Flying Insect Collection in the Spring Garden Card

I created all of the garden's and bugs' various details for the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge, a blog that is celebrating its first anniversary of challenges.  I tried to incorporate as many of the previous year's challenges as possible.  The following is the set of options I utilized:  spray inks and mists, around the house, photo inspiration (use of yellow, orange and green...pink in the form of an intense magenta created by using cherry colored cardstock that was transformed by Ranger brand's "Glossy Accents"), fiber/raffia, stamps, Tic Tac Toe (grid challenge:  punch, stamps, ribbon/raffia), New to You, April Showers (Splatter stamp on card base), and May Flowers.
 

DCWV produced the insect background cardstock, and I fussy-cut each of the bugs that have the three-dimensional appearance, inked the backs and sides in a coordinating caramel color, then added Glossy Accents to the bodies to create some dimension.  Glossy Accents was also used as the adhesive to help hold the positions of the wings, to glue the bugs to the garden area, and to adhere each insect to its original image on the cardstock.  This was layered on a corner-rounded, darker cardstock and placed onto a base that I stamped, sponged, and used a spritzer tool to add ink to it. 

Cricut's "Plantin Schoolbook" cut the grass and flowers.  Grass blades were snipped more, vertically.  Some edges were inked.  The pieces were then corrugated.  I snipped the flowers, embellished them with candy dots, punched CS circles and inks.  Glossy Accents were added for texture, to create a seal, and as an adhesive.  New to me:  using Ranger's "Glossy Accents" as an adhesive and maintain an object's structure.  The branches were punched, spritzed in a homemade alcohol ink (new to me), sponged, and coated in Glossy Accents. 

After I finished submitting my card for the Mixed Media Monthly Challenge, I found that my project needed more attention.  I added more insects and made a few tweaks to improve the piece's overall appearance.  Once everything dried, I packaged the card in a clear cellophane bag, and tied it closed with natural raffia.  Finally, I was pleased with the finished product..in fact, I was delighted by it--and also delighted to find a small set of additional challenges for which to submit this "Flying Insect Collection in the Spring Garden Card."  Please find their respective information below:   

Challenges/Links

Mixed Media Monthly Challenge #13 A Year of Choices and Some Changes

Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper June Challenge

Petal Lu Challenge for June 15, 2015 Lacy Sunshine:  Anything Goes

Inkspirational Challenge #84:  Photo Inspiration

Just Us Girls Challenge Trend Week #297:  Stacked Die Cuts

Card Ingredients

Papers:  Dark Romance Stack (DCWV), Cream CS (Staples, #110), Cherry Cobbler CS (Stampin' Up!), Mud Pie Textured CS (Bazzil Basics Christmas Stack for My Mind's Eye Signature Christmas), Old Olive CS (Stampin' Up!), Creamy Caramel Textured CS (Stampin' Up!), More Mustard (Stampin' Up!).

Inks:  Creamy Caramel (Stampin' Up!), Really Rust (Stampin' Up!), Glossy Accents (Ranger), Early Espresso (Stampin' Up!), Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up!), Homemade Alcohol Ink Spritz (Garden Green by Stampin' Up! and More Mustard by Stampin' Up!), Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up!), Old Olive (Stampin' Up!).

Stamp(s)/Set(s):  French Foliage (Stampin' Up!), Delight in Life (Stampin' Up!).

Punches/Tools:  Corner Rounder (Marvy Uchida), 2-Step Bird (Stampin' Up!), 1/4" Circle (Staples ?), 1/8" Circle (Stampin' Up!), Corrugator (Stampin' Up!), Spritzer (Stampin' Up!).

Cricut Cartridge(s):  Plaintin Schoolbook.

Embellishments:  Brights Candy Dots (Stampin' Up!), Antique Brad (Stampin' Up!), Natural Raffia (Wrap It Up!).