With Gratitude

Hello everyone!  As this one goes live, I should be on my way to the airport (come on Blogger, don't let me down!) heading across the pond to see my Mom just in time for her 90th birthday later this month!  It feels like forever since I saw her last, but she is doing very well and has been in good hands as all three of my brothers have been to see her while I was away.  This card was requested by a friend of the  blog, and I thought it was a pretty card for a Monday morning too.  I started with a wine coloured piece of card and used the Scalloped Border dies to cut a pretty edge.  I used two of the inserts three times and then finished the bottom with one of the scalloped cutting edges.  I love the way these two inserts look together, don't you?  I matted a piece of  coconut white card behind them to show through, as it really does show off the intricacy of these dies.  Next I stamped one of my new "Stamps To Die For" line called Posy Lace.  It has been drawn to fit inside Labels 30 and give you a pretty edge.  I stamped it in black and coloured it with a combination of Distress markers and coloured pencils.  I added flat back  pearls to the centres of the flowers and cut it out with the matching Labels 30 die.  I used the Opulent Ovals to cut a thin frame to sit around my focal element die cut.  I stamped my sentiment with a Maroon Archival and clear embossed it.  I cut it out with one of the small Labels 30 dies and lightly inked it with the same ink.  I added a pearl to either side of the wording and mounted it with foam in the centre of my Posy Lace stamped image.  I tied a double bow out of white silky crush ribbon.  I finished the bow with a pearl embellishment and pearl stick pins. I decorated the card's bottom layers and corners with pearls and added a small pearl swirl in the upper corner too.  I added a double white mat to the card and pierced the inner mat layer to complete my card.  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 8 1/2" in size.
  I saw in one of the comments a request to put lists of the items used at the bottom of the post, but I thought I would try this first.  I have put all the items I have used that Creative Expressions carries in bold print so it is easily picked out.  Let me know if it is too distracting that way (it is easier to do than retyping the lists). If I have used an item that we do not carry (like the wine/maroon card, for example, I have not made it bold)   Does it work?
  I have decided to do an extended version of the charity card auction while I am away too.  I will put up two cards on the sidebar and take bids until the auction closes, which will be after I return in June.  I had a bit of difficulty getting the auction cards put up at first so I don't want to lose the space on my blog that I have been using for it.  It is a silent auction, once again, I will just let you know whether or not you have the highest bid for the card.  It is your choice then whether to try again with a higher bid.  I will get those up in the next day or so, keep an eye out for them.
    One more quick note before I sign off, Julia Watts has two shows today on C & C at 10am and 3pm.  She has some brand new items on her shows including our new line of Singles stamps that come already mounted on Umount, ready to stamp, yummy embossing powders, Spellbinders, Justrite, just to name a few.   Be sure to tune in for some great demos!   All for now, Sue x