"hope, beauty, joy" card by lauren bergold

this card contains my favorite piece of patterned paper from the MARY MARY QUITE CONTRARY kit, so i'm a bit sad that i covered most of it up! on the other hand, i'd like to think the pretty lady on the "peek-a-boo" transparency *IS* the eponymous "mary mary"... so i'm quite pleased to have composed an entire card around her!!! :)

the paper in question is called "floral" and it's from glitz design's vintage blue collection. i love the rich color... the smudgy, inky, shabby chic vibe... the soft pattern of faded flowers and nearly obscured text; yeah, i do wish i had managed to show it off better, but i think it makes a gorgeous backdrop for the more prominent bits of my card.

aren't those glitz "peek-a-boo" embellishments fabulous? i used "mary mary" straight out of the packet (you do get an ENTIRE packet, by the way!) but cut my sentiment from a larger, subway-art-style piece. i used my ordinary everyday adhesive roller to attach them; the fact that they have opaque sections makes it incredibly easy to hide your glue, but you could also staple or sew 'em on... or even use brads or eyelets in the corners. the flowers are cut using a set of smallish graduated flower dies from scraps of other blue papers in the kit which i have inked and distressed to create a vintage feeling.

here's my favorite "secret" bit: the fancy label shape is raised on thin strips of foam tape around three of its edges in order to create a pocket into which i've slid a an embellished tag from the 12x12" sheet of crate paper's "random" stickers; i stuck it to yet another coordinating scrap so i can write a personal greeting on the back of the tag. when my engineering was done, all i needed to do was layer each element on the card, and add some extra embellishments like the gorgeous green seam binding, and a few punched butterflies.

is it just me, or do you think that even "mary mary" will have trouble remaining contrary in such an elegant setting??! :)

* Supplies *

Pixie March Kit

"Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary"

get yours HERE!!!

** Today's Special **

Glitz Designs Vintage Blue Peek-a-boo

Usual 5.99, Today Only - 3.50

If you would like to take advantage of today's special, just drop a note at kirsty@pixiedustpaperie.com

*** Pixie March Challenge ***

"Sketch by Kirsty"

Come play along, CLICK HERE!!!!!