Meeting the midnight deadline......It's another challenge.

 I spent seven hours in the craft room, or on the computer blogging today.  It is a beautiful Saturday with temps in the 80's, but I turned off the AC yesterday and opened up the house.  I figured if I have to stay home and work instead of going up to our trailer in Wisconsin to work on the porch, I want the windows open and the birds singing.  It has been lovely.  I have been cranking out the cards today, and doing fun challenges for new inspiration.  When I started to sag a bit ago, I decided to do another challenge.  I pulled out my list for color inspiration and found Nacho Average Challenge #4

 had just what I was looking for, but I had to hurry, as the entries close tonight!  Colors called for are Pink Pirouette (I had Pretty in Pink), So Saffron (I used Crushed Curry to get a darker image) and Certainly Celery. 

Then I found a great layout on Mojo Monday #251 to try, and I am very pleased with this layout.

 I got out the Crosses of Hope stamp set, and chose a new cross that I had not used.  Stamped it in Crushed Curry and then embossed it and a salutation with Clear embossing powder.  I bet it's been 9 months since I embossed anything, but this image just needed a little strengthening.  I added pearls to the frame to get a little more dimension to the focal point. 

 I want you to see the card below.  When I was doing the photo, I thought the layer with the cross was too stark looking, so I went in and did a little smudging around the edges using a blender pen and the yellow.  I have to say that after I photographed it again, I was wrong.  I did not like that little color around the edge, but thought I would share with you the mistakes I make, too.  Sometimes you just have to stop and leave it alone.  Like this one.

I dry embossed each section with a different embossing folder instead of using different colors in the layout.

And, then there came the flower.  Is it too much?  I kind of like it, but it does maybe overpower the image of the cross.  But, I just have been dying to try this flower.  I found a woman named Valita making them one day.  She makes so many beautiful paper flowers.  She is truly gifted.  I made mine today without going to look at her blog, but did it from memory.  I did not have a fringe scissors, so I just snipped, and I made my paper strip even so I did not get quite the layers that she did.  I scrunched it up to give it a wilder look.  I decided to add a daisy from Reason to Smile stamp set inside with my greeting.  There are only 3 days left to order Reason to Smile stamp set.  Only $5 with a $50 order, but after July it will be gone forever :(

Well, it's getting late, and I am hungry.  Think I am done for today, but I have more to show you tomorrow.  Have a good night!

Mary Alice