Shabby Chic?

A few weeks ago there was a survey on Mary Fish's blog ( http://www.stampinpretty.com/) asking if you were more of a 'clean and simple' stamper or a 'shabby chic' creator.   The 'clean and simple' won out by a huge margin which isn't surprising since she does such great clean cards on her blog.  I also think the Stampin' Up! look is geared more toward clean and simple.

For me, if I had to pick one, I'm a little more toward the clean and simple side although I can't resist putting a lot of stuff on my cards.  However, try as I might, I just can't get the true free form shabby chic look.  This card is about as close as I can get.  Still there is a lot of structure here.  In fact, I made this for the sketch challenge at Splitcoast this week.

One of the joys of papercrafting is that you can try out a lot of different styles to see what fits you.  How would you define your style?  Or do you try?  I think I just want to enjoy a lot of different things and see what takes.

Project notes:  The stamp is inked in Versamark and embossed in Copper embossing powder.  I colored in the flowers with stamp inks and a blender pen.

The background is one left over from another set of cards. It is stamped and inked on watercolor paper.

The ruffle is a piece of lavendar sheer from one of my discontinued sample books.  I gathered as I went on the sewing machine and then cut off the bottom with pinking sheers.

Don't you just love those Vintage Brads? These are from Stampin' Up! and are new this year.  I'm already ready to order my second box!

This is going to be my Mother's Day card for my mother this year.  If Mother were a card maker, she would definitely be a shabby chic lady.  Actually she is very elegant with a lot of 'hip and funky' in her clothing.  She is one of those ladies we envy who can throw together a half dozen things that don't seem to go together and Voila! instant chic.

Thanks for visiting today!  I've got a bit more regular work to do and then off to the nursery to buy flowers for my porch - one of my favorite spring rituals.

Ingredients:  Stamps:  Large blossom and lined dots from Hero Arts
Ink:  Versamark, Perfect Plum, More Mustard, Pumpkin Pie
Cardstock:  Pale Plum
Brads:  Vintage from Stampin' Up!
Lace:  Prima