Well, it hit just under 100° this week. Uggghhh - misery from heat until the end of November. I always dread this time of the year. Give me the crisp cool temps of winter any day! I have tomatoes on my plants already! My Bridlewreath plants have bloomed and passed within a week. I love those bushes! Our lilacs bloomed, too. The ducks and geese have flown over our home on their way back north.
Oh, guess what? We had an earthquake! We were watching TV when, all of the sudden, our house jolted sideways! Our lovely son, who was home from Oregon, said, "What was that?" I said, "I think the house just moved!" So, the conversation went on, and we concluded we had a minor quake. I checked the website that gives seismic activity in real time, but nothing was registering. However, when I checked the following day, there it was on the map. I love the science of Plate Tectonics. I knew by the movement we had that a plate had slipped beneath another plate as if the plate that was moving had been snagged and broke loose. When we lived in Vegas, I felt several quakes. One time, when I was teaching, I had a small reading group on the floor around my chair. I could see the carpeted floor ROLLING! Then, another time, when California had a huge quake, we felt it in Las Vegas, too. At that point, we heard it before we felt it. Our cat knew it was coming before the sound even hit! He ran to the bottom of the bed and splayed his little legs for better traction. Then, I heard the sound which was followed by the shaking of the house. I looked outside into our back yard and the water in our pool was sloshing around like a bathtub. The "waves" were so obvious that the water was spilling out over the top and onto the cool decking. That earthquake gave me pause for concern!
Now on to the good stuff. My favorite site for gorgeous flowers, Hooked on Craft, has a perfect challenge for spring. It's FLOWERS! Your challenge is to incorporate flowers into your creation. You know that it can be in the paper, elements, embossing, stamped image, embellishments - anything! The challenge runs from April 30 - May 26. What a perfect time to make that Mother's Day card! Why not go for it? Here is the prize Karen is awarding:
I'd like to share my card with you. Here it is:
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The front of the card utilizes sever die cuts from Magnolia (lamp post, fence, tag background and foreground. I used my corner die and added some matching pearls. It's hard to see, but Tilda has a basket filled with glittered fruit. The flowers, of course, are from Hooked on Craft!
I thought you might like a closeup of the "garden."
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Of course, I HAD to tuck some calla lilies in there. LOL I also took apart a stamen cluster to add individual baby flowers for additional interest. The leaves are perfect with this arrangement.
Here are the images for the card's interior:
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Once again, I've used machine stitching, die cuts, corners w/ matching pearls and a pretty little envie. Inside the envie is a sweet tag for a hidden message. You could also remove the tag and insert a gift card instead. Aren't the interior flowers pretty, too? I love, love, love the colors. Did see that burgundy calla lily? Gotta have one in every cluster! LOL
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The inside features more die cuts and another sweet Tilda. The blank space is perfect for writing a personal note.
This is how the interior looks when opened:
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Here is my flower supply list from Hooked on Craft. Just click the name of the item to go directly to the page at Hooked on Craft.
Pink Berry Head Stamen
Yellow Calla Lilies
Orange Chrysanthemums
White Chrysanthemums
Fuchsia Chrysanthemums
Cherry Blossom
Paper Rose
Fuchsia Carnation
Small Peach Carnation
Medium White Carnation
Green Linear Mulberry Leaves
Lobed Mulberry Leaves
Teeny Tiny Green Mulberry Leaves
Medium Green Mulberry Leaves
Thank you so much for stopping by! I hope you got some inspiration from my creation. I also hope you consider making a trip to "The Land Down Under" for your flower needs. These gorgeous blooms are only a click away! Hooked on Craft
XO,
Chris
I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:
My Sheri Crafts #84 - ends 5/12 - April Showers Bring May Flowers for Mum
The House That Stamps Built - DCC 425 - ends 5/8 - Card for a Woman You Love