Paper Smooches February 2015 Sketch Challenge - I feel better now!

If you read my previous blog post which was just earlier today, you already know that I was a little discouraged at how difficult it was for me to bring that last card together. When I got done posting it, I really felt like I needed a pick me up, so I decided to make a card for no good reason at all, one that would be fun and not frustrating. I clicked around the web looking for inspiration, and I realized that the Paper Smooches February Designer Drafts challenge ends tomorrow. I *loved* the sketch at first sight, and I knew I wanted to use it for my card. In reality, I should have been working on the set of notecards I need to make for a 'Scottie exchange' pal, but that didn't inspire me much so I went with FUN!

Earlier this week I was playing with distress ink, for no good reason. I splooshed together (yes that's a word) some Scattered Straw, Wild Honey, and Ripe Persimmon. It was very bright, and I had no idea what to do with it, so I set it aside. Well, it was the perfect pick-me-up color combo for today!

The stamps are from Papertrey Ink Round & Round set. I clear embossed some flowers and butterflies on the distressed area, and then I added a bit of Worn Lipstick to make them pop. The border is actually a Hero Arts stamp that I was brave enough to try to make a sorta-square out of! The stamp was designed to look like ribbon or trim, but I thought that using black would give it the look of a picture or film strip. And of course it wouldn't be a Paper Smooches challenge without using something Paper Smooches, right? I chopped some letters out of the Paper Smooches 'Congratulations' die and attached the 's' to the end. I thought it was appropriate for such a fun and informal card. I can see myself giving this to a friend to congratulate them on a job promotion, happy and not too serious. One thing I took away from making this card is that I really need to get me a little Xyron sticker maker thinger! I clear embossed the 'Congrats' and then glued it on using some Aleene's Tacky Glue. I don't mind getting glue on my fingers, but I'm not the best at getting things straight, and since the die cut was in three pieces it added to the challenge. That's okay, I think it ended up looking just fine.

I usually crop more off the bottom of my pictures, but I thought the reflection in the faux marble added to the fun factor. So there you have it, my fun card that cheered up my day. Thanks for reading!