Simple Card Saturday and Paper Smooches SPARKS DT call - Congratulations

Happy Saturday, everybody! I hope you all had as wonderful a week as I did. I've felt so honored and blessed recently, first with the April guest designer spot at Paper Smooches, then making the Design Team at CAS-ual Fridays. And, just a few days ago, I got 3 (yep. Count 'em. 3) requests for publication in the September issue of CARDS magazine. I haven't seen my work in print yet, and won't until August, but between August and September, I will have a total of SIX projects posted. I seriously cannot wait! I really hope my luck continues as I apply for the Paper Smooches SPARKS DT. This is my second entry for that call, as well as my simple card for today. Here is the inspiration photo I used:So, with inspiration photos and sketches, I usually do a pretty literal translation. I'm trying not to be so literal and give myself a little more freedom. I guess I can't really help the way that something inspires me, but I'm going to try to think a little more outside the box and outside my comfort zone, at least as it relates to the photo. I made this card without having the picture in front of me (usually I pull it up on my laptop and refer back to it several times during the card-making process). I didn't do that this time. Instead, I tried to evoke a sense of what inspired me about the photo when I last looked at it a couple days ago. This was, of course, after I pulled out a puffy pink felt onesie embellishment (to do my whole literal thing), and it just wasn't quite right. I remembered feeling inspired by the darker pink color of the onesie, the lovely fabric adorning the top, the pop of green, and the baby theme. That's when I arrived at this paper yummy:
I really love just how SWEET this card turned out. I paper-pieced this adorable flower stamp from Pebbles Inc., and the sentiment is from the Paper Smooches Simply Said set. I LOVE just how crisply the sentiment stamped (which can be said for all Paper Smooches stamps!). I added a tiny button, machine stitching, a big feminine eyelet ribbon at the top, and some dainty little scalloped strips to the top and bottom. Here's a close-up of that adorable flower:

I'm playing along here:

Crafty Creations Challenges #165: Flower Power

Little Red Wagon Spring Colors Challenge

Lily Pad Cards Flowers Challenge

Pile It On #15: All About S (sewing, scallops, stamping)

The Ribbon Carousel Challenge 48: Sketch (I flipped it)

Simon Says Stamp Challenge: April Showers Bring Spring Flowers

The Pink Elephant TPE143: Flowers

The Pixie Cottage Challenge 116: Paper Piecing

Stampin' Sisters in Christ Challenge 134: Make a Joyful Card - Something Celebratory

Thanks for looking!

Supplies: cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (natural); patterned papers: KI Memories (green gingham), Echo Park (dark pink dots), DCWV (light pink dots), stamps: Paper Smooches (sentiment), Pebbles Inc. (image); ink: Tsukineko; scallop edge punch: Martha Stewart; ribbon: Offray; button: American Crafts; sewing machine: Kenmore; thread: Singer