Sweet Summertime

I've noticed that the light has started to change the last few days. As much as I love Autumn, it sent a panic through me and it reminds me that I need to savor the remainder of the Summmer; it happens to me every year. I've registered the kids for school, gotten most of the Back to School shopping done so I can just sit back and enjoy the last few weeks! I needed to make a few cards to send out this month and I thought this sentiment was perfect....and I'm obsessed with coloring these berries! I made a card earlier for the current "Make it Monday" challenge; magic slider cards. Let's just say mine wasn't so "magic"! LOL! I ended up making the colored panel into a completely different card, which I will be sharing soon. It used the berries and so I was still in the mood to color them.

To begin, I made a side folding A2 card using Spring Moss Cardstock and then die cut the 3 background "patches" using the coordinating "patch" die, but I can't find it on the PTI website to link it up. I can't imagine that they would have discontinued it and not the stamp set. Hmmmmmm.....  I decided to stamp the circular image from the Strawberry Patch stamp set using Simply Chartreuse ink rather than the coordinating Spring Moss for more definition. I was aiming for a "soft" look, but didn't want it to be washed out, either. I found this gave it a perfect balance.

The berries, flowers and leaves were all die cut using the coordinating dies and then colored using Copic Markers. After they were all colored, I added some Wink Of Stella to the highlighted areas of the berries for some added shine. I really like how the seeds on strawberries look so I added some white Nuvo Drops onto the seed portion for some dimension. I realized AFTER I added them, that strawberry seeds are recessed into the berry, rather than on top, but I still like the detail it gives the berries. I didn't have yellow drops, so I used white. I colored the seeds underneath yellow with a Copic Marker and I was hoping that the white would pick up the yellow like it has on other designs that I have done, but it didn't work. I guess the area was too small.I added Morning Dew Nuvo Drops onto the leaves, around the sentiment and the center of the flowers.

I arranged all of the berries, leaves and flowers in a cluster in the center of the card. I thought it would look less predictable and give it a little bit of interest. I also tied a bow of black baker's twine onto the side of the card to tie in the black. 

The inside sentiments are from the Strawberry Patch Sentiments and are so fun to use. I'd been missing the "much" stamp FOREVER which made many of the sentiments obsolete and I was so bugged. I FOUND IT while making this card! I was so happy! It was tucked in between the paper that is included in the stamp set. I swear I looked there like 1,000 times, but there it was! Happy Day! I also added a popped up berry to finish it off! I had so much fun putting these cards together (I made two identical cards)! I can't wait to pop them in the mail! Thanks for fluttering by!