Friends are the Sunshine of Life

I can't believe this is my first DT card for the Bearly Mine Challenge, I'm so excited about being invited to join this fab team.

We have a great sponsor this week

and the prize for one lucky winner is a $20 Gift Certificate to spend at The Paper Shelter.

The theme for this weeks challenge is 'Friendship' and I was determined to use this lovely Faye Whittaker image, so I got out my stamp, ink pad and pens, sat down at my desk and three hours later this was the best I could do:

It didn't matter how hard I tried I just could not colour the image to my satisfaction and there was no way I was going to put that on a card, especially not my first DT card for the Bearly Mine Challenge.

I was so upset because although, as you all know I love CD crafting and in particular decoupage, I am determined to do more stamping and colouring especially after someone left the following comment on one of my cards 'so the image comes that way and all you do is stick it on a card?'  I have to say I don't think it is that easy because you have to cut everything out and you still have to design the card for the image to go on and often finding papers to match an image rather than colouring the image to match the papers can take forever - it is a lot easier when you have loads of Bearly Mine Designs digi sets at your disposal!

Anyway, there was nothing else to do but get out my Joanna Sheen Fay Whittaker CD.  This image is on the CD both as decoupage and in the toppers section, rather than use the decoupage version I decided to use the medium size topper and cut my own decoupage - the ready made version is quite large and has loads of layers - I made four layers.

I used one of the smaller images on the inside of my card that has been decorated to complement the front:

The fab papers are from the Bearly Mine Designs digi sets - Mini Dots and Spring Delights and I think they match the image perfectly.  I punched the border with a Fiskars edge punch and did manage to stamp the sentiment successfully.   Finally I added some pink buttons and used pink raffia for the bow because I thought raffia suited the seaside image.

So there you have it, I can't colour scenes and I admire anyone that can, but I don't agree that using decoupage is just a matter of 'cutting it out and sticking it on a card' and I'm pretty sure quite a few of you agree with me.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Diva's by Design Challenge 32 - Buttons and/or Bows
Aud Sentiments Challenge - Anything Goes
Lollipop Crafts Challenge 78 - Anything Goes
Crafty Catz Challenge 130 - Anything Goes
Deep Ocean Challenge 24 - Use Punches/Dies
My Mum's Craft Shop Challenge 54 - The great Outdoors
Dream Valley Challenge 31 - For a Special Lady
Paper Crafting Journey Challenge 8 - Vintage (I think this is a vintage image)
Sketch N Stash Challenge 86 - Doreen's Sketch (buttons and raffia from stash)

Cupcake Craft Challenge 190 - Best of British (Photo Inspiration) - A day at the seaside

Make sure you visit the Bearly Mine Challenge Blog to take a look at the DT inspiration and join in with this weeks challenge, don't forget the fab prize this week is a $20 Gift Certificate to spend at The Paper Shelter.

Well I hope you managed to stay awake, I think this is probably the longest post I have ever made, thank you for visiting today, please come back soon.

Pauline
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