You Make Life Beautiful

My Favorite Things had a Farewell Bonfire for the last session of their Camp Create 2016. The challenge is to make a one-layer card. This card is my second attempt. I tried to stamp a black watch plaid pattern on the first. Let's just say, it was not a pretty sight in the end. :( I think this version turned out quite well though!

I began by cutting a panel of white cardstock to A2 size. I die cut a mask from some masking paper with one of the "Labels Four" dies from Spellbinders, and adhered it in the middle of my panel. Then I used My Favorite Things' "Plaid Background Builder" stamp set to stamp my background, in Memento Bahama Blue, Pear Tart, & Dandelion dye inks. With the mask still in place, I used a fingertip sponge dauber to apply a bit of Mermaid Lagoon Distress ink around the outside of the mask. I just felt the center area needed that additional definition. Finally, I removed my mask.

After using my powder bag to apply powder to the entire card panel, I tested it by sprinkling embossing powder on it, just to see if it would come off un-inked areas. (I got that trick from Kristina Werner.) It didn't. Because it is so humid here now, I figured that might have something to do with it, so I dried the panel with my heat tool some. This time, the embossing powder didn't stick. I inked up my greeting, from MFT's "Simply Fabulous Sayings," in Versamark, then stamped it in the center. I heat embossed that with Ranger Liquid Platinum embossing powder.

I don't know if I over-heated the powder, or what, because some if it kind of "sank" into the cardstock. Thankfully, I had used my MISTI to stamp my greeting, and had not yet removed the stamps. So I just placed my panel back into the MISTI, stamped again in Versamark, applied another coat of embossing powder, and melted it. Much better! All I had left to finish my card was to mount it to a white A2 card base. This card will go to Send a Smile 4 Kids.

I'm also entering this card in the following challenges:

Through the Craft Room Door "Anything Goes"
Craft Your Passion #325 "Anything Goes"
Pile It On #114 "Make Your Own Background"