Favourite Things

For some reason, I woke up at 4am this morning humming the song "My Favourite Things" from The Sound of Music (and no, it wasn't to do with what I'd been dreaming.... actually I'd been dreaming that my Mum was feeding her cats on boiled aubergines, but the less said about that the better), and that set me wondering whether I could translate the song into a card.

So I decided to make a "brown paper package tied up with string". Now I suppose I could have just used a square of kraft card, but I was in the mood for authenticity, so I decided to use proper brown parcel paper.

First of all I cut a 14cm square of very heavy card, to fit when finished onto a 15cm square card blank. Then I cut a 30cm square of brown paper, I wanted to stamp roses (raindrops on roses) and cats (whiskers on kittens) all over it. I tested both the shiny and dull sides with brown ink and with Versamark, and found I got a good clear but subtle image by using Versamark ink on the shiny side. so then I stamped the cats and roses randomly over my 30cm square.

Then I wrapped the heavy card square in the brown paper, parcel-style, trimming it to give a realistic finish and sticking down well at each fold.  I could have used the smoother side rather than the one with the flaps on as the front of the package, but I wanted it to be immediately obvious it was a "brown paper package" so the folded flaps had to be neat enough to show on the front.

Next came the parcel tag.  Again in the interest of authenticity, I wanted to use a real parcel tag, but I didn't have a stamp of the sentiment I wanted to use (and I doubt  whether one exists) and my handwriting is lousy. So I computer generated it in a handwriting font, adjusted the size to fit my tag, then printed it onto printable acetate. I then ran my tag through the Xyron to get an even layer of adhesive on it and placed the acetate down over it with the sentiment centred on the tag and trimmed the acetate to size, then repunched the hole.

The next job was to make it "tied up with string" so I used some brown and cream bakers twine to tie my package, adding the tag and a bow as I tied the final knots in the string. After that, the parcel was ready to add to the card front. With so much bulk and weight to it, I used the extra strong red double sided tape for this - I HATE using it because those red backing bits stick to everything except the inside of the waste basket - in fact I can see one stuck to the side of my trousers right now!

This is all getting rather wordy - are you still with me?

Then I stamped the cat and rose again, onto cream card, and cut them out. I had intended colouring them in, but when I tried them on the parcel I decided that adding colour would just detract from the background, so I used them uncoloured, just adding a few "raindrops" of glossy accents to the leaves and petals of the rose.

You can't really see those raindrops on the photo but I promise you, they are there!

I think the finished card would make a witty "Get well" card, or just a card to tell a friend who was going through a tough time that you were thinking of them.

Aha! I've just realised why I was thinking about The Sound of Music, it's because I'm currently reading an autobiography of a woman who spent some years as a rather rebellious nun. Anyway, since this card is inspired by both a film and a song and is most definitely not a birthday card, I'm playing along with the following challenges:

Sweet Stampin' Challenge - Inspired by a Song
Shopping Our Stash - The Big Screen
That Craft Place - Inspired by a Film
Allsorts Challenge - Anything but a Birthday