Sending Sunshine

     How about a birthday card with fall in mind? I used a couple of easy techniques on this one. I started by making my own background. I embossed a piece of ivory card stock with "Tiny Polka" by Paper Studio. Then I held a Stampin Up soft suede inkpad upside down and dragged it over the paper to give a shabby look. If you do it very lightly, only the polkas are inked, but if you push harder, this is the effect that you get. 
     The second technique I used was inking the stamp with Tim Holtz distress markers. I used 6 colors: 2 greens, 2 oranges, and 2 browns. The stamp is Penny Black's "Garden Poems". There are actually 3 sunflowers on this stamp, but I only inked up two of them. You can see on the right of the stamp that there is the beginning of the third sunflower. Funny that this didn't bother me. I love the uniqueness of each time we stamp anyway. No two stamps are ever really the same.
     The wood banner embellishment is a lucky find at Tuesday Morning. Since I immediately opened the packaging and dumped it into my embellishment stash, I can give you no further information on that.
     The flourish in the corner and inside the card are done on my trusty Cameo Silhouette. I purchased it from Silhouette: "Simple Swirl" by Carina Gardner. I attached it only on the ends, so it does not lay flat on the card (inside as well). I am "in like" with shadows on my cards.

Inside of Card

Challenges

All Sorts Challenge - Autumn - #128 -*

Graph It Markers - Autumn Colors - #25 -*
Just Inspirational Challenges - Make Background - #10 -*
Lacy Sunshine - Seasons - #38 -*
Ladybug Crafts - Autumn - #58 - 10/31
Loves Rubber Stamps - Anything Goes - #81 -*
Sweet Stampin - Autumn - #62 - *
Wags n Whiskers - Fall Colors - #53 -*
Whimsy Stamps - Anything Goes - #110 -*
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes - #65 -*

     I also made a similar card in black and white. This one is a sympathy card.

Inside of Card