Happy Retirement Card: #PPA300, #BTF21A, #HLSAnythingGoesWithDies, and #C4C333

Hello from Michigan!

Is it Spring yet?  We had snow flurries this past weekend so I am fearful that Spring up and left town this year.  I am hoping that the frost is now done with so I can get my annuals planted.  Okay, enough whining and on to my card for today.

I combined several challenges with this card.  I followed the sketch from Pals Paper Arts #300.  Here is the sketch: 

and here is the link to the challenge:  http://palspaperarts.com/2016/05/12/ppa300-a-sketch-from-sandie-conner/?utm_source=feedblitz&utm_medium=FeedBlitzRss&utm_campaign=palspaperarts

I also wanted to play along with Between the Folds Challenge #21A which is to use the CTMH "Happy Times" paper packet (it happens to be the May Scrapbooking month Special over at CTMH).  Here is the link to that challenge:  http://btfchallenges.blogspot.com/2016/05/challenge-21a-using-ctmhs-happy-times.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+BetweenTheFoldsbftChallenges+%28Between+The+Folds+*BFT*+Challenges%29

So obviously I used paper from that packet for this card.  I then decided to join in the Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes With Dies Challenge since I die cut the flower piece.  Here is the link to that challenge: 

http://www.happylittlestampers.com/2016/05/hls-may-anything-goes-with-dies.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+HappyLittleStampers+%28Happy+Little+Stampers%29  

Lastly, I am also joining the Crazy 4 Challenges #333 which is to use springtime flowers and I have those on this card, too.  Here is the link to that one:  http://crazy4challenges.blogspot.com/2016/04/crazy-4-challenges-c4c333.html

WHEW!  I know, I know - that's a lot of challenges, but my time is precious so I gotta be creative in my work.  :D  

Here are a few details about my card.  I used patterned paper from Happy Times (CTMH) for the background.  It's a nice two-toned yellow stripe pattern.  Next I added the gold foil strip of paper cut from one of the papers in the same packet.  It's actually a white and gold wide-striped paper and I just cut up the stripes, using just the gold ones.  I attached it down the middle of the card.  Then I cut the pink pieces with my Art Philosophy Cricut Cart (CTMH) and inlaid the two pieces together.  Next, I stamped the flower piece from the CTMH set called "A Bundle of Love" with VersaMark on white cardstock(CTMH) and embossed it with gold embossing powder from my stash.  I then stamped the words "Happy Retirement" (Card Word Puzzle from CTMH - retired stamps) in Fern ink(CTMH).  Next I used the matching die from the CTMH "A Bundle of Love" die set and die cut the flower piece out with my Big Shot.  I then colored the flowers with my CTMH Shinhan alcohol markers.  LOVE them!  I popped that piece onto the pink piece with pop dots.  I felt it still needed something else so I added some gold sequins from CTMH.  And there you have it.  Hope you all have a great week and thanks for stopping by.

Janet