Hero Arts Challenge - Flowers and St Patrick's Day

My entry for this month's Hero Arts Challenge - Flowers and St Patrick's Day.  Closing date is this Thursday 25th Feb - full details are here.

I used the Flower Wallpaper Large Background stamp by Hero Arts to make the base.  I stamped with peeled paint distress ink on to watercolour paper.  I tried this a number of ways (1) misting the stamp with water when it was inked up, (2) misting the paper after stamping but decided I liked plain old fashioned straight stamping! for this card.

I then cut out a shamrock template from some of my watercolour paper scraps and stamped the Flower Wallpaper stamp with versamark clear ink.  I then used clear embossing powder, heated it and used my sponge applicator to apply the same distress ink - peeled paint on top of the embossing image.

I added Hero Arts smooth gemstones to the background flower centres (I think these look like little baby shamrocks - as shamrocks have three leaves/petals too). 

The term "shamrock" derives from the Irish word seamrog which translates as "little clover".  What's the difference?  Shamrock is smaller - they are both species of trefoil (genus Trifolium, from the Latin meaning - "having three leaves").

Supplies: Hero Arts Flower Wallpaper Large Background Cling, Fimo button by Jane, 

shamrock template found online, watercolour paper, Tim Holtz distressing tool, Distress Ink - peeled paint, clear embossing powder, Check ribbon by Gisela Graham, ric rac ribbon by Papermania,

Hero Arts smooth gemstones, pop dots and embroidery floss. 

I left the front of the card sentiment free but added this to the inside - an old Irish saying.  Just the perfect match to the shamrock on the front.

Thank you so much for stopping by.  Grey and wet here today... so the photos aren't as bright as I would like.