When I’m making a card I like to pick a technique that I’m going to use as I find this cuts down my “stuffing around” time a lot and gives me a bit of focus.  This time I decided I’d take one of my own challenges (I set weekly challenges for my team that way anyone who is bored of what they’re doing can have somewhere to start).  My starting point was to use my favourite background technique and this is stamping, crumpling and inking (sometimes I spritz too).  I like the way this card has turned out, okay it’s not earth-shatteringly different but I like it.

[photopress:Art_of_Life.jpg,full,pp_empty]

Here are the products I used to make it:

All products by Stampin’ Up! and available for ordering through me.

Art Of Life stamp set (this is a hostess set and can only be earned through purchase/sales)
Bravo Burgundy cardstock and matching inkpad
Elegant Eggplant cardstock
More Mustard cardstock and matching inkpad
Very Vanilla cardstock
So Saffron inkpad
Watercolour crayons (Elegant Eggplant, Old Olive)
Mini Gable Boxes & Tags (I only used the little square bits out of this)
Gold brads
Gold cord

I also made an insert for the card.  Just click on the thumbnail to see it full size.

[photopress:DSCN1252.JPG,thumb,centered]

For the insert I stamped the branch from The Art of Life stamp set using watercolour crayons.  The “Thinking Of You” message is from the Elegant Greetings stamp set.