Easter Wishes (CQC131)

Hi there! Hope you are well. :) We are having some CRAZY weather in CO today!! After weeks of above average 70-even 80 degree temps, it got real cold yesterday and today we have quite a bit of snow on the ground! My Papa used to always say "If you don't like the weather in Colorado, just wait a minute!" So true! ;) Can't wait to share with you these soft, pretty colors we have at the ColourQ for ya this week! Great Easter palette:

I had seen and pinned this gorgeous card (the first one on the post) over at Lynn's blog last week, it was just so soft and pretty. So, when I saw these colors, I really thought a white panel with woodgrain texture was in order. You see, this is why creativity can't exist in a vacuum! As a designer, I struggle with the concept of making something the color that it "shouldn't be" in my head! And, it really is silly, because there are white trees. Birch trees have white bark, and so do Aspen, here in CO. But even if there WEREN'T white trees, I love it when other designers think outside the box, so why shouldn't I? So, this is why it's good to have other inspiration as an artist. Public service announcement is over now, LOL. ;)

I knew I wanted to make another Easter card. I've really only made a few this year, and I want to have enough to give each smaller family in my huge family at Easter. Christmas is my very favorite holiday (for a lot of reasons...;) but Easter is a close second. This year, Easter will be extra special for us, as our oldest son Ian went through his Communion classes at church, and on Maundy Thursday he will take his "first" communion. We are Lutheran, not Catholic, hence the quotes, since he actually has taken Communion before, but this is still a really special Easter for our family. :)

So, I decided to stamp the sentiment first, run the white panel through the Cuttlebug in a woodgrain embossing folder, and punch a hole where the main element, the cross, would "land" as well as the floral elements. I had one of those wreath stickers left, and it was the perfect size to frame the circle, and such a pretty accent. The secondary element in the card is the small bow at the top, with the pin and the tag, which is just made with a really ancient punch, and a punched flower. I tend to love white space (especially when it is actually white!) when I see it on other designers cards, but I am a little afraid of it myself! So, it's quite possible I "over-embellished" a bit to make up for it! ;)

Well, I hope you like my card... I wanted to share a happy moment that I had at the end of last week. I had entered 7 cards in the Paper Crafts Magazine "Stamping Royalty" contest. Last Thursday, they posted this photo on their Facebook feed, saying that the cards on the table were the "contenders" in the Birthday category.... I was tickled to see one of my cards right away, and upon closer inspection realized that ALL THREE of the birthday cards I submitted made it to the table! I didn't win, I would have heard yesterday if I had, but it really made me feel good. Out of the 300 or so cards they must have had in the category (1586 cards total, 5 categories) that mine were interesting enough to be in the final group. ALL THREE! :D It's a good feeling, I'm hanging onto that one for awhile.

I hope you are doing well! My boys are still home on Spring Break, and with Easter coming, it's a nutty week ahead. I will do my darndest to get back here again this week, but I'm not making any promises, whatever there is time for!

Big hugs!!

Noelle

supply list: embossing folder: Tim Holtz/Sizzix; stamps: Inkadinkado and Stampin' Up!; punches: EK Success; cross die: Verve; wreath sticker: Jolees Parcel; gems; solid cardstock in challenge colors: SU! decorative pin: K&Company; green ribbon

DUST IT OFF!: Wow, sooo many old things on this! The "Easter Wishes" stamp is a few years old, all the punches but especially the tag punch, REALLY old, the flower punch, too..... really all looks so pretty together though.