Joan's Gardens Challenge #27

Morning all!  Hope you're off to a great start like I am!

We got some MUCH NEEDED rain yesterday and it made me happy NOT to have to go out and water everything again in hopes of keeping it alive!  It also gave me time to work on my challenge card for the current challenge at Joan's Gardens which is:

• Make a birthday card
• Use Black and pink with some green
• Use leaves 
• Have a pattern design paper for your background

Would you like to see what I came up with???

So ... what do you think??

I just love my new Kaisercraft 'The Lake House' paper pack (thanks Joan) and couldn't wait to put it to use.  What better than for this challenge ... the colors were perfect.  I have done some 'fancy cutting' around the pattern on the paper to create my background ... then used the remnant to create my homemade flower.  My sentiment panel is created by using a Memory Box 'Quinn Flourish' #98267 as a backdrop for my Inkadinkado sentiment.  The pink pearls are by Kaiser and were also purchased at Joan's Gardens. 

 My flower is homemade using the technique learned at Joan's Gardens by Selma Stevenson.  I have used the McGill 'Floral Petals' P/N 64503 punch for my petals and the PunchBunch 6 point snowflake for the stamen.  My PunchBunch flower making kit gave me all the tools needed to create this beauty.  My leaves were created using Cheery Lynn Designs 'Olive Branches' B147 and Marianne leaf LR0156 dies.  I also inked the edges of the Olive Branch leaves with Momento 'Banboo Leaves' ink before curling them with the reverse tweezers from my flower making kit.  A touch of softness was added by using organza black ribbon from Michaels and making a double bow using my Bow Easy.  All items highlighted in RED were purchased from Joan's Gardens ... be sure to check out her store ... and she has a TON of new things coming from CHA.  You'll want to see all the fun new things she'll be carrying!

Here's a quick peek at the inside.

Qualifying Challenges:
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge - Celebration
Crafts 4 Eternity - Brilliant Birthdays
Inspire Me Friday - Always Anything Goes
The Poodles Parlour - Anything Goes
The Stamp Man Challenge - Anything Goes/Celebration

Before I leave you today, I wanted to share with you the pretty flowers I picked from my front gardens before the storms came yesterday.  This little (but fragrant) bouquet is of Heliotrope, Lavender & Cone Flowers.  How wonderful it is to step out your front door and be able to put together a quick, small bouquet for your kitchen.  Always puts a smile on my face when I see fresh flowers INSIDE & OUTSIDE my home!

Have a fabulous Friday everyone and thanks SO MUCH for your time & patience.  I know I can get wordy at times ... but hey ... I have a lot to share!  LOL!