Blog Hopping Through the Decades

Welcome to Flourishes' Birthday Blog Hop Celebration!  We're hopping through the decades in honor of Flourishes owner Jan Marie's birthday -- not just with a party and blog hop, but with a special stamp set created in honor of her day!  Let Them Eat Cake was designed by artist Becky Fleck with a Marie Antoinette flair and, just in case you wondered, it's now available here in the Flourishes Store!

Would you like to win our new set?  Well... if you've just arrived here out of the blue, you'll want to go back to the Flourishes Newsletter to start at the beginning and read up on how you can accomplish that.  If you're in the process of hopping along, you should have arrived here from Maki's blog.  We've time traveled through the 40s, 50s, and 60s and now we're in the 70s.

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If you remember the 70s well, or even if you're just curious and have a moment to spare, you may enjoy reading along.  Otherwise, there's always the option of skipping to the end...

I chose this decade because it's one that always stays fresh in my memory.  It's the decade I moved out on my own, met and married the man I'm still married to, and gave birth to my son.  It was a momentous time in my life; the beginning of a wonderful journey.

When I think of 70s style, I think of bell bottoms and hip huggers (now called flares and low rise).  I remember hideously loud indoor-outdoor carpeting.  Avacado Green and Harvest Gold appliances.  Living room walls painted with bold graphics in orange and green.  Bathroom tissue in colors to match your decor.  Shag carpets.  Blacklight posters.  Beaded curtains.  Oh, my!  I could go on and on!  So, here we have an absolutely delightful stamp set, and when I sat down to create in the style of my most familiar and beloved decade, I simply couldn't see these dainty little images in 70s terms.

Finally, I got out one of my old scrapbooks, searching for inspiration, and this is what I eventually wound up with:

Yes, for the first year or two of the 70s I had blacklight posters and beaded curtains.  Later I had orange open-weave draperies and some of that hideous indoor-outdoor carpeting.  At different times, I had all of the things mentioned above, except my wall graphics were bold chocolate and white stripes ('70-'71 to go with the posters and beaded curtains -- hey, I was very young!).  But when I looked through the '70s scrapbook (what a trip that was!) I found mostly colors and styles that appeal to me, still.  I've obviously never been very trendy. 

This is the photo that inspired my card.

By 1974 we were living a quiet rural life with two cats and two dogs in a little cottage on 40 acres.  There were lizards in the shower, and frogs hopped in under the front door on rainy nights.  We had a fireplace that barely kept out the cold, and we kept one room closed off at all times.  It was like a cavern and I was barely acquainted with it.  Our water system froze in the winter, dried out in the summer, and clogged up with decaying leaves in the fall.  We had no TV, no phone, and only one car (yes, it was a Volkswagon bus) which my husband drove to work.  It was utterly idyllic.  When we received the happy news of my pregnancy in 1974, we moved back to civilization.  In this photo I was four months along.

Oh, my gosh, was I ever skinny!  98 lbs to be exact.  I used to count potato chips to try to gain weight  It's the little hippie mini-dress (sewn by your's truly) that led me to these BasicGrey papers and colors (as close as I could come).  I used the Spellbinders Labels Four Nesties because of their resemblance to the material's print.  The image was colored with Copics, the cherry on top is done up in Stickles glitter, and the flower is a Prima.

By the way, contrary to appearances and the sound of things, I was not a little hippie girl.  I wore make up and styled my hair and loved to shop.  I clearly remember when this photo was taken, I was fresh from a pampering bath oil soak in the tub... candlelight... Sheherezade on the stereo...sigh...  I really haven't changed much inside, but this 21 year old girl bears little physical resemblance to whoever that is in the photo up there at the top of my blog.

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This is the part you will have skipped to if you're pressed for time or are just here for the hoppin'.

To be eligible to win the Let Them Eat Cake stamp set, you must leave a comment on this post, as well as every other post in the hop.  Your next stop is Barbara's blog.

Take it easy!  Don't let the sound of your own wheels make you crazy (more 70s flashbacks).

Comments

[ChristineCreations]

Oh Leslie! Look at your sweet self! I love your idyllic description of your 1970's!

And I love how your transferred that to the card! So fun!

[Barbara]

Wow, Leslie!! What an awesome take on your inspiration piece. That image is colored beautifully!

[Cindy Haffner]

Very yummy Leslie.

[Dee Jackson]

Oh Leslie!! I just love reading your stories and seeing pictures of your inspiraton. As always your coloring is flawless and gorgeous!!

[Julie Koerber]

Oh I am giggling! Leslie, you are a cutie patootie then... and now! What a fun story and fun visuals remembering those days gone by (lizards in the shower?? really? And, frogs in the house???)! Love the card too --- I see that 70s style loud and clear! :-)

[Peggy Allen]

Nice artsy cupcake and card. God bless!

[jengd]

I love your card... and the story/inspiration to go with it! Sounds wonderful!

[Deena]

Wow, what a wonderful photo to have of yourself! I remember my parents having the orange curtains and the green counter top...oh my...love your inspired card!!
smiles,Deena

[Robbin Clements]

I remember these colors!!!

[Makiko Jones]

Wow!! Leslie, You and your card totally ROCK! Those colors are so 70's!! I love how you colored the cup cake. Beautifully detailed!!
The photo is so sweet. I think my daughter would love to have the dress :):)

[Toni Storie]

I think you have captured the 70's for sure! I was born in the 70's and remember all of these things. I live in an old farmhouse now that has not been completely updated. Remnants of the 70's are still here with my avacado toilet and sink in the master bath and orange, blue and red carpet upstairs:)

[Latisha]

Look at you hot stuff!!
Love your card, it is fabulous!

[Linda]

I can still see you in that girl:)) Great card....love that awesome sentiment too! xL

[~Carolyn]

LOVE your inspiration and story! Oh, and the card is as pretty as the girl! I think some of the colors and designs of the 70s have made their way back in a "modernized" way. Love your dress, I can see it could be reinterpreted for today.

[GrannyCharlotte]

Leslie: I'm right there with ya. I remember the 70s very well. Graduated high school in 1970 and set out to brave the world on my own. Enjoyed reading your blog and look forward to seeing more of your designs. Thanks for sharing and by the way - love the card!!

[Laurie P.]

Thanks for sharing your trip down memory lane, Leslie. It brought back a few memories of my own - the 70's were a fun decade! I love your card, and I'm really loving the new stamp set and the great designs everyone is creating with it. Way to go!

[Laurie]

Great dress! Your card is soooo perfect for the 70's.

[Candi]

What memories your card brought back and loved your story too!

[Karen W]

How fun and what a neat card. This new set is just wonderful!!

[Ret Cudmore]

Hi Leslie! Happy Birthday! What a wonderful idea, I love this & your 1970's soul!! Your coloris is awesome as usual!!!
Enjoy!

[Beth Greco]

Wooot Wooot to the 70's!! Harvest Gold, Avacado Green and what was the orange colour called?? Anyone remember the little fibre optic lights that came up through a straw and hung over arched down like an umbrella, glowing a little light at the end of each piece? I can't remember what it's called but my Mom and Dad had one!!

Great job with your card too! That cherry looks delish!!

My DD would also love your dress.

[Chupa]

Hahaha I enjoyed your story! Wonderful inspired card, love all this detail!

[m&m'sgrandma]

What a cute picture! I love what you did with the colors for this card. I had my 1st child in the 70's also and boy do I remember those clothes. Great Job and a lovely card.

[Diane Hov]

Loved reading your description of the 70's! My first born was in 1972 (yikes~am I really that old), but it was a fun time...funny how we all have moved on.....we lived in a 2 room apartment at first, and remember my first cooked meal, macaroni and cheese out of a box (hmmm..I STILL do that)...great memories...thanks for sharing! Love the card...a great take on the dress.....!!

[Jan Marie]

Leslie, my friend this is wonderful. I so remember the 70's. My first apartment was harvest gold and avacado...arg what were we thinking?
Thanks for sharing you sweet walk down memory lane...we have more in common than you could imagine! Thanks you for making this day so special.

Jan Marie
1flourish

[Lynda K]

Oh! I so remember the 70's...I too had an avocado green, orange and harvest gold living room...with a VERY bold graphic wallpaper in the very same colors. Great card based on your colorful outfit!

[Joni Mastronardi]

Ohhh! I love your photos. Great card!

[Carol Ballinger]

Thank you for sharing. Those are great memories and you made a gorgeous card.

[Bev]

Enjoyed your 70's memories! We were married in '61, first daughter in '63 and second in '70, so yes, I remember all those things. Great card for your decade!

[StampinCathy]

WOW! This is one amazing and inspiring card. I just love your take on this picture. The colors are fabulous.

[yvonnew]

Your card is wonderful but,your story was the best I so enjoyed reading it!

[Betty McCommon]

Amazing copy of the inspiration. Yummy!

[Gabriela (Gabi With An Eye)]

I sure enjoyed the trip down Memory Lane as I wasn't too far behind myself. Wow man, déjà vu! (said in my best 'stoned" voice). P.S. I love your card and your photo. Adorable 21 year old girl.

[Lillian Child]

Your background paper reminds me of a couch that we had back in the 70's - fabulous!

[Stacy SCS Twinshappy]

This is awesome Leslie! Perfect take on the 70's! Oh my goodness that little dress is too yes 70's hee hee... I like the picture of you and you are not much bigger than the photo now missy. Don't even try telling me different. I was born in 74, so your son is about the same age as me. You are a young mom. :0)

[Cindy Lawrence]

Oh Leslie, I LOVED taking this trip down memory lane with you! You were beautiful then, and you are beautiful NOW, my friend! Your card is spot ON and gorgeous! I love that fancy gold swirly design on the flower and your gorgeous coloring on the cupcake! You did an amazing job! :)

[Silke Ledlow]

Check it out....love your trip back down memory lane...so fun Leslie!!! Awesome photo of yourself!!! Your card is gorgeous and your touch of the 70's is perfect!!! Hugs ~S~

[Charlette Finley]

Leslie loved your card and the cupcake was colored beyond beautiful. The colors are just great. Loved reading your story. Have a great day.

[sundayshine]

I love the dress and the card. The colors you used were great.

[mt23stamper]

'70s lower third horizontal stripes completed most everything in boot cut and wider plus colors generally were lighter at the top and dark to darker at the bottom...well done, Leslie! Now, a most H - Bday to Jan Marie! mt23stamper

[Laura (scrapnextras)]

Oh my, I remember those days well! I recall we had a couch with big brown and orange flowers, oh it was a beauty! Fabulous trip down memory lane, and a glimpse of you! Gorgeous card Leslie!

[Dru Cabral]

Loved your story Leslie - I can definitely relate!! Your card is unique and gorgeous!!

[sandra]

I remember those colors and styles ... not sure I would be as tolerant if my 14 year old put a dress on that short!
Thanks for the inspiration!
Sandra

[JenMarie]

Super cute yummy~ness!!

[L. Brown]

Beautiful card! Love the colors.

[Denise Morgante]

Fabulous colors on this card. Great job!!

[Lynette]

Awesome card, and I loved reading your account of the 70's. We must be just about the same age. :)

[Dawn Burnworth]

This is so fun Leslie.. I love the way you used your photo as your inspiration.. You did a great job.. Such perfect colors.

[Renkata]

Great inspiration photo.
I love you card. Very beautiful colour combo.

[Emily Keaton]

Wow! You've definitely nailed the bohemian 70s with this card! Just love that Let Them Eat Cake set :)

[yogi]

the stamp set is fabulous - and yes would really really be nice to win. BIG GRIN
Thanks for the trip down memory lane. I also loved the 70's and the 60's, and I'm seeing my parents home in my mind, exactly as you described it with the shag carpets, see through woven orange type curtains, those colored fridges. Sheesh.
Happy Birthday Jan Marie

[Kathy]

Reminds me of all the avocado coloring of the 70's! Great card!

[Stepahnie]

Do I have to remeber these colors?!? I think this era is one of the reason I hate green and gold. lol

[Karen]

Love, love, love you story, and your picture, and your dress. What fun to visit that part of your past. I also love your card. The colors are gorgeous. My daughter would be so proud that you were listening to Sheherazade during your pampering time. TFS a part of you. Oh, the 70's. Three of my four children were born in the 70's. Good times!

[Susan G]

Great job with this card! Your story brought back so many memories. I was married in '70--also still am with that same guy--and two boys born in '76 and '78. And we had those avacado appliances and wild colors, too. And wasn't this the era of hot pants and go-go boots? I remember wearing those in my slimmer days.

[Rose-Marie Gross]

Wonderful card, and thanks for the memories. I had all but blocked out the memory of that shag carpet! Don't forget the mushroom shaped canister set too!

[Jeanette]

Yup, that's the 70's....not my favorite...I was a teen during that time and those terrible colors....burnt orange....Oi!

I do like the pretty purple posie!

Thanks for the memories.

[buzzy]

Thanks for the story... it made the card more meaningful!

[Kate]

Great stories about living through the 70's. Love the card you made with the background paper and the diecuts.
Aloha, Kate

[Cheryl]

I can certainly identify with this era - my family life now also started then. Beautiful card as usual. Would love to win this set.

[TishSch]

You nailed the 70's on that card, I knew without reading a word yet what decade you were doing! I enjoyed your story. I too remember the avocado, gold, and orange. And that shag carpet, oh my! And didn't you look 'happenin' in that dress! I thought you did a great job on matching the colors, the shapes, etc. of the 70's!

Tish
a/k/a GaMtnScrap

[Joyce (Ashjoy)]

I so agree, let's have dessert first!

[Marie St. John]

lol...great stories and picture. Love the card - I remember a flame-print (polyester, of course!)shirt of the colors that you chose.

[Michelle A.]

Very beautiful card. I love your picture from the 70's. I loved that decade.

[Velta]

Oh you had me laughing at this one Leslie...sry that I am # 65 took me longer to get here. Yes I remember the Avacado Green and Havest Gold...too funny...As for you card, you couldn't have matched that photo better...TFS!!

[Shirley N]

Beautiful coloring and great story.

[silvia haynes]

Great card!! LOVED your story!!

[Gloria Westerman]

You took me back for sure....and I think if anybody pulls out their 70's it would be the same....skinny and all the colors.....don't forget the baby doll night shirts.....

[Ana]

OMG
that's my year
and I have pictures to prove it
lol
love your card

[Michelle]

I love your card and the way you have coloured the image is beautiful! The papers are very cute too! Well done and thanks for sharing!

hugs
Michelle
x

[Angela R.]

love the card, love the story of the photo even more!

[Cherie]

Leslie, I love your card! Your story brought me to tears! TFS!

[Linda C.]

Totally 70's cool!

[Cindy Tucker]

Oh Leslie, your memories parallel my memories, thanks for the smile ;) Your card captures the colors and style just as you wanted. You did a great job! Thanks for the delightful trip.

[Traci Starkweather]

Wow! I think that dress is amazing. I think I had one just like it! I love the way your background piece matches the dress, just as you intended. The card is beautiful. The cupcake looks scrumptious!
That flower is totally cool! lol

He IS Able,
Traci S.

p.s. Everyone seems to remember the harvest gold...my stove and bathroom are still harvest gold! Sad but true! LOL

[Anna]

Perfect 70's colors

[stampmonkey]

How fun reading your trip down memory lane! And your dress-inspired card is so 'hip'! ;) tfs

[erin allport]

really nice work! love the colors!

[Sylvia Johnson]

Love your card and your stories. I am also a 70's girl.

[sheng]

I love how you used your pic to inspire you. The colors are wonderful and so is your card.

[sunny]

Love how you used your dress as an inspiration for you. I totally see it. Greatly done.

[Karen Linarez]

Wow, you did a great job of taking us back to the colors of the 70's. And, the "Spellbinders Label" diecut really does match the print in your dress. Good job! I was just a teen in the 70's and remember all those things!

[Elaine Moore]

Leslie, I wouldn't have missed this trip down memory lane with you for anything!! We could have been related - giggle. Oh - great card too! Happy Birthday Jan Marie!

[Cam]

What a great card for the 70s. I had those "beautiful harvest gold" appliances in my first home. I was so proud of them.

[Lesley at Grenouille Greetings]

A beautifully coordiinated card and your cupcake is coloured to perfection! Lovely! Warmest wishes, Lesley

[Peggy]

Leslie- What a trip down memory lane! I SO enjoyed your story. When I first got to your blog, before reading a thing, I scrolled to the card and immediately thought of those Harvest Gold and Avocado appliances I bought. (Did I really???) So I knew exactly which decade you were in!! But the story to go with the card was a nice journey. Thank you for sharing. And a happy birthday to Jan Marie!

[Mary Anne K.]

I love the touches of purple that you have added! It's lovely!

[Jessica]

Beautiful card. You did a wonderful job getting your cupcake to coordinate with that yummy background paper.

[Linda]

I love the cupcake. I am wondering how you made that gold design on the lower left corner?

[Cheryl Sablotny]

Boy does this 51 year old know how you feel....lol! Great card.....love the background layers! The icing on your cupcake looks delicious!

[Conniecrafter]

neat to hear of your time through the 70's, your card is very cool too!

[Betty]

This is so fabulous, Lesley! Thanks for posting a picture of you, too! A dressed designed by you for card inspiration over 30 years later! WOW! How cool is that?! Love the calico kitty, too! Beautiful!

[tera]

Love the card - I remember the 70's well - started high school in the late 70's but remeber the red/white and blue dress I made for 4-H in 1976.....

[Christy B]

Fantastice card...you matched that photo perfectly!

[Pam Tatko]

Love it,, looks like you spent a lot of time on it and so worth it!

[Lori M]

Life is short and all these beautiful cards are making my mojo go crazy, not to mention I'm hungry for cake now!

[Carol]

I love your card... and the story/inspiration to go with it! How it brings back memories of those days.

[shruti]

love the cup cake.. and the flower is awesome.....

[Stephanie Smith]

Love your rich colors in this card.

[chris]

I love the color combo. Perfect for a young adult!