NOT 4 ¼ x 5 ½...

there are NO rules when you...

make art!

who says that cards need to always be 4 ¼ x 5 ½?

if you're a blog friend, you KNOW that I HATE to waste anything...

I had a scrap of manila card stock that was about 3 ½ x 6 ¾ inches...

it was a leftover from a larger manila cardstock sheet...

I had already done the archival reinker/alcohol technique (dandelion & tree branch reinkers with a drop of gold metallic mixative)...

I used most of it, but this leftover piece was looking at me...

this was super quick, since the background was already started...

I wanted to play with this NEW SiSi...

it's the chrysanthemum...

the stamp & the coordinating stencil are both in the package...

and I hadn't used my fav LACE border in more than 24 hours!

I KNOW...shocking!

here's the steps...

use jet black archival to stamp the chrysanthemum toward the left side of the card...

place the coordinating stencil over the stamped image & add orange blossom archival with the blending tool, to color the flower...

the add leaf green to the stem & leaves...again, with the blending tool...

LOVE the new mini round one for stenciling!

having the perfectly sized coordinating stencil makes this 

super F A S T...

because it masks off the background...

use tree branch archival to add the basically bricks stencil over most of the card...

I kept it pretty light...

don't worry about the very top or bottom...

stencil the new mini butterfly...using dandelion...

with the butterfly stencil still in place, add polka dots using jet black...

I use the polka dots border stamp from LCS034 (seriously art) LOTS...it's unmounted & PERFECT to stamp thru stencils...

the mini butterfly is on the NEW pansy SiSi...

next, stamp the lace border on the top, using fern green archival...

then, turn the stamp upside down & use it again on the bottom of the card...

it's stamped again with fern green...

stamp the sentiment (on the set with the lace) with jet black right over that bottom lace...

stencil the little bird with orange blossom archival, so he's sitting on the bottom lace border...

with the stencil in place, use watering can archival on a text stamp to add text to the bird...

use the iced spruce distress marker with the detailer water brush to add a shadow under the flower petals and to shade the stem & leaves...

I like to scribble the marker onto the craft sheet & add the ink with the water brush...it's much more subtle shading that way...

since I stamped in archival ink, the water will not make the image smear or bleed...and this is why distress inks & archival inks are PERFECT partners!

ink an unmounted text stamp lightly with watering can & add LIGHT random stamping over the bricks...

add some black glaze pen dots & some pen stitching...

who says a card MUST open?

remember...art has NO RULES!

I mounted this on a green card stock scrap & I'll write my note on the back...

this is a fun size because it fits in a business size envelope...

the recipient will be surprised that it's a CARD...not a letter!

here's the simple, completely FLAT card...

and it's made from scraps!

this is a fun design  & it's easy to change the stamped sentiment to fit any occasion...

best of all...it's an unusual size BUT...no special mailer is needed..just drop it in a business size envelope!

next stop on the art adventure takes me to Connecticut on August 16 & 17th...

I'll be at The Papercraft Clubhouse in Westbrook, Connecticut...

so that means getting kits made...

and ordering more supplies...

like this many (216) of my archival reinkers...

I had enough to share...

so I did a FLASH GIVEAWAY on my FACEBOOK PAGE...

be watching...it was a blast, so I'll do it again!

Tonya won a set of all 12 reinkers!

I invite you to "LIKE" the page  so updates are added to your newsfeed...

happy AUGUST my friends!

it's a new month for us to...

make art!

wendy