Heart 2 Heart Challenge 9 - Hey There Cupcake

Over at Heart 2 Heart Challenges, they post weekly challenges for papercrafters using CTMH products.  I have always been inspired by the wonderful cards the design team and other participants create.  I usually check out the challenges too late in the week to participate. This week I wasn't too late!  The challenge this week was to use this sketch.

I was instantly inspired after looking at some of the design teams designs and hopped straight up from my computer to go craft a card.  I considered a layout at first but I actually wanted to get a project done in time!

I knew that I wanted to use the Cherry-O paper pack because I am in love and can't stop working with the paper in this pack.  I also didn't have to even think about what stamp set to use.  I had used the Cupcake Sprinkles stamp set earlier today on another card I made and I pulled it right out.

Now I will let you in on a little of my creative process.  Just look at the pretty pictures if this doesn't interest you!   I first started out with the non-cherry paper from the paper pack.  I had a vision from the start and cherries weren't part of it.  I laid out the papers in the pack overlapping each one to get an idea of which paper would be which stripe.  (I already knew that the end piece would be chocolate cardstock).  I then cut out the stripes with 2 of each paper ( I originally was going to make 2 cards while I was at it.)  Then I started laying out the background for the card.  I first used all 4 papers but it wasn't quite gelling with me.  After calling over my husband several times for consultations (Poor him) I decided to only use two of the papers.  With that decided, I placed them on the card base using a re-positional glue stick. 

I never stick anything down permanently until I have created/stamped all the elements and dry placed them.  Many times my initial creative vision doesn't pan out quite the way it I wanted it to and this saves ALOT of paper and time recreating elements.  See that picture right there?  On the right of the unfinished card is my first attempt at the frosting and my second attempt at the cupcake liner.  After the background was decided on, I started stamping the images.  I did some plain jane stamping but the cupcake wasn't  really popping off the card.  I then got it into my head to use some SHIMMER MIST.  Yee haw!  It is really simple to create using CTMH reinker, Create a Shade Pearl Paint, and rubbing alcohol.  Mix it all together in a misting spray bottle and go to town.

While the new frosting was drying (it only takes a minute or two (that is why you use alcohol and not water)), I was looking at the background and thought it needed something.  That is when I decided to use the stitching stamp for around the edges.  When I was done with the stamping, I laid out my card again.  It was still missing something.  I really decided to go crazy with the shimmer mist.  I embossed the white lines on the cupcake  liner with clear embossing powder and then used chocolate shimmer mist on it.  It turned out well just a little too shimmery for my taste.  We aren't going to discuss how I ended up with chocolate shimmer mist all over the place while mixing it.

In the end I decided to just stamp the cupcake liner with chocolate ink and added a few Bitty Sparkles to bling it up.  I needed something to draw attention to the sentiment so I broke out my Dimensional Elements: On Target and sponged it with Tulip ink.   Once again I laid out my card with all the elements.  I needed something on the line between the cardstock and broke out the Colonial White Organdy ribbon to fulfill that need.  Now it was time to permanently adhere everything!  Right before I stuck it down, I was re-arranging all my elements and decided to flip the sketch on its side.  It was like Feng Shui for cards.  It just plain ol' looked better.  I stuck everything down using TomBow adhesive and pop dots and TA-DA finished card!

I left some stuff out like how I sponged all the edges to soften things up and give them depth but I have been too long winded anyways.  Have a question on my technique?  PLEASE leave a comment!  I live for comments!

Supplies Used:

• Paper and Cardstock:  Cherry-O Level 2 paper pack
• Stamp set:  Cupcake Sprinkles
• Inks:  Chocolate, Crystal Blue, Tulip
• Embellishments:  Bitty Sparkles, Dimensional Elements: On Target, Colonial White Organdy ribbon, Create-a-Shade Pearl Paint
• Tools:  TomBow adhesive, EK Success 3D-Dots