Happy Monday, friends! Once I’ve got this day under my belt it’s only four more Mondays till retirement! Can you tell I’m a little obsessed with the idea of it? These last weeks I feel as if I’m on hold or autopilot or something. So many things need doing, but I can’t seem to dive into anything. I’m just waiting. Waiting to exhale, I guess.
Today I’m sharing a little something I prepared for a friend on her birthday. At our local farmer’s market I picked up some lavender soap and a lavender sachet, then made my own quick and easy packaging and a card to match. I’ll be posting this on the Dies R Us Inspiration Blog today, as well. I used only one die set, but it made a whole lot of pretty!
These very sweet and feminine dies are found in the Spellbinders Elegant Ovals set. I have a particular fondness for ovals, and I especially like something with a solid center onto which I can stamp and color an image. However, in this case I layered the ovals and cut out and popped up my stamped images. The stamp set I used is Power Poppy’s Lavender with an “O happy day” from another Power Poppy set.
If you love dies as I do, treat yourself to a little window shopping at Dies R Us. Browse their huge selection and build your wish list, then take advantage of their low prices and shipping rates once you’ve narrowed down your choices. That’s the hard part – narrowing it down. Have a happy day!
Leslie, what an amazing gift. Your friend will be so blessed to receive this. Beautiful, gorgeous all wrapped in one. Love everything about this set, your images are coloured beautifully, love all the die cutting as well, and that bit of stamping along the bottom of the card, so pretty. And the fussy cutting of the lavender - fabulous! On another note - 4 more Mondays - gosh I can still remember when you told us a year ago, and now it's almost here!! Thanks for sharing such a beautiful project. Enjoy your day.
Posted by: Pauline | 07/13/2015 at 04:06 AM
Stunning...a beautiful gift set...wow...I love it...I grow lavender in my kitchen garden and can almost smell the fragrance on this beautiful card!! Gorgeous, gorgeous project! You will be "free" before you know it and will probably drive yourself nuts trying to figure out just what to do first..LOL!!
Posted by: Diane H | 07/13/2015 at 05:29 AM
WOW it sure did make a lot of pretties!!! Your friend is going to be in tears when she receives this beautifully designed gift set! SO CREATIVE and BEAUTIFUL!
I can imagine how excited you are for the next 4 weeks to go by quickly (and they will!). It won't be long before you are asking yourself "How did I ever have time to work?!" LOL Thanks for sharing your amazing talent with us! HUGS & Happy Day to you my friend!
Posted by: Darlene Pavlick | 07/13/2015 at 07:36 AM
Beyond awesome!!! WAY beyond!!! It's really too gorgeous to use! Ha ha
Posted by: Sherri Dean | 07/13/2015 at 08:11 AM
OH THAT'S SUCE A PRETTY SET. Love Lavender. Have a great day
Posted by: Yogi | 07/13/2015 at 08:15 AM
OMG! I love this set. It's in one of my favorite colors as well. I'm sure you friend will love it. Such a great idea - thanks for sharing! The countdown has begun!!!!
Posted by: Nancy C. | 07/13/2015 at 08:37 AM
I need more dies! I don't own anything frilly and fussy, I bought one once and it took too long to poke the holes out of the diecut so I sold it! I'm an instant gratification girl I guess! So! I love the smell of Lavender! It's my favorite next to chocolate chip cookie dough for sure! Ha no really!
Posted by: Patti Willey | 07/13/2015 at 09:14 AM
Oh my this is such a lovely gift set, your friend is going to be so thrilled with it. Wonderful coloring of the lavender and the framing with the ovals are gorgeous, they do have beautiful dies that's for sure!
Posted by: Conniecrafter | 07/13/2015 at 12:31 PM
What a lovely set and I love the idea! Hope you don't mind if I use this idea for a couple of neighbor ladies! Great use of those dies!
Posted by: Glenda | 07/13/2015 at 12:34 PM
Beautiful gift set, Leslie! I enjoy DRU too! Counting down the days with you. xo
Posted by: Donna Ellis | 07/13/2015 at 02:42 PM
And five Mondays from today you will be sitting and relaxing and wondering why you did retire sooner! Can't wait for that for you, wonderful feeling! Gorgeous colors and coloring, love how you've wrapped the soap, too pretty to use!
Posted by: Tammy Hair | 07/13/2015 at 03:35 PM
Oh, Leslie, you must be beyond excited with the countdown!! I remember I was...and you will have a BIG exhale...and then feel a little strange. But that will pass quickly...LOL! What a beautiful and fragrant gift! It's stunning with this great set, and your fussy cutting is perfection, along with your gorgeous coloring. I love the sweet little wrapper for the soap along with the little "bag" for it. And the card is simply beautiful with this gorgeous focal image being the "main thing." And with the lavender seam bind, cording, and tissue, wow, what a feminine and pretty gift!! Hugs, sweet friend! Counting down with you!!
Posted by: CherylQuilts | 07/13/2015 at 03:54 PM
Gorgeous dies and stamps and coloring! What a lucky friend! The next five weeks are going to go so fast, and then you can "get on with your life!" :)
Posted by: Lynette | 07/13/2015 at 05:13 PM
Oh my word! This is stunning! First of all, I love, love, love the color Purple! This image is gorgeous and what you have done with it using the dies is just beyond amazing! If I send you my address, you could send it to me. ;)
I am so jealous that you are getting to retire so soon. I have finally decided that I'll follow suit at the end of 2017. It's still some time off, but at least I have a date to shoot for - there is a light at the end of the tunnel.
Posted by: Margaret Schoener | 07/13/2015 at 08:53 PM
What a beautiful gift for your friend! She is going to LOVE it! The layers of die cuts are so pretty behind the bucket of flowers. And, oh my gosh, you really did cut out every single one of those flowers! You must have some super steady hands and tons of patience. Congratulations on that upcoming retirement!
Posted by: Cheryl Lea | 07/13/2015 at 10:25 PM
Leslie, this is the sweetest ensemble--perfect for lavender! Your friend will adore it. :-)
Posted by: Debbie Olson | 07/16/2015 at 09:55 AM
What gorgeous, thoughtful gifts, Leslie! I LOVE the Lavender stamp set. It was my very first Power Poppy set long ago. You will love, love, love retirement!! Congratulations, Leslie! ♡
Posted by: Dawn Y. | 07/17/2015 at 11:48 AM
Anytime you want to surprise me with a beautiful set such as this, I'll be beyond thrilled. Absolutely over the top! You have such amazing talent...blessed you are. Congrats on your soon-to-be retirement. Enjoy every minute!
Posted by: Rebecca H | 07/17/2015 at 07:48 PM
Oh my gosh! These are the kind of pretty things I want in every room of my house. Love, love and I can smell the lavender.
Posted by: Gail | 07/21/2015 at 02:51 PM