Three minute Best of Flowers

I don't think I've ever come over so floral in my life - and I'm loving it! I used to think that having a few florals in my collection would cover all eventualities but I've now realised that's like a garden planted with just one or two kinds of flowers! Secret Garden, Summer Silhouettes, Stippled Blossoms, Fabulous Florets, Field Flowers, Pleasant Poppies - they've all become firm favourites and I'm now adding Best of Flowers to the list. Today's quick card uses the gorgeous hydrangea image from the set - come and have a look:

I used an off-cut of Whisper White I'd been stamping on previously. It had some pink stamping still showing on it and I immediately saw that it could feature in a background. You'd be surprised how often your off-cuts can be turned into quick, 'arty' backgrounds!

The hydrangea stamp was inked up with Garden Green and Marina Mist markers, then the flower head was tapped with a Rich Razzleberry marker. I huffed on it, stamped it a couple of times and gave it a quick wash-over with an aqua painter. The scene was cut out with my trusty 2 1/2" circle punch and the edges roughed up and sponged before stamping with a sentiment, sprinkling with gems and mounting onto the card front.

I'm going to link this card up to Di's snippety playground where Miss will be having her work cut out getting us to keep our sun hats on this week!

Here's what you'll need for this card
Stamps: Best of Flowers, Petite Pairs
Ink: Blushing Bride, Marina Mist, Garden Green classic inks, stazon black
Card stock: Whisper White
Other: Garden Green, Marina Mist and Rich Razzleberry markers, 2 1/2" circle punch, Basic rhinestones, aqua painter, stamp-a-majig
I CAN ORDER STAMPIN' UP ITEMS FOR YOU AND HAVE THEM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR ADDRESS IN THE UK. I'M COMMITTED TO PROVIDING EXCELLENT CUSTOMER SERVICE AND AM ALWAYS HAPPY TO OFFER HELP AND ADVICE. TO FIND OUT MORE OR TO PLACE YOUR ORDER, JUST SEND ME AN EMAIL OR GIVE ME A CALL ON 01280 820593.
• It won't be long before the new annual catalogue is here and to make way for the new items some of our favourites are retiring. Click the links for lists of the STAMPS and ACCESSORIES that are retiring - some at amazing prices! Sale items are never around for long, so contact me as soon as possible to avoid disappointment.

To those ladies that asked to see my Rampaging Rector, I couldn't possibly show you pictures of my wilderness er I mean garden but I promise there'll be a photo when the roses are out and and the Rector is looking his best! In the meantime though, how about this wonderful bloom that surprised me by opening out on my birthday last week:

It's a peony which I bought for just pennies at a car boot sale three or four years ago, planted and then forgot all about because it just sat there sulking. This year it's suddenly decided it's going to be happy after all! We live in such an 'instant' society but time and time again I'm reminded that being patient really is a good plan.

Do join me again tomorrow when there'll be more floral offerings of the inky variety - and also a very special CAKE!!!