January Card Chain Challenge Reveal

Many of you have heard me wax poetic about Deborah Nolan's Card Chain Challenge. For those of your who have not, a little poem for you:

Would you like a pretty card

To keep all for your own?

Do you want to bring a smile

To someone quite unknown?

Then take a gander at this site!

It will sure astound.

It's an exchange of crafty cards

Monthly from all around!

I'm sorry to have subjected you to that awful verse, but I wanted to be sure to tell you how much I LOVE participating in the Card Chain Challenge. It's not really a challenge at all - it's a monthly exchange with cardmakers around the world. You give a card, you get a card (and usually a little sumpin' sumpin' else too). Simple as that. The full reveal of all the cards is posted on Deborah's blog. If you're interested in signing up, the February exchange is still open, but only for 2 more days!

Anywho... on to the business of revealing my creation that was shipped to Helen in Ohio. If you've never had the pleasure of visiting Helen's blog, let me tell in advance that you will be bowled over by her creativity! 

I was going off the sketch the CCC gave, and I did an odd little thing. I just wanted to see if it worked, you know the drill. I folded the card in a very funny manner, leaving about an inch exposed on the left-hand side.

Then I stamped a background stamp of random words using Old Paper Distress Inks. I used a stencil and went over the words with a polka-dot stencil using Peacock Feathers Distress Inks, and then again using Dusty Concord.

At this point, everything just seemed ridiculously bright to me. So to continue in the vein of experimentation, I smeared gesso over a portion of the center panel, let it dry, then used a harlequin-shaped stencil to go over areas in Dusty Concord and Vintage Photo DIs. 

As you can see, I also created a little band with twine to keep the card closed. I even punched tiny hearts (it's in the details, people!). 

 

Next, I took this cool chipboard heart and used some Distress Paints (Broken China, Dusty Concord, Picket Fence) I dabbed on the paints, spritzed with water, dabbed on another layer, spritzed with more water until I got the look I was going for. 

Lastly, I embossed the word LOVE in gold and - VOILA:

I added some little pearl buttons to add a little class. Who doesn't love pearls?

I'm sending my card over to the following challenges:
Craft Hoarders Anonymous - build your challenge 

 I used Paint, Twine, Stamping, Chipboard, and Bling.

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - H is for (my H is for HEART!) 
Mod Squad - Use water (I used lots of water to make my heart chipboard)
Mixed Media Card Challenge - Love (option of buttons) 
Penny Black and More - Anything Goes


 Jo in England mailed me a card this month and it's divine! It showcases inlaid die cutting just perfectly. And it had lots of sparkle (which of course the camera doesn't pick up). Thanks again Jo! I love it!

Jo is one of those rare breed of crafters whose every card is completely gorgeous and makes you hang your head in shame. Check her out!

Thank you all for stopping by and leaving me fuzzy comments! They make my day!