Here Comes the Bride

Last night I went to a bridal shower for the bride of my friend's son!  We had a great time with the lady who was demonstrating Pampered Chef products for us.

There is something magical about that time in a woman's life.  I have to confess that one of my guilty pleasures is watching "Say Yes to the Dress."  No matter how plain a woman is, she gets into the right wedding gown and she is transformed into a princess!  And maybe for the first time in her life, she feels beautiful.  If only we could hang on to that perception of ourselves!

Of course, I had to create a card for the event, and I had this vision of white on white, with embossed layers and maybe the Expressions Thinlet die that reads "love"!  I also wanted to include a white umbrella, for a shower.  That's where I had difficulty.  I had no stamps with umbrellas, so I thought I'd die cut one, no problem.  But the challenge lay with the handle.  What on earth would I use for that?  Here's the card:

• I used exclusively Whisper White cardstock, but used the Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder on one layer and the retired Lacy Brocade folder on the umbrella.
• The center panel was edged using the Scallop Trim Border punch and then adding some Whisper White Organza Ribbon layered with some of the 1/8" Silver Ribbon.  I used the same ribbon to make 2 little "fork" bows.
• I used the Expressions Thinlets "love" die.  Just a tip for those - I find if I run in back and forth in the Big Shot several times, the paper is then cut all the way through and it removes easily from the die.

• Now, about that umbrella handle - it's a toothpick!  I used an ordinary round toothpick and rolled it in some Versamark ink and dropped it in my container of White Stampin' Emboss powder.  Then I picked it out with a pair of tweezers and heat embossed it, using the Stampin' Up Heat Tool.  That gave me a white handle and I tied a little fork bow and attached it to the handle.
• The umbrella itself is punched out with a 2 1/2" Circle punch from embossed paper and cut in two, a little lower than half way and edged with the Scallop Trim Border Punch.  It is then adhered to the handle using glue dots.

I really like the way it turned out.  The different textures and the shiny, silver ribbon adds some contrast. Have a great week!

Stamps:  (Inside) Love and Laughter (w128433; c125477)

Paper:  Whisper White (100730) card stock

Ink:  StazOn Jet Black (101406) (inside); VersaMark (102283)

Accessories:  White Stampin' Emboss Powder (109132); 5/8" Organza Ribbon in Whisper White  (114319); Silver 1/8" Ribbon (132137); 1 round toothpick

Tools:  Heat Tool (129053); Textured Impressions Embossing Folders: Perfect Polka Dots (117335) and Lacy Brocade (retired); Expressions Thinlits Die (132171);  Big Shot (113439); 2 1/2 " Circle Punch (120906); Scallop Trim Border Punch (118402)

2 1/2" Circle Punch

Expressions Thinlits

Heat Tool

Love & Laughter

5/8" Organza Ribbon

Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Scallop Trim Border Punch

Silver 1/8" Ribbon

StazOn Jet Black Ink