It's February Already

Yup, it's February ALREADY, eek.  It's the first of the month so it's time for a new challenge at Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge... where it's really no challenge at all as all you have to do is use patterned paper somewhere on your creation :-))  I made a sympathy card as they're the sort of card we all need at some point and are loathe to make "on demand" as it were - good to have one or two on hand.

I cut two of the corners with my 1" corner cutter... I rarely use this, now I see how much it cuts the card down I can see why, it looks alright when used as a feature though, in my opinion anyway.

The background paper is GORGEOUS in real life, the green foil is really lush against the charcoal background; it is from my "special" papers box... most of those come from my favourite shop Starfish Lane... either as treat-myself purchases or with the proceeds of gift vouchers from my lovely son Chris - as this was :-)  The image is from Beccy's Place, it was a freebie  called simply  "Magnolia"
I broke with tradition this time around and used only Prismacolor pencils to colour the image... well not really broke; I printed the image on Versa Linen card and I usually use pencils on the heavier textured card as I have found that gives a nicer finish than Copics... well I think so! 
I did manage to get some Copic action happening though; the pearl in the centre of the embellishment on the ribbon was cream, I coloured it to suit with a Yellow Green Copic.  The ribbon is VERY glittery (let me translate, it loses fine black glittery bits all over the place!!) and didn't look good tied in a bow, or even a knot, so all I did was gather it with a little cotton and plonk the embellishment on, as I only had a little bit left it worked out well as I ended up with (just!) enough for the inside
The sentiment is from a set I've had for years; stamped in green pigment ink and embossed with clear... not that the gloss shows.

I cut the image panel with Spellbinders Standard Ovals and the mat (which I embossed with homemade black glitter EP) with Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Ovals.
As usual I finished the inside with elements from the front of the card... instead of the rhinestone/pearl embellishment from the front I used three flat back pearl embellies... they started life cream too, lol.  I didn't gather the ribbon this time, so it needed more pearls.
That's it for today's card, pop over to the blog and check out the rest of the team's inspiration, hope you get a chance to join in the challenge this time around: great prize as always and the theme is so easy, why not??
I'd like to enter this card in the following challenges:

Hanna and Friends Die Cuts

Crafty Cardmakers Die Cuts and/or Punches

As You Like It One or Multi-Layer (I'm going for "Multi-Layer" coz they're easier, lol, but I love One layer too!)

Pixies Snippets Playground Snippets (ribbon, I have about 2cm left, sob)

Aud Sentiments Anything Goes with a Sentiment

Hiding in my Craft Room Freestyle

Little Miss Muffet Anything Goes

That Craft Place Anything Goes

Li'l Patch of Crafty Friends Anything Goes

Addicted to  Stamps Anything Goes

Crafting With Friends Anything Goes

Art by Miran Anything Goes

Simply Papercrafts Anything Goes

Simon Says Challenge Anything Goes

Tuesday Throwdown Anything Goes

I'll be back soon (with something from my drafts I think, or maybe the cake I did for the twin's first birthday, seems as I'm already thinking about their THIRD which is on Easter Monday)  I have been press ganged into making a cake this week for one of my son's friends; I made a cake just before Christmas, now it only seems right that her eldest daughter get the same sort of cake - Sep's a nice lady so I said yes even though I don't do cakes "commercially" any more; three years of wedding cakes for a shop cured me of THAT, lol
Until then, Happy Crafting, Donna