Penny Black Stamps Birthday Card

Today was the day I decided to try my new stencil from Penny Black.....

Stamps/Stencil:  Penny Black stencil Luster 25-013; Penny Black stamps - Special Thoughts clear set 30-338, Letter Background 1999L, Corner Piece 2859H, and Swirl Border 1969B.
Other:  Tim Holtz distress inks and applicator, Clarity stencil brushes, Faber Castell pastels, cotton applicator, sequins (stash), Strathmore mixed media paper.

I started with an A6 card, and added a strip of blue card stock along the left side.  I put that aside and worked on the main panel, which I had made on the mixed media paper.

I applied distress inks through the stencil onto the panel, using the ink applicator tools, shading as I went to create dimension on the petals, to the best of my ability.  I let that dry a little, then used a square cotton makeup remover applicator to apply blue pastel chalks lightly on the background around the flowers.

Using the Clarity stencil brushes, I brushed gathered twigs distress ink along the corners and borders of the panel, then stamped some Penny Black images intermittently onto the background.  

I added the birthday sentiment from the Special Thoughts set.  I love the script on this verse.  I added the panel to my prepared card base.  Finally, some sequins for a finishing touch.

I am adding my card today to these challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge  - Spring or Easter

Penny Black at Allsorts - All things spring

Seize The Birthday Challenge - Anything goes

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes

I wanted to put my mulch out in my garden this afternoon, but the trees in our back yard and our neighbor's are shedding those little yellow blossom/seeds.  They're coming down like snow, and our yard, driveway, and gardens are almost all yellow!  I will have to wait until that stops, then clean up the gardens and yard before I mulch.  So.....it's on to Zentangle instead.  But, perhaps first, a little nap?  Hmmm...sounds like a great idea to me.  Gotta love weekends, right?!

Thanks so much for stopping by today.  I hope you are having a wonderful weekend, doing exactly what you want to be doing.

Blessings,

lynda