Spring Garden Kitty

Hello, everyone!  Today I'm sharing an embellished card - I haven't made one in a while!  This card is for someone special and will be hand-delivered.  I had a lot of fun playing with my new stamps from Repeat Impressions and my new dies from STAMPlorations!  I coloured the gorgeous stamped image with markers and added lots of flowers and embellishments to make this card interesting and fun!

Rubber stamp:  Repeat Impressions 8201-P Home Without Cats (There is a sentiment frame on this stamp that says "A home without cats is like a garden without flowers," but I cut if off for this card because the recipient does not own a cat at this time.)
Dies:  STAMPlorations Flutter Zen 2 Layering Dies, STAMPlorations Bloomdala Bliss Festive CUTplorations, Cheery Lynn Flourish Leaf Strip, lacy border, stitched scalloped square
Patterned paper:  EnoGreeting Lots of Flowers 6x6 paper pack
Recycled item:  Tea Bag Tag (see image below)
Other:  Yellow Stickles applied to edges of butterfly, Dew Drops (blue and yellow), metal heart charm that says "Made with Love," ribbon bow, various flowers from my stash

I recycled the tag from my tea bag, with its wonderful sentiment:

I also finished the inside of the card.  First I did a simple watercolour wash with Distress Oxides (although the colour faded back and it is barely noticeable in the photo).  Then I stamped the sentiment and stencilled the flowers, also with Distress Oxides.  Finally I added some punched butterflies.

Rubber stamp:  Repeat Impressions 9206-H Beautiful Days
Stencil:  STAMPlorations Happy Flowers - ARTplorations Stencil
Distress Oxides:  Watercolour wash (Milled Lavender, Scattered Straw, Worn Lipstick), stencilling (Worn Lipstick, Scattered Straw, Cracked Pistachio)
Die:  Large double-stitched square
Other:  Recollections butterfly punch, flower sequins

My card was inspired by a number of challenges.  First, The House That Stamps Built has three challenges that provided inspiration:

Repeat Impressions DCC43 ~ Use A Stencil (see inside of card)
Repeat Impressions Tic-Tac-Toe Challenge ~ A1019 (I went with Pastel Colours, Spring, Dew Drops)

Repeat Impressions Inspiration Palette Challenge ~ A1719 (I was inspired by the flowers)

Second, STAMPlorations has five challenges this month that inspired me:

STAMPlorations April Theme and Sketch Challenge Stamps and Watercolours (see inside of card)

STAMPlorations April Mixed Media Challenge Use a Stencil (see inside of card)

STAMPlorations CUTplorations April Challenge Inspiration Graphic (I was inspired by the colourful stripes and rainbow colours - I went with the pastel version - see front of card)

STAMPlorations TAGplorations April Challenge All About Recycling (the tag is the recycled item - a tea bag tag)

STAMPlorations Never-ending Anything Goes Challenge Use STAMPlorations products

I also found inspiration at Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge #121, where the theme is Spin The Butterfly Wheel with E for Easel.  I went with E for Edge as I applied Yellow Stickles around the edge of the die-cut butterfly's wings.  And since I used so many snippets and scraps for my die-cuts, patterned paper, and recycled tea bag tag, I am also linking to Pixie's Snippet Playground #350



One last look at my card:

I was also inspired by the following challenges: 2 Crafty Critter Crazies Critters - Furry, Feathered, Fantasy, Fairytale, Scaly, or Insect 5/5; A Gem of a Challenge AG 1/2; Allsorts Blossoms, Butterflies, Bugs 1/3; Ally's Angels AG 2/3; Cardz TV AG 1/3; Craft Stamper Take it Make It April AG Stamping 2/3; Crafting by Designs Color Challenge (I used pink, yellow, light blue, green, coral) 1/3; Crafty Calendar 1 Ribbon 2 or More Designer Papers 1/3; Crafty Catz AG w Optional Twist All Creatures Great and Small 1/3; Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper April UE; Creative Fingers AG 3/3; Creative Moments AG Optional Twist Spring or Easter 1/3; Die Cuttin' Diva's Animal Cruely Awareness 1/3; DL.ART April Linky AG UE 1/d; DL.ART Thankful ThursdayAnthing Spring Wk2 1/2; Fabrika Fantasy Flowers 1/3; Get Creative AG No Twist UE; ITD Creative Playground AG 2/3; Jo's Scrap Shack AAG 1/3; Kat Scrappiness Pastels UE; Let's Craft and Create AG Optional Beautiful Butterfles 1/3; Lil Patch of Crafty Friends AG 2/3; Mod Squad Use a Stencil (MSC) 1/3; Papercraft Business AG Optional Easter 1/3; Penny Black and More Spring 1/3; Pile it On Lots of Layers UE; Polkadoodles AG 1/2; Scribbles Designs Pastels 1/3; Simon Says Stamp Monday Beautiful Blooms 1/5; Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Spring Mood Board (I was inspired by the tulips, flowers, and spring theme) 1/5; SUYP Cats Only Furry-thing Goes UE; Tales from the Craft Room Spring or Easter 1E; The Artistic Stamper New Growth (tulips, butterfly) 1/3; The Cat's Pajamas Spring UE; Three Amigos Blog Hop Springtime UE; Wednesday's Creative Inspirations Easter Wishes and/or Animals UE; Word Art Wednesday 382-383 AG w Uplifting Sentiment 1/5 wk2; Yes...Virginia Show and Share with Virginia April 1/4 

Thank you for looking at my card! Wishing you a joyful day!