Chinese New Year (of the Snake) 2013

Friday Mashup  posted this challenge this week and I absolutely LOVED it!

  

It is in celebration of The Chinese New Year - 

The Year of the Snake which starts on February 10th. 

 I learned the technique of making paper lanterns from doing this challenge. 

 I do not own a crimper. 

 Remember I live WAY out in the country,  about

 100 plus mile round trip

 from the nearest craft store.

 And I just started card making in

 October of 2012 so my inventory of such items is pretty non existent.

 That being said, I pondered the problem of the lantern for a few seconds and had one of those

 eureka moments when I looked down at my handy dandy

  Scor-Pal.  

I simply scored the CIRCLE  of 

white craft paper,

 turned it over and

 inked it a with a Color Box Gold Brush Pad.

  Not too shabby.

  New technique!!! 

Yeah!  I can do this on a limited budget, I really can!!!

I dry embossed the "background" paper with 

Nathanie's Penwork Cuttlebug folder from Cricut

and lightly stamped and distressed it with the same Gold Color Box ink.

The top and bottom of the lantern were scrap strips in my box.

-The sentiment I found on line searching for
Chinese Horoscope signs,
knowing it was the Year of the Snake
(thanks to the great write up about the tradition on Friday Mashup's site).
I printed out one of the symbols on red cardstock, used an embossing pen, and some gold embossing powder to finish it.
I tried to glitter it black and it just didn't work for me -
the glitter kept falling off.

So I gave up, scraped the remainder and started over again.

I made the tassel out of some
 blended thread that my Mom had given me,
 a gold "brad,"
 a red ribbon and attached everything together with double sided tape.

I mounted the sentiment to give it a little added dimension.

The 2013 stickers I found at Dollar Tree.
They wouldn't stick to the
Dry Embossing so
 I had to give them a little help by adding some Sticky Glue.

This is one of those fun cards to make
it just pope out at you.
Plus I learned all about the Chinese New year
and
enjoyed a history lesson in the process.

It's all Good!!!

Challenges I am entering in this card are:

Simon Says Stamp - Paper Piercing :)
Tsunami Rose Anything Goes
Bunny Zoe's - Anything Goes

Paper Pretties - Try a New Technique
psst....
I'm waiting for my
5 new digis for
Winning one of their challenges!

I'm a happy stamper!!!)
But they don't have a Badge for me, sniff, sniff....
Oh well, I'm gonna love the digis!!!

Word Art Wednesday - Challenge #64 - Anything Goes

and we're adding on:
(Thanks for sending me an invitation to join in.
My first visit and first chalenge.  Great Site !!!)

Clear It Out - Theme: Circles and Stash: Anything Goes
They also have a DT Cal for all ya'll interested.
I know I'm going to apply.

Love To Create - Three Favorite Colors
and I've come to the conclusion after doing this challenge that I'm not ure i
really have a favorite)
I just LOVE all colors
They also have a DT Cal

Inky Impressions - Celebrate

Top Tip Tuesday -Lavishly Luscious Layers

Papertake Tie Up Your Loose Ends (a bow)

Aud Sentiments Bingo
(I went straight across the middle
"Happy" - Embossing and used the tassel as my charm

Penny's Paper Crafty #111 Embossing (wet or dry)

Friends of Speedy TV
Creative Uses for Ribbon (I believe making tassels applys perfectly :)

Fussy and Fancy #81 - Circles
(who would have ever thought your could make such beautiful lanterns out of white cardstock circles?)

Top Tip Tuesday - Layers
http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-94-lavishly-luscious-layers_29.html

Fab'n'Funky
Challenge 155 - Favorite Colour Combo


Come and Get It Challenges - Tic Tac Toe (I'm straight up the middle - Embossing, free & Red)

Challenges 4 Everybody - #12 - Anything Goes

Have a Blessed Sunday! 

Come Back Soon

Thank You With A Little Glam

Wow - talk about bling!!! 

 Believe it or not all of this striping is made from white satin ribbon that I 

inked and attached to cardstock.

The inspiration for this card came from

 The Shabby Tea Room's Just Pretty Challenge.

  You had to use the colors in the photo AND include Stripes and A Flower.

  Since I didn't have any stripped paper to match the colors, I simply

 MADE my own.  

The idea for the Thank You was from the

  Pixie Studio's challenge

 (that I missed by not posting this card yesterday when I was supposed to - duh!)

I used 1/8" scor tape (scor-pal.com) in between the ribbon and added the glitter. 

 So easy and it stays on so much better than glue.

All this ribbon (striping) certainly works for the

FOST (Friends of Speedy TV Challenge)  #56 where they wanted 

Creative Uses for Ribbon

 (wonder how often it is used to make striped paper?).  

The ribbon also worked for  Paper Pretties ribbon challenge.  

Too bad I missed that one too - (wow) -

 BUT,

 it works for their new challenge to

 Try A New Technique. 

 AND, 

while visiting their site I found out I won Challenge 241 and get some

 goodies from their store. 

 YES!!! 

 I'm a happy little crafter!!!

Just as soon as I finish this post I bet ya'll know where I'm headed.

A little "dry" embossing here with a Cuttlebug folder.

 The sentiment was embossed with white powder and then embossed again  with glitter.

  This was a great tip since I only own 3 colors of embossing powder and was limited to what I could do.  This little tidbit of info allowed me to use my existing inventory of "stuff" to a much greater extent.   I just found this technique on Gink K's site and had to try it. You can see the video here 

I die cut the flowers out of white cardstock, inked them with the same Memento Angel Pink that I used on the ribbon and the card  and added some Flamingo Liquid Pearls(rangerink.com)

Assembled the flower and added more liquid pearls to the center of it and put it all together.

Challenges that I am entering with this card (and sometimes, specifically WHY) are:

Penny's Paper Crafty Wet or Dry Embossing Challenge #111

Aud Sentiments Bingo Challenge (I went straight across the top - Die Cut, "Thank" and "You")

Bunny Zoe's Anything Goes

Digi Darla's DDC #46 - Feeling Sentimental

Papertake Weekly - Tie Up You Your Loose Ends (A Bow)

Top Tip Tuesday - Challenge 24 - Lavishly Luscious Layers

Catch The Bug - January Bingo 

(I went across the top - Designer Paper, Sentiment and Pearls (liquid pearls for me)

Creative Craft Challenges2 - Challenge 2 - Bling It Up

A Card A Day 

Moving Along With The Times - Bling It On

Tsunami Rose - Anything Goes

 (By the Way - I just won one of their challenges too - 

I'm going to get one of their beautiful journals that I have been 

REALLY - REALLY wanting. 

 Thanks so much!

  I LOVE your stuff!)

and last but never least - 

Simple Salutations  on MFPSpeedy TV - Challenge 29 (Use A Flower) -

 this is a site for clean and simple cards, but even with all the bling on this one -

 it still fits that category perfectly,

 I think.

Wishing you many blessings today! 

 Prayers going out to a beautiful friend 

who I went to school with pretty much from

 kindergarten until we graduated together,

 Natalie,

 who is having surgery today!  

I (heart) you - CAS Card

I sometimes forget to make a Clean and Simple Card 

and am glad for challenges like the one at

Card Makin' Mamas this week (A Simple Little Challenge) (http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-simple-little-challenge.html

It's really hard to stop right here when

 I know I can add

 swirls, bells, whistles, ribbons, glitter and glam.

This card, however, can be made up literally in minutes. 

 Great for those times you've GOT to have something to 

get in the mail right NOW!

The card base and 2 alternating layers were 1/8" increments

(according to my Scor-Pal - http://www.scor-pal.com/). 

 The sentiment and heart were stamped

 (the stamps were my daughter's from years ago)

 and embossed with Ranger Red Embossing Tinsel (rangerink.com).

  This is a new product I got from Blitsy recently and I really like it.  

I bought it with the intention of using alot of it on my Valentine's cards.

Some Dollar Tree double sided satin ribbon and 

3 whole "gems" and this 

turns out to be a pretty good card.

I die cut the sentiment layers with the Spellbinders

 Grand Calibur - Nestabilities Card Creator A2 Matting Basics B.

 This set makes card making so easy! 

 I can't wait to find the Basics A on sale somewhere - or better yet win it 

(and you know I'm practicing the power of positive thinking because

I've already labelled all of these for my "B" set).

I'm entering the following challenges with this project:

Tammy's Scrapin Corner -  Red and/or Hearts

 http://www.tammyscrapincorner.com/2013/01/challenge-46-tammy-scrapin-corner.html

Craft Challenge - Valentine's Day or Love @ Trimmies Craft Challenge

DDC #46 - Feeling Sentimental @ Digi Darlas

(I'm also entering their DT)

Anything Goes @ Bunny Zoe's Crafts (entering this DT also)

Aud Sentiments - Bingo Challenge (I used flowers/ribbon and "love") @ http://audsentimentschallengeblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/inspirational-bingo.html

Penny's Challenges - Challenge 111 - Embossing - Wet or Dry

Veni, Vidi, Visa (I came, I saw, I charged it)

When I started combining a few of the challenges I wanted to enter, 

I knew I needed to find some sort of whimisical quote about shopping. 

 I found this one on the internet by Swoosie Kurtz and thought it was

 PERFECT!  

I typed in into a Word program and printed it out on 

Mustard Cardstock then used my Grand Calibur and a

 die from the

 A2 Matting Basics B  from

 Spellbinders

 (SpellbindersPaperArts.com) 

set I have to cut it out.

The card colors were used for The Play Date Cafe 

(A Study in Beauty - PDCC165) @

 http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-study-in-beauty-pdcc165.html. 

 They suggested Plum, Mustard & Rose for their colors.

  I'm really liking how

 "tropical"

 it makes it look. 

 I'm going to make a mental note to remember this combination.

Usually my favorites are white, silver and blues but I'm liking this so much I'm going to enter it in Love to Create Challenge #49 - Share Your 3 Favorite Colors @ http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/01/challenge-49-share-your-3-favorite.html

The layout was from The Deconstructed Sketch #85 @

 http://deconstructingjen.com/deconstructed-sketch-no-85/

Here's a copy of their Sketch it you want to join in on the fun.

Alicia's Challenge #2 - Use Your Favorite Crafty Item (http://aliciaschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-2.html)

inspired me to purchase one of her Digi's from her store @ 

Alicia's Little Shop

 http://aliciaslittleshop.blogspot.com/

I really wanted to enter her challenge to have a chance at the

 10 Copic Markers she is giving away.

  I don't have the first one - 

so I'm keeping my fingers and toes crossed 

that I get to try them soon!

 (How's that for positive thinking?)

This is only my second time using a digi and

 I use 20 year old colored pencils, 

 but hey,

 it works

I'm thinking I can use plenty of practice, though.

I'm entering the Design Team Call and the

Digi challenge from Sweet N Sassy Stamps 

Anything Digital #SNSDC88 @

 http://sweetnsassydigis.blogspot.com/2013/01/snsdc88-january-digi-release.html

(we can only hope)!

You know how you have

 'that' designer paper that you won't use because you are

 "saving" it for that special project -

 well today I decided I needed to

 start using some of the paper I've been collecting.

  It also helped me to be able to enter

 Bugaboo Stamps Catch The Bug January Bingo Challenge (http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/januarybingo-challenge.html). 

 I went straight across the top of the board with 

Designer Paper, Sentiment and Pearls.

I have never owned Washi Tape

  (and quite honestly had to look it up to see what it was -

 yes I'm new at this) - 

but when I saw that I was allowed to

 "make" my own for this challenge at

 Simon Says Stamp -

 (http://simonsaysstampschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/01/simon-saysuse-washi-tape.html) -

 immediately I used the 

pink and white polka-dots in lieu of my tape.

  I think it looks like many of the cards which actually use it

 (but it is super easy to use though, and will need to check it out) 

Because of the pearls and bling,

 Cute Card Thursday Challenge #252 

- Diamonds are Forever (diamonds or bling) @

 http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-252-diamonds-are-forever.html

and 

Creative Craft Challenges2 -

 Blng it up @

 http://creativecraftchallenges2.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-2-bling-it-up.html

I am also entering:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Anything Goes @ bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/monthly-challenge-celebration.html

Stamp N Doodle

s Anything Goes @ http://stamp-n-doodle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/stamp-n-doodle-challenge-16th-january.html

Incy Wincy Design - Make Us Laugh @

 http://incywincydesigns.blogspot.com/2013/01/make-us-laugh.html

(thought the sentiment was great for this one)

 PLUS

 they have a DT Call that I'm hoping to quality for.

Paper Pretties Challenge

 (http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/paper-pretties-wednesday-challenge_16.html)

is Ribbon

I didn't have any to match this card so I colored my own.

The shoes and the purse on the digi allow me to submit this card to 

MFP Speedy TV Simple Saluations Challenge #28 - @

 http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/simple-salutations-challenge-28-01-16-13)

Inky Impressions Challenge #93 - Tag It @ 

http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-93-tag-it.html

I was so excited to get a delivery from

  Blitsy.com  today -

 haven't tried out EVERYTHING yet,

 but it's still early.

 If you haven't tried them yet, you should really check them out.  

They have GREAT prices!

Whew - I'm done!  (smiling)

Have a great night.

Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas Owl in White

I absolutely love this little 

Frosty Owl from Meljen's Designs

 http://meljensdesigns.com/ -

 he is one of the freebies

 offered on their site. 

Go check it out.

 Thanks for the freebie!

 He's so adorable!

 I'm new at the coloring thing 

- so I had to practice a little.  

It won't be my last - 

I really like the digis.   

The layout for this card was inspired by 

Christmas Card Challenge  Week 8 

@ http://christmascardchallenges.blogspot.com/2013/01/2013-christmas-card-challenge-week-8.html

The frosty owl  digi from Meljen's Designs -

 Challenge #143 - White Out (All white except the image) @ http://meljensdesignsdt.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-143-white-out.html

I added liquid pearls  in bisque from

 Ranger (www.rangerink.com) and some

 Polymark Dimentional Fabric Paint in white pearl iridescent

 (www.duncancrafts.com)

Top Tip Tuesday - Challenge 93 - Fur or Feathers @ http://toptiptuesday.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-93-fur-or-feathers-way.html

Inky Impressions Challenge #93 - Tag It @ http://inkyimpressionschallenges.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-93-tag-it.html

MFP Speedy TV Christmas Card Challenge @  CCC2013 

http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/photo/photo/listTagged?tag=CCC2013

Digi Designs Saturday Fortnightly Challenges - Winter Challenge @ http://disdigidesignschallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/01/winter-challenge.html

Stamping With The Dragon- In The Winter Garden Challenge @ http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/2013/01/stamping-dragon-challenge-in-winter.html

Love To Create Challenge #49 - Share Your Three (3) Favorite (colors) - @ http://lovetocreatechallenge.blogspot.ca/2013/01/challenge-49-share-your-3-favorite.html

Can you tell that mine are White, Blue and Silver!!! (but let's not forget the glitter and sparkles - you know you can never have enough)

Sweet and Sassy - SnSDC88 0 Anything Goes @ http://sweetnsassydigis.blogspot.com/2013/01/snsdc88-january-digi-release.html

Bunny Zoe's - Anything Goes @ http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/monthly-challenge-anything-goes.html

Stampin N Doodle - Anything Goes @ http://stamp-n-doodle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/stamp-n-doodle-challenge-16th-january.html

Card Makin' Mamas - Simple Little Challenge (Clean and Simple) @ http://cardmakinmamas.blogspot.com/2013/01/a-simple-little-challenge.html

Clear It Out Challenge @ The Cutest Blog - Theme (Circles) Stash (Anything) @ http://clearitoutchallenge.blogspot.com/2013/01/its-challenge-time.html

2 Sisters Color Challenge #127 (Brown - White - Blue) @ http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-127-color-challenge.html

Paper Pretties - Ribbon - PWC241 @ http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/paper-pretties-wednesday-challenge_16.html

Cute Card Thursday Challenge 252 - Diamonds Are Forever (diamonds or bling) - @ http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-252-diamonds-are-forever.html

Thanks for checking out today's card.

Wishing you a blessed Monday!

See you soon!

Serenity

Don't you just love the colors in this card?

  It's so soothing.....

The color choices came from the 

Tsunami Rose Designs Color Inspiration Challenge #1 @ http://tsunamirosedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-wednesday-3-color-inspiration.html

The gorgeous graphic/digi came from The Graphic Fairy.  

She has the most BEAUTIFUL graphics and digis available for free on her website!!!  

You should really check this one out!

http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com. 

 I am also entering Sweet 'n Sassy's SNSDC88 challenge - 

Anything Goes/Digital with this card @

http://sweetnsassydigis.blogspot.com/2013/01/snsdc88-january-digi-release.html

The Serenity sentiment was from some vellum sayings

 I bought years ago  

 I just scanned it on my printer -

 adjusted the size to fit my card, printed on mint green cardstock, 

cut with my Grand Calibur with a Spellbinders A2 Matting Basics B die, 

added the plum colored backing to it 

(also cut with the same dies - next larger size). 

The sentiment and ribbon allowed me to enter this card in 

The Perfect Sentiment's PSC62 - Encourage Me with Ribbon challenge @ http://perfectsentimentschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/01/psc62-encourage-me-wribbon.html

 and also

 Paper Pretties Ribbon challenge  (PWC - 241) @

 http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/paper-pretties-wednesday-challenge_16.html

Stamp n doodle - Anything Goes @

 http://stamp-n-doodle.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/stamp-n-doodle-challenge-16th-january.html

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Anything goes -

 http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/monthly-challenge-celebration.html

The tulle was in my stash from a wedding I did

 YEARS ago. 

 I simply took my green stamp pad and inked it up. 

 Voila! 

 Perfect for the mint green I needed in this card 

AND

 the recycled material makes it possible to enter this card in

 FOSTV Challenge 44 - @

 http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/friends-of-speedytv-challenge-55-01-14-13

Some embossing, 

I added liquid pearls to the flowers

 (and as some extra "bling" on the card) to give them some shine

Sometimes you have to invent ways to do this craft

 (especially when you are a newbie, like me).

  This is my paper weight from my desk -

 works great to keep the tulle down until the glue dried.

 Notice the extra bling aroud the ribbon

 (this was added, simply due to a 

"minor" glue accident, but turned out really pretty. 

 Those of you who know my work, know that I can

 NEVER 

have enough bling and glitter!!!

Thanks for stopping by and checking out my newest passion.

Any suggestions and feedback are ALWAYS welcomed!

So please feel free to leave a comment.

Oh, yeah - and how cool is this!!! 

 My newest badge 

from

 2 Sisters Challenge Blog @

 http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/winners-top-3-challenges-125-126.html

Thank you to sponsors who make this even more fun than it already is!

Wishing you a beautiful Sunday!

Make A Wish

Ya gotta love an all purple card - it's just so feminine and fancy.

The layout idea came from a

 Tsunami Rose Designs Sketch Inspiration Challenge #1 @ http://tsunamirosedesigns.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-wednesday-3-color-inspiration.html

combined with the

 MFP Sketch With A Twist Challenge 29 - with

 the twist being a purple card

 (think this is a winner!!!) @

 http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/sketch-with-a-twist-challenge-29-01-15-13

Initially I was going to use the white lace, but tried

 coloring it with my stamper and then

 colored it all.  

Note to self - remember to color BOTH sides when using a bow..

 I'm learning the hard way!

 The rounded corners also from 365 Cards - Day 7 - Rounding the Corner @ http://365cards.blogspot.com/2013/01/day-7-rounding-corner.html

 (but had to "hide" a couple of corners because

 the challenge has a

minimum of ONE but a maximum of THREE corners).

Most of the patterns used here are from Colorbok's Fancy Fleur pack.

 Electic Ellapu's Challenge recipe:

 1 die cut, 2 pattern paper and 3 embellishments and a ribbon   @ http://eclecticellapu.blogspot.com/2013/01/pink-teams-challenge.html

I keep baggies with various size cuts of flowers that I use frequently. 

 I've begun to learn that if I cut them out of a neutral paper,

 I can dye and color them to

 match pretty much anything.

Of course, the project isn't done until I add some

 Liquid Pearls from

 rangerink.com. 

 I LOVE THIS PRODUCT!!!  

Wasn't satisfied with the lace alone - had to add a strip of satin ribbon, just for good measure.

See the butterfly -

 I hope everyone at Red Carpet Studio (RCS - 19) can see it too!!!

http://redcarpetstudiochallenge.blogspot.com/2013/01/rcs-19-butterfly-effect.html

Some 1/8" scor tape from

 scorpal.com

 around the edge of the sentiment layer gave me some

 additional bling -

 and

  ya'll know how much I love

 SPARKLE!!!

Perfect Sentiments - Encourage Me (add ribbon)  PSC 62 @ http://perfectsentimentschallenge.blogspot.com/2013/01/psc62-encourage-me-wribbon.html

Stampin Dragon - Anything Goes @

 http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/2013/01/stamping-dragon-challenge-anything-goes.html

Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Anything Goes @

 http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/monthly-challenge-anything-goes.html

2 Sisters - Challenge #125 - Celebrations @

 http://2sisterschallengeblog.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/challenge-126-celebrations.html

613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes - Challenge 2 @

 http://avenue613.blogspot.com/2013/01/welcome-back-for-challenge-2.html

Scrap It Girl - January Challenge - Bling, Glitter, Shine and Sparkles @ http://www.scrapitgirl.net/index.php/2013/01/01/january-challenge-december-winner/

- Until next time - 

Wishing you a blessed day!

Better Get Better

Love the colors on this card! 

 I have a "friend" in the hospital

 (we only know each other from Facebook, 

even though we all live in 

a very small community in south Florida).  

This card is for you Mr. Graves!

The color choices came directly from The Play Date Cafe- Deep & Soulful PDCC164 @ http://theplaydatecafe.blogspot.com/2013/01/deep-soulful-pdcc164.html.

The layout design was from

 365 Cards - Day 6 - Super Sketchy Sunday @

 http://365cards.blogspot.com/2013/01/day-6-super-sketchy-sunday.html

I changed my mind on the sentiment  at the last minute!

The blue cardstock, and sentiment block and sentiment work well for

 Cute Card Thursday's Challenge 251 - Beat the Blues! @

 http://cutecardthursday.blogspot.com/2013/01/challenge-251-beat-blues.html

The brads were added for Paper Pretties PWC240 @ http://paperprettiesblog.blogspot.com/2013/01/paper-pretties-wednesday-challenge_9.html

Stampin Dragon "Anything Goes" @

 http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/2013/01/stamping-dragon-challenge-anything-goes.html

Bunny Zoe's "Anything Goes" @

 http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/monthly-challenge-anything-goes.html

Moving Along With the Times - Floral Delights @ http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2013/01/floral-delights-with-team-a.html

Bloom

I stamped the image on 

water color paper quite awhile ago

 and then my daughter gave me this Studio G "BLOOM" stamp for Christmas -

 a perfect match.

I wanted to use

 baker's twine for this,

 but only had a grey color - so

 I colored it green with an ink pad and a dauber. 

 You know what they say about necessity being the mother of invention...

The flowers were a Hero Arts stamp and some basic card stock from my stash.

I kept this card very clean and simple

Challenges:

365 Cards Day 5 - Back to Nature/Clean and Simple @

 http://365cards.blogspot.com/2013/01/day-5-back-to-nature.html

Moving Along With The Times - Floral Delights @ http://movingalongwiththetimes.blogspot.com/2013/01/floral-delights-with-team-a.html

Sketch with a Twist Challenge #28 - w/baker's twine - @

 http://mfpspeedytv.ning.com/page/sketch-with-a-twist-challenge-28-01-8-13

Stampin Dragon - Anyting Goes @ http://stampingwithdragon.blogspot.com/2013/01/stamping-dragon-challenge-anything-goes.html

Bunny Zoe's - Anything Goes @ http://bunnyzoescrafts.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/monthly-challenge-anything-goes.html