Mix it Up #41 {You are wonderful}

I'm here today sharing my design for the current Mix it Up Challenge going on this month! As usual, I couldn't help myself by playing with BOTH sides of the challenge! I think I mentioned last time that if I pick only one side, it isn't as much as a challenge for me!

While our thoughts are turning to flowers, sunshine, and fresh air, this photo, though snowy, provides a lot of springtime inspiration! I think we've all been inspired by these gorgeous pastel Northern Lights! I knew that Distress Oxide inks would provide just the look I was hoping for! We've been having grey, wet, rain and snow, so my photos look a little muddy, but Oxide inks can do that and give me fits! LOL! They're so fun to play with,though, so it's all worth it!

I chose to heat emboss the Mandala image onto a sheet of smooth Bristol paper using white powder. I then chose an assortment of Distress Oxide inks and got to work blending in all of the colors that I wanted represented as per the inspiration photo. After it was all blended, I used a generic square to die cut the square portion out. I adhered it to a piece of white cardstock and then replaced all of the squares using foam squares.

The "you" sentiment is from the Sweet Sentiments: You stamp set. I heat embossed it in silver onto a strip of very thin vellum. I didn't want to block any of the Mandala image from shining through.The "are wonderful" portion, which is also from the You set, is also heat emobssed but onto a strip of white cardstock which I adhered under the vellum piece.

Before I added the vellum piece, I spritzed it with some water for some oxidation to happen as well as a generous spritzing of Shimmer Spray.

The entire thing is adhered to an A2 card base using foam squares. I hope you'll get a chance to play along! Remember, there is a chance to win a $50 gift code to the SugarPea Designs store! Thanks for fluttering by!