Happy Mother's Day w/Stamp Simply

There are some cards I make that I don't always decide ahead of time what their ultimate purpose will be.  For instance, when I started making this card, I only stamped the "I Love You" at the bottom right and nothing else.  I figured that it was a nice card to have on hand because, at any given time, I could stamp the top of this card and/or the inside with sentiments like "Mom", "Happy Mother's Day", "With Sympathy", "Happy Anniversary" and so forth.  You can make cards and leave the occasion open-ended.  Well, as this card progressed, it took a few turns due to my "bloopers".  When that happens, you just have to roll with it and "make it work", so I did.  Before I was finished, it became this lovely Mother's Day card.  Art is a process.  You have to sort of just go with the flow and not let your errors cause you to give up on a project.  Shhhh...just between us, I tend to do that more than I should.

I used a full piece (plus a smaller scrap) of Tim Holtz Watercolor Cardstock and I stencilled the entire background of these pieces using the Tim Holtz Lace Stencil and Green Paint Oxide Ink.  I stamped the pretty flowers using the Happy Day Iris Stamp Set, I painted the flowers with oxide inks, and then I cut them out using the coordinating Happy Day Iris Dies.  I sprayed the papers with Tim Holtz Black Soot Distress Spray and cream acrylic paint.  It's a bit of a mess, but I haven't yet learned how to control where all that spray goes.  The sentiments I stamped are found in the Happy Day Iris Stamp Set (Mother's Day and Love You) and the All Occasions Sentiments 2 Stamp Set (Happy).

I added a piece of gorgeous 2.5" Isabella White Venice Lace to the side of the floral image.  The lace can add a really nice element of texture to your cards.  Stamp Simply carries various widths, colors and styles of Lace as well as many Ribbons, Baker's Twine and Paper Flowers among so many other great things.  Be sure to check out all the wonderful products waiting for you there.  You can also find lots of great inspiration each day on the Stamp Simply Blog.

OK, so...here's where the "blunder" came into the picture.  I had splattered everything a bit too much (especially the Iris and stems) and I knew I had to re-stamp the pretty Iris.  When pulling up my original (over-splattered) Iris, I tore some of the paper.  That meant I had to reposition where I placed the flowers which changed where I was stamping the sentiments.  Yikes!  (TMI?)  Because there were small problems, I used a piece of black cardstock and embossed it using a Sizzix Embossing Folder (you can barely tell I even embossed it).  I tucked in the black embossed cardstock and small bits of vintage sheet music that I bent, inked and crumpled to cover my problems.  lol

Thanks so much for stopping by to say hello.  I'm happy to answer any questions you might have about my quick and easy card.  I try my best to explain everything step by step and to include all the products I use.  But if I missed anything, please be sure to ask.  It's always so nice hearing your thoughts and comments, and I welcome your input.  As always, I'm just super happy to have you stop by to say hello.  Have a great week, sweet friends.

Blessings,

Karen