Happy New Home!

My Stampin' Up Upline and cardmaking mentor has just moved into her first new home. . . a cause for celebration!  Having moved a number of times in my married life, I know what an exhausting, though joyous, undertaking it is; therefore, I wanted to make a new home blessings card, sending along a little pizza gift card as well.  Finding enough time in the day to work, unpack, and find the perfect place for everything unpack, pretty much fills up a 24-hour day.  I remember there is barely time to sleep let alone cook, so the pizza gift card should come in handy any night in the near future, right!

I have to say I procrastinated a lot on this card, changing my mind numerous times.  Even when I decided on my general idea of the card's creative design, I struggled with what papers to use. . .one with houses on it, flowers...hmmm???  I finally threw out the idea of any flowers on the paper since this card would be for Liz and her husband.  When I finally decided on the paper with the cute houses, I thought, "Great, not too feminine."  But then as my design changed and evolved to fit the colors in the paper, etc. and I just couldn't throw out the pink.  I did try to stick with a border punch that wasn't too frilly, but the layout screamed for a more pizzazz, like a spritzed doily and 3D flowers.  You'd think I could have stuck to the blues, reds, and greens in the paper, which would have made the card a bit more masculine, but they just weren't as pretty as the pink. . .sorry Pat!

I spritzed the white doily with my homemade spritzing formula:  water and acrylic metallic paint.  I didn't have any shades of pink mixed up, nor did I have a pink metallic paint.  I had to get creative and mixed a combination of Metallic Bright Red and Metallic Pearl White metallic acrylic paint to come up with my Shimmery Rose-Pink color.  I was pleased with the outcome, as it made a  perfectly lovely shimmery rose-pink spritzed doily.  (The picture does not show off the shimmery quality of the spritz, though it is quite apparent when you see the card in real life.)  I do hope Liz enjoys her home blessings card and her pizza!  Now, all she needs is a wee little glass of wine to go with!

Following my tried and true method of cardmaking from beginning to end, it was time to tackle the inside design so it would compliment the card front.  This would, of course, include a verse or poem befitting the card's occasion theme.  I had a couple of strips of the ZigZag punched pink gingham plaid left over, so I decided I should certainly use those and not waste the extras.  I really like how it sets off my chosen verse.  Voila, the card is done and ready to show off!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstocks: Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi.  Echo Park dsp: Life is Good/The Neighborhood (both sides).  My Mind's Eye: The Sweetest Thing/ Honey 'Love' (check).  Stampin' Up stamps: You Brighten My Day (2015 SAB).  Martha Stewart punch: ZigZag border.. Stampin' Up punches: Bird Builder; What's Up (house).  Spellbinders dies: Labels 4; Labels LG.  MFT dies: Photo Corners (inside/modified).  Wilton: 4-1/2" Doily.  Prima: Mini roses.  Recollections: pink flower.  Spritzer (homemade): Shimmery Rose-Pink (doily).  Copic Markers (house).  Computer sentiment/ verse (font = Santas Sleigh Full Bold: 26/18 sentiment; 20 verse).  Size: 5-3/8" x 6-1/4".