Hello, everyone! I’m participating in the inspiration challenge for April! Joylita’s color pallette really inspired me.

I usually color leaves in gray. I’m not really sure why I shy away from green, so this was a bit out of my comfort zone.

I chose my favorite stamp set for this challenge. The Pristine Peonies stamp is so gorgeous that I use it repeatedly! It’s also large, covering a large area of any project.

I wanted a light gray outline, so I used the second-generation stamping method. This would provide lines I can see but still give me a no-line coloring-ish look.

To begin coloring, I chose the Altenew Red Cosmos Alcohol Marker set. I started with the lightest color (frosty pink) and then used Ruby Red to add color to the areas I wanted to be most vibrant. I use long strokes and flicking to color. I used the color berry to blend areas between the contrasting colors. I used Grapevine in the center of the flowers in small amounts.

For the leaves, I used three different Copic marker (YG11, YG06 G07) s to color in the same style I used on the florals.

For the background, I started with a white, A2-sized cardstock. I ink-blended three green Catherine Pooler inks. I began with Matcha as my lighter shade. I added ink in layers. I left the bottom right corner lightly colored, and I used Lime Rickey and Deck the Halls to darken the middle and top left corner of my base. I spattered Dylusions Island Parrot shimmer spray for a bit of shimmer.

I arranged one floral over the top left and adhered it with liquid glue. I added the second floral at the bottom right corner and trimmed the edges. I arranged the trimmings on my card base until I covered the majority of my card base.

For the sentiment, I used “I admire you” from the Build-A-Flower: Anemone Coronaria Layering Stamp & Die Set and used altenew double-sided tape to adhere it. And there it is!