Bengali Princess

I've posted the winners from our last challenge over on the Dream Valley challenge, which means it's now time for a new challenge. This week, for challenge 88, we want to see your crafty makes that have been created for weddings. We are sponsored by Lacy Sunshine Stamps this challenge.

One of my best pals got married recently to another one of my best pals. They are such a gorgeous couple, a really brilliant match. It was such a special day and it seemed even the heavens wanted to make this the perfect day. The sun shone, but not too hot, the surf was calm and beautiful and the moon was full and huge as the evening started. A most magical day in every way. 

Before this magical day that we all got to share in, our friends celebrated their wedding in London, Bengali style. My pal looked every bit the Bengali Princess that day and as we weren't able to be there for that celebration, I sent her a card to give her our love and best wishes. I had found a beautiful image drawn by a talented artist from DeviantArt called Jade Dragonne. It was the perfect image to use for a Mehndi night celebration card.

I was really happy with how it came together. I used some wrapping paper that my lovely sister in law had wrapped a present in for me, that I just loved. It had paisley's and gold foil and looked to me to be a perfect fit for the creation I wanted to make. I managed to obscure the sections that the sticky tape had torn off, so it looked pretty good in the finish. I love it when I get to recycle elements. I'm a big recycler, so I love it when it works it's way into my crafting too. Hubby not so happy, mumblings of hoarding and never letting anything go. But then, this is why!

I kept the card design quite simple as it had to be posted to the UK, so no sticky outy embellishments, or it wouldn't post easily. I matted the image onto red and then white card, which you'll be forgiven for thinking is gold! It's actually white card, that when I realised I had no gold, pulled out my fabulous metallic markers from Letraset and inked to get that lovely gold edged finish. I was really pleased with the effect and all the card needed in addition to the gorgeous backing paper, was a few flat back pearls placed in the corners to finish. 

I used a lovely stitched edge die from Lil' Inkers to cut the image and would have stopped happily at just the grey edge around the image for dimension, except, I decided I wanted to make her veil shimmer, so I fussy cut a mask and sprayed just the veil of the image with Heirloom Gold Perfect Pearls Mist. Then I added Glossy Accents to the jewels on the veil and her earrings. It would have been perfect to stop there, except that when I was drawing the ink around her some of it splashed from the pen and I was left with grey splodges where they weren't meant to be. So out came my White Opal Liquid Pearls and I dotted those around to give a hopefully magical atmosphere. I think I got away with it, what do you think?

I really loved creating this card. I loved the image and was so pleased with how the Perfect Pearls Mist looked on the veil. It was worth all the thumb cramp from fussy cutting to get that look! When my daughter saw this image, she asked why I would send the card with this image for their wedding, so we talked about the Mehndi ceremony and the celebration of their wedding that would be happening in England, before they returned to New Zealand for the wedding we could share in. Soon after this, she had the opportunity to have some Henna art done on her hands and my wee girlie jumped at the chance to be like one of her favourite 'adopted Aunties'. So sweet and here is her pic from this.

Thanks for popping in today and do go over to the Dream Valley challenge blog and check out what all my talented team mates have been up to. Come join us in the challenge too if you can. See you again really soon, Hugs, Wends x

Challenge Entries:
Crafty Calendar Challenge: Anything Goes

The Squirrel & The Fox: #75 ~ Anything Goes

Sister Act Card Challenge: #69 ~ Anything Goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Make It Sparkle

Stamping Sensations: August Challenge ~ Anything Goes

Loves Rubberstamps: Anything Goes with a twist (of stripes)

Live and Love Crafts Inspiration Challenge: #26 ~ Stitching Real or Faux

Papertake Weekly Challenge: Anything Goes with the option of Torn Paper

A Little Bit Crafty: Sew What? (Sewing real or faux or sewing related stamps or items)

Crafting Musketeers: #16 ~ 1-2-3 (1 backing paper, 2 image mats, 3 types of pearl embellishments, medium red, small white and liquid pearls.)