Cup of Joy

OMGee, I am getting addicted to challenges.  I get a real kick out of reading the specifications and then seeing what happens!!  Sometimes it's nothing..., but when something does occur, wow!!  It's CRAZY-time!

I was perusing the blogs that I Follow, which is becoming a really long list (longer every time I do this because I get side-tracked very easily and then always find new blogs to ADD).  There are some ridiculously, brilliantly, creatively, hardworking artists out there and I want to soak up as much inspiration as I can and then put on the back burner to simmer... to then see what I can concoct!!  I stumbled on The Paper Players who offer challenges, and the Cup of Joy Challenge involves including a cup on the cover of your card.  You must check out the third entrant because her cups are truly inspired!!  (Make sure to go to her website to see how she constructed them.)

I haven't had my fill of making Gate Cards yet, and I figured this would hold a packet of cocoa nicely, so here is my entry:  (My favorite part was using the "steam" as flourish around the sentiment.)

The white line that you see along the left is the folded card from beneath.   Oops!!

Originally, I had inked the edges of the front of the card, but when I saw the photos, I was really unhappy with the outcome.  It's amazing what a little distance (from the creative process) can do for your critical eye!! Sometimes waiting a day will do the trick.  In this case, seeing it magnified on the computer screen was enlightening.  I changed it to Chocolate card stock and am much happier.

I learned from the Freshly Made Challenge, that I don't have to be so quick to ink up every border, so the inside of this card is very clean, for a change.  Just mixin' it up!!

Here's what this card looked like before I changed the front to card stock:

These are the exact same elements on the "original" card  (photographed in sunshine).

I learn something new every day!! life is good.  ; )