Another Sketch Challenge!

The sketch challenge over at Stamping 411 this week is a simple one that is easily adapted to just about any occasion.  I chose to showcase one of the hostess sets from the new Summer Mini.  First, though, here is the sketch:

...and here is my version using the Love & Care level two hostess set from the NEW Summer Mini:

Card for SSC201 using Love & Care level two hostess set from the Summer Mini.

I love the watercolour-look this set gives.

Inside of card...sentiment is from the Thoughts and Prayers set.

Isn't this pretty?  I have to admit this set was another one I wasn't too crazy about when I first saw it; but, having worked with it, I really love the soft, watercolour-like images it gives.  Very delicate and pretty.  So...here's how I made this card:

Starting with a 2 1/2" x 5" strip of very vanilla cardstock, I stamped the branch image randomly around the edges in sahara sand ink.  I stamped both full strength and stamped  off once and twice to give it depth.  I then stamped the flower stem image, which I inked with my sahara sand, pretty in pink and rose red markers, several times.  Finally, I stamped the blossom image twice, inking it with my pretty in pink and rose red markers as well.  I then sponged the edges in sahara sand.  Setting that aside, I embossed a 5 1/4" x 4" piece of sahara sand using my Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder and sponged the edges in sahara sand ink.  I matted that on a 5 3/8" x 4 1/8" piece of rose red cardstock.  I adhered my stamped piece to the embossed sahara sand layer using SNAIL.  I then stamped the sentiment in rose red on a scrap of very vanilla and punched it out with my large oval punch.  I stamped the branch image, second generation, in sahara sand and sponged the edges of the oval.  I mounted it to my cardfront using the oval frame from the Hodgepodge Hardware, securing it with brads.  I then tied a piece of rose red seam binding ribbon around the bottom of the cardfront, finishing it with a bow.  I adhered the whole cardfront to a sahara sand card base.  The final touch was the addition of three pearls just above the ribbon. 
For the inside of the card, I stamped the flower stem and the branch in the lower right corner in the same manner I had done on the front of the card.  I then stamped the sentiment, from the Thoughts and Prayers set, in rose red ink on very vanilla cardstock and punched it out with my large oval punch.  I gave it the same treatment I did the sentiment on the front of the card and then adhered it to a scalloped oval I punched in rose red.  The sentiment element was then adhered in the lower right corner using dimensionals.  I will likely send this card to a friend who is battling breast cancer, in the hopes it will brighten her day the way making it did mine!