A Little Pearls & Lace On MY Birthday!!!

So HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LOL... Well we do need to make a big fuss about these things now don't we!! Because if I don't make a big fuss, no one else will :/ *teehee*... 

and to celebrate my Birthday today.. I have made myself a CARD! Of course!! What else would a card maker make self!! plus, it just so happens to fit perfectly with this fortnights theme for Mo's Challenge Blog, which is Pearl & Lace... But first, before I get into that, I would like to express my deepest thanks and appreciate to everyone who bought the "Amanda" Tribute stamp last fortnight, and for those who played along with our last challenge in Amanda's honour. we raised $420 odd dollars for the Animal Shelter in her name, which I think is just wonderful and she would be so proud of us all. 

Now back to the card... This weeks theme, Pearls & Lace, I knew INSTANTLY what I wanted to do... I had an inkling that most would interpret this them as pink, or white and FLUFFY!! EKKKKKK!!! sooooo not my thing.. I saw DARK and STORMY and GLOOMY!!! now that's my cup of tea.

So I have gone with dark purples and rich reds and black pearls... however I had to be told by the DT coordinator that I had conveniently forgotten the pearls in my submission (nearly got a spanking!!) and had to whip off quick smart and do some card editing to resubmit!! SO NO FORGETTING THE PEARLS PEOPLES!!! or the LACE very important!! I have gone sneaky with the Lace element, as I included a Lace design scrapbook paper!! :) Which was accepted... Just!! LOL.. I AM a rule bender!! not breaker.. *chuckles*

Now for the gorgeous image I have used a newish digi created by the amazing Mo Manning called "Woe is Fay"... You can purchase her here... She is simply stunning and I fell in love with her GLOOMY look straight away. If you like her look there is also one other stamp with Fay called "Fay and Frank" which can be purchased here... and a similar designed stamp with a Tombstone called "L.B. Back" which can be purchase here.

Now.. Onto some photos!!

 Fay has been painted with Tim Holtz Distressed Reinkers on Arches 300gsm Hot Press Smooth Watercolour Paper.

The background lace effect paper is a digital download from MoonsteamDesign on Etsy called "Black Lace Halloween" and can be purchased here!

The Black/Gold Mirror frame around Fay is a die cut called Majestic Ovals by Spellbinders. I cut it out in black card stock, then using bronze cream eyeshadow I dry brushed it over, to give it an aged bronzed effect. 

The black border strip is also a Spellbinders die from the Spellbinder Shapeabilities Parisian Accents S5-034 set. I have attached small black beads to represent the pearls with a hot glue gun. 

The die cut leaves came from the Spellbinders Shapeabilities Bitty Blossoms S5-086. They were cut from handmade paper (purchased) and distressed through the dies like a stencil with Forest Moss Distressed Ink. Then shaped using a ball stylus and shaping mat.  

The Red Roses were purchased from a local $2 shop, and distressed with Vintage Photo Distressed ink and a dauber to darken them to tie them into the overall card!

I hope you enjoyed my card this fortnight, and I cannot wait to see what cards you come up with yourself under this theme.. I hope I inspire at least one Gothic/dark themed card!!! 

I'm off to enjoy a birthday dinner of Mexican with my gorgeous son and my lovely parents!! :) 

XO

Happy crafting!