Shabby & Chic

One of my goals this year is to try more shabby-chic card designs. I really love the look, but have shied away because I thought my efforts always looked flat and fell short of something intended to look aged. My friend Dru does a great job with vintage and shabby-chic cards and her work is always so inspirational.. and that's what I needed. Just a bit of inspiration to get me started.

So today, I needed to take a stab and venture out too. Here's my first attempt creating a shabby-chic look with this Valentine's card.

I used a Sizzix die that I think I might have used once.. but it's perfect for Valentines' Day. That's another goal for 2010.. to actually use the great dies that I have.. not just collect them and let them gather dust!

Using various shades of pale pink cardstock, cream cardstock and pale pink toile, a touch of yellow, and green designer papers, I simply ran them through my Big Shot. I then distressed everything with Tim Holtz' Tea Dye Distressed ink. Even the Wright's lace hem tape (It was my Mom's and it's so old it was $.45 for three yards!) was slightly stained with the distress ink. It just happens to meet the challenge this week at Die Cut Dreams and the Simon Says Stamp Challenge.

Thanks so much for stopping by and taking a few moments out of your day. I hope you have a terrific weekend and 'til next time, be safe in all you do!