SC217 Orchid Joy IHP

I was SO stunned this morning when I went to check out the sketch challenge an found my SCS moniker in big blue letters at the top. I squealed out loud! Blue is my favourite colour!!! and Roxie chose a card of mine for the sketch challenge today. I seem to be squealing a lot right now...

I feel like as God has been healing several areas in my life, I have broken through a creative wall that has been pestering me for some time, causing selective stamper's block. How SSB works is like this; I need to work with a certain stamp set. I can't think of anything to do with the stamp set, or worse, everything is destined for the round file. When several projects in a row are round filed, I have to walk away from stamping for awhile. Everytime I think about the stamp set I need to use, I feel a little ill because all the creative mojo was round filed. Or, I have an event coming up and I need to design x, y, and z for said event. Nada. Can't think of a thing to do. I have a strong work ethic so all the 'for me' projects I would stamp are left by the wayside too because I can't think of what to do with them either as deadlines loom. Challenges sent by magazines for me? I'm at a total loss as to what to do for those challenges.

Let's just say it's been frustrating for awhile...

Suddenly, I had a spiritual breakthrough about a month ago in my personal walk with my Saviour. Bada-bing-bada-boom, many other areas rocket forward too. God says He will restore waste years. He did it for Job in an exponentially bigger way, He's done it for me on a small (no less significant) scale. I need to do a little more research on waste years.

I got my latest design team goodies from Kate at i {heart} papers 2 days ago. I love getting my stuff, I've got to tell you. Fresh inspiration on a regular basis is just too stinkin' cool! Kate encouraged me to get Orchid Greetings by Stampendous. I liked the image, but I know nothing about orchids. My next door neighbour has a veritable orchid jungle growing in her kitchen window. Absolutely gorgeous! There was an author who moved somewhere tropical because of his passion for orchids, but I can't remember who it was or where he went. Might have been to Fiji (smart man!!!). I started by googling orchids. I think I could easily be swayed into becoming an orchid fan! Holy shamolies!!!

I stamped the image directly onto the designer paper (sugardrop by memory box) with pigment ink. I coloured the image with copic markers then sponged around the edge with mellow moss ink. I changed the sketch by turning it on the side because of the orientation of the orchid image. Then I had to change the side panel because it still had to be skinny, so the elements on it had to be a little longer. I decided the orchid looked very asian so I pulled out some OLD asian coin embellishments I've had for a couple of years and a set that I love that hasn't seen much love of late, symbols of solicitude. Et puis, c'est fini!

stamps; orchid greetings (stampendous - IHP), flourishes (inkadinkado), symbols of solicitude, itty bitty backgrounds (SU!)
paper; sugardrop (memory box - IHP), kraft (paper accents), french silk, salt, coconut swirl, cashmere (bazzill)
ink; brilliance pearlescent chocolate (tsukineko), mellow moss (SU!)
accessories; brown satin ribbon (offray), antique brass mini screw brads (karen foster), pale gold leafing pen (krylon), asian coins (unknown)