Spring Fling and Spring Chick

"I love spring anywhere, but if I could choose I would always greet it in a garden." -- Ruth Stout

Nichole Headry of Papertrey Ink and Capture the Moment has a fun spring challenge. The challenge is to choose a photograph selected by one of the designers of Papertrey Ink which is an inspiration for spring which is here now and a reason to celebrate. My inspiration came from the photograph chosen by Michelle Wooderson. To me spring means flowers-the progression of forsythia, violets, tulips, daffodils, rhododendron, azaleas, irises, roses, and summerperennials and annuals. My roses started blooming this week; the irises are ready to bloom, and it's time to replace the violets with impatiens.



I love the cottage look in this photograph with the mix of patterns. Some people call this a vintage look.







This is the card I created based on this photo.




While the colors in the photograph are softer, I went with brighter shades of Spring Rain, Hibiscus, and New Leaf. I wanted a mix of florals and polka dots along with vintage details of rickrack, embroidery, and eyelet. The floral image comes from Guidelines Two stamped in the three colors. Then I embellished with two scalloped borders to evoke the feeling of eyelet, rickrack trim, and buttons. This part of the card is layered on Spring Rain Bitty Dot Basics paper with pop dots. Both the focal point and sentiment are off center to evoke the casual feel of the photograph. Now for the sentiment. I have been wanting to try an embroidered letter since Nichole used it during PTI's April's release. I used the C from Ambassador Monogram edition and "elebrate" from "Celebrate" from Damask Designs. I followed Nichole's directions for embroidering the C. I used a ribbon label and Hibiscus twill ribbon for the sentiment.





Inside there is a narrow strip of the Bitty Dot Basics paper stamped with the small flower image from Limitless Labels in Hibiscus ink.





Looking at this card after I finished it, I was reminded of a dress my mother made for me when I was a little girl. It was reversible... blue and white stripes on one side and bright pink and white stripes on the other, and it was trimmed with black rickrack. Then I remembered my sister and I sewing blue rickrack on white curtains for the bathroom. Then I realized my first hobby was embroidery. In fact, I have my first embroidery project done before I started school ... a dishtowel with quite long, uneven stitches. Then I realized, oh my gosh! I'm vintage! I'm no spring chick(en).It's one thing to be classic; that's timeless style, but vintage...that's a synonym for old, antique. Luckily, I don't feel as old as the years dictate.

Speaking of years, 30 years to be exact, my friend and former coworker is retiring this spring after teaching for thirty years. More about this in a later post. Anyway, this card is one of several I am sending during this last month to celebrate her move to the next phase of her life.

Thanks for visiting, and I'd love to hear from you.

Cammie

Supplies:

Stamps: Guidelines Two, Limitless Labels, Damask Designs, Ambassador Monogram Edition(PTI)

Ink: Spring Rain, Hibiscus, New Leaf (PTI)

Paper: Hibiscus, Spring Rain Bitty Dot Basics (PTI)

Other: Fiskar scalloped border punches, Spellbinders Ribbon Label Trio, buttons and trim (Paper Studio), ribbon-Hibiscus twill (PTI)