A Wee bit of Shamrocks

I miss getting "good" mail. When I first started stamping, and postage was actually reasonable, I participated in swaps, Round Robins, and a few of the groups I belonged to sent out birthday cards.  Then postage became unbelievable and that stuff stopped.  Well, I want to get at least one thing a month that isn't junk mail or a bill, so I signed up for the Card Chain Challenge at Society of Stampaholics.  It's really easy - there is a sign up by date, then a mail to by date, and some criteria that your card should match.  For February one of the criteria for the card was shamrocks, so off I went!

What I Used to Make this Card:
Square Card Base in White
Spellbinders Nestabilities Majestic Squares #6, S4-422
Spellbinders Imperial Gold, Gold Labels 34, 34-424
Sequin Clovers
Small Shamrock Stamp - Good Stamps, Stamp Goods
Versamark Ink
A Wee Happy St. Paddy's to You Stamp - manufacturer unknown
Irish Blessing stamp - PSX, K-2483
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Ranger Adirondack Ink in Meadow
Stipple Brush
Wink of Stella - clear
White Cardstock
Green Cardstock

I had first wanted to put the Irish Blessing on the front of the card, but I didn't like the way it cut out with the Spellbinders - but I
saved it. It wasn't bad, just not what I was looking for.  So, instead, I stamped the "a wee happy" stamp on white cardstock and cut it out with the Spellbinders and added the sequin shamrocks.  I then cut out the green layer and stamped the small shamrock stamp all over with Versamark ink (remember Versamark?!?), attached the sentiment onto the green layer and that to the front of the card.

The Irish Blessing

But I still had this awesome Irish Blessing, all cut out and ready to roll.  So I decided to stipple around the edges and use that for the inside of my card; something I rarely do, the insides of my cards, unless the card I am creating is for an occasion,
like this one. I'd say a good 90% of the cards I create are blank inside so I can add my own special touch. When I was finished I felt the front still needed a little somethin' somethin', so I used my Wink of Stella pen (which I have had for quite a while, yet never used), in clear, and squiggled around the design - if you look carefully, you can see it in the picture, on the right side.  I sent my card off to Jutta, crossing my fingers and toes that she likes the card.

I was the lucky recipient of a card from Emily.  She chose to go with the colors suggested in the challenge, and the friendship theme.  Her card is stunning (please click on the picture to make it bigger); I know you will agree - the picture does not do it justice! Her colors are so fresh and springy - the doily, the butterfly and the cute little gems! Honestly, if I could of called back my card to redo it I would have - but there is always next month :)

I hope you will consider signing up for this amazing swap - there are participants from all over the world! And, like I said, you can count on getting at least one piece of mail that will make you smile! I have already signed up for March, so I am off to get started! 

Last look at my card - I'm not sure why the sequins don't look like sequins - you'll have to trust me!

I hope to see you at the Card Chain Challenge (which also happens to be run by the marvelous Deborah).  Thanks for popping by and please visit the blogs I have linked to - you never know where you will find inspiration (or end up signing up for a card!) ~ Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my Shamrock Card in the following challenges:
Tip Top Tuesday - Rubber Stamps Only 
Cuttin' and Stampin' - Anything Goes
One Crazy Stamper - March Challenge, Anything Goes
We Do Doobadoo - #4, Spring/Green
Stempelsonne - #135, Anything Goes
Jo's Scrap Shack - #77, Anything Goes (ends 3/20)
Addicted to Stamps and More - #133, Holidays 
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Just a Hint of Clover. . .