Sketch challenge: Take Two

Good morning!! Yesterday I didn't quite get the layout right on the SCS sketch challenge, so I thought I'd try again! I used an adorable Penny Black stamp I received not too long ago from HM Stamps. I'd never seen this image before & what a perfect summer card it makes!!! And this time I got the challenge right!!!


I stamped the image onto watercolor paper with black pigment ink, then embossed it with SU's Iridescent Ice embossing powder. That's right ~~ a sparkly hedgie!!! Maybe he just ran through a field of glitter!! I then used my SU markers & blender pen to color. I've tried my aquabrush many many times, but wayyy too much water comes out of that thing. I even started a thread on SCS regarding this brush, & whether or not it's a Niji. I bought it a couple of years ago, at Michael's in the art department. Some are saying Michael's doesn't carry Niji. Some say they do, & that perhaps I got a defective one. Regardless, I hate it & don't use it. I'm in search of a *real* Niji that works, & then I'm sure I'll be able to magically watercolor just like Anna!

Anyway, back to the card. I used a lot of Bazzill Bling ~~ that would be all the rosy red paper. I *heart* Bazzill Bling!! I bought an 8X8 pad at Michael's, then went back & bought another because I knew I'd be using it a lot!! (If any of you have found good deals on this paper online, please enlighten me!!) I used a piece from the Basic Grey Sugared 6X6 pad for the first time ~ had to break that baby in!! I made the flower in the corner from various flower punches, using the same Bling & Sugared papers, & added some Prima leaves & a Dew Drop. To adhere the Dew Drop, I used Stickles so it's a bit sparkly :) 3 Dew Drops in the corner, some ribbon & of course some Crystal Effects on the ice cream, & I was done!!! And I am very happy with how it turned out! See, I *can* follow directions!!!


I'm about to start the rag rolling part of my painting project, & I'm a bit nervous about it. Originally I was going to paint the wall green, & rag roll the beige onto that. However, in my search through the 'net I've found that it works better to use the lighter color as the base, & to roll the darker color onto that. Which, of course, means I'll have to go get another gallon of paint before I get started. What a project!! Wish me luck!