Showers of Flowers for Stinkin' Inkers!

Thank you all for stopping by.  This is my first Design Team Post for the new challenge blog, Stinkin' Inkers! Welcome!!  The theme that our fabulous owner, Terri,  has chosen for April is "Showers of Flowers."  

What I Used to Make my Card:
Mint Green Card Base
White Scrap Panel
Pink Scrap 
Rubber Stamp Tapestry Set "Brambly Rose"
Corner Punch, Deco Photo or Notch, from All Night Media (discontinued)
Die-Namics MFT Stitched Oval Stax, MFT521
Hero Arts Ink in Soft Pink, Bubble Gum and Mint Julep
Stampin' Up Set "Sincere Salutations" (discontinued)
Art C Embellishments - pink flower pack, #24087
Simon Says Stamp Fine Detail White Embossing Powder
Embossing Ink
White Flower from Stash

I have a bin full of flowers (like Prima and such) that I love but never use. Some of them are too big to use on a card, some I like too much to use (I'm sure you can relate to that!) and honestly, I forget I have them.  Out of sight, out of mind.  But, for this challenge, I wanted to use a few of the various flowers I have.  Then I couldn't find them.  I looked everywhere for the baggie I have filled with fabric roses (you know the kind made of ribbon); I was certain I had ribbon roses that would match the colors on this card perfectly.  I looked where they should be, but weren't (believe it or not I am a fairly organized crafter.  I put everything away after I use it, back in it's proper place; all my bins and storage have labels on them and I can typically find what I am looking for quickly.) I looked where they shouldn't be, and they still weren't there.  Finally, I decided to give the searching a rest, 'cause you know sometimes if you just stop looking for whatever you need, it suddenly appears.  That wasn't exactly true here but I did find that I had put all of the flowers that were in shades of pink in a little shoebox-sized bin with intentions of using them for Valentine's Day. I'm happy I found them and I picked out some roses; they happen to be paper, not ribbon.  I cut the wire stems off and put them aside to add onto the card later.

Step 1

After wasting entirely too much time searching, I set about making the flower panel for the card.  I used the Hero Arts Ink colors that I had gotten in the My Monthly Hero Kit for January 2017 and stamped the roses and leaves, using the Rubber Tapestry Set (all of their sets have directions, plus recommendations for ink colors! I thought you might want to see the

Step 2

different steps used to create the panel.)  I stamped on a piece of cardstock that was 5 1/2" x 4 1/4" since I knew I'd need to cut the panel down to place on the card base.  Once the panel was fully stamped, I used the DieNamics die to cut the oval out of the middle, then cut the panel down and punched the corners.  

Step 3

Next I chose a piece of pink scrap for my sentiment.  I stamped "Thinking of you" in embossing ink and embossed it using fine detail white embossing powder.  I am so tickled that I found this white embossing powder; I used to struggle mightily when using white, it seemed no matter what I did I always got little specks everywhere; even using one of those pouches filled with whatever the magic ingredient is (I think it's cornstarch.)  I attached the sentiment panel onto the back of the stamped card so that it showed in the oval cut out.  Once I glued the panel onto the card

Flowers Close Up

base, I used 3 paper roses as accents on the side. This card would have taken me about 30 minutes if I hadn't spent hours looking for those flowers! At least I actually did use a few; many times I've searched for something and, once found, never actually used the item in my projects.  

Another Look

I'm feeling spring and, as some of the country is getting pounded with a serious snow storm, it's 70 degrees here and the good weather makes me feel creative.  I'm thinking something 3D is in the wings. Thanks for stopping by and reading about my crafty trials and tribulations! Hunting around my craft room is NOT fun, but, coming into the room and seeing 3 drawers of stamps on the ground and the trash basket tipped over is even LESS fun.  That's what my wonderful furbabies had left for me this morning!  I swear they think up ways to annoy me! LOL Anyway, I hope you'll drag out some of YOUR flowers and join me at Stinkin' Inkers! And be sure to check out the rules HERE. Have fun and get crafty! Fondly, Christi

I would like to enter my Showers of Flowers card in the following challenges:
Stamps, Ink, Paper Challenge - #93, Coming Up Flowers
Ike's World - #85, Anything Goes with optional twist In the Garden
Try it on Tuesday - Botanical
Unicorn Challenge - M, #20, Petal Power
Pin{spirational} - #187, see picture below
Addicted to Stamps - M, #145, Stamped Image & Stamped Sentiment
Card Mania - M, #91, April Showers Bring May Flowers
Naughty or Nice Challenges - M, #38, Three of Something with optional Easter Twist

A Flowery Hello for the Card Chain Challenge

Hi everyone! I am finally feeling rested after the Valentine's Day frenzy.  Every year I do the same thing; I tell myself I am not going to make any more Valentine cards and I end up making one, teeny, little card and the next thing I know it's five days later, I have glitter glue in my hair,  my hand is glued to my desk, and I can't see anything among the scraps, stamps and embellishments that are all over the place.  I envision it like a crafter's "hangover" and it takes a while to recover!

Anyway, I made this card, which is totally out of my comfort zone (at least I think so) just because, but then I signed up for the Card Chain Challenge and discovered it fit the challenge!  I was really inspired by the new (to me) Spellbinders die set and I had some colorful scrap paper so off I went!  Here are the themes from which we were able to choose for March at the CCC:

Color Palette:

These colors are your guideline - exact matching is not necessary.

OR
Sketch

You can orient this sketch in any direction and/or flip it.
OR
One of the following themes: – Flowers  or  Fish  or  Friendship
OR
One of the following products: Stampers Anonymous stamps, Sequins, Fussy Cutting

My card, which was sent to Lizzy all the way in Australia, follows the theme of flowers and friendship. I hope you like it!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Square Card Base in Mint Green (5 1/4" x 5 1/4")
Blue Sky Paper (from stash)
DCWV Tie Dye Stack (discontinued but available)*
Unity Stamps "Hello" from He's a Wordy Buck, UK-705A
Spellbinders Die D-Lites Flower Field
Distress Ink in Wilted Violet
Martha Stewart Mini Pastel Pearls
Gems from my Stash
Pop Dots

*First, once again Die Cut With a View (DCWV) has released another stack with 

Original Tie Dye Stack

the same name as the stack I used in this project. Just in case you absolutely need the Tie Dye stack I used, this is a picture of the cover. I love DCWV stacks but they can be pretty pricey so I often end up buying them when they have been discontinued.  

All of the papers except the card base come from this DCWV Tie Dye Stack.  I cut out the dies a bazillion times and a bunch of extra flowers. If you aren't familiar with DCWV stacks they often include specialty papers and this one includes both glitter and gloss (a coating similar to the many commercial glazes out there).  All I used on this card were parts of the paper that had glitter, gloss or both, so I got some really pretty flowers.  And for once the gloss isn't leftover glue on the card. 

Another Look

Once felt I had enough of the die cuts, I figured out the placement on the mint green card base and started gluing the cuts down.  I ended up pop dotting some of the flowers but you can't really see that in the photos. There is plenty of texture with all the glitter and gloss; I added even more by using gems and pearls for the middle of some of the flowers.  You should be able to make any of the photos on my blog bigger by just clicking on them; let me know if you have trouble with this. 

Please take a moment to see the Card Chain Challenge Reveal that is posted on the main blog today.  

You get to see who sent who what and where everyone lives.  I am thrilled to be back playing in this "challenge;" it is SO cool to get a card in the mail - it sure beats junk mail! This month I was the lucky recipient of LesLee's card, isn't it fabulous!?! She had to take a short break from crafting, but do pop over to her blog and take a look at the work she has done - it really is marvelous and after that stop over to the Card Chain Challenge and check out the reveal!  Some of us may even include a goody or 2!

Thank you for stopping by and reading this rather long post.  I encourage everyone who makes cards to participate in the Card Chain Challenge.  It's so much fun to see a card online and actually have it in your hands! Please consider signing up, and if you have any questions not answered in the FAQs, feel free to email me and I will see what I can do to help you out. The rewards out weigh the effort!  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Flowery Hello card in the following challenges:
Pixie's Crafty Workshop - week 275/276 - Anything Goes
Southern Girls Challenge - #156, Dyeing to See You (use a die)
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (entry #2)
Deep Ocean Challenge - #151, Flowers Everywhere
Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday - Spring has Sprung