Kindness

This is one of those cards that started with an image and then evolved from there. It's my take on this weeks A Sketch for You to Try on the i{heart}2stamp blog.

I colored my image with markers and stamped it on a piece of white textured cardstock. The textured paper wasn't my intention but rather, with the marker ink drying, the closest scrap. Nothing like planning ahead ... LOL. Once I had my stamped image, I started looking for some patterned paper to accent it. Basic Grey's Sultry pad provided some options but was kind of busy, and busy wasn't what I was looking for. I ended up going in the opposite direction. For the accent piece, I stamped Garden Green ink on white cardstock using my Argyle Backgrounds stamp set. Because I didn't want a bold pattern, I stamped it off first on scratch paper.

My biggest dilemma in creating the card was my butterfly accent. I'd used a Bubblegum marker on my stamp. A bright Bubblegum butterfly, however, would not work on this card. The Martha Stewart butterfly punch I have was too small. The Cuttlebug butterfly die I have was too big. I ended up using a stamp. My first attempt involved embossing it in white on vellum and using a sponge to add some Bubblegum ink. For my second butterfly, I stamped it with Bubblegum ink on vellum and then added clear embossing powder. I wasn't happy with either of them and was going to toss them when I discovered the white one looked kind of cool on top of the pink one. Problem solved. The soft look I was looking for had been achieved. Card complete!

Materials & Tools: White Daisy and Garden Green cardstock; White Daisy textured cardstock; Vellum; Garden Green and Bubblegum ink pads; Garden Green and Bubblegum markers; Stampin' Up Essence of Love and Close To My Heart Argyle Background and Butterfly Kiss stamp sets; Kaiser Kraft pearls; White and clear embossing powders; Embossing tool; Round sponge; Cuttlebug w/Swiss Dots embossing folder.

That was long ... Some cards are like that. I'll keep the rest of it short. Thank you for all of your sweet comments on recent. My sweet husband and I do make for a rather amusing duo, although it's not as bad as it sounds. Bjorn and Mathias are here while their daddy is doing some laundry. We spent the afternoon playing, and we just finished dinner. Cameron popped in between the washer and dryer at the laundromat with Spiderman fishing rods he picked up for the boys, using some gift certificates they'd received for their birthdays. You should have seen their excitement. They were more animated than Grandpa was yesterday with his new rod and reel. LOL. Now, I'm off for some story time and cuddling on the sofa before the little ones go home for the evening. Thanks for stopping by! Later ...