Stamping 411 Saturday Sketch Challenge SSC134

Hey stampers! We have successfully survived the week! Yahoo! Do you all have a long weekend too? I LOVE school holidays if for no other reason than we can all sleep in! It's the only time I think I'm actually ready for a Monday! Ha!

Soooo, since we have a long weekend and you get to sleep in on Monday, why don't you STAMP with us this weekend? It's time for another fab Saturday Sketch Challenge from your Operators at Stamping 411. Our sketch queen, Selene has thrown us a real doozy this week - she doesn't know I have a hard time with diagonal lines......
When I saw this sketch, my heart just sank, the more I looked at it, the more I didn't want to create a card for it. Have you ever felt that way? Well, that's exactly the time you need to put your big girl panties on and go STAMP something! So, here is the sketch:

And here is what I came up with after I changed my panties:

Is it possible to be in LOVE with a card? I so {heart} this card!
Here are some of the details:

1) Card base layer is Naturals Ivory cardstock - 5 1/2" x 8 1/2", folded to make a card measuring 4 1/4" x 5 1/2". It is sponged with Chocolate Chip ink.
2) Real Red layer is 4" x 5 1/4" and is sponged with Chocolate Chip ink.
3) Kraft layer is 3 7/8" x 5 1/8". It is stamped with the En Francais Background stamp in Close to Cocoa ink. I very lightly laid it on the inked up stamp which was placed rubber side up on my counter. Then I just lightly tapped and rubbed it to get an aged look. The cardstock edges were sponged with Chocolate Chip ink too.
4) Naturals Ivory layer is 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" but is torn and distresed diagonally to match the sketch. I ran this layer through my Big Shot with the Finial Press Embossing Folder then sponged it lightly with Chocolate Chip ink. The cardstock edge was rolled and crumpled a bit to make it aged and worn. I then highlighted some of the dry embossed areas with my Versamarker and embossed them with Iridescent Ice EP and my Heat Tool.

The focal point layers are Real Red, cut at 3" x 2 3/4" and is sponged with more Chocolate Chip as is the Naturals Ivory layer which is cut at 2 3/4" x 2 1/2". It is also stamped with the En Francais Background stamp. I didn't reink it after stamping the Kraft layer and used the same method as before so this would be even lighter in color.

For the heart accents, I used my Full Heart Punch and some dsp scraps from the Christmas Jingle Simply Scrappin' kit. I wet and crumpled them then sponged them with Chocolate Chip ink to age the paper. The odd heart is punched from the scrap of the dry embossed card layer and is sponged with a combo of Chocolate Chip and Real Red. I then added some Versamarker and Iridescent Ice EP to it as well for some more glitter! Oohlala!
All the hearts are attached using a combo of Mini Glue Dots and Stampin' Dimensionals.

For my ribbon and bow accent, I used the yummy Kraft Taffeta Ribbon and wrapped one piece around the large layers, adhering it on the back with SNAIL. Then I tied a bow with a second piece of ribbon, adding the Rhinestone Fire Square Brad to the center. I opened the prongs all the way and wrapped them around the middle of the bow, then folded them around and tucked them under the ribbon so they wouldn't show. A little snip on the ribbon ends for a crisp look and the outside was done.

I kept the inside pretty simple and stamped another piece of Kraft cardstock cut at 4" x 5 1/4" with the En Francais Background again, this time using Versamark ink. It is sponged with more - yep, you guessed it - Chocolate Chip ink. I then added the greeting from Holiday Best with Real Red ink as well as the vines from Vintage Vogue to finish it off.

So, now I just have to say THANK YOU SELENE for that great sketch! HA! You forced me out of my box again and I love what happened!
Now, it's YOUR turn stampers!
Get out those stamps, inks and papers, print off the sketch and let it inspire you too. We at Stamping 411 LOVE to see what you do creatively each week and you never know, YOU might just end up in the Friday Operator's Picks Showcase! Once you've finished your project, just upload it to the Stamping 411 blog using the Mr. Linky widget provided.
And while you are there, be sure to check out all the other operator's projects too - I KNOW they will inspire you!
Happy Stamping!
~~Robin