Hoping for Spring?

I am unsure if I am actually hoping for spring or if I am just trying to find any excuse to make a brightly colored card...ha!ha!  Either way, I know that it has been awhile since I've posted.  In my defense, I am trying to finish my basement...and my new craft room.  I am very excited!!  The walls are painted and the wood laminate floor is in...just waiting on trim, the light and the drop ceiling to be put in place.  If all goes well, it will only be a few more weeks and I will be in business.

The card I am posting today will be sent to a friend that has a wonderfully spirited nature!  She is one of my favorite people to sit and have coffee with  ~ although I do enjoy the company of all my friends that I have coffee with, she and I just have it more often.

I used the giraffe image from Rubber Cottage Stamps.  I stamped the image in Stampin' Up Eggplant Envy on white cardstock.  I then restamped the image using Stampin' Up Tempting Turquoise, Eggplant Envy, and Melon Mambo markers to get the different colored spots.  I colored the eyes in using black ink, this made them really stand out!!

I cut the colorful image out and popped it up off of the original image using foam dots.  I also used an edge punch and distressed the edge of the white cardstock with Tempting Turquoise.  I stamped 'for you' with Melon Mambo ink.  The base of the card is in Tempting Turquoise and the giraffe image was mounted on Eggplant Envy cardstock.  I then added Tempting Turquoise ribbon and put stickles on the eyes to make them sparkle.

I absolutely love this image!!  The details used on the giraffe are breath taking and dramatic.  I don't know if you could find a better image of a giraffe!!   Rubber Cottage Stamps did a very nice job in creating this image!

Sorry for the long delays between posts.  I really hope you enjoy this card as much as I do and I really hope my friend is surprised when she sees it.

I hope to post again really soon!  As soon as my room is done I will be able to scratch my stamping itch a lot more often.  (It is very difficult to contain myself at times.)