What do you get the couple that has everything???

I was overjoyed when I received a wedding invitation in the mail a few weeks ago.    These two friends have been together for over 30 years.  They have traveled the world together, exploring such places as China and India.  They have collected antiques the world over.  They own multiple residences, and their own businesses.  However, the invitation forced me to ask myself: what exactly do you get the couple who truly has everything when finally they are allowed to get married - and are doing just that???

I decided on something personal, something handcrafted, something created just for them.  I dug through my own wedding photos and found the perfect black and white picture of the two of them together.  I headed to a local scrapbook store that I knew carried Graphic 45 paper - since these two scream "vintage" more than anyone I know.  I bought a 12x12 shadowbox on sale at Michael's - and viola - a layout mounted in a shadowbox was created.

 

Obviously, I edited some personal information from the layout before posting, as that is the invitation I received complete with names and RSVP information.  I used Tea Dye distress ink to tone down the ecru card stock the invite was printed on.  Additionally, as this has not yet been given, I do not have permission to post pictures of the recipients, so the photo has also been edited out.  (The happy couple does not know about this blog, so they won't see their gift in advance).


To create the layout I used paper from Graphic 45's A Proper Gentleman collection.  The background is Dressed to the Nines and A Proper Gentleman.  The invitation and photo are both double mounted.  First on Nightmist Bazzill, then on A Proper Gentleman and The Sophisticate, respectively.

The quote is one that I found in my stash from DCWV Wedding & Romance quote stack.  I adhered the vellum to the Bazzill with my zig two-way glue pen, and then covered the glue with antique brass squares I found in the clearance bin at Michaels.

This photo also shows the two different background papers I used.  The ruler along the bottom is cut from A Proper Gentleman.

My original intent was to make the Tim Holtz grunge roses for this layout, but they just didn't look right on the page.  I did some Google image searches and found flowers that I thought would fit in perfectly.  Using Mother's Day Bouquet and my brand new Art Philosophy cartridge I created the flowers for the lower left of the layout.  It didn't look complete without a vine or something to connect them, so I used Art Philosophy to cut the flourish.

The paper is from DCWV Life's Journey stack.  With a little bit of Tea Dye distress ink, it coordinated beautifully with the Graphic 45 paper.  I inked the edges of the flowers with Faded Jeans.  The pearls in the center are from Recollections.

The wedding is next week, and I hope they like their gift.  I would LOVE to hear what you think, so please leave me a comment.

As a reminder, on Sunday, September 4, I will be designing for Susan's Anything Goes Festive Birthday Blog Hop.  I will be giving away one set of 3 of the handmade flowers in this layout to one random person who comments on this blog during the hop.  I hope to see you there!

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                       `v´  Darlene