Snips and Snails

{Don't forget about the blog candy here (deadline is March 15, 2009 at 11:59 pm). If you've posted about it on your blog, make sure you leave a second comment}

I needed a baby boy card for a group of people to sign, so I had to work with a larger size of card. I decided to do 5.5x8.5. It turned out to be a challenge, after years of making the "standard" size of 4.25x5.5 (or so).

Mojo Monday week #77 is a great sketch, so I started there.Sorry the colour is so bad - it was impossible to get a good shot of the card (it's 12:30 am!)

I really wanted to use this cute paper (with the "snips and snails" saying), and I had the coordinating paper with the puppies. I found some SU paper that is quite close in colour, so I went with that colour scheme.

Unfortunately the "snips and snails" paper didn't have the saying staggered, so I couldn't fit it all on the card, as it is too long. So I cut the paper into strips, and lined it back up so you can see bits and pieces of the whole saying (which I then covered up with the second layer - oh well). I don't think you can even tell that it's not a full sheet of paper!

There's lots of layering, those cute little clothespins, and I don't even have an envelope for it. All okay, because I won't be mailing it. Although I will make an envelope for it (and maybe share how I do that). Anyway, a very simple card.

Stamps: Cuddles & Tickles (SU)
Paper: Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue, So Saffron cardstock (SU), patterned paper (Memory Block)
Ink: Soft Sky (SU)
Accessories: Apricot Appeal brads (SU), circle and scalloped circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Swiss Dots embossing folder, Cuttlebug (Provocraft), clear embossing powder (Ranger), paper piercer (Making Memories), mini clothespins, blue snaps (unknown)

Sigh. And I just realized what I forgot on this card. Sewing! Some zig-zag stitching would add just the right amount of texture.

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And of course, I couldn't just leave it as is. So I ripped it all apart and fired up the Janome:
I even got a better photo. I still think it looks a bit plain, but I'm happy I added the sewing. What do you think?