Reverse Stenciled Background With Stamping

Hello!  Today is the mid-way point for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge for this month.  The theme is always Anything Goes.  This month's optional 'extra' is to use twine or ribbon.  Many of the designers have created some inspiration for you.  You can find details of the challenge, and the the other designer's blog posts and inspiration HERE.  
Here's my card...

Penny Black Stamps/Stencil:
First Blush 40-543
Special Thoughts 30-338
Leaf Frolic 25-019

I started with a piece of bristol paper.  Bristol paper is more fine than watercolor paper, yet it tolerates water better than regular card stock.

I laid my Leaf Frolic stencil onto a craft mat, and used my mini distress ink pads to dab color directly onto the stencil.  I used the colors shabby shutters, victorian velvet, and milled lavender.  

To activate the ink, I used my fine water mister to mist the stencil.  The trick is to get the right amount of water.  You don't want it dripping off the stencil, but you want enough to create the background.  I sprayed until the stencil had water droplets all over.  

I carefully picked the stencil off of the craft mat, then placed it color-side-down onto my piece of bristol paper.  I used an old (clean) towel to lightly press on the stencil.  I smoothed it out, and pressed for a bit.  

When I removed the stencil, I took a clean portion of the towel, and wiped the excess moisture from the panel.  I love the look of this background.  It is distinct enough to use on it's own, but soft enough to stamp over! 

I stamped the First Blush image onto the background panel with Memento Rich Cocoa ink, and painted it with distress reinkers.  I stamped the verse  from the Special Thoughts set, with the same ink.  I love this set for it's variety of verses, and the elegant fonts.   I distressed the edges of the panel, and wrapped some twine and a bow around it before attaching it to a white card with foam for dimension.

Inside, I brushed the same background colors through the stencil, and stamped a small part of the image and painted it.  

That's it.  I hope you are inspired to join our challenge.  I would love to see your creations.  Let me know if you try this technique.  You just might win a prize, so come on over.  You can find details, inspiration, and can play along HERE.

I am adding my card to these other challenges:
Allsorts Challenge  - Flowers and/or showers
CAS Watercolor - Spring flowers
The Flower Challenge - Spring/autumn
Make My Monday - Spring flowers
Penny Black At Allsorts - Anything goes

Thanks for stopping by.  I appreciate your visits and your comments.

Blessings,