For some reason when I saw the forest of trees in the Fusion Winter Inspiration Photo, it reminded me of some Suminagasi – Japanese black and white hand-marbled paper I made several years ago.
I cut the half-circle from my marbled paper and attached it to a white card base. I used a darker grey for the vertical piece in the sketch.
Next I wandered through my stamps looking for some trees … but instead I found a Simon Says Stamp Picture Book Hippo Die that had never been opened. Hippos are grey … so I thought he would work perfectly. I tried to get the contrast I wanted with different solid papers, but it wasn't working … so instead, I die cut him from two colors of glitter paper.
Since he looked so wise, I thought the sentiment should be some bit of advice he might give … and settled on this sticker sentiment. I love where this card ended-up (and that I got to use some of my hand-made paper on a card).
I'm also linking-up at the Simon Says Stamp Lotsa Love Flickr Challenge … because this is truly advice I would give to every one I love … trust your instinct (aka your heart).