Our dear friend Patrick recently proposed to our god-daughter Clare in a such a romantic manner that it would make William Shakespeare proud.
After a nine year courtship, Patrick knew he had to come up with a pretty creative idea or Clare would figure out his intention before he started. So, over the course of several weeks he devised an elaborate treasure hunt, taking them to five milestone locales in their relationship. (Clare posted the details on her blog, buddy and bella.)
Patrick asked me if I could help create the five clues for the treasure hunt using copy that he emailed me. I had only a few hours to complete them, so I had to work quickly.
The first clue (above) was entitled "Clare's Treasure Hunt". The next four clues (below) each featured a glittered letter, spelling out "LOVE". I decided to use tags as a base for this project, which Doug made using a Sizzix die (which saved a lot of time!).
Starting with papers and embellishments from several of my K&Co collections (Flora & Fauna, Madeline, and Maison), I grouped the tags, stickers, ephemera and ribbons by color and style. It's an easy way to get started, and really helps me envision the finished project. The type for the clues was created in Photoshop, printed and cut into strips, to give the tags a whimsical, ransom-note feeling.
Next, I connected the tags with brads and added the embellishments and photos. Finally, I attached ribbons and scraps with a touch of glue and some machine stitching. Voila!
Very early the next morning, Clare followed the clues step by step, eventually leading her to a hilltop overlooking Nevada City where Patrick proposed at sunrise. She was completely taken by surprise and accepted immediately.
Congratulations, darling Patrick and Clare! We wish you a romantic and blissful life together.
