A Tribute to Coneflowers

  Today's card is a nod to late summer when the purple and pink coneflowers bloom in my garden. For some reason the butterflies love them and I love them (the coneflowers) too. They are so easy to grow - my kind of flower. lol. But my perennial garden really suffered this summer. Last year's summer was nothing but rain, rain, rain. I felt like we lived in the rain forest. This year's summer was very hot and very humid but no rain. I think we set a record here in Massachusetts for the number of days that hit 90 degrees or above! Add to that, the lack of rain, and it was a weird summer. Not that I am complaining. I love the heat.

  So to conserve water, I just didn't water. And thus my perennials reflected my neglect environmental consciousness. My coneflowers did ok though and for that I am thankful. To show them my appreciation for surviving blooming, I made a card in their honor. (Not really but it sounds good).

   The Challenge I chose is found on Susan Raihala's (aka LateBlossom) blog, Simplicity. The challenge is to create a One Layer Card using 3 stamped images and a sentiment. No problem. I used the stamp set, Every Moment, and stamped the individual flower 2 times at different angles and levels. The butterfly is my 3rd stamped image. And the sentiment is from Thank You Kindly.    

  Once stamped I needed to color them in so I used a Blender pen and Watercolor Crayons which is a little unconventional but hey it worked! Pastels and a blender pen or watercolor pencils would work too. I tried markers but the ink just won't "move" enough for me on Whisper White cardstock. I am too used to Watercolor paper I guess. LOVE that paper!! 

   I like these One Layer Wednesday challenges because sometimes I get so caught up in layers and Embellishments that I lose the joy of pure stamping. If you haven't stamped a one layer card in a while I encourage you to try it!

Stamps: Every Moment

             Thank You Kindly

Paper: Whisper White

Ink: Black Stazon

Accessories: Watercolor Crayons, Blender pen

Have a wonderful weekend!