A Card Request

Happy Thursday!  I hope that wherever you are you are enjoying your day!  I have been up a large part of the night as we were having thunderstorms here with intense lightning and thunder...and my son could not sleep!  It's been a long time since one of our kids has been up with the weather...but last night had a lot of booming and blitzing and I myself was a little unsettled with it!  We may have to have a nap time this afternoon!  LOL

Last week one afternoon I stopped in at my parents and my mom had some not so happy news to share with me.  It would seem that one of my aunts has been diagnosed with cancer.  She had stopped in and visited with mom and dad, and had given them the news that morning.  Now this comes so quickly after the death of one of my uncles, and I do believe the family is somewhat stunned.  My aunt is staying positive and the doctor has told her that the cancer she has is a very good one to have...if you can say that there is a good cancer to have.  He has given her hope that this type they are able to deal with very successfully. 

My mom asked me if I would create a card for her to send to my aunt as an encouragement.  I had an image in mind that I was wanting to use from the Heartwarming Vintage Die Cut Photos collection...however put off the endeavour a bit as I couldn't wrap my head around the color scheme I had to be using.  Funny how sometimes color schemes can seem so daunting...

I decided that I would try using a gate card template I had purchased on the Silhouette Online Store.  To switch things up a bit, I decided to flip it and have it open top and bottom rather than side to side.  I found some brocade style background paper that I thought I could work with.  It totally reminded me of wallpaper you would find in an older Victorian home of days gone by.  I inked it up with some rusts, greens and browns to make it appear more aged and to tie in with the color of the die cut photo.  I also got my Silhouette Cameo humming...cut and colored all of the other embellishments with the Cameo.  This includes the flowers, Victorian frame, and the flourishes.  I added a rhinestone flourish as well for some interest and sparkle.  To the centre of the flowers I added some Cotton Candy Stickles to tie into the color of the ribbon on the little girls dress.  This was the first time I had attempted to make 3D flowers, and was very happy with how they came out...and how easy they were to create.  I bent the petals on the flowers forward with my bone folder to give them the appearance of real flowers.  I inked them in different shades to give them some extra added realism and dimension.  I also inked the flourishes to make them seem aged as well.  Here's a look at how the card came out...

A bit more of a close up...

And a close up of the sentiment...

I was quite happy with how this card turned out, and love the image and the message it gives.  I'm hoping I did okay with the color scheme as I did not find these colors the easiest to work with!  LOL  My biggest wish is that this will encourage my aunt and brighten her day when my mom sends it to her!  It will be a great reminder that she is being thought of and prayed for! 

Well that's pretty much it for me today.  I need to head out the door and get some grocery shopping done.  And mom...I know you're reading this...I'll pop by with the card tomorrow!  Until next time...

This card has been entered into the following challenges...

Twist of Faith Card Challenges..."Gate Card"
Stuck on U Sketches..."Die Cut Flourishes"
Crafting with Dragonflies..."Unusual Fold"
Path of Positivity..."Caring"
Victorine Originals Challenges..."Friendship in Bloom"