Brayered Dream Gardens

This morning, I went to get my driver's license renewed (fun, fun) and the technician was so concerned about my signature he made me redo it three times! The first time I didn't put in my middle name, and since I had signed my middle name on the old one, it didn't "match" so he wanted it redone. Then the second b in my last name wasn't neat enough. And then he didn't like the way the whole thing looked. Finally on the fourth time, he was happy with it.

Unfortunately, it's not at all how I sign my name normally, but what are you going to do. Since I had to take Boo with me (in the ERGO carrier) my photo is a little, um, interesting, but those photos are never supposed to be flattering, right? Besides, how good is a 5 weeks postpartum mom with sleep deprivation and 15-20 extra pounds of baby weight going to look, really?
After I got home, I wanted to try and make a card using a sketch challenge (I know, I said I wasn't doing anything original for a while; this card is a hybrid). My toddler was going down for his nap and it seemed like Boo might sleep too, so I was really enthused to have the time to myself to stamp! Oh the folly. Piglet cried on and off for the entirety of his nap time, and Boo pretty much screamed his head off too, refusing to be comforted or to nurse. So I got the card made, but my nerves were shot by the end. I ended up redoing the main panel because my original incarnation was too big and the side panel got lost behind it.

Despite it all, though, I'm really happy with the way it came out! I think that strip on the side looks like a brocaded ribbon, and I'm pleased to report that my brayer and I are on *very* good terms. I used this week's Stamping 411 sketch and the inspiration for the card images came from splitcoast stamper leezels. I think this card is going to sit on my desk for a while so I can just look at it and feel happy!
Supplies:
Taken with Teal, Whisper White, Basic Black cs, retired more mustard dsp
Dream Gardens stamp set
Basic black ink, Taken with Teal, Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, More Mustard, Old Olive, So Saffron markers
Sponges, brayer
1 3/8" circle punch
vintage brads (black), paper piercer/mat pack
dimensionals