Penny Black Stamps Birthday Card

It's a rainy day....actually all week almost, so I'm in my craft room, stamping and coloring flowers and plants, instead of tending to them in my garden.  One of my favorite plants in my garden is a Japanese Lantern plant.  Right now, it is all green, and it boasts at least nine hanging lanterns.  I put it in last year, and it did not produce any lanterns that first year.  I'm excited to watch the little lanterns grow, and hopefully eventually turn orange.  In the meantime, here is my stamped version....

inside of card

 I started with a panel of Canson XL recycled bristol paper in my Misti.  I inked the stamp (Penny Black flower lanterns #40-547) using Tim Holtz distress ink in wild honey.  I added color gradually with the distress markers.  Each time I added a color, I cleaned off the stamp, then used another color and stamped over it, until I had built up some shading and highlights.  You can see this technique demonstrated HERE by Jill Foster with Penny Black in a YouTube video.  This is an excellent tutorial, and she has many others.

When the image was dry, I used my Faber Castell Polychromos colored pencils to add even more details, and shading.  I built up the colored pencil until I had achieved the look I was going for.  The background is done with colored pencil, then some ink spatters.

I stamped and gold embossed the verse (Penny Black special thoughts set #30-338).  On the inside, I used distress ink pads with the lanterns stamp, and distress markers on the 'Have a Wonderful day (Penny Black gratitude set #30-105).

This flower lanterns stamp will be getting lots of use from me.  I have several stamped panels on my desk, waiting for me to add the finishing touches and make cards.  

I am adding my card to these challenges:

Penny Black Saturday Challenge  - Flowers (yes, it is a flower)

Seize The Birthday Challenge - Anything goes

Simon Says Wedbnesday Challenge - Anything goes

Time Out Challenge - Celebrations/one layer

Simon Says Work It Wednesday - What you're working on

Thanks so much for stopping in today.  I'm back to 'somewhat normal' after hubby's recuperation from his eye surgery for a macular hole.  Now, since it is STILL raining, it's upstairs to my little craft room for some creative therapy.  Maybe I'll even see you back here later.  If not, definitely tomorrow!

Blessings,

lynda