Bring on Spring, Baby, Challenge Card! (and Summer Mini sneak peek)

The card I have to show you today actually meets at least three stamping challenges -- first, I wanted to create a special baby card for a good friend who just had a baby; second, I liked the sketch challenge from Late Night Stampers this week so used that; and finally, it meets the brand new I Dream of Stamping challenge!

The I Dream of Stamping Challenge is up (or will be later this weekend), and this time the challenge is to do a little spring cleaning -- dust off that set you absolutely had to have when you saw it, but that's been waiting to be used ever since!!!   We would love to have you play along . . . be sure to link up your creation over on the I Dream of Stamping blog, and you'll be eligible to win the fabulous Picture This hostess stamp set from the Occasions Mini!!! 

So, without further ado, here is my creation:

The stamped image is from the Love Bug stamp set (a Level One Hostess set in the Idea Book and Catalog) -- I loved this one, and just had to have it as soon as I could after it was available.  However, I'd never used this image and have only made maybe one other card with the set.  Otherwise, it's been sitting neglected on my shelf.  So, it was definitely time to pull it out and give it some love!

I stamped the image on Stampin' Up!'s watercolor paper, and colored using markers and and Aquapainter.  I punched the image out with the 1 3/8" Circle Punch, layered onto a circle of Brilliant Blue punched out with the 1 3/4" Circle Punch, and then layered that onto a Bashful Blue flower from the Die Cut Blooms  package. 

The textured Whisper White piece was created by running the card stock through the Big Shot with my brand new Stampin' Up! Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder!  So much fun -- leaves each side of the paper with a different, cool look to it!  The folder is from the Summer Mini and will be available for order May 1!   The Summer Minis were just mailed yesterday from Stampin' Up!, so watch for yours coming in the mail hopefully this week -- if you don't get one this week, please let me know, and I'd be glad to get a copy to you!

The little Bashful Blue and Brilliant Blue flowers are also created with sneak peek items from the Summer Mini -- the Itty Bitty Bits stamp set and the Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack.  Aren't they fun?!  (Interested in getting your own sneak peek products from the Summer Mini?  Ask me about becoming a demonstrator!)

The little banner and the layer of paper behind the textured piece are Green Galore.  Trying to get good use out of my Green Galore, Brilliant Blue, and other retiring colors before they are gone for good on July 1st!

Hope my friend will like this -- and hope you do, too!  Thanks for stopping by!  Now go dust off your own neglected set. and then be sure to stop by I Dream of Stamping and show us what you've created!

- Michelle