Altenew May Challenge

May Park is hosting Altenew's May Challenge. May's inspiration comes from a photo by her brother of Waterlilies. May described that she loves images of her South Korean home and the waterlily was one such inspiration. The colors and image reminded me of a trip to Luoyang China when we visited the Longmen Grotto and saw scrolls from the Peony King. Luoyang is famous for its Peony Festival each spring.

Scroll from the Peony King of Luoyang China.

For my card, I used Altenew's Peony Bouquet Layering Stamp Set. I wanted to incorporate the colors within the challenge and stamped the flowers pink and included green foliage. To include an Asian influence, I added a Chinese Script Hero Arts Stamp, Love. 

This card followed the Peony scroll inspiration by being very simple. First, I stamped the flower using the Altenew Peony Layering Stamp set in Hero Arts shadow inks: soft pink, bubblegum pink and ultra pink. My MISTI stamping positioner helped me to line up the layering stamps. ​For the last flower layer and the Hero Arts Love stamp, I used WOW gold embossing power.

To create depth in the image, I masked the flower and leaves. The leaves were stamped with Momento Pear Tart and Bamboo Leaves and Hero Arts Field Greens. The smaller leaves were stamped with distress ink: peeled paint, crushed olive and bundled sage.

Using Inkadinkadoo Masking paper, I cut out the flower and placed in onto my stamped image. I just used 3M masking tape to cover the leaves.

To compete the card, I cut the panel to 4x5.25 and adhered the panel to a top folding pink cardstock from Simon Says Stamp. I wanted to keep the card clean and simple and allow the message of Love to shine through. To provide a bit of shine, I added some sequins from Simon Says Stamp December 2016 Card Kit. I try to group my sequins in groups of three to make a wonky triangle and I typically add them in odd numbers over the card. I adhered them using Ranger Multi Medium Matte glue. I left the inside blank and would be interested in hearing what you think should be on the inside.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post. I'd love it if you would subscribe to my blog or leave a comment below. Hope this card and my story inspired you to spread a bit of the craft in your world. Have a great day!