Shabby Chic Toile

So....when I was brand-new to card-making several years back, the only game in town for me was Stampin' Up!.  It was at an SU party that I fell hook, line and sinker for the world of stamping.  I didn't even know then that other stamp companies existed, and when they did start to enter my peripheral crafting vision, I thought there was no WAY they could be as good as SU.  (happily, I was proven wrong -- but SU stamps still hold a special place in my heart)

Since my foray into stamping began, I have tried many different stamp companies and have fallen in love with various lines.  Can't believe I ever thought I could never cherish clear stamps:  now, they are my fave type of stamp.  The rubber variety sits largely unused around here lately.

That is, until this afternoon.  My delicious box full of Unity stamps (I'm pretty much new to the brand.  Thank you, Emily, for enabling me) arrived, and I had a chance to play with a few tonight.  OH. MY. GOODNESS.  I LoVe the stuff!  I can see how addicting this will be, this Unity stuff (again, *thanks*, Emily ;).

I'm tying together a summer theme for some of the challenges listed below.

I used Pale Plum for the Tea Time Toile background stamp.  It's a little tough to see, but there are kids climbing trees on this stamp.  So fun for summer!  The clear, dotted acetate panel was in a $1.00 Scrap Bag from my Stampin' Up! demo a long time ago.  I thought it added a fun edge to this card.

The birds stamp is from Play in the SUN, and the sentiment is from a set by the same title.  There's a canvas circle behind the birds; that's something from my local craft store.

And speaking of the sentiment, there's some symbolism going on there.  After stamping it, I cut a "V" on one end, inked all the edges, then roughed 'em up with my fingernail.  Then I crumpled it, and attached it to the card.  All that distressing and rumpling symbolizes ME before school let out.  (anyone who follows my blog knows how stressful these last couple of months were for me (it's ALL good, but it was all too much) (this part ties in with the Simon Says Stamp challenge).   The sentiment is there to remind me that summer will refuel my soul.

Challenges entered:

• Stampendous - Summer theme
• Unity - Summer theme
• Simon Says Stamp and Show - Vintage Depth of Distress (the edges are distressed, some with ink, some with ink AND roughed up edges; and *I* was distressed, too! - please read above paragraph)
• Sugar Creek Hollow - primitive, shabby chic or vintage card with circles
• CPS Card Sketch 

Did you see the new Paper Crafts special issue called Stamp It! yet?  I've got a birthday card on page 49! 

Thanks for visiting!  You've made my day.  :o)

Dimensions:  4.25" x 5.5"
Stamps: Tea Time Toile, Play in the Sun, Relax,Renew,Restore - Unity
Paper: white - PTI; dotted clear sheet - SU
Ink: Pale Plum, Early Espresso, Soft Suede - SU
Fibers: cream lace - Spare Parts
Other: canvas circle - AC Moore; pearls - Queen & Co.; Big Shot; circle die - Spellbinders