Card Design: Digi Darla's Challenge #93--Don We Now Our Gay Apparel

Happy Monday to you!  I am so pleased that you were able to pop by, as I'm sure you are busy this week with all those last minute holiday preparations.  As usual, my week starts off with the latest challenge over at the Digi Darla's Challenges Blog. This week for Challenge #93 the theme is "Don We Now Our Gay Apparel".  Laura, who is in charge of the December challenges, wants you all to use felt or wool on your creation this week.  It can even be digital felt if you don't have any of the real kind like me, but make sure you let us know what you used felt or wool for.

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 image in my project this week:

• Balloons N Bow

Here is my project and the details, I hope I haven't forgotten anything... 

General Comments:

• Oh boy, I've made a bit of a mess of things this week.  First, I mixed everything up regarding the actual challenge.  Somehow I got things all screwed up and took part of next week's challenge parameters and part of this week's parameters and put them together to come up with my creation.  Not sure where my head was at.  It is obvious that I need a break and thankfully one is coming very soon.  However, since the challenge didn't technically say it had to be a Christmas card, I've managed to slip through yet another loophole because I definitely followed the 'use felt' directions at least.  You'll read about my next blunder below.

FRONT

Digital Image:

• Balloons N Bow: You can find this image in the DD store by clicking on the image name or watermark linked above. 
• The image was brought into Photoshop Essentials 12 (YaY, I got the new software a couple weeks ago during an awesome Black Friday sale--got it for under $60.00!).  I then added a felt layer to the balloons and bows, courtesy of Scrappin' Cop.  It is really amazing how real the felt looks.  This layer style was also used on the number three, along with some beveling and a drop shadow.

Digital Paper:

• For the paper, I took one of my existing solid papers that I made for the Celebration kit that I made for the World Card Making Day draw, then took the image of the balloons n bow that I had altered, reduced their size and created a digital paper for this card.

Digital Embellishments:

• The felt ribbons at the bottom were created using a template from Sheila Reid, a designer with Pixel Scrapper.

Lessons Learned:

• Now, some of you may know that I have balance issues in real life.  I can be standing there and suddenly topple over.  Well, apparently I had balance issues with this particular card as well.  It wasn't until I had everything all printed out and was downstairs that I realized just how off centre the front of the card was.  It wasn't that way when I created it--here I can prove it...

• See?!  All nice and evened up on each side.  However when you look at the card itself you can see that the printing cut off a good 1/4 to 1/2 inch on the right side; so now, it looks ridiculous.  The only saving grace is that the card is going to a set of twins who will be turning three at the beginning of January.  I don't imaging they'll notice anything about the card at all, much less that it is way off centre.  Note to self:  check printed copy before cutting out and affixing to front of card.  At least if I had noticed, I could have cut off a chunk on the left hand side to match!  Of course some of the issue might have been that I had basically worked twelve hours straight on the computer, then had a bite to eat at 11:15 pm and then put the card together.  Yeah...that might have had something to do with it.

INSIDE

Digital Sentiment:

• This is one of my own.  I just played around with the colours to match the rest of the card.

Digital Paper:

• The paper is that original solid paper I used for the front, only used on its own this time.

Digital Embellishments:

• The candles are from a kit I got over at Starry Nights Studio.  They have lots of great freebies still available and lots of free digistamps that have been added since the last time I was there.  Another item to add to my 'to do' list, it would seem.

OVERALL
 Paper Products:

• Card base: Crafts Brand card kit, silver-- purchased at Dollarama.

Digital Frames: 

• The frame was created using elements from Shelby Kate Schmitz of graphicssoft.about.com.

Challenges I am hoping to enter...

• Avenue 613 -- Anything Goes with optional twist 
• http://www.creativeinspirationspaint.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://onestitchatatimechallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• http://sirstampalotchallenge.blogspot.ca/ -- Free and Easy
• http://polkadoodle.blogspot.ca/ -- Anything Goes
• (I might add to this list later today)

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,