In honor of love and old friendships

Some of us were blessed enough to grow up with a really close friend with whom we shared pretty much everything. As adults, we might grow apart or go our own ways for a while, but that person will always remain special to us. They've taken a piece of our hearts and kept it with them. My husband was lucky enough to have one of these friends. Rick and Robby were inseparable for years, or so I am told. They did typical boy things...let off model rockets, played with toy soldiers and cars, and got dirty in the back yard. During these boyish activities, they hurt each other and then the hurt one covered for the one who inflicted. They were brothers of the heart.

Rick and Robby grew apart as they aged and followed different paths in life. Both of them grew up to be good men with great hearts, but they didn't see much of each other for a while there. I've only met Robby a few times, but when he came to Rick's memorial service, he sat next to me in the front row. He earned his place there as the little boy who stood beside Rick for years, who had grown into a good man. Now Robby is getting married, and I wanted to make him a special card. I had to girlie it up for his bride, but I used a precious image from Lili of the Valley for Robby. I thought the two little kids on the swing together might bring back memories of his own childhood and the things they shared. I know that Rick would want to be there in person to celebrate with him, but that wasn't to be. Instead, he gets to smile down on the whole day, and maybe play a prank or two (as he liked to do...if things go wrong that day, or little annoyances happen, he'll probably be up there in heaven, laughing his fool butt off).

Anyway, this card was made with the LOTV image and several punches to meet their challenge for the week. I used the heart border punch, leaf punch, and butterfly punches from Martha Stewart. Papers are Memory Box Minuet. The smaller flowers are Wild Orchid Crafts,while the large yellow roses are Recollections. The little journaling card says "enjoy every moment" and is from Webster's Pages. The congrats stamp is from the $1 bin at Michael's. The card opens below the heart border to show a pocket, where I plan to place some cash on their big day.

I colored the image with copics, then covered it with a circle of paper so I could spray with smooch spray. Then I used spellbinders to cut it out and pop-dotted it onto the card. Here's the inside:

The sentiment goes down into the pocket slightly and I added the "perfect pair" embellie, as well.

Thanks for looking! I plan to enter this card in the Lili of the Valley challenge to punch it up. As I already mentioned, I used three punches on it. It also fits the Color Create challenge to use pastels.  The main colors are light blue and yellow, as well as Stamp Something's edict to make a spring card. What's more spring than flowers, butterflies, and swinging on a swing with your buddy? Card is also for A Spoon Full of Sugar to use ribbon, flowers, and pearls. And last but not least, for the Simon Says Stamp challenge to make a girlie card. I'd say this one is pretty girlie, even if half of the pair it's going to isn't!!! LOL

I had a lot of fun with this card. I hope they like it!