a nerve-wracking adventure

I had to drive to Lansing and back one day last week for a conference.  It was before it snowed, so it wasn't at all nerve-wracking, but since then I've seen some really nerve-wracking highway crash videos that do involve snow!  On the way home I saw a scene that made me think of this Lovely as a Tree stamp, and I was inspired to try to recreate it.  It really had to be done as one layer, so I'll try linking up at One Layer Simplicity, although it may not qualify there as it's not simple:

stamp sets - Six Sayings, Lovely as a Tree; ink - Soft Sky, So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Island Indigo; card stock - Whisper White; punch - 1/1/4" circle (for masks); Stampin' Sponge, sponge dauber, painter's tape

The scene turned out pretty well, I thought, pretty much as I remembered it.  Then came the nerve-wracking part - adding the sentiment.  I really didn't want the sentiment on a banner or another layer of any type, but which color would be best?  After I held swatches of all my blues against the sponged background and made a decision, what if I stamped it badly?  Aagh - I almost gave up and left it off entirely - too nerve-wracking!  Without indicating gratitude, it wouldn't qualify at One Layer Simplicity, or Paper Craft Crew  for their "give thanks" theme, or Shopping Our Stash for their "thanks" theme.  I was hoping to play along at all three sites, and I'll need a thank you card for a Stampin' Up!® order that's scheduled to arrive tomorrow, so I braved up and went for it - yay me!  I think I'm kinda in love with the Six Sayings stamp set, especially this Thankful sentiment.