Your My Checkmate

       Today the Design Team were to make a Valentines' Day card or use Distress Inks on their card.
         I chose to make both a "Love" card and use distress inks for a truly masculine card. After you see the details, be sure to check back at My Cricut Craft Room and see what the other members have to show you.

     I started with an easel card out of card stock. Since the card is 4.25" I used my Imagine to choose a square from the Imagine More shapes @ 4" and cut my first mat from charcoal card stock. I cut my background paper @ 3.75". I used the Vintage Papers pattern cart to have the background paper of chess pieces. Next I used Tim Holtz' paper distresser to rough up the edges and then inked with Pumice Stone ink.
     Now the fun begins! Using recollections colored core paper pad I cut the horse head @ 1.5". This image can be found in the Ornamental Iron cart under Font 1, it's on page 66. I also used the shadow feature. I flipped the shadow cut since it was a double sided card stock and the colors matched perfectly.
     The pawn can be either the one on page 64 or 65. It is a finial! I then used a cuttlebug folder. You can use any one that will give you a pounded metal look. After dry embossing the pieces I sanded them lightly with a sanding block and then inked with Antique Linen for an antiqued look.

     You can see how the inks really give a distressed look especially if you do some embossing.

     The tag was also cut from the Imagine More and layered. I pulled out some Just Rite stamps and made my own sentiment "You are my checkmate". I also had some rub ons and added the sentiment from Elizabeth Barrett Browning. A few gems for the corners and I am done. This card is perfect for Valentines' Day, Anniversary, Birthday etc. I think this is a keeper. Do you give your special guy cards? I'd love to know!