Sunny, Springy, Awesome Birthday

 

I’m having a hard time staying put for long in my stamp room.  This is my first spring as a lady of leisure and I can already tell the garden is going to love me for it.  The nice thing is, I can let stamping happen when it happens and not have to hurry it, so it took me a few days to actually finish this card.  I know!  But I wanted to like the finished product and what’s the rush, anyway?  There’s plenty of time to get this in the mail for a May birthday.

I recently purchased my first ever Verve stamp set.  It’s a sentiment set which includes flowers, and you know how fond I am of both sentiments and flowers (can never have too many of either).  At the same time I purchased the coordinating word dies – another love.  The stamp set is called Simply Amazing, and the word dies are Amazing Adjectives.  So here’s my simple card that took several days to complete:

 

 

I embossed the flowers in white and watercolored with yellow, green, and blue Tombow markers.  The oval and one of the swirly die cuts were in my “card parts” stash and they helped determine the design.  I added glitter to the die cut “awesome” to make it more awesome, then put it all together with more die cut leaves and swirls and three white sequins.

 

 

The colors were inspired by this week’s Color Throwdown – yellow, blue, green, white.  It wasn’t looking likely that I was going to finish in time to link it, but I’m getting in just under the wire, sheesh.  It’s all just for fun.  I love these fresh, springy colors.

 

I’m also getting in just under the wire at Seize the Birthday.  It’s “anything goes” with an optional topping of flowers.

 

Now, off to the garden!  It’s beautifully sunny and supposed to be in the 70’s today.  If I finish my digging and transplanting soon enough I might sit under the cherry tree at the picnic table and color.  Doesn’t that sound wonderful?  Life is good!  Have a happy day!

 

Stamps:  Verve Simply Amazing  Paper:  140 lb hot press watercolor, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, CTMH, Sun Kiss Yellow, Memory Box Parsley (green), blue Bazzill  Ink:  Ranger Archival French Ultramarine, Versamark, Tombow markers for watercoloring  Accessories:  White embossing powder, sequins, Diamond Dust glitter  Dies:  Verve Amazing Adjectives, Paper Smooches Foliage 1, Frantic Stamper Trio of Swirls

Comments

[Sue Kment]

Gosh this is absolutely beautiful...this sunshine must be inspiring your inner lightness :)!!! Love the touch of glitter too! Perfecto!

[Donna Ellis]

Wow, Leslie! Are those flowers amazing or what? Love the coordinating die set to go with your new stamp set. And and and and and.... I love hearing about your garden enjoying your company, and that you are unrushed in your craft room - that's how I enjoy crafting as well, and don't ever want to be so rushed that I cannot take my usual days-and-days to complete a piece. Your card really did come out beautifully (but how could it not with your talented fingers just itching to play with something floral?) and the words describe not only a person celebrating their birthday, but how your heart feels while playing in your garden. Love you bunches, dear friend! hugs, de

[Pauline]

What a sight for an aching body! I spent all day in the garden after church, this is the first spring weekend (75F today) we have had, last weekend was cold and rainy, so it was nice to get out and clean up all the dead left from last fall. We accomplished a lot today. Anyway, on to your card. Amazingly gorgeous Leslie, and love that it took you a while to complete! How relaxing is that, no pressure at all, just complete and post when time allows. Love all the details on this, your white embossed flowers are so pretty water coloured, all the die cutting of leaves and swirls and all that sparkle on 'awesome' - totally divine. I hope you had a chance to colour under your cherry tree.

[Vickie Z]

Wonderful card!! Love Verve stamps...you need to check out all of them:) the design is perfect for these stamps/dies!! So glad you joined us at CTD!!

[Wanda Cullen]

Yay...I see you got the Verve goodies and they look fabulous!! Love the added glitter! So happy to see you in the throwdown gallery!

[Glenda]

I'm afraid I've been MIA lately. Garden and yard are calling my name. I love this card with the lovely pop of yellow. Makes me think of sunshine and how much I'm enjoying it this time of year.

[Diane Hover]

Wow...I do love those flowers, I don't own one single verve stamp..now will have to check them out (like I need some right..lol)...but these are gorgeous and I have been loving the 'yellow' colors lately!! I am so happy for you that you are able to be home now and enjoy your pretty home and flowers!! I have spent the last 3 days out and am headed out again shortly..it has been in the 80's here ( and last weekend we had snow and ice on the ground..only in Michigan where you can wear snow boots one day and flip flops the next...lol)..have fun in your gardens!!

[Conniecrafter]

This is just Beautiful, love how you layered it all and the sentiment with the shimmer of the Awesome is great!!
So good to hear you are enjoying your spring, and having the time to devote to your garden that you want too :) also glad you are still having time to share some of your beautiful creations with us too :)
Enjoy!

[Maggie S]

Wow! Stunning! Love the stamps and dies. Such sunny beautiful colors too. Enjoy that time in the garden. Bet Wally and Lulu are loving have your home. Haven't seen the fur babies in awhile!

[yogi]

very pretty. love the soft colors. Have a great day

[Julee]

This is positively gorgeous! Love that you're able to take your time and enjoy both the garden and a leisurely pace to create. Those white embossed flowers look so fabulous on this stunning card.

[Lynn Put]

Gorgeous card, Leslie! Thank you so much for playing along with us over at the Color Throwdown.

[nancy littrell]

Such a Sweet Springtime Design and color combo Leslie. I love all your diecuts, beautiful coloring of your flowers and sparkly "awesome"! TFS my friend. Hugs, nancy

[CherylQuilts]

Oh, Leslie, I LOVE this card and love the new Verve items you purchased. I have long loved their stamps and dies and especially love their Scripture sets too. These flowers are so beautiful, and I love the sparkle of the "awesome" die and the other beautiful dies! Stunning card! And how fun that you are really enjoying stamping AND loving your time in the garden. That's the Leslie I remember well when I first started following you! Hugs, sweet friend, and enjoy your day and week!

[pam]

Absolutely stunning card Leslie, pretty summery colours and beautiful flowers, love this gorgeous card layout.
Sounds like you love gardening!.
Pam x

[Darlene Pavlick]

WOW I just love this card! I find myself saying AWESOME all the time (in case you hadn't noticed) so needless to say I NEED to purchase this particular die! What an awesome creation from start to finish! MAKES ME SMILE!!! Thanks for 'awesome' inspiration my friend!! lol

[Mildred]

So happy for you Leslie. I just knew you would enjoy your retirement. And coloring outdoors in the garden, "awesome."

[Lynette]

I totally agree - I love sentiments and flowers, too! And your card is magnificent!

[Nancy Leppek]

It may be simple to you but I think it's really beautiful too! Glad you are enjoying retirement. Sometimes it takes me a day or two to create a card as well! Thanks for joining us over at Seize the Birthday!

[Linda E]

Glad to hear that you are enjoying your retirement! Must admit that I am a wee bit jealous! Love your card and all of the texture you added to this beautiful spring greeting! I bet the flowers in your garden are going to be just as pretty!