My all-time favorite Graphic45 collection is Communique! You can imagine my joy when they decided to release a Deluxe Collection of this set of papers! Communique was the very first Graphic 45 collection that I purchased, way back in (dare I say) 2008 or 2009. It was the collection that inspired me to try out for the design team in 2010! Since today is my birthday...what a better gift than sharing my ALL TIME FAVORITE paper collection?! Communique has everything I love: a black and red color scheme, typewriters, pens, vintage images, vintage postcards and handwriting, typography, and more! I have always felt that Graphic 45 created this collection specifically for me! I made an 8" x 8" desk-top home decor "card," making it both a card and a gift! This card is suitable for framing or standing on a desk or shelf. I loved this project so much that I had trouble putting it in a box and mailing it off to the office for display at CHA! The 8" x 8" size is new for me. It is that perfect niche between a 6" x 6" card and a 12" x 12" layout, but it's neither! A friend of mine makes large-size cards as gifts and I decided to give it a try! (Thanks for the idea, Katrina!) I may become addicted! I was happy to find some number brads in my stash to create "45" on one of the tags! I also de-hoarded my stash of Stamped Metal Brads. I created some "rusty" embellishments with my own custom mix embossing powder and chipboard shapes. I mixed the rusty keys with some G45 Ornate Metal Keys. I also discovered a faux clay postage cancellation embellishment with "Anaheim" stamped onto it! Perfect for a project on it's way to the Anaheim CHA show! And a project covered in rusty metal is not complete until I add a bunch of flowers! I did a bit of fussy cutting of the pen nibs and the postage images. Fussy cutting is NOT my strong suit, but I do what I can. Here is the inside of the "card." That is 16" of real estate to cover with paper! I wanted this card to be special, inside and out! If I were mailing this to someone, I'd add a gift card holder to the inside, or even give this card along with a suitable frame so the recipient could display the card. I added more rusty gears and some of the collection images. Thanks for joining me today! Graphic 45 Products: Communique 12x12 paper: Pen in Hand, Society Page, Classy Correspondence, Typography, On the Dot, Postage, Party Line, Telegram Ornate Metal Keys Stamped Metal Brads Artistic Trading Tags - Black Other Products: Chipboard elements: Gypsy Soul Laser Cuts photo reel miniatures, steampunk light bulb set, steampunk shape set, Parisian shape set Cardstock: WorldWin Papers Black Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts Ink: Top Boss Watermark, Ranger Distress Vintage Photo, VersaFine Onyx Black Embossing powder: Tim Holtz Distress Black Soot, Vintage Photo; Stampendous Aged Bronze; Enchanted Cottage Malachite; Hampton Art various metallic Metal embellishments: Creative Impressions brads; Tim Holtz game spinners, clock, number brads, clips, hinge fasteners, book plate Die cut words: Papertrey Ink Punches: Stampin' Up 3/4", 1 1/2" circles, Fiskars border punch, Creative Memories corner rounder Stamps: Verve Framed Lilies Adhesive: Scotch 3M ATG tape and foam tape, Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L 3D foam squares, Scor-tape, Ranger Glossy Accents, hot glue