Thinking of You

When the Flora & Fauna stamp set from Wplus9 first came out I HAD TO HAVE it, so I bought it.  And I love it.  Unfortunately I only used a couple of times and then put it away.  Today, I remedied that and gave some love to a few more stamps in the set.

To create my little scene I colored my stamps with distress markers and then spritzed them with a little water before stamping.  My aquapainter and distress markers were also used to color in the sky, butterfly and banners.   Black cardstock and ink helped create resting spots for the eyes and pull the card together.

My second card was done in a similar way, but with a softer touch.  I layered this card on a soft yellow cardstock instead of using the stark black.

The sun was almost set on this cloudy day when I took the picture, so I didn't have the best lighting, but I wanted to get a picture of these card in on time to enter the Throwback Thursday challenge at Wplus9.  It ends in two days, so hurry up and pull out on of their stamps you haven't used in awhile to give it some love.

I'm also entering my first card in the CAS(E) this sketch challenge.  The little banners coming off the focal image were 100% inspired by this sketch.  To make the banners really shine, I staggered them with a black banner.  Another fabulous sketch that I'm sure to be using again.

Stamps: Flora & Fauna 2, Lucky Stars (Wplus9); Eloquence (Penny Black)
Ink: Tuxedo Black (Memento); Seedless Preserves, Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn, Peacock Feathers, Worn Lipstick, Wild Honey, Tumbled Glass, Shabby Shutters (Distress Markers)
Paper: Distress Watercolor Paper (Ranger); Basic Black, So Saffron, Whisper White (Stampin' UP!)
Accessories: Stitched Rectangles Dies, Rounded Stitched Rectangle Dies (Lil' Inker Designs); Banner Punch, Corner Rounder (Stampin' UP!)

Watercolor Sympathy ~ Stampin' Celebration

It seems as though I have had to make an abundance of sympathy cards for my friends lately.  They will never be my favorite card to create, but they are some of the most important cards I make. When a friend loses a loved one I like to make a sympathy card for their family.  As I make the card I think about them and pray for them.  It's a way of healing and connecting for me, and it personalizes each card.  

This card was made for one of my cardmaking friends.  She has taught me just how beautiful a Clean And Simple (CAS) card can be.  My color inspiration came from the gorgeous photo at Stampin' Celebration. 

Doesn't that spark your creative mojo?  I'm in love with the yummy colors and plan to make another card inspired by this photo.  Perhaps a birthday card or even a Christmas card.  I hope you will check out the challenge and see what my fellow design team members have created.  I can't wait to see what you come up with using this inspiration photo.

One last thing before I go.   Tomorrow is the last day leave a comment on THIS POST for your chance to win a spot in the A Very Trendy Holiday 2.0 online card class.   :)  

Supplies
Stamps: Flora and Fauna (Wplus9), Forever in our Hearts (Verve)
Ink: Blushing Bride - Lost Lagoon- Pink Pirouette - Soft Sky - Versamark (Stampin' UP!), Aqua Mist (PaperTreyInk)
Paper: Soft Sky - Whisper White (SU), Distress Watercolor Paper (Tim Holtz)
Accessories: Sparkling Clear Sequins - Stitched Duo 1 (Pretty Pink Posh), Aquapainter - White Embossing Powder (SU)