On the Edge: Whimsical Wednesday Challenge!

Happy Wednesday, my sweet friends! I hope everyone had a wonderful New Years weekend! :o)

This week's Whimsical Wednesday challenge is: On the Edge! To play along with us this week, your card or project must include a border. :o)

This card may be simplistic, but its purpose and inspiration are quite marvelous. I'll tell you why at the end for those of you who read through my chatter! Believe it or not, I try to minimize jibber jabber on DT posts... but this story must be included.

"Take life by the hand and dance"

Can you imagine my fluttery heart when I first saw this sentiment of Stephanie's? My absolute favorite Whimsical Designs sentiment, from the versatile Whimsical Fun~ Volume 1 set. It pairs perfectly with this precious digi stamp from The Paper Shelter, appropriately titled The Lovely Ballerina. I adore her so much that I purchased these beautiful rosy Copics specifically for her first costume. Her hair is a new color combo for me, which is not as auburn/reddish as it appears in this picture. The border requirement for this card is one of my favorite parts. My sweet mom surprised me with a sewing machine for Christmas... I am still in shock! She found it funny that my first project with it was on paper, not fabric! Hehe. I used the classically beautiful zig zag border stitch to frame the design. I have always loved how sewing looks on paper crafts, so I am elated to now have the ability. :o) This card is bursting with newness, from the new sewing technique to my new tulle, heart stick pin, and Stardusted flower. :o)

The snowflakes that suddenly began to fall prevented me from accurately capturing the main pink papers. I was a bit rushed and the sky was playing tricks on me. The diamond pattern is textural and sparkly, which looks so pretty in person. The white script on various sections makes me think of written ballet choreography or perhaps memories from a cherished day of dance. The mat behind the dancer has a beautiful tonal floral design over half of it, which matches the sentiment's mat. (Making a lightbox is a top priority this month! I'm pretty sure I said that last month, too.)

And now, the story of this little card... followed by the event that it celebrates. Our sweet dancer is delicately sparklified, with just the tutu bodice and lacy trims sprinkled with Stardust. To give her a bit of an actual surface, I dotted a little shadow and covered it in Stardust because she's leaving a trail of sparkles as she dances to her heart's content. The rhinestones on the white pearlescent cardstock are designed to be sparkling raindrops because she is dancing through her storms... she is outright defying them. The raindrops gradually get smaller the further they fall and end with a heart to signify God's love raining down upon us as we fight through trials and tribulations. He showers us with His perfect love, enabling us to be strong. The tulle's purpose? Not only because it's used for tutus, but also because it's like the entire card is wrapped in a giant tutu hug. Tulle= Love.

Aside from the story it tells, there's also an event it replicates. My mom being home for Christmas was certainly a gift. But guess what? I received another amazing gift. I danced on Christmas night. :o) It wasn't for an entire song... but for a few beautiful seconds, I danced along the brick and stone path alongside my home, surrounded by Christmas lights and a crisp winter breeze. A treasured moment in my beloved and missed dance world. I was wobbly, achy, and a bit unsteady, but filled with so much joy that I no longer care that my spine was too locked up to permit a sky-high extension to complete my tour jete. What I currently lack in technique is more than made up for in heart. Divine love rained down upon me.. just like it has for this entire injured journey. I have every confidence that this is the year I'll return to the dance studio. That Christmas blessing was a tiny glimpse and this little card is a celebration of it. :o)

I hope you'll join us this week by linking up your On the Edge card or project to the Whimsical Wednesday challenge post! I look forward to seeing your marvelous work! This week's generous sponsor is Crop Stop, who is donating an EK Success Edge Punch called Doily Petals. Have you seen this system to create flowers from an edge punch? It looks fabulous!

Be sure to pirouette on over to the rest of the Whimsical Designers' blogs to see their fantastic projects! Thank you for visiting me today. I hope you have a sparkly happy day! :o)

Challenges entered:

 * Frosted Designs~ Something New! (Machine sewing, tulle, stick pin, flower, glitter paper)

 * The Paper Shelter~ Anything Goes

Key Recipe Components:
 * Spellbinders Nestabilities: Labels Four
 * Sentiment stamp: Whimsical Designs~ Whimsical Fun, Volume 1
 * Digi stamp: The Paper Shelter~ The Lovely Ballerina
 * Copics: E0000, E000, E00 (skin); YR20, YR21, YR24, E35 (hair); R81, R83, R85 (costume); R10 (tights)
 * Paper: Best Creation, Core'dinations, DCWV, stash
 * Flower: Recollections
 * Heart Stick Pin: Little Yellow Bicycle
 * Miscellaneous: iRock (round rhinestones); Heart rhinestones (Recollections); Stickles; Tulle