Am I Cruel???

I've had a few commissions to do this week and will start by showing you one of my favourite ones....

This was made for a friend in work for her mum. I've made a few cards for this lady so have to check back on old photos to make sure I don't use the same images (although I usually have a stash of 'unused' stamps etc so that's never really an issue!) or verse! (I always take a photo of the inside too so I have a record of the verse used)

This card uses a gorgeous Die-cut image from LOTV - I just love these images - and as much as I like to sit and colour images I find colouring to order not as pleasurable, so if I don't have what I want pre-coloured I love to get my file of LOTV die-cuts out.

I've used TH Vintage Shabby papers for the card (and box below), gorgeous flowers, corner detail and lace from WOC, MS Border and leaf punches. Some stunning silver (metal looking) 'gems' (bottom right) and some clear stone gems. And my fav at the moment ....staples!

Here's the box I made for it too - this was made with just 12x12 TH Shabby Chic papers - I did think it wasn't going to be sturdy enough as it's quite big (just under 12x12 actually!!!) but it worked really well and didn't need any additional card inside to stabilise it - which I was pleased about as I wasn't looking forward to having to cover the fab double sided papers!

I did end up tying off the ends of the ribbon into knots just to finish it off and I added a small version of the LOTV Die-cut image as a tag - but they were a bit of an 'after-thought' so I've not photographed them!

Well anyway it was 'mission accomplished' as I had a text off my friend earlier saying I'd made her Mother cry!

Am I a really cruel crafter to measures success in tears????

Some Challenges I worked to with this card.....

Pollycraft - Girls, Girls, Girls.

Sketch'n'Stash - Sketch and this time 'new' stash being the metal gems.

Lili of the Valley - Bingo - Gems, Distressing, Pins.

Crafty Catz - Happy Birthday (with sentiment)