You Make My Heart Smile

Today, I am playing along with Splitcoast Stampers Inspiration Challenge (IC580.  The challenge for this week was to find inspiration from the listings on the Altered Diaries' Etsy site HERE.

I was drawn to this book cover.

Well, I gotta be honest... I think I was more inspired by this one because I knew that I had a stencil just like the pattern on the book!  But that's okay, because inspiration is inspiration, right?

Here is my card:

I started by taping down my stencil onto a Neenah Solar White card panel.  I used 5 different distress inks over the stencil.  I was pretty pleased with how nicely the colors blended with hardly any effort at all.  Starting from the bottom, I used Festive Berries, Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral, Spiced Marmalade and Candied Apple.  I, then, added the red strip on the left side just like the book, but it looked a little too plain, so I added the sequins.  A simple remedy.  (the sequins look silver in the photo, but they are actually clear).

I used Simon Says Stamp's Love Loop die from their latest release and created a die-cut inlay using orange and yellow cardstock.  Finding a sentiment to fit just right in the yellow heart was a little tricky, but with a little patience, I struck the jackpot!  And the sentiment even has the word "heart" in it, like it was just meant to be!  Don't you just love when that happens?

I am pretty new to participating in card-making challenges, but I've found that they definitely help me in creating cards.  I feel like I have some direction and I am not overwhelmed with a ton of supplies at my fingertips to cause me stress!  I know that may seem odd, but it sort of streamlines my thinking having a theme, a sketch or even a color palette to inspire me.

Thank you for stopping by.  Have a great weekend!

To check out the other cards created for this challenge, click HERE.

Supplies Used:
Stencil - Asanoha (Judikins)
Sentiment - Framed out (PTI)
Die - Love Loop (SSS)
Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black, Distress Inks:Festive Berries, Picked Raspberry, Abandoned Coral, Spiced Marmalade & Candied Apple
Sequins - 4mm & 6mm Sparkling Clear (PPP)
Neenah Solar White 80 and 110 lb.
Yellow, red and orange cardstock