Blog Hops with Heart - Photo Inspiration

When we first got the photo for this month's Blog Hops with Heart challenge, I stared at it for a long time trying to come up with something--anything--and just couldn't find inspiration. Maybe that's because I'm feeling pressure from writing deadlines, but it was killing me. Usually when my writing stalls I go to my craft room to give my brain something different to focus on.

Then, in desperation, I said to myself, "Fine, I'll go literal." (Yes, I do talk to myself on a regular basis.)  Here's what I came up with:

I used the color photo Amie turned black and white for out badge as my literal guide. I started with woodgrain paper that I dry-brush painted with some green acrylic paint. To get color variation, I smushed some Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Peacock Feathers, Salty Ocean, and Mowed Lawn on my craft sheet and mixed some of the paint in with them as I painted. After letting the paper dry, I cut it into strips and layered them over top of a piece of New England Ivy cardstock I'd swiped with Tim Holtz Walnut Stain Distress Ink. (The technical term is "direct to paper" but swiping is  more descriptive of the actual process.) I trimmed this down to 1/8 inch smaller than the brown mat at 4 x 5.25 and glued the two together.

Next I stamped a wreath in Cocoa ink. I chose the wreath from the retired White Pines set, but any wreath will do. I then cut another wreath using the Flower Market Cricut cartridge in Chocolate and retired Twilight. The spray and leaves are also from Flower Market and cut in Fern and New England Ivy. I drew veins in the leaves by hand. Once all the layers were glued together and glued to the card, I got out embellishments and went to town. I don't know about you, but I tend to collect embellishments faster than I can use them up. I think all of these save the blue enamel dot are retired, but I'm at the point where I need to move again (Army wife) so using lots is a good thing.

Our hop is short this month, but I'm sure you'll find lots of great inspiration.  This is an incredibly talented group of ladies! You should have come from Stephanie's blog, and now you're off to Jayma's blog. Have fun hopping!

Until next time,
Becca