Card Design: Digi Darla's Challenge #89--Cornucopia Copycat with a Twist

Hello all you amazing people who have taken the time out of your day to come and see little old me.  I sincerely appreciate your continued support.  Let me get on with the main reason you are joining me on this Monday morning.  Well, it might be afternoon by the time you get here or even Tuesday or Wednesday but that is okay the point is you are here; however, you are probably tired of me babbling so let us get on with today's post shall we?
 
It is time to introduce the latest challenge taking place at the delectable Digi Darla's Challenges Blog. This week for Challenge #89 the theme is "Cornucopia Copycat".  Yes that is right, it is time for the monthly copycat challenge and you know what that means--there is a free image waiting for you over on the challenge blog to use in this week's entry.  It is perfectly suited for the end of fall and for those of you in the USA soon to be celebrating Thanksgiving.

Since you need to use the image we are giving away on your project, that means that everyone is eligible for the opportunity to win eight images!  How awesome is that!

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

General Comments:  

• This one is slotted for mail delivery to say a very special thank you to someone for something amazing they have done for me so I am REALLY hoping it survives its journey.
• Okay now I need you to be honest.  I'm just not sure that my layout looks all right.  Should I have put the flowers elsewhere or not included them?  I just sort of feel that it is bottom heavy.  What are your thoughts?  You know I always appreciate your feedback.

FRONT

Digital Image:

• Cornucopia:  As mentioned above, the image used this week is the copycat image so you can find it over on the challenge blog. 
• The image was coloured with Copic Markers and chalk.  Horn:  YR21, YR23, E23.  Assorted fruits:  Y32, Y35, Y38 (bananas); R11, R14, R17 (red apples);  R11, R14, G20, G24 (reddish green apples); G20, G24, G29 (pears); R32, R35, R39 (plum); Y02, Y04, Y06, R32 (grapefruit); YR02, YR04 YR07 (oranges); V11, V15, V17, coloured pencil for definition (grapes).  The bottom of the cornucopia is done in a goldy beige chalk and, while unfortunately it is difficult to see, the upper area is shaded with an ivory coloured chalk.

Digital Sentiment: 

• I just created a sentiment on the front to tie in with the image and lead in to the inside one.   I brought the image into Publisher and created some wordart to wind its way around the horn.  Believe it or not, the font on the front and the one inside are coloured the same way.  I forget to also change the outline from black to brown on the wordart so it appears much darker than it should have.  However, I wasn't willing to waste it simply for it being a bit darker.  I don't think that it makes too much of a difference.  At least I hope that it doesn't make too much of a difference.

Die Cut: 

• For this card I got to break in the other die I bought.  This one is Spellbinders Nestabilities Lattice Rectangles.  

Lessons Learned:

• Now I am still having issues with getting the thickness correct.  All the videos I've watched simply state that with the thin dies by Spellbinder you leave your tabs closed and place it between the two cutting plates.  However, when I do this it won't go through the machine, it is too thick.  However, even reducing the thickness and opening up one of the tabs means that it doesn't cut.  For this one I tried four different times and by the time it finally went through it didn't completely cut through so I had to hope for the best and use my scissors to cut around the impressions.
• I've got to figure out something and soon because I am just wasting too much time and other things are piling up.  I know it is trial and error but I don't know how to find an inbetween that will work.

Embellishment: 

• Both the lace and the flowers are from Dollarama.

   
INSIDE

Digital Sentiment:

• Paulette, once again has just the right sentiment for me to use.  This is another great image I picked up over at Create with TLC.  Click HERE to go to Paulette's blog and HERE to go to the store.  I wasn't able to find it so if you are interested in purchasing it, contact Paulette.

OVERALL
 Paper Products: 

• Card base and matting in behind sentiment: Michael's Recollection's Cardstock, Pastel collection.
• Designer Papers:  
•  Floral paper (front and inside)--Recollection's Mosaic Memories Paper Pad.

Challenges I am hoping to enter...  
(sorry but in order to save me some time, I am just including the hyperlink as opposed to setting up the name and linking it to the challenge blog.  Every second I save these days counts.)  

• http://myshericrafts.blogspot.ca/ -- Fall or Thanksgiving
• http://ladybugcrafts.blogspot.ca/ -- Autumn Colours
• http://memascrafts.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes/Optional Twist to use the word 'Thanks' in the project
• http://thestampingboutiquechallengeblog.blogspot.ca/ -- Thanksgiving

So, how about you come on over and show us YOUR wonderful talents by entering in our current challenge this week over at Digi Darla's Challenges?  While you are there please check out the great projects from the rest of the design team.  We always look forward to seeing the delightful creations you come up with. 

Until next time,