A Great Big {Bear} Hug

Twice a month, Send a Smile 4 Kids has a themed card challenge. The current theme is "Anything Goes 4 Kids." One of the main challenge requirements is that the card must be for a child, since their mission is to collect handmade cards to distribute to children who are inpatients at a children's hospital. While the cards created for the challenges don't have to be donated afterwards, they do appreciate it if you can! I only recently became aware of this organization, so this is my first card ever for one of their challenges. It will be going to them when I have made enough to ship out.

I based my design on Sketch #21 by Operation Write Home:

I did have to enlarge the main panel slightly to accommodate my stamps, but otherwise I adhered to the sketch dimensions.

I used Ranger Archival Jet Black ink to stamp the bear and greeting (sorry, but I don't know the source of the bear stamp) onto a piece of Strathmore Mixed Media paper. After letting the ink dry for a few minutes, I colored the bear & "HUG" with Inktense pencils, blending the color with my water brush.

For the background pieces, I used a pink and white stripe from the Sn@p "Color Vibe" 6x6" paper pad; the other 2 patterns came from Basic Grey's "Hey Girl!" 6x6" pad. I cut them to size, and adhered them to a piece of kraft cardstock cut to 4.25x5.5".

To finish off the focal panel, I rounded all 4 corners with my 1/4" Corner Chomper, and inked around the edges with Brushed Corduroy Distress ink. I feel that gives it a more worn, "comfortable" look, that coordinates with the (apparently) well-loved bear. I adhered that directly to the card front, and then adhered the front to an A2 card base.

I'm also entering this card in Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday STAMPtember "Stamp It" challenge.