So Sweet Birthday

Hi there, I hope your week is going well!  Today I'm going to share with you a card I made for the fun Tic-Tac-Toe challenge at The Paper Players, and using the sketch from the current challenge at Sunday Stamps.  I'm also entering this into the "Anything Goes" challenge for the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.

PP355

SSC158

SSS Wed Challenge - Anything Goes

I thought the July My Monthly Hero stamp set would work perfectly for this sketch, with it's lovely small images of flower bouquets and various containers to hold them.  I decided to use the pretty Sweet Pea bouquet image along with the watering can.  I stamped the flowers and a sentiment from the set on a square of Tim Holtz watercolor paper.  The watering can was stamped on a separate piece and die cut with the companion die after I finished water coloring it with Hickory Smoke Distress Ink.

The flowers were water colored with a combination of Wilted Violet and Shaded Lilac.  I love the blue color that results when those two colors blend.  Because the image is so small, my water coloring was pretty basic, covering the flowers first with lilac, then dropping in the violet color at the base and spreading it into the lilac but not worrying about blending it perfectly.  Once the flowers dried I added Shabby Shutters ink to the stems and leaves.

To give the watering can something to rest on, I added a but of Pumice Stone ink in the lower background.  Tumbled Glass ink was lightly spread around the flowers, and then the watering can was added to the panel using Dimensionals.   I searched through my stash and found this beautiful Basic Gray designer paper that worked perfectly with the image - a little old fashioned and a bit of distress around the edges.  After adding the dsp and focal image to the white card stock base, it was embellished with the banners, Galaxy (purple) and Morning Dew Nuvo drops and the cute wood flower.  Then I realized that my card was supposed to be a birthday card in order to complete the top row of the Tic-Tac-Toe challenge, and the sentiment on the front wasn't a birthday sentiment (oops).  I found a sentiment from the Dragonfly Dreams stamp set by Stampin' Up with a font that seemed complementary to the one on the front of the card and added that to the inside along with a couple of other flower images from the HA stamp set.  So I hope that qualifies me for the challenge :)

Well, that's the story about this card creation!  Thanks so much for visiting, it's always so appreciated!  I've added links to the challenges above, so be sure to head over there and enjoy all the amazing inspiration!

Stef

Product details

Stamps:  Hero Arts July My Monthly Hero stamp set, Dragonfly Dreams (SU)

Paper:  #110 Neenah Solar White, Tim Holtz water color, Wisteria Wonder (SU), Vellum, Wisteria 6x6 dsp paper pad (Basic Gray)

Ink:  Versafine Onyx Black; Distress Ink:  Hickory Smoke, Shabby Shutters, Shaded Lilac, Wilted Violet, Pumice Stone, Tumbled Glass

Other:  Eyelet Border punch (SU), Polka Dot embossing folder (SU), My Monthly Hero Arts companion die, Touches of Nature Elements (SU), Galaxy and Morning Dew Nuvo Crystal Drops, #4 Silver Black Velvet and #00 Grumbacher watercolor paint brushes