The Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge for June 29, 2015 Is to make a card based on "How ... summer translate[s] into your creative life? What do you make to celebrate it? Are you inspired by the colors? The themes?"
Well, for me, it's gardens. My husband is a Master Gardener and Hosta and daylily addict and our little quarter-acre of land is planted almost entirely in these two kinds of perennials. But he does cater a little to my taste in planting things like Asiatic Lilies, Crocosmia, Shasta Daisies, Mexican Hat Daisies, Cone flowers and more, which are scattered throughout the planting beds wherever the daylilies allow! And that results in a massive show of color all summer long, mainly in yellows, oranges and deep reds but sometimes a little purple sneaks in as well.
I started with a background made with the Ken Oliver Color Burst Powders ("Alizaron Crimson", "Lemon Yellow" and "Orange") to portray the hot colors of the flowers. Then I stamped over one corner of the card front using the Tim Holtz stamp "Botanical Sketch" (CMS216) and Archival "Jet Black" ink. I then colored in the blooms with Distress Markers ("Fossilized Amber", "Abandoned Coral", "Cracked Pistachio" and "Twisted Citrus"). I stamped a sentiment from the "Botanical Sketch" stamp set; then I assembled some fabric daisies using brads from Hot off the Press (Citrus Creative Kit #7257) and adhered them in the corners.