Simply Create Too! Challenge #101 (Entry no. 2)

I'm going to take Bella for a walk shortly but thought I would post this card on my blog before I run out the door!! 

The current challenge at Simply Create Too! is 'Something New'. I was very lucky this week to get my hands on my first Mama Elephant stamp set from my friend Michelle. I couldn't wait to play with the little puppies and so I got colouring straight away:

This Mama Elephant stamp set ('Playful Pups') has five puppy images that are just the cutest and I had a lot of fun colouring them with my pencils. I fussy cut them out and put them to the side while I made the background. 

I'm a HUGE fan of Melania Deasy and she creates the most magical blended ink backgrounds I've ever seen. She certainly inspired me to try creating a background that's a lot different to my normal 'all-white' design. I started out by using Distress Ink 'Cracked Pistachio' with my mini-blending tool towards the bottom of the card front and then moved up into 'Peacock Feathers', eventually blending them together. I then used my paint brush with water and flicked water droplets over the ink and gently removed the water with a tissue.

After die-cutting the frame (by Pretty Pink Posh) twice from white CS, I glued them together and then adhered to the card front. Once the puppies were set in position, I stamped the sentiment (from the same stamp set) and added sequins, also from Pretty Pink Posh.

I'm over the moon with how this turned out, just need a lot more practice with my ink blending and pencil colouring!!

I'm also going to link this to the Simon Says Stamp - Wednesday Challenge (my third entry) where their theme is 'Anything Goes'.

 

Off into the gloomy, slightly raining day I go! Took Bella to the river last night and I think she found every single rat that lived along the bank. Will take her where the rabbit holes are today, so that will be a change of smell for her!!

Take care
Shona