Image inspired thanks

I loved Hand Stamped Sentiments inspiration image for challenge #322:

I was particularly drawn to the bottom image, and it started me wondering how I might achieve a similar look. The result was definitely floral, so I decided to enter it in The Flower Challenge's #36: Anything Goes, as well. 

For the background pale card, I started with Whisper White, lightly stamped in Sahara Sand, then clear embossed over the images. I finished by very gently sponging a little Sahara Sand over the card, to remove the pristine white. For the larger, pink/red background, I clear embossed the images and then sponged in Merry Merlot and Rococo Rose. I stamped and sponged white card and then die cut the sentiment, die cutting it also in Early Espresso as a backing. 

Ingredients:

Stampin' Up! card, (Whisper White, Early Espresso, Merry Merlot), ink, (Rococo Rose, Sahara Sand, Merry Merlot), Seasoned with Kindness stamps, Well Written dies.

Other: Sizzix Small Tattered Floral dies, Versamark watermark ink, francheville rhinestones. 

Tagged housewarming

I made this CAS card for a friend of ours who has just moved into his new house. Together, Less is More's 'Tags' challenge #382 and Color Throwdown's color combo for ctd515: green, kraft and white gave me the idea for the card (we gave him a mandarin tree, so the garden-y image is appropriate!).

Card ingredients: 

Stampin' Up card (Whisper White, Kraft), watercolour pencil (old olive), Seasoned with Kindness stamp set.

Other products: Stazon black ink, francheville diamantes, American Crafts black glitter embossing powder and thread, Faber Castell Umbra watercolour pencil, Sizzix Tag Collection framelits