Crafty Individuals Bird stamp Card

I have enjoyed being able to work in my studio again now we have a little cloud to cool the sunny Irish sky. I dont feel like I had been back at work long since my visitors left when I was forced out by the heat. I tried to at least look in on all the blogs I follow but somehow if  I am not working creatively I dont feel part of that world. It seems so much more vivid and meaningful from inside. Just looking is not as engaging. I see and creative sparks start firing off but they cannot take flight or develop without experimenting. There is a lot to be said for a very messy desk and sticky stained fingers! This week I have been playing with a lot of paint and oxide but nothing I am happy with. My pile of discarded backgrounds is growing. I will have to get out the Big Shot, maybe then I can die cut them into something wonderful.

I went back to my distress ink and made a thank you card. Always feels good to finish something before I leave my desk.First I made a blue and green distress background. I love the way you can create rich jewel colours, like stain glass with a lot of light but intense too.  I used a crafty Individuals stamp "Bird," stamped onto my coloured background in black archival ink. I stamped a couple of times so I could chose the area that looked best and had the option of extra design elements.

After cutting out each element I mounted them on book pages, edged them with a distressing tool and a little black ink. Then I mounted the book page pieces onto two green cardstock panels and glued these directly onto a Kraft card base. The sentiment was stamped in black archival directly onto the card base. The sentiment is from a set by Avery Elle "Oh Happy Day."

Now I have to return to the world of domesticity and wash my inky fingers. Do your kids laugh at your brightly stained fingers? Mine often comment and make up strange activities I might have been up to to get green, purple or red fingers. 

Im linking up with Julia at WOYWW this week