Touch Of Nature Happy Birthday Grid Card

I never got into inchies when they became popular but I really liked the grid sketch featured on the Simply Stampin' challenge blog a couple of weeks ago.  It occurred to me that it would be a great way to use multiple stamps from a set.  I thought my neglected Touch of Nature set would be a good choice and I decided to make it a square grid card with 9 squares.  I also chose to go for a distressed and shabby look to the card.

I started off by stamping images in Early Espresso ink onto Very Vanilla CS and I cut out the squares.  I then stamped a dotty stamp from the Itty Bitty Backgrounds set on the squares with Crumb Cake ink, applied So Saffron ink with a sponge dauber and edged each square with Early Espresso ink. I stamped a framed sentiment for my centre panel of the grid and I added tiny punched leaves and flowers.  I made a 5 3/4" square More Mustard card base and I arranged the squares on the front, popping up the centre panel.  I've put a tiny pearl in the centre of each flower.  I used a Nestie die to cut my squares and they measure 1 6/8" (4.5 cms) square.

I glued a Very Vanilla panel inside the card after stamping and sponging the corners and edges.  I then added the framed Best Wishes sentiment.  I really love the leafy stem stamp in the Touch of Nature set and I used it for a circular element to go on the flap of the envelope to finish off. 

Supplies:
Stamps: SU! A Touch of Nature, Frames with a Flourish & Itty Bitty Backgrounds set, 'Happy Birthday' from Waltzingmouse Stamps Say It With Style clear set, 'Best Wishes' & frame from Hero Arts Luscious Frames clear set
CS: SU! More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke & So Saffron
 Ink: SU! Early Espresso, Crumb Cake & So Saffron
Tools: Square Nestabilities die, circle punches, flower punch from SU! Itty Bitty Shapes punch pack, tiny Woodware leaf punch, Stamp-a-ma-jig, sponge daubers
Embellishments & accessories: pearls, 3d foam pads