Coneflowers and River Rock

Another beautiful day.  The weatherman had predicted showers for today (this was a couple of days ago ... and of course, weather forecasts change hourly) ... so I had prepared to make a batch of relish today.  Now that's it's nice out, I'm not very motivated :)  I think I'll cut up the veggies tonight and then cook it tomorrow.  That just means more time available to play in my art studio - funny how that always seems to work out!! :)

Today's sketch challenge had me stumped for a while.  I saw it late last night and mucked around with ideas for about an hour before heading to bed ... a little defeated.  But this morning, I looked through my digital stamps and came up with a plan!  Hope you like.

"Coneflowers & River Rock"

Stamps:  Coneflowers (Wax Fruit Company); Precious Butterflies (SU!)

Paper:  Soft Suede, River Rock DP (SU!); Watercolor paper

Ink:  Soft Suede; Re-inkers:  Soft Suede, Regal Rose; Stampin' Write marker: Old Olive

Accessories & Tools:  Aqua Painter, sponges, Sizzix Embosslits "Beautiful Wings", sticky strips, adhesives and Tombow glue

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I printed off two copies of the digital stamp "Coneflowers" onto watercolor paper.  I used re-inkers (Soft Suede for the flower centers; Regal Rose for the petals) to watercolor the image.  I inked the stems with an Old Olive Stampin' Write marker.  I then cut out all the pieces.  I sponged Soft Suede ink over top of the petals to give them a more earthy color.

I mounted the River Rock DP onto thin frames of Soft Suede and sponged Soft Suede ink around the edges to give some definition.  I also sponged Soft Suede ink around the outside edges of the card base.  I stamped the sentiment (from Precious Butterflies set) in Soft Suede ink.

I ran a small piece of Soft Suede cardstock through my Big Shot with the Embosslits Beautiful Wings and then sponged the small butterfly with Soft Suede ink to define the embossing around the edges.

I mounted all the pieces as per the picture above, bending the wings of the butterfly upward and gluing only at the center to give it depth.