Sweet Stampin' ~ Special Woman

Hey crafty friends, it will soon be Mothering Sunday in the UK and so we're having a 'Special Woman' themed challenge at Sweet Stampin' this time. There are so many special women in my life, I could have gone several ways for this challenge. But this past year, I have been moved by a very special woman in my life. This is a slightly difficult post to share, because this card was sent to one of my darling pals that I have a great deal of love and respect for, who lost her wonderful hubby just before Christmas. We knew for almost a year that he was terminal and it was just a matter of time before the Angels took him, but it didn't make it any easier to come to terms with and my friend was such a tower of strength through it all, I worry now, she will be at sea with no rudder. She was so focused on her lovely hubby and his care and so stoic through it all, it is hard to imagine her now without him and harder still when she lives in Scotland and I'm in New Zealand. A card during times like this, especially from so far away, doesn't feel 'enough', and yet, it was lovely to pour some of my love for them into this card and to get to share it with them both before he passed. 

I wanted a slightly rustic feel to this card, so opted for a kraft card base and used a kraft cardstock with gold foiled stripes from a very old DCWV Paper Stack to embellish the design a little. I stamped the base layer in the Morning Mist dark grey ink from the VersaFine Clair Ink range and stencilled the colour overtop with the matching stencils from the Nothing But The Best Stamp Set. 

I used Oxide inks to add the colours, as they are more opaque and layer beautifully for a finish that can work even over darker coloured cardstock. I opted for a muted silvery green for the leaves, I used Iced Spruce and Weathered Wood to achieve this old sage leaf look. I used Tattered Rose for the base of the petals and Saltwater Taffy for the accents. 

The little blue flowers, I used Tumbled Glass and Broken China. For the flower centres, I used Wild Honey and Scattered Straw. I love the milky oxidised look these Oxide Inks gave the flowers and leaves.

I added some Brutus Monroe Gilded Aqua Pigment splatter to complete the design and stippled some gold accents over the flower centres too. I added a lovely sentiment from another Pinkfresh Studio Stamp Set called Handpicked Flowers.

Thanks for popping in to visit and having a look at my creation. I hope you'll join our challenge and sharing this reminds me I need to send this darling pal another letter and card. I look forward to seeing what you're inspired to create for this challenge theme and I'll see you again soon with another crafty adventure. Hugs, Wends xoxo

(I share thumbnails to the elements I design with, in order to make your search for them easier, in case you like something I've used. I do use affiliate links where possible, and so appreciate if you use these when shopping. They cost you no extra whatsoever. I am proud to design for the companies I do and always feel happy to share where my inspiration and where my crafty stash comes from. I am occasionally gifted products to use, but I only design for companies whose products I absolutely love and buy for myself. My opinions are always my own.)

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