My first Paper Smooches card

As I mentioned earlier in the week, I finally--after many months of drooling and wishing--have my very own Paper Smooches stamps. Just three sets, all purchased (on sale!) with my Christmas money (now all gone!), but enough to play in my first Paper Smooches SPARKS challenge ;). I fell in love with this week's inspiration photo

and from the looks of things, so did a bunch of other folks! I'm seeing this photo and cards inspired by it all over the place. Here's my take on the inspiration:

I was inspired by the text, the rainbow + gray colors, and the textures in the inspiration photo. I chose that ivory panel for its texture--it was cut off a thank you note I received last year and saved because I loved the deckle edge. The paper's texture looked like watercolor paper to me, so that's the direction I went, stamping the THANKS so much sentiments from PS Chit Chat and watercoloring using the ink from Marvy and Stampin' Up! markers. I tied on some baker's twine from The Twinery, popped up the ivory panel, and I was done. :)

I'm also entering this card in the Clear It Out Challenge to make a thank you, Ribbon Carousel Challenge #34 (Anything Goes), and the Simon Says Stamp "New Something" challenge (my "new" is using something new: my PS Chit Chat stamp set!).

The kids were back in school yesterday, their first school day of 2012. As nice as our holiday together was, it's also nice to be back in our regular routine. But it was super cold here (our temperature first thing yesterday morning was a downright frigid 7 degrees F!!). I couldn't wait to wash up the supper dishes last night just to get warm!! It will be warmer today, but I think I'll be making myself a nice hot pot of tea this morning regardless. :)

Thanks so much for dropping by!
Emily