Card Design: Digi Darla's Challenge #78--Anything Goes with Optional Twist: Flags

Today we begin the newest challenge over at the delicious Digi Darla's Challenges Blog. This week for Challenge #78 the theme is "Anything Goes with an Optional Twist: Flags".  This month is strictly anything goes--everyone's favourite challenge.  However, Emily has come up with some interesting optional twists for this month; so, for this week the optional twist is flags.  If you would like to, you can include a flag, banner or pennant somewhere on your card.

As always, one person will be the lucky winner of FIVE Digi Darla (DD) images!  AND any entries using a DD image get entered into a SECOND drawing for THREE images. So, you could technically win eight images!  If you do use one of Kim's wonderful images make sure you let us know by writing DD after your name when you enter.

I've used the following Digi Darla's digi in my project this week:

• One Cup A Daisies

Here are the card and details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything...

General Comments:

• Okay, now you know that I strive to be as honest as possible with you guys at all times.  I feel it is as important to share my boo boos as it is to share my successes.  To me it helps to show growth and also help others potentially avoid the same pitfalls.  So, I must be honest in that it is a complete fluke that this card actually has a pennant on it to qualify as the optional twist component.
• Over the last several months I have had the opportunity to work on a couple cards for the Digi Darla newsletter and also one that I've been working on but still haven't completed, for a sympathy card.  So, when the opportunity came up for a whole month of 'anything goes', I thought, wow, this is fantastic and will give me the opportunity to finally, hopefully, get ahead a little with this challenge blog.  Then, the optional twist came up and I thought, 'Oh no.  I don't think any of my cards will fit the twists'.  However, as it turns out, it isn't imperative that the DT members follow the twists; although, it will probably turn out that I'm the only one NOT following the twists.  I do feel a little guilty about that.  Yet, when I finally sat down to analyze my card for this post, I realized that yes indeedy, this card at least has a pennant shape as part of the sentiment.  Woo hoo!  I won't be a complete disappointment--for this week anyways!
• While the front of the card was created for a past edition of the newsletter, all but the solid green area of the inside was created after the fact and there is a story and another lesson learned to go along with it.
• First off, let's start with the front shall we...

 FRONT

Digital Image:

• Daisy Cup: You can find this beautiful cup of daisies in the DD store by clicking on the image name or watermark linked above.  
• It is coloured with Copic markers.  Flower:  YR000, YR00, YR02, YR04, YR07. Cup:  YG61, YG63, YG67.

Digital Sentiment:

• Thank you: This image was picked up as a freebie from Create with TLC.  Click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and HERE to go to the store. 
• The sentiment was recoloured in Publisher to match with the colours I wanted to use in the project.

Other Details:

• I created my layout directly in Publisher as I intended it to be a single layer card printed directly on the front.
• I cut off roughly a 1/4 in., of the front so that the inside would show up, almost like it appears as though there is strip of green on the front of the card when it is closed.

INSIDE

Digital Image:

• Okay, while technically it isn't a digital image per sé, I took the image of the Daisy Cup into Photoshop Essentials 5 and erased all of the inside lines.  I thought it might be interesting to enlarge it and use this as a basis for writing a personal message.  The image was fussy cut leaving a small amount of white around the edge for contrast.

Lesson Learned:

• Now this is where it gets funny and of course where I learned my lesson.  It was a darn good thing that I only needed to upload the front of the card for the newsletter because I made a SERIOUS boo boo.  As any of us who work with Copics know, they bleed through to the other side of your paper.  That is why you always need to put an extra piece of paper under the one you are working on.  Well, guess what I did?  I forgot to open up the card before I coloured it.  The worst part was that I hadn't even noticed the mess until after I had attached the solid green backdrop on the right hand side.  So, for the last few months this card has sat off to the side waiting for me to finish it off.  It was this week when I added the cup shape writing area on the right, and also had to add a piece for the left hand side to cover up the ridiculous mess I had made.  All in all, the overall effect isn't too bad, is it? 

OVERALL 
Paper Products:

• Card base: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, white.
• Designer Paper:  
• Chevron paper (front)--Recollection's Bold Basics Paper Pad.   The solid green paper is from the Ki Fancy Free paper pad.

So, why not come and show us what you've got by entering in our current challenge this week over at Digi Darla's Challenges?  While you are there please check out the wonderful creations from the rest of the design team.  We always look forward to seeing the delightful creations you come up with.

I'm sad to say that today is the last day that our teammate Vicky, from Crafting Vicky, will be with us.  She has made the difficult decision to step down from the team after having spent over the last year with Digi Darla.  Now, as it turns out, ALL the teams that I am a part of, Vicky was as well.  So, we're breaking with a tradition here but I wish her the best of luck.  Best thing is that I still share five teams with her and she has become a dear, dear friend so I know that I won't be losing touch with her.  If you have the chance when you are visiting the challenge blog, go over and bid Vicky a fond farewell.  I know she'd be honoured by your visit.  

Thank you so much for stopping by.  As I've now added to my comment section, whether you are a regular, here for the first time or popping over in your official capacity as a DT member, please know how much I appreciate the words that you leave behind.  Your encouragement helps me to become a better designer.   I try my best to reply to your comments (when an email address is available) but that is getting more and more difficult as my plate fills up with new responsibilities, new roles, and new obligations.  If I don't get the opportunity to thank you personally, know that I don't take a single comment for granted. Thank you for your understanding.

Until next time,