Vive le France!

Hello dear friends!  Welcome!  I hope you like what you see today and stay for a while!

Today I have a card that started its life, in my brain, as a tag.  It was shabbier and pinker.  I don't know what happened between my brain and my fingers but what I came up with is not how it started life.  Maybe my muse was working hard to make it come out her way.  Anyway, its done and it is what it is.  My oldest daughter has claimed it for her room so it must not be too bad.  She didn't see the picture in my brain anyway!  My inspiration came from the challenge over at The Shabby Tea Room.

Isn't it gorgeous?  Like I said my card started its life as a tag with a lot of pink.  I had to drive to the city and back today and I guess my muse was doing a lot of whispering in my ear while I was driving because I couldn't wait to get in my studio when I got home!  And this is what she came up with:

As I was thinking about the inspiration photo I started thinking about enjoying that pink lemonade with a close friend.  At an outside cafe.  In France.  And there ya go!  The Eiffel Tower is from Janet over at By Digital Paper.  I printed it on vellum.  The cream paper is stamped with an old SU stamp called French Script.  The lace is a very vintage piece from my stash.  The rose is made from the Spellbinders die called Rose Creations.  I used 3 shades of pink to make it and I edged the petals with a burgundy ink.  The leaves are inked with green and a touch of the burgundy.

 You know I like to follow the same sketch pretty much for the inside.  On the left I added the first part of a poem by Langston Hughes called Dreams.  I learned this poem in 4th grade!

Hold fast to dreams

For if dreams die

Life is a broken-winged bird

That cannot fly.

There's a story to this poem, too.  See, the ladies over at Word Art Wednesday have a challenge to "never give up".  They have some great word art to go with that.  And I started thinking about perseverance and keeping your eyes on a goal and seeing something through.  And somewhere in the dark recesses of my battered brain this beautiful little poem came out.  I couldn't remember the poet but google helped me with that.  And here it is.  (And yes I had my caffeine today for a headache and I am still going strong at 12:03AM!)

I had fun playing on the computer, typing it out and getting the words different sizes.  It could be way better but of course I wanted it done NOW.

And the back.

I am entering my card (or glorified tag) in the following challenges:

The Shabby Tea Room - Oh, So Pretty in Pink; Add a Flower

Word Art Wednesday - Never Give Up

Papertake - Make Your Own (I made my flower)

Shopping Our Stash - Something New (new paper today!! new charm today!! very old lace from my grandma's box)

Tuesday Alchemy - Very Vintage (I hope this looks vintage enough)

The Paper Shelter - Metal Embellishment (my charm)

I think that's about it.  I should really be off to bed, but since my hubby is leaving in the morning with the boys for a fishing trip I think I will head over to Pinterest to see what's new!  Thanks for taking a peek!

Blessings & Hugs

Michelle