wish big

Hi, everyone.

Today's card has two inspirations: this week's Shopping Our Stash splish-splash challenge and a posted card that was shared by a friend.

Stampin' Up! work of art images on watercolor paper; Paper Smooches sentiment
Distress Inks: scattered straw, spiced marmalade, bundled sage, mowed lawn walnut stain
Distress Ink core paper: walnut stain
Ranger water brush and mister; old toothbrush; Stampin' Up! brads

• All of the flower petals and leaves are stamped with the same stamp. I started by stamping 5 scattered straw petals in a circular arrangement on a sheet of watercolor paper. Then I stamped 5 spiced marmalade images, filling in the spaces between scattered straw petals. Next, I stamped in 3 leaves, followed by second generation spiced marmalade petals and the walnut stain flower center.
• After all the flower parts were stamped, I brushed the entire flower using a Ranger water brush.
• After the flower dried, I stamped the sentiment -- thinking the brown sentiment would lessen the strength of the flower center, which was far more prominent than I had hoped/planned.
• At this point, the flower center still seemed too prominent. So, I decided I wanted to spatter some brown paint. Just needed to figure out how to do that.
• I ended up rubbing an old toothbrush in walnut stain, misting the toothbrush, and then using my thumb to flick/spatter paint as strategically as possible.
• Then, I cut a 4.25" by 5.5" rectangle from the overall stamped composition -- and eventually trimmed the rectangle to allow for the walnut stain Distress Ink core paper.
• Finally a scored a 1/8" border around the edge of the watercolor paper and decided to place brads in the corner -- similar to a device that might be used to hang a painting.

So, I hope this card is a pleaser. If it goes to Operation Write Home, it will stay as is. If it goes to a friend, it will be sprayed with a little Shimmer.

Parting Thoughts

A quick reminder about the Words 2 Scrap By Education in the movement from dark to light challenge. This challenge is open until the 21st of the month. Hope you will all join us.

Enjoy the rest of your weekend. Thanks for stopping and happy scrappin'!