Simon Says: New Beginnings!

Simon Says Stamp just released a wonderful new set of items in their New Beginnings line. Stamps, stencils, dies, oh my! I received this lovely Friends of Life set to play with. 

So, today I found time to create a Friends card with my new stamp set. I find myself reaching for the MISTI quite frequently to help me get the stamp in the perfect position and get a crisp image. 

I was aiming for a watercolor look for my flowers and after several experiments, here is what I found worked best - ink up the stamp with Peacock Feathers Distress ink, spritz with water, then stamp.

I had previously stamped the outline of the flowers with archival ink.

I have just a few Distress Oxides. I used Spiced Marmalade on watercolor paper, spritzed it with water, and let it do it's beautiful business! These inks are amazing!!

Next, I went back and stamped in the leaves with Simons Doll Pink ink and used the tiny dot stamp. I used Distress markers and colored in the flower centers too. (color is off a bit - another overcast day)

I cut down the petals of the small flowers so I could curl them up and make them 3D, and also added sequins in from 28 Lilac Lane's Tropical Twist kit. 

Here's the finished card, blocked with white and orange. I am liking this color combination! 

Be sure to head on over to Simon Says Stamp to check out all the New Beginnings!! Thanks for stopping by!