Birthday Card - 'less is more' - not in this case!!!!

I needed to make a special card for a friend's upcoming 50th birthday

so immediately thought of using my favourite of all dies

Tim Holtz Alterations/Sizzix 'Sewing Room' Bigz die (again!!)

I painted the form with silver acrylic then stuck on

black sequins with Glossy Accents trying not to make

too much mess as it was all oozing through the holes in the sequins!

I sprinked gold glitter all over to mop up the excess.

I added some embellishments - a beaded belt,

a silver handbag and silver flower at the neckline.

.... and a beaded necklace too, well it is a special occasion!

With the form finished, I wanted to create something really

special to mount it on - well, I failed and ended up with something

quite simple really, but I think it works anyway.

The card I used was embossed already except for a square area

in the centre.  I tried using the brayering technique on the square,

with blue ink, then overstamped with Stampers Anoymous

 (Pattern Pieces CMS012).  I think this technique is not as easy as it seems,

but I'm sure I'll improve with practice.

I used more of the blue ink to highlight some of the embossed flowers

on the card.  Once done, it was all too heavy and dark and I wanted the dress form to take centre stage.  A sheet of white vellum came to the rescue -

attached with small brads in each corner - it muted the dark colours - yay!

I thought a little bit of stamping onto the vellum would finish it off

- I got a bit carried away though and with hindsight wouldn't

have done as much  - note to self:

'remember less is more!'

I even went on to stamp the same pattern around the envelope,

but I like how that looks - LOL.

The stamps I used were

Technique Tuesdays (Borderline:Notions)

Stampers Anonymous (Pattern Pieces CMS012)

I'm pleased with the dress form, but not so with the background card.

However, I always think to myself would I be happy to receive this

and yes, I would, so I'm going to give it to my friend and hope

she'll like it. 

Thanks for looking x