2 Sketches 4 You - Kazan's sketch #32

Goodness, I am on a roll today! I guess I wanted to get some cards made before I go on vacation. This card is for Kazan's sketch #32 over at 2 Sketches 4 you blog. Here is the link to the contest: http://2sketches4you.blogspot.com/2009/08/kazans-sketch-32.html

Well, on to my card. It was a crazy process I went through to get this one finished. I also wanted to incorporate the challenge on "Scrapbooks and Cards Today" blog that is to use something green from your yard or at least from outside. I used a sprig from an Evergreen bush in my front yard as a stamp on one of my layers on this card. Can you tell which layer? :D Anyway, I played around with the sprig for awhile just seeing what would happen. I used Stampin' Up Forest Foliage ink and it turned out better than I expected. Then came the REAL challenge, trying to find paper to match that green! Since I used an evergreen I decided to make this a Christmas card since I haven't started on those yet this year. I had to go to the basement and dig through my Christmas stash until I FINALLY found some paper that would work with this dang green. It is K*ology paper by K & Company from who knows when. ; ) Ok, so now I trudge back upstairs to start layering. Gee, my sprigs were stamped onto more of a white background and this paper is beige. SO I find my Ranger Distressed Ink in Antique Linen and rub that all over the sprigs. Ah, that looks better. So I measure and cut all my layers, using a dark brown for the mats. Well, my poor sprigs looked boring on top of the DP so I added some little berries with a red gel pen. That helped some. I had stamped the greeting which is from Autumn Leaves with brown on that same white paper that I used for the sprigs. I then distressed the greeting with the Antique Linen so that it matched the background paper. Gosh, now my greeting looked boring next to all the DP SO I added coloring with assorted sparkling gel pens(gold, red, and green). Much better! The last thing I did was rummage some more through my ribbon drawer to find a nice wide ribbon that would match all this paper. I finally settled on this red with gold. I really didn't want a bow since I wanted a flatter card for mailing. If you click on the picture, you can get a better look at the shimmer on the card. And that is about it. I will definitely try another piece of greenery or flower from my yard. That was fun! I hope you enjoyed my card-making adventure and be sure to try using real greenery yourself.

On another note, I will most likely be AWOL for at a week since I'll be on vacation. I hope you are all enjoying your summer and I will be back soon.

Janet