Peony Leaf Background

About 17 years ago, Kristy Bishop,  a CTMH director, taught classes in a North Kansas City high school. After attending the first one, I could hardly wait for the next class. The technique she taught us was random stamping. We were using rubber stamps on wood blocks. We made each little stamp a different color and stamped the first design in a visual triangle. That was my addicting introduction to stamping. (The day I found out CTMH went from wood mounted stamps to acrylic stamps I signed up to become a consultant. I knew I'd need a discount for all the stamps I wanted to get.)

I was inspired by the challenge at Heart 2 Heart to use random stamping. My technique and stamps have changed a little. I thought I'd use only the foliage of the Budding Peony stamp set with the new lighter shade of Sage ink to make the background for this card.

I added the soft shade of Mint checks with bright pops of a Lagoon strip and Raspberry for the die cut sentiment and background mat. Of course I had to stamp the leafy sprig again with New England Ivy on Sage cardstock and cut with the coordinating thin cut die. I wanted to make the random stamping into a soft background for a Clean and Simple card.

Since the card base is black I finished with a few black enamel dots on the front and a couple of leafy sprigs on two inside corners. I looked at this card and truly wished for spring!!!

Kristy Bishop is now a college professor in another state far away, so she may not know the directions her card classes have taken or how many people have been blessed along the way.  May you be blessed as you share your love of stamping, cardmaking, and giving, blessing your friends who receive your creations. What you enjoy can be a part of something much bigger than yourself!

I'm sharing this card with the following challenges:

Crafting from the Heart Challenge - anything goes

Die Cut Divas - Something New (Budding Peony stamp and die are new)

Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies January Challenge 

Heart 2 Heart January Technique Challenge - stamped backgrounds

Stampotique Designer Challenge #315 - Clean and Simple

Budding Peony  

365 Promises - Promise #25: I will not withhold anything good from those with an upright heart.

Psalm 84:11 (WEB)

For Yahweh God is a sun and a shield.
Yahweh will give grace and glory.
He withholds no good thing from those who walk blamelessly.