TGIF

Good Friday everyone! It's another really sweltering day here in VA

but it's been a good day off for me!  I set the alarm early (for me anyway) and got my bod out of bed at 7:00 AM (remember, I'm a second shifter) and went to a huge consignment/church sale for children's clothing, toys, etc.  I was glad I went early because the selection is so much better in the early hours!  Soon after I got home, the two grands - Quinn is almost 2 and Cash is 5 weeks old - came over for a swim (check out that huge pool - lol!), some lunch and some stamping!  Yes, Quinn loves to get inky and especially loves any animal stamps.  Guess I'd better bring this chatter to a close and get on with telling you about this card I made for the new CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge!

I struggled with the sketch a bit until it dawned on me to think of the vertical rows as an alternative to the interpretation.  I started by clear embossing the Barnwood Background stamp - new from Concord and 9th - on Ranger watercolor CS.  I then did a watercolor wash over it using Evergreen Bough and Cracked Pistachio distress inks.  I love the way these two colors blend together!  I had trouble capturing the embossed shine in my photo but it's there IRL.  The sentiment (a freebie with an MFT order) was die cut 4 times - 3 with the Cool Caribbean CS and once with metallic copper CS.  I added some fine copper thread (from the new SU catalog) by looping it over a tiny glue dot. I wish this thread were just a wee bit thicker as it's almost too fine to even see well.  The stitched frame is part of Reverse Confetti's new All Framed Up die set in their August release (*Oops...I see it's already OOS!).  I cut three of the Layering Leaves dies by Concord and 9th from copper CS.  I can't wait to play more with this die set...so many possible uses are running through my brain!

Thanks for hanging with me in this lengthier than usual post...