SUOC14: A Scene From The Shed

Good morning, Everyone! Time for another SUO Challenge, and the challenge today is to make a card with your favorite retired stamp set, one that you would never, ever part with. So, what's yours?

Choose just one? Really? So I started with set #1, and although one of my favorites, one I always think of first, it wasn't doing it for me. I always start stamping my main panel layout on scrap copy paper (or backs of papers my daughter brings home from school. Shhhh, don't tell her! She always gets mad when she catches me!). I tossed that paper aside and picked another set. And then, it hit me that I could use both sets together. The moral of this story is: Get out your scrap pieces of paper and just start stamping. Just staring at your stamps, not feeling like getting them dirty so then you'll just have to clean them, does not get the layout done! :)

So, if it's not cheating, I used two retired stamp sets. For the record, Branch Out is the favorite one. Scene in a Garden hadn't gotten much use, so he is glad to play along. Another sidenote: As I was going through my stamps, I found that Spring stamp sets I have bought from the mini catalogs have been some of the best I have owned. Hmmm, maybe it is because it is Springtime, and those were the stamps I was looking to use. But, I digress.

I saw that the pussy willows outside are starting to bud. I LOVE pussy willows, so I have to include those! The tree buds are around the corner, yes?

I used my Color Spritzer to try to create a rough, cement wall texture. There's a lot of paper piecing on this card. I don't know why I insist on torturing myself. I felt too lazy to watercolor, although I did watercolor some shadows on the floor. The card seemed busy enough, so I didn't add any embellishments.

Stamps: Scene in a Garden, Branch Out; Paper: Marina Mist, Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Riding Hood Red, More Mustard, Poppy Parade, So Saffron, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla; Ink: Marina Mist, Bashful Blue, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Sahara Sand, Sahara Sand marker, Basic Black marker; Accessories: Sponge, Brayer, Aquapainter, Neutrals Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Color Spritzer.

I hope you take a moment to play along with the challenge this week. Thanks for stopping by!