Stampin' Up! Swirly Bird for #JOS002 Challenge – The Letter “S'

Hello, last week I entered my very first online challenge - now it seems I have got the bug as I am entering the #JOS002 Challenge this week.  The new challenge is to use a stamp set with the letter 'S'.  

At the beginning of July I re visited a stamp set called Swirly Bird for my Coffee & Cards sessions and this was the first stamp set that came to mind for this challenge.

I decided to go for a bold colourful look - these are the colours I decided use, I thought they looked quite nautical!

Dapper Denim

Daffodil Delight

Soft Suede

Real Red

Whisper White

I created the background for my card with Dapper Denim ink and a sponge brayer.  This technique takes some time and you have to run the brayer over the card stock many, many times to create a smooth background.  I then used the 'splodges' stamp and the same colour ink using both first and second impressions.  I used the same technique on the envelope but went for a slightly paler background and only second generation stamping.

I used the swirly wave die and some of the glimmer paper.  

I stamped three boats on some scrap card and carefully cut them out.  I tucked two of them behind the waves ...

There is a saying in the crafting world about there being no mistakes only happy accidents.  I am a great believer in this but sometimes, just sometimes, I would really just like to make the card I wanted to make rather than the one I have to make because of so called happy accidents!

I always like to decorate the inside of my cards so that everything is coordinated, this card was no exception.

I used the sponge brayer to add some colour but decided not to add the 'splodges'.  I used the waste from the die cut waves because we crafters do not like to waste anything do we?  When I adhered the insert to the card I managed to get a slight splodge in the right hand corner - not a problem I thought, I will cover with some hand drawn birds.  Then somehow I managed to end up with another splodge - I was seriously not impressed with myself - I had spent quite some time on this card.  So, I quickly stamped another boat and cut it out ...

Here is the completed card and envelope.

Anyone can take part in these challenges whether you are a Demo or you are an SU addict - I come into both categories so I thought I would enter challenge the Joy of Sets Challenge #002.

If you pop over the the Joy of Sets Challenge Blog you will see lots of fabulous inspiration - don't forget to check out Bev's card, it is stunning; she is one of my growing team of ducklings.  Bev is also using Swirly Scribbles but you will have to look very carefully to spot which stamp and die she used on her card!  

Details of the products I used to create this card can be found below.

Wishing everyone lots of happy accidents!

Susan xx


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