Stampin Queen Sketch Challenge - SQSC 5

This week' sketch challenge from Stampin Queen involves lots of layers, which always makes for a more interesting and sometimes more elegant card.  The challenge for me is deciding how to get the best fit on the card for all those layers.  Here is the SQSC sketch:

The next biggest challenge for me is deciding on the stamp(s) set to use and of course the colour combo.  For my colour combo I took my inspiration from the weather outside......... it's kind of white and gray because we're having cloudy rainy weather.  And, the only colours I see are the beautiful autumn leaves in the background, mostly maple leaves with their gorgeous burgundys and yellows. 

In choosing which stamp set(s) I wanted to use for today's challenge, I needed a "theme".  My card will be for a friend, and so my sentiment had to focus on friendship.  My next decision was what to use for the "focal point".  Since I was gazing at the garden when all these thoughts were coming together, my next choice was easy.............something with flowers.  And there you have it; that's how this card came together:

My theme revolves around "Friendship".  This beautiful little sentiment is from Pocket Silhouettes and is stamped in Bravo Burgundy ink on Whisper White Cardstock.  The sentiment was then punched out using the large oval punch. I cut two pieces of card stock (Bravo Burgundy and Basic Gray) using the decorative layer punch.  To get the extended look I cut the Bravo Burgundy layer in half and then glued it to the back of the Basic Gray layer leaving a gap in the center.  To finish off the sentiment  I've added three small basic pearls for a feminine touch and to tie in with the pearls on the top layer of the card. 

My focal point for the card is from the Friends Never Fade stamp set.  I love this one I think it's timeless.  I stamped the image in Whisper White classic ink on Bravo Burgundy cardstock, added some White Embossing Powder and used my heat gun to set the ink.  The 2" circular stamped layer is mounted on dimensionals to a 2 1/4" circle cut from Basic Gray cardstock.  The third circle is 2 1/2" and is in Whisper White cardstock.

Here's a full view of the card showing the additional layers.  The card base is Basic Grey and I've added an additional 5 1/4" x 4"layer of Basic Grey cardstock that was embossed with the Swiss Dot embossing folder.  Two 2 x2 squares of Whisper White were embossed using the Flower Garden textured embossing folder.  A 2 1/2" x 3" piece of Bravo Burgundy cardstock completes the layers. 

I've added a Whisper White Top Note die cut to the inside of the card that's been embossed using the Flower Garden Texturized Embossing folder die.  This ties the images on the front and inside of the card together. 

One last look at the finished card.  I really like the look of this card and will probably add this sketch to my favourites file. 

Hope you liked this card and would love to have your comments.  The Stampin Queen challenge doesn't close until 9pm tonight EST so join in if you have a chance.  The link is SQSC5.  Happy Stamping!