I should've dug around a little more for a better base paper, but I didn't—this heavy silver stuff was lying out, and though not really ideal for a baby shower gift—too formal—at least it wasn't, like the bulk of my papers, xmas themed. So I was handicapped from the start.

The gift in question is bright orange and green, and I would've liked very much to have decorated the item with some orange. (With black, for Halloween, a favorite holiday of the recipient.) Alas, no orange bows, no orange curling ribbon. No black, either. So then I thought perhaps a floral theme might be good for a baby, so I dug out some silk flowers in autumnish colors. I had some soft lime yarn, and figured raffia and the straw colored rustic ribbon would also work. Gold seemed too shiny, so I added in some coral beads.

Shot amongst my orange-yellow mums, the piece looks pretty successful, which just goes to show that setting really does matter.

But I've done better.

photography, file created 3oct08.