I’ve been watching with sadness in the last three months, as two great stamp companies that I shared Design Team experience with, close their door. Today one more joins the ranks, Flourishes. Although not entirely as it may just be reborn stronger and better than ever, under new management - but frankly, without Jan Marie (the owner) and the sweet girls who helped Jan run it, it will never be quite the same any more. Today Flourishes enthusiasts join in a big farewell blog hop and although I sadly missed the sign up (I’ve been way too busy for my liking, with moving and stuff 🙁 ), I still wanted to contribute something from myself, to commemorate the amazing time I had. You can find the list of participants on the Flourishes blog.

I wanted to have a trip down the memory lane and make a card in the style I don’t do any more (but sometimes miss). Elegant layers, lots of Spellbinders, pearls. I even sponged inside the die, goodness knows when I last did that 😉 It’s a super lovely style and such cards certainly have a wow factor, but a) they can be bulky which makes handling and mailing harder, and b) they take ages to finish.

I chose a set from the last release, called Flowers for Jan. It consists of Jan Marie’s three favourite flowers and it dawned on me after the announcement on closing, why it was released just now. Unfortunately I didn’t find anywhere online where you can purchase it, it’s sold out in their store as well…
I coloured the peony with Copics:
E25, E27, Y25, Y28
BG93, BG96, G82
RV11, RV14, RV17, RV19

The Spellbinders dies used, include Vintage Lace Motifs and Fancy Weave (the latter cut in one of the MME Presh 12 x 12″ papers).

I used the following sketch from Cardabilities, to jump start my project 🙂

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I was lucky enough to sneak into my craft room in the bright of the day today, Julka hasn’t been a good napper recently but I knew she’ll have to give up on her developing insomnia sooner of later 🙂 I should have been probably doing a million other things but I started with an affair with stamps and ink, a decision I never regret - it’s a sustainer of my sanity. I know every mother can relate, hey? I made this little sumthin’ below, which started bland but ended grand. Well, at least I like it and that’s what counts 🙂

I started by stamping circles of different sizes, with various SU! inks. Then I masked the center area with a piece of vellum to soften the colours, but I let some of the circles peek out from behind. I cut several feathers with WPlus9 Fanciful Feathers dies and arranged them by stacking together & stamping over using a coordinating stamp set and white ink (also from WPlus9). I spun some twine between and around the stalks, securing it at the back with small glue dots. I finished by adding some sequins and a sentiment, part of it on a banner (Banner Trio dies) and coming from the aforementioned Fanciful Feathers stamp set, and another part stamped on the vellum and partly inked, from Defining Words. Lots of WPlus9 on this card, shows just how much I love their product 🙂
It’s hard to see on the photos, there is a subtle wash of lavender paint on the banner.

It’s no wonder that I made this card with the Trend Watch challenge in mind. I think there’s some trendiness flowing through that card of mine, whaddya think?

The other two challenges that greatly helped me lift the design off, are CTS#65 and Taheerah’s Frame It inspiration photo.

In other news:

• a new issue of Australian Cardmaking, Stamping & Papercraft magazine just hit the stands, and you can find there this little number of mine. Hope you’ll get your copy, if you haven’t yet done so! 🙂

• Something else is coming to town soon… in five days, to be exact! More info coming later 🙂

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