Hello Spring in BC

Spring in this part of BC, this year, has been rather rainy.  But it is the rain that brings the green grass and the green trees, so I am not complaining in the least. I actually really like rain. I like snow more, but rain is good, too. Then the sunny days, like this weekend feel oh so much more wonderful, too.



Supplies:
"Hello Spring" from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: http://goo.gl/545Gco
"You Are My Sunshine" from Kraftin' Kimmie Stamps: currently out of stock :(
Fiskars 12-inch Paper Trimmer: http://goo.gl/1C80jr
Tim Holtz Snips: http://goo.gl/nJYJeS
Recollections 65lb cardstock: Michaels

Tombow adhesive: http://goo.gl/XMLQG6

Ranger Multi-media Matte: http://goo.gl/Twfcs3
Tim Holtz mini ink blending tool: http://goo.gl/q3pDhM

Tim Holtz Distress ink mini bundle #1, #2, #3: http://goo.gl/zSS2re

Colorbox robin's egg pigment ink: http://goo.gl/HDkcIX

Colorbox black pigment ink: https://goo.gl/4k5QTQ

Colorbox primary colours cats eyes: https://goo.gl/XhdST0

Chameleon pens: http://www.chameleonpens.com/
Recollections clear and purple embossing powder: Michaels
Scotch double-sided foam tape: https://goo.gl/cgYD4W

Sakura white opaque glaze gel pen: https://goo.gl/PulKHv
Versamark embossing ink: https://goo.gl/trlHx5
Ranger mini misters: https://goo.gl/Mua2Mu
Recollections heat tool: Michaels
Impression Obsession grass border die: discontinued
Recollections mounting foam dots: Michaels

The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge on 4 April is "Try to Resist". This was the beginning of the idea for this card: a rainy day with an umbrella and grass.

Since I wanted to make this a square card, I started with a 5x5 inch of the white cardstock. Using the raindrops stamps from the "You Are My Sunshine" set and Versamark ink, I stamped random locations and covered them with clear embossing powder. This will act as a resist for inking later. 

For best effect, I did the inking and powdering in small batches but left the heat tool until all the rain drops were ready.

If you look closely, you can see the embossed raindrops on the paper. To make the sky, I used 3 Distress inks: Peacock Feathers (teal), Salty Ocean (blue with a touch of green), and Seedless Preserves (purple). I only have sets #1-3, so I only have twelve of the colours, so far.

Using a Distress blending tool, the first colour I added is the Salty Ocean. The embossed rain drops resist the ink.

With just the Salty Ocean, the rain drops are much more evident but the sky isn't very dramatic.

Next layer of colour was the Seedless Preserves, more depth but also a bit blotchy with the darker purple.

Then the Peacock Feathers to add in more life.

Then back over it all again with Salty Ocean to tone down the edges of the other colours and make everything cohesive.

With a light misting, the Distress inks take on even more life but wet down the paper.

Allowed to dry (while I was working on other elements), the paper did flatten out (with a bit of convincing). I shorted it to 4.5 inches square to matte it later. Once I had the final size, I used the blender tool to add Salty Ocean to the edge.

I stamped the umbrella and clouds from the "You Are My Sunshine" set on white cardstock. I stamped the umbrella parts with black Colorbox pigment ink and added clear embossing powder to accent their lines. I stamped the clouds with robin's egg to have a fainter outline.

I used Chameleon pens to colour in the umbrella and clouds. I embellished the umbrella top with small dots of white gel ink.

I fussy cut the umbrella parts and clouds.

I used a die to cut the grass (if only all grass was so easy to cut).

The die with the grass still in it:

I did a dry fitting of the parts to see if my idea was going to work.

I added a narrow border of green with the adhesive runner. I used Multi-media matte to attach the grass. I also used Multi-media matte to attach the umbrella parts together (and forgot to take pictures). The clouds and umbrealla are attached with small dimensional dots. The sentiment is from the KKS "Hello Spring" set, purple Colorbox ink and purple embossing powder. The whole panel is raised with mounting tape.

I gave this card as a gift to one of my co-workers who is moving away from the wonderful weather in BC to go and live near San Francisco with her love. I will miss her a lot.

Challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Blog Monday Challenge 4 April "Try to Resist": http://www.simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/?p=4780
Kraftin' Kimmie Blog Wonderful Wednesday "Anything Goes": http://kraftinkimmiestamps.blogspot.ca/2016/04/wonderful-wednesday.html