You are in My Heart & Thoughts

This card actually came together fairly quickly, once I had stamped & colored the focal image. The design is based on a sketch by Operation Write Home. I used an image & greeting from the "Hugs" stamp set by Penny Black. I stamped the image with Colorbox's Archival dye ink in "Putty." This is a waterproof ink that I've found stamps really well, and it gives a softer look for images than black.

I saw a video on YouTube today by Darlene Devries, demonstrating coloring with Inktense pencils and water. I've used these pencils before, but getting the blended results I wanted was usually a hit-or-miss endeavor. She suggested putting just a small amount of color with the pencil only where you want the most intense color. Then, with your water brush, start painting in the uncolored area, and slowly work towards the color. This way, you can pull the color into the white area. Also, she said you should wipe your brush often, so it doesn't get too saturated with the color. It is best to work on watercolor paper rather than regular cardstock, since this makes it easier to blend and feather the color. So I tried that on this piece, and it worked! I did used a regular watercolor pencil for the red flowers. I wished afterwards I had used an Inktense pencil for that though, since those dry permanent, and the red did bleed a little when I painted the blue around it.

I stamped the greeting with Ranger Archival Jet Black ink, and heat set it to speed the drying. I die cut & embossed that with a Spellbinder's oval Nestabilities die. While the cardstock was still in the die, I blended Worn Lipstick Distress ink over the center part. This technique gives the look of 2 layers, while only using one in reality.

For the background pink panel, I used a piece of pink cardstock, going over it with Worn Lipstick Distress ink with the Hero Arts "Tweed" stencil, for a tone-on-tone effect. I layered the yellow gingham paper over the bottom of that, matted that with a taupe-colored piece of cardstock, and adhered that to a piece of yellow cardstock. I glued the focal point circle onto the topmost layer, and positioned the greeting over it, adhering it with foam tape. I felt the bottom looked a little empty, so I punched a strip with this punch from a leftover piece of the pink cardstock, and glued it over the gingham section. I feel that gives the perfect finishing touch. Another card for a hero serving overseas to send home to his significant other.

I am entering this in the following challenges:

A Blog Named Hero's "Stencil It!"
Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday "Mother's Day or Special Girl"