Just Us Girls Challenge #66

TGITW!  ..."the weekend" ;]  This first FULL week back has proven to be a long one for me.  I feel wiped out!  I must be getting old...blech.  BUT, alas, it's about that time for another JUGS challenge!  Pam is our hostess this week and she challenged us to not only make a card, but to also decorate and line an envelope.  I've been wanting to line my envelopes for a while, but I always take the short route and avoid even decorating them.  So, I'm happy with the challenge, and the results! 

We're also a lucky bunch this weekend...the very generous Gina K. is sponsoring Just Us Girls!  I LOVE that she allowed us to choose whatever stamp set we were inspired by (some sponsors don't)...it makes it so much easier to get crafty :]  I chose to work with the oh so pretty Botanicals set!

I felt very "Krafty" when I started working with the set, so I used Stampin Up's Crumbcake cs as a primary color.  I also knew that I wanted to layer my flower on the text, but in a less obvious way.  I decided to stamp my bloom with VersaMark and emboss it with clear powder (I did the same on my envelope).  I then stamped the text with Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink on my precut Killer Curves pieces.  I sponged the edges of my Crumbcake cs with white craft ink. 

To add a little color, I offset my Crumbcake panels with Very Vanilla, and also created a top border with my Autumn Leaves Collection 2 patterned paper and a vanilla layer...both cut from the Border Builders Elegance Scallop cut files.  I hand stiched the zig zag.  I added small scraps of ribbon to my All Tied Up Square cut file panel, and tied them off with craft thread.  I added a few buttons for a little more color and stamped "Miss You" in the corner to finish it up.  Super easy yet striking IMO :] 

I lined my envelope using the same Autumn Leaves patterned paper that I used on my card.  Gina K. has a wonderful tutorial on lining envelopes over at Stamp TV to get you started.  Unfortunately, I didn't have the same sized envelopes she used in her tutorial, BUT, her directions did help to move me in the right direction.  I cut a piece of patterned paper at 5.5" x 6" and trimmed the top corners evenly.  I adhered the same way Gina did in her tutorial and before I knew it, my envelope was finished :]  I really SHOULD line and decorate them more often...they don't take much work at all.

All in all, this challenge turned out to be pretty easy!  I was pleased with how quicky I finished, and I really LOVE the stamps more than I expected I would when I ordered them!  HUGE THANK YOU to Gina K. and Pam for arranging the sponsorship and for hosting a fun challenge this week!  I certainly hope all of you can play along this week!  If you do, be sure to post a direct link to your creation over at JUGS and use keyword JUGS66 in any online galleries. 

Take a peek at our fab DT's projects to get a healthy dose of inspiration before you get started:

Hope your weekend is off to a nice, slooow start :]  Thanks for stopping by today!