Fall Congratulations – a MOJO Monday Layout Challenge

It’s time for another MOJO Monday layout challenge.  This card combines several things I’m currently obsessed with:  Fall colors, ribbon slides and a gorgeous medallion stamp.

• It’s the middle of the summer, and the sun is shining.  For some reason, though, I’m obsessed with the warm, rich colors of Autumn.  The colors featured in this Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper warm my heart and force me to make beautiful things with it.  I love this plaid print!
• Since the Designer Ribbon Slides made their debut in the Holiday Catalog, I have been excited to find the right project for them.  Here it is!
• I have always loved this medallion stamp from the Day of Gratitude stamp set, and  I’m excited to feature it here.

I worked on this card Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday.  I worked on it, reworked on it and worked on it some more.  Like I said earlier, I was really excited to work with this medallion, this patterned DSP and these luscious colors.  When I put them all together, though, I felt like it was too much.  If I listed out all of the accessories, papers and inks I used up to get to this final card, I’d likely have a list long enough to fill 2 or 3 blog posts.

Tips, Tricks and Reminders:

• Hide what gets busy.  The medallion is beautiful and intricate.  Paired with this plaid DSP, though, the center of the medallion (with all its intricate details) makes this very busy.  I added a 1-3/8″ circle of Very Vanilla to the center of the medallion to “wash away” some of the busy-ness.  I also added the pearl in the center to draw your eye away from some of the patterns to the simple, white pearl.  How sweet of me!
• Limit color choices on a busy card.  Again, love this plaid (I promise I won’t say it again).  When working with a busy plaid, it’s important to keep your other colors simple.  I worked with this medallion, adding layers of Lucky Limeade and Early Espresso (both featured in the DSP) but decided to stick with the same Island Indigo center to limit the array of colors featured outside of the DSP.

Stamp sets:  Day of Gratitude, Itty Bitty Banners  Paper:  Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Orchard Harvest Designer Series Paper, vellum card stock  Inks:  Island Indigo, Early Espresso  Accessories:  Bitty Banners Framelits, 1-3/8″ Circle punch, 1″ Circle punch, 3/4″ Circle punch, 1/4″ Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Designer Ribbon Slide, Stampin Dimensionals, Pearl Basic Jewels

Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

Brian