Essentials by Ellen February Pin-Sights Challenge

Hello crafty friends!   I'm so excited to be invited over to the Ellen Hutson blog today, to play along with the monthly Essentials by Ellen Pin-Sights Challenge.  Every third Thursday of the month a new inspirational challenge is posted with a chance for you to win a $50 gift certificate to the Ellen Hutson store.

Here is the gorgeous inspiration photo collage that you can use to make your card for February.

The rules are pretty simple when making your card:

1. Incorporate whatever inspires you about these pinned photos and colors.
2. Be sure to use some Essentials by Ellen products in your creation.
3.  Head on over to the Ellen Hutson Pin-sights challenge and link your card up to the challenge gallery You have until February 28th to enter to win!

I made two cards today that were inspired by the purple floral bouquet on the bottom and the gorgeous colors in the top photo.

I started out by stamping two identical backgrounds with the Essentials by Ellen Mondo Hydrangea stamp set.  Once on Canson Watercolor paper and once on Neenah Solar White cardstock.  This was made super easy by using the MISTI stamp positioner.

I water colored the image on watercolor paper using different shades of Ranger Distress Inks.   Then I diecut a heart shape in the finished watercolored piece, setting the heart aside.  I adhered the negative background piece it to the card front with dimensional tape.  I heat embossed the sentiment on a strip of black paper using white embossing powder then adhered it over the heart shape using dimensional tape.  I stamped, watercolored and cut out three single flowers to adhere with dimensional tape and added a few sequins for some sparkle.

Card 1 Supplies: 

• Stamps:  Mondo Hydrangea (Essentials by Ellen)

• Dies: Lawn Cuts Dies, Heart Stackables (Lawn Fawn)

• Ink:  Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Peacock Feathers, Evergreen Bough, Black Soot (Ranger), Onyx Black (Versafine), clear (Versamark).

• Paper: Neenah Solar White cardstock 110 lb, Canson Watercolor Paper

• Accessories:  WOW! Superfine White Embossing Powder,  Sparkling Clear Sequins (Pretty Pink Posh), Mounting Tape (Scotch)

Now, because I can't bring myself to throw away a diecut piece that I've already colored, I decided to use it on a second card.   This is where the second background on Neenah cardstock comes into play.  After gluing it to a cardfront, I lined the heart up in the middle and adhered it with dimensional tape for a subtle spotlight affect.  I added three single watercolored flowers  and the Essentials by Ellen Be-You-Ti-Ful diecut sentiment that I color blended with Ranger Distress inks.

Supplies: 

• Stamps:  Mondo Hydrangea (Essentials by Ellen)

• Dies: Be-You-Tiful (Essentials by Ellen),   Lawn Cuts Dies, Heart Stackables (Lawn Fawn)

• Ink:  Salty Ocean, Seedless Preserves, Peacock Feathers, Evergreen Bough, Black Soot (Ranger), Onyx Black (Versafine).

• Paper: Neenah Solar White cardstock 110 lb, Canson Watercolor Paper

• Accessories:  Tonic Nuvo Crystal Drops Black Ebony,   Mounting Tape (Scotch)

Well, that's all for today my friends. I had a great time with this challenge and  I hope you get a chance to play along.