Weddings are wonderful!
I always feel privileged when I’m invited to a wedding. It’s an honor to be asked to celebrate one of the most important occasions in a couple’s life. There is so much to love about weddings – the vows, good company, music, dancing, good food and of course, champagne and cake. Everyone is happy. Weddings are definitely a celebration of love.
A wedding with a difference
Last weekend, Steve & I attended my niece, Melissa’s garden wedding to Jake.
My gorgeous niece, Mel (Missy) embraces her individuality. She is definitely not conservative – her bright burgundy hair, numerous tattoos and often daring clothing choices and fabulously high shoes are a testament to that. Anyone who was expecting her wedding to be a conservative traditional wedding should have known better. Merry Merlot and Black wedding invitations with sparkly black ribbon were probably a good indication that this would be a wedding that embraced Missy and Jake’s uniqueness. (Note: The invitations weren’t designed or made by me. Sadly mine was damaged in the post but I can reassure you that it was created with Merry Merlot and Basic Black Cardstock and Black Glittered Organdy Ribbon.)
One Perfect Day
The skies were blue, the gardens were blooming, it wasn’t too hot and the guests looked fabulous and even a little glamorous.The bride was stunning in her sparkly black dress. Her beautiful attendants totally rocked their Merlot gowns and her daughter, Ava was super cute in her little white dress. The groom and groomsmen looked very dapper in their black and merlot ensembles. There were food trucks, a lolly buffet, a live band, a marquee that was porbably big enough for 100 people, a proper dance floor under fairy lights and the most amazing grazing table I’ve ever seen anywhere! The black iced, red velvet wedding cake was delicious. A display of their family’s wedding portraits completed the decorations. What a beautiful tribute to love! Although it was unique, Mel & Jake also included a few of the usual wedding traditions too. I must say it was one of the most fabulous wedding’s I’ve been to. Steve even danced with me! (Woo Hoo! it was only one song but it made me happy!)
A shout out to Suzi
My other niece, Suzi did a wonderful job decorating the wedding arch, cake flowers and table decorations. Being able to contribute to her little sister’s wedding was a beautiful way to launch her new business, Parker & Bovey Flowers.
A unique wedding deserves a unique card
No traditional white wedding card would do to congratulate this couple. Inspired by the Basic Black and Merry Merlot invitations and the garden setting, I set out to make something unique and original. The happy couple had chose to forgo gifts and have a wishing well so my wedding card had to include a pocket for some cash.
Here’s the card
Hope you like my creation. As I said it isn’t a traditional wedding card and I have admit this card took a very long time to make – I’m talking many many hours. You may not be able to see the details in the video but there are techniques galore: fussy cutting, coloring and sponging techniques. So I thought I share some details.
All of the products used making this 15cm x 13cm card excluding the die used to cut this gate and the ornate panel inside are current Stampin’ Up! products. The entire project was stamped using the stamparatus. (I was too tired, or was it lazy, to go get my blocks!)
The Front
The Gate
This gate was cut from basic black card stock using the retired Detailed Gate die. To create an aged effect, I randomly swiped the gate with Versamark Ink and sprinkled it with copper embossing powder and heat embossed it. This is one time I didnt care about using the embossing buddy because I wanted stray embossing powder to give it a rusted aged look. I also cut two sections from two of the panels to change the look of the gate. The gate was embellished with rhinestones and metallic pearls.
The Lock and Key
Using the same die set, I cut the key and lock from copper foil. To obtain more texture, I applied versmark to both the key and lock and heat embossed it with copper embossing powder. I repeated the process again on the lock, then while the embossing powder was still hot I firmly pressed the long flourish stamp from the Very Versailles cling stamp set that had been inked with with versamark into the hot embossing powder and held it there until the embossing powder cooled. The stamp left a deep impression in the embossing powder and gave the lock an ornate look. The lock and key were attached using linen thread and mini glue dots.
The brick wall
The Gray Granite brick pillars/wall either side of the gate were embossed using the new Bricks and Mortar 3D embossing folder. I sponged them with Gray Granite ink to give them more depth and interest.
The 2nd front
A bit of sponging and stamping transformed this piece of 12cm x 11cm whisper white cardstock.
The sky was sponged in Balmy Blue blend with Seaside Spray. The Old Olive hanging branches/leaves are from the Very Versailles cling stamp set.
On the bottom of the whisper white card I stamped the flowers and leaves from the Love What you Do stamp set in the various shades of green, blackberry bliss and merry merlot. I used the clear wink of stella brush to colour the flowers. I also punched a few sprigs from scrap soft seafoam and sponged those with old olive and pear pizzaz. On a scrap of whisper white I stamped the lots of flowers and fussy cut them.
The cake & stand
The Cake was stamped on a whisper white scrap in versamark and heat embossed with the new shimmery black embossing powder, then punched with the Cake Builder Punch. The flowers were coloured with Merry Merlot Ink and the Wink of Stella Brush. The hearts on top of the cake were stamped on Merry Merlot Cardstock and heat embossed with the sparkly black embossing powder too. I used metallic pearls and rhinestones for the finishing touches. The cake stand was punched from copper foil.
The Mr & Mrs banner
Mr & Mrs from the Well said stamp set was stamped on a scrap of whisper white heat embossed in copper then cut to make a little banner. It and the linen thread were secured using mini glue dots.
Base Card
The Merry Merlot base card was stamped with the Very Versailles branchs/leaves along the top and down both sides in Merry Merlot ink.
Along the bottom of the base card, I also stamped the long flourish in Merry Melot ink. The stamparatus hinge stamping technique made repeating the pattern easy!.
Inside the card.
Very Versailles got another work out on the Merry Merlot Base. On the Whisper White piece, the large heart stamped in merry merlot is from the Meant to Be stamp set. The smaller hearts and sentiment are from the Piece of Cake stamp set. Again the wink of stella brush was used to colour the merry merlot flowers and soft seafoam leaves. The whsiper white edges are sponged in merry merlot.
The pocket
Whenever there is a wishing well, you need a pocket for the money or gift card. I made this pocket from basic black cardstock (14cm x 7cm). The 7cm side was scored at 3.5cm then the card was turned scored 1cm in from each edge. I used my bone folder to creased the score line and stuck it together with tear & tape. The ornate merry merlot panel (3cmx12cm) was die cut using the bottom part of the detailed gate die.
Not a quick and easy Wedding Card
Although this is not a quick easy wedding card, it was well worth the effort and was definelty made with love. Making something unique to fit a wedding theme is a delight. But I wish I’d know that they were having a black wedding cake before I made this as I would have included one on the card.
If you’d like to pruchase any of the products included in the project, I’ve included links below.
Comment below to let me know what you think of this non-traditional Merry Merlot & Black wedding card.
Until next time…Happy creating
Chrissy x
Product List
