Sketches in Thyme

I don't use sketches very often for my cards but I tried one a couple of weeks ago and it turned out lovely so I thought I would try another.  The sketches at Sketches in Thyme always seem quite lovely so I started in on this week's challenge.

It wasn't until I went to confirm what time the challenge is due that I noticed the card I had just completed was NOT for this week's challenge but instead used last week's sketch.  Oh well, I love the way it turned out.  So, here are both of my cards.

The first card (the one that follows last week's sketch) uses more of that stunning Graphic 45 paper, Fashonista.

I used one of the ATC sized images for the central feature.  I made an off center mat in black with three lovely vintage flower brads from Creative Charms.  I then stamped the sentiment using Versamark and black embossing powder.  I don't have a circle punch large enough for the stamp so I used my Expression to cut it out.  Believe it or not I was able to cut the circle without using Design Studio.  I used the center point feature by pointing the blade in the middle of the stamped image.

Here is a close-up of the image.  I think it is amazingly close to centered.  It looks pretty good when you aren't seeing it enlarged at this level.  I used a Tim Holtz stamp for the writing on the bottom of the card base.  Instead of using a ribbon, I decided to use a strip of black paper.  The card base and the sentiment circle were inked with Antique Linen Distress Ink. 

This is a close-up of the main image with the Creative Charms vintage brads.

But that isn't all I have for now.  Here is the card for this week's challenge.

I used Anna Griffin's Flora Collection.  I bought this on clearance at Hobby Lobby a couple of months ago.  I don't know if it is still in stores or not.  When I went searching for a link, I found out it was released in 2009.  I love this stack, and I'm not normally a huge fan of Anna Griffin but the colors in the stack are very rich and wonderful.  I love the browns and she also has some papers with brown and a deep red.  It is incredible.  All of the paper is double-sided so I used the front for the rosette and the flower inset.  I used the back for the top half of the card.

Once again, I pulled out my Creative Charms embellishments and used some chocolate brown velvet ric-rac and a velvet poppy.  I switched out the pearl brad in the center of the flower and replaced it with the vintage amber brad.  If you click on each of the items, you can go directly to the page where Creative Charms sells each item.

In this picture you can see I have added a piece of the cardstock from the bottom of the front of the paper to the dark brown card base.

I hope you enjoyed both of my cards for today.  I'll be back with one more, a monochromatic card.