A Bouquet of Thanks

Blog break is over!  I won't be posting every day, but should be able to post at least weekly.  At least I hope so.

Love this bouquet of flowers from Impression Obsession. 

How I Made This Card:

1.  Stamped image in waterproof black ink and water colored with Ranger Distress Inks.

2.  Selected a sentiment with a delicate font that coordinated with the hand drawn image.

3.  Measured sentiment and cut banner with Silhouette to fit the sentiment.

4.  Cut a mask of the bouquet and flicked ink with a wet paint brush over the card -- this added some interest and some dimension.

5.  Adhered dimensional strip to back of sentiment and water colored the banner with a quick swipe of the brush; adhered to card.

6.  Stamped the Screen pattern with black ink on typing paper and die cut for the envelope liner.  

MOOD WHEN DONE = Happy!

Tips:

1.  With watercolors, less is always better.  Let the first swirl of inky paint sit for a few minutes and then go back with one more layer.

2.  I only have one red/pink Distress ink pad (Barn Door).  The first layer on the flower looks pink because I used more water -- rubbed the ink pad on a craft sheet and spritzed with a water bottle.  For the second, smaller layer, used more ink and less water and got a deeper red.  Why buy 2 - 17 shades of red distress ink when one will do?

3.  Leaves almost always look better with a bit of yellow.

And since I loved the card and need a bunch (wink) of thank you cards, I made a few more (assembly line fashion):

Supplies:

Stamps:  Impression Obsession Sunny Flower Bouquet and Screen Cover a Card (used on the envelope), and My Favorite Things Pretty Poppies (sentiment)
Ink:  Ranger Archival Jet Black and Ranger Distress Inks:  Peeled Paint, Barn Door and Mustard Seed 
Cardstock:  Smooth Bristol
Other:  Claudine Hellmuth paint brush, water, paper towel, paper trimmer, Silhouette, dimensionals, Clear and Simple A2 envelope liner die, Paper Source envelope, double sided tape (for the envelope liner), typing paper (for the envelope liner); $$; time; mojo