to the warm tones in the blossoms.  The little butterfly is sparkly as well, cut from glitter paper. 

For the inside of the card, I kept it simple.  I cut a piece of 4 1/2" x 3 1/4" Highland Heather cardstock and then added a piece of 4 1/4" x 3" Whisper White on which I stamped a little butterfly and blossoms, leaving lots of room for a written greeting.

I love the way the card turned out and hope you do, too.  Have fun checking out our Watercooler Wednesday Challenge and I hope you'll link your creation before the deadline on Monday,  August 3rd.

I've also entered my card in the following challenges:

 Lemon Shortbread Challenge #125 - Anything Goes

A Place to Start July 2020 Challenge - Flowers (Flowers, Floral Papers, etc)