With More Sympathy for Sid

I was going through the cards in my Drafts folder earlier and found this one... it was the Sympathy card I made for my Mum and Dad to give to my Aunty when my dear Uncle Sid died... that was in September 2013!  I figured as this was the oldest card in my drafts it should be the first one to see daylight!

To make up for my tardiness in getting it "blogged" I've included loads of pics... I always take this many but usually manage to restrict myself to just a few - not this time!
I actually loved this card - the papers and cardstock were all such good quality - bought, as are all my "specialty" papers, in Starfish Lane.  The textures are gorgeous, I used pearl card as the base and gold foil for the matting.  The background layer was very fine paper with an oriental style pattern on it, I embossed that with a folder I just had to have... and have used just this once I think!  It's a Sizzix folder and I had to buy it in the Hello Friend set as it's discontinued as a stand alone product.... but that's okay - more folders for me :-)  The Crazy Challenge theme this time around is Embossing... I have this type, "dry" embossing and heat embossing too so I'm definitely IN!  The folder was new (still is, haven't used it since!) and the image is new too so I'm entering the "Something New" challenge at Top Tip Tuesday  and Crafty Calendar.  Crafty Creations has a Something Old Something New challenge... the gold flatbacks are well and truly from my stash, so I'm entering there too.
The next layer up is one of the Pebble range of papers, card really... very heavy.  It takes on a different hue depending on the angle you view it, love it!  It is a bit hard to get a decent "clean" edge on it when you cut it, I always end up trimming it by hand - so it's not for quick cards, for sure.  The green layer is handmade paper, again it cuts a little "fluffy" but a sharp blade does help.  It has a nice texture and the gold sort of wash through it is really nice too.  The Paper Shelter has a "Lots of Layers" challenge, I've used the "at least three" required so I'm entering there. 

The image is from Delicious Doodles, Teri has had to close her shop but you can still get her images from Cardmaking Downloads... I'm not sure if all of them (including this one) are available, I'm scared to go and check as it'll cost me a fortune; I'm just the gal who can't say "no", lol.  I coloured the image with Prismacolor pencils, I like the effect you get on textured (this is linen) paper.  I embossed around the edge of the image panel, cut with Spellbinders Labels Four, and added some extra texture to the centre of the flowers too with Old Gold EP.  I added a couple of gold flatbacks to the flowers and the corners of the green panel and the top right edge of the background.  The sentiment was computer generated.  
I bought loads of chipboard laser cuts from Make It Crafty before Zoe decided not to stock them anymore... that's where the dragonfly came from.  I embossed it with the gold EP then decided it still looked a bit flat, so embossed it's body again with Midnight Sparkle EP... very glittery IRL, but being dark not too garish for the "theme" of the card!  Bit fiddly holding it to heat the EP though, and HOT!!

When I made this card I used one of the Papertake Weekly sketches with the thought in the back of my mind that I could enter one of their regular "Sketchie Free For All" challenges; as it happens this week they have a "Take Your Pick" challenge so I'm picking "Sketch" and using sketch number 68, albeit flipped horizontally.  I used the same sketch for the inside of the card... but then I usually do, lol  The sentiment on the inside is computer generated too.  I inked around the edge of the jotting panel in the rose colour to tie it in to the front better.
Art by Miran, Paper Creator Crafts, Inky Chicks, Craft Your Passion and Through the Craftroom Door all have Anything Goes challenges so I'll be entering them.
Well that's it for Sid's card, my next "dragged from the drafts" card will at least be from 2014!!  There have been so many "events", all with their own card, lol.  In the meantime I'll be back on Saturday with my Di's Digis DT card.... as yet another fortnight has flown by!  Until then Happy Crafting, Donna