A PRETTY OUTLOOK!!! - THE NEXT LEVEL CHALLENGE 1

Well what a manic week it has been getting ready for the big Lauch of The Next Level, I just about managed to get a card in!!!!!!!!! Dawn and I had no choice this week as the Design Team do not join us until next week - so after a break of nearly 2weeks I put my creativity hat on again.

The theme for Challenge 1 was an Aperture card coupled with a hand made Lollipop Flower - both of these were going to be a challenge for me as I had never done either before - but wow did I just so love those flowers - there really will be no stopping me now. There is a Video to support the making of the flower on The Next Level and I also made a photo tutorial on there to support anyone who wanted to print something off to follow as you made your flower.

I decided to make a little set, consisting of a card, a box envelope and a little soap gift package. The card image uses the absolutely fantastic Front and Back Annie rubber stamp from Art Impressions - I just adore this stamp. I first saw it on Bev's blog - All the Things I love - and I was in love. This stamp and others from the collection are available from SirStampalot. Like everything else, I had to make it difficult though. I decided to cut a hole through 6 layers of cardstock (3 on the front and 3 on the inside left cover) which all had to match up so that she could be peering through an imaginary window from the outside in. Took me ages, but got there in the end - I hope you think the effort was worth it. I formed the shape in my Craft Robo software and then just printed out the different colouring cardstock and then shaped it all to size. She does look so cute though when you see her peering from the outside in when you open the card!

I also layered her little pinny to give it some extra dimension. On the inside right I created a dreamy garden scene, so that when she was peering through the arch from the front there was a sky in the background. This however made it difficult for anywhere to write on the inside of the card without spoiling the design, so I added an oval frame tied on with pretty bows on the rear of the card for this purpose. I also made the box envelope to go with the card again using a Lollipop flower for decoration - I told you these would keep popping up everywhere!!

Many of papers I have used are from The Digichic Boutique and this pack was called The Twist Collection. One or two extra touches were freebie downloads from Summer Driggs blog - full details on The Next Level. I am often asked where I get my digital papers from, it is so difficult for me to answer this question, because some I buy as digital packs, and I download lots of freebie packs. When I come to make up a theme or design I pick and choose from everything I have, and then colour it digitally to make my paper pack up, so it really does make it difficult for me to tell people to go to a specific download.

The little soap gift package finished off the set - and guess what - yes you are right, another Lollipop flower appeared on there!!! - they are just growing everywhere!!

If you have the time when you stop by please leave your thoughts - I do so love to hear what you think.

Thank you xxx