Shabby Top Note Easel Birthday Card

It was my lovely SU! demo Joanne's birthday yesterday and this is the card I made for her.  I have a thing for easel cards and I wanted to try one made with the Top Note die.  I took my colour combo from the Spice Cake DSP I used.  When I tried the plain Pool Party CS on the bottom half I didn't like it just plain but then I wasn't sure I wanted to emboss it with a folder.  So to just add some texture I crumpled the CS and then lightly brayered Soft Suede ink over it.  It produces a very shabby effect but I have to say I liked it!  I did wonder what a non card maker would think of it though  - a dirty crumpled up piece of paper for goodness sake!?

I've inked the edges of almost everything with Soft Suede ink and a sponge dauber.  I added a glimmer brad to the centre of the flower.  I punched a Soft Suede Eyelet Border and added that to the Pool Party sentiment strip.  I've added 3 tiny More Mustard flowers with jewel centres and I popped the sentiment strip up.

I glued a Very Vanilla panel to the bottom of the card.  I decorated the front of the envelope with that sweet postage stamp image from the Fresh Vintage set and a strip of Spice Cake paper.  

I then decorated the envelope flap with more Spice Cake paper and another Posy Punch flower.  This card is definitely more shabby than the look I usually go for but I was really chuffed how this turned out!

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! Posy Punch, Happiest Birthday Wishes & Fresh Vintage sets
CS: SU! Pear Pizzazz, Pool Party, Soft Suede & Very Vanilla
Patterned paper: SU! Spice Cake DSP
Ink: SU! Pool Party, More Mustard, Pear Pizzazz & Soft Suede
Tools: SU! Top Note Bigz die, SU! Little Leaves Sizzlits die, SU! Fancy Flower punch, SU! Eyelet Border punch, SU! Itty Bitty Punch pack, SU! 1" circle punch, brayer, sponge dauber
Embellishments & accessories: SU! Crumb Cake taffeta ribbon, SU! Glimmer Brad, SU! rhinestone jewels, SU! Dimensionals