Rainy Day Blues

It is a rainy Sunday here in Michigan. Very little sunshine, but at least is it still warm out (it is summer after all!). Since I am getting a reprieve from having to do yard work, I thought I could make a few cards. My craft area is in the basement and can be a little dark and dingy (often putting a damper on my mood). I can’t stand to be in the basement when it is beautiful outside, and I do often take craft projects outside to work on. Anyway, while sorting and reviewing my small purchase from the new SU! Annual catalog, I really needed some inspiration for a card. I love Stampin’ Up! for the true coordination of items. I often try to purchase items in one of the suites, where the designer series paper stamps, dies and embellishments all coordinate together. Well, SU! had some good sales with designer series paper marked down in June and a brief stamp set mark down in July. So I purchased paper without all the coordinating stamps, dies, embellishments, and stamps without coordinating paper and dies. This card was fully inspired by two challenges. Tic Tac Toe challenge #220.com and Freshly Made Sketches #597. For the TTTc#220 challenge, I used the bottom row, Bird-Follage-Gems. I love the sweet little birds on the designer paper, I wouldn’t have noticed them if I wasn’t looking for a bird. The leaves cut from the Florist Dies were so quick to make, and I just love the little stitching the dies emboss on the cardstock. The little Boho Blue gems help me complete the row. Freshly Made Sketches always give amazing inspiration for me. Using the designer series paper in layers like this card would not have been a natural step for me without the FMS challenge. A sentiment from the Layering Leaves stamp set stamped on a label from Labels Aglow, bring the card together. None of these items would have “normally” come together for me as they are not necessarily “coordinating” items. A very nice card to send a hug to someone that needs a little cheering up or get-well wishes. This lovely Boho Blue, Night of Navy, Misty Moonlight combination has really brightened my mood despite my rainy day “blues”!