Well, here I am, finally!

Hello everyone! I have been absent from my blog for awhile.  Things have been hectic and chaotic.  My husband was diagnosed with a serious illness and I've been kept busy caring for him.  Things are starting to settle down some and I've found a little time to craft and relieve some stress.

I took inspiration from the Inspiration Challenge at the Altenew blog.  I've used some of the colors from their inspiration photo, but mostly I used the feeling of a "relaxing vacation," that I took from the inspiration photo.  My husband keeps telling me I need a vacation getaway to recoup from all that's been going on.  I agree, but, with me having been out of work to care for him, we cant afford a vacation right now, and I've exhausted all my vacation time and FMLA time, while I was off caring for him.  So, for now, my Spring Like vacation getaway will be in my mind, and depicted in this card. Any place tranquil and quiet would do just fine!

Along with the photo inspiration, I've used the Birch Land stamp set from Altenew, to create this tranquil vacation scene.  I fell in love with this stamp set as soon as I seen it, but I admit, once it arrived, I felt a little intimidated by it and all the elements.  I  am very happy with how it turned out though, for a first attempt.  The tree was stamped with Versafine Black Onyx ink and has been colored with Arteza watercolor brush markers.  (My first time using them - There is a learning curve, which I'm still riding! LOL!) I stamped the lovely array of leaves in various gorgeous colors of Altenew crisp dye inks.  (LOVE thier inks! So awesome!)  I sponged the bottom with green ink to create a hillside.  I drew the birds by hand with a Versafine black marker. The clouds were done with a stencil and Altenew crisp dye ink. .This was my first time using the cloud stencil and I struggled with figuring out the positioning of the stencil.  All in all, I think it turned out decently and is the perfect getaway vacation in my mind.

I'm still deciding if I'm going to turn this into a card, or frame it.  What do you all think would be the best choice?

This is my first time entering challenges this year! I have just been so consumed with RL, that crafting got away from me! It's so good to be back into crafting again!

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

March 2018 Inspiration Challenge at Altenew

Challenge #136 Use Green at Simply Create Too

Anything Goes at Whoopsi Daisy Challenge

Challenge #3 Anything Goes at Corrosive Challenge

Challenge at Crafts Galore Encore

Challenge #135 Anything Goes at Creatalicious

Challenge #102 Spring Is In The Air at Sparkles Forum Challenge

Challenge #276 Spring at Brown Sugar Challenge

Challenge #363 Anything Goes at Crafty Creations Challenge

Challenge #162 Anything Goes at Crafty Gals Corner

Challenge #147 Anything Goes at Inspiration Destination

Ready For Spring at Mod Squad Challenge

Challenge #373 Anything Goes at Penny's Paper Crafty

Challenge #48 Anything Goes at Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Any Occasion at Creative Inspirations Challenge

Challenge #22 Photo Inspiration at PINspirational Challenges

Challenge #137 Anything Goes at Scrapbook Stamp Society

Challenge #64 Anything Goes at lemon Shortbread Challenge

Challenge #292 Spring at Hanna and Friends Challenge

Challenge #80 Anything Goes at Crafty Friends Challenge

CARDZ TV Challenge #40 Anything Goes 

4CC #396 Anything Goes/Crazy Egg at 4 Crafty Chicks