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Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Wall Hanging with Giant Flowers Cartridge :)

Happy Wednesday, my sparkly friends! I hope you're having a beautifully crafty week! :o)

I am so excited to share this little wall hanging that I made yesterday for a few challenges! (One may seem a bit out of place at first glance, but I explain it in the challenge list below!) I was extremely blessed to win the Giant Flowers cartridge from the amazingly talented (and sweet) Shelly of My Paper Love. (Thank you for the millionth time!) I wasted no time putting it to use. The hardest part was choosing which flower to make first! :o)

After much debate, I chose the lotus because of how it blossoms pure and radiant, flourishing through its muddy environment. I wrote a little passage to accompany it and to serve as a primary focal point... no need to squint, as I'll type it below! :o)
A closer view at the incredible flower:
A better look at the sentiment, which will be pretty big if you enlarge it:
Text:
Growing in faith, the love of the Lord blossoms within. Strengthened by grace, our hearts trust in the One and Only.

Amazingly, I forgot to take a side angle photograph of the flower because I was rushed this morning. :( It is exquisite! You can obviously cut these massive and larger than life, but I wanted to experiment and see how it would work on a bit of a smaller scale for this 8.5'' square wall hanging. I am thrilled with the results. Cut at 2 inches, the assembled flower measures roughly 4.25'' wide and 1.25'' high. In person, this flower is truly stunning. I inked all of the edges with Tim Holtz Victorian Velvet Distress Ink to soften the trim as well as bring more life to each petal. Most of the nine flowers include centers to cut, but the lotus does not. I chose a pretty Tim Holtz Fanciful Button that somewhat mimics its circular seeded center. Plus, the little filigree hearts work nicely with the sentiment.

Speaking of which, the sentiment was inspired by the love my sweetheart and I share. Our focus is the Lord and His perfect love, and as we grow in faith together, our love grows at the same time. It's truly a beautiful thing. :o) Desiring the passage to be a focal element, I used a Spellbinders Fleur de Lis square for the base with pearlescent, textural white paper. I inked the pink sentiment paper's edges with Victorian Velvet (as well as the main base layers), straight-stitched it to the square, and added Wild Orchid Crafts Guipure white lace as a decorative trim. Since pearls make everything better, I added a little graduating row and a few on the corners. I was going for elegant simplicity, which pearls innately achieve.

To put the sentiment and incredible flower in focus, I kept the rest of the wall hanging streamlined. I used a flourishy paper from the DCWV French Country stack to make a nice backdrop on its own. The flourishes are all sparkly, with several areas of delicate script. I added a Gypsy Wanderings flourish above the flower for a little added punch, but kept it tonal so as not to detract. I simply added a touch of Victorian Velvet Ink (I couldn't put it down!). I dolloped it with pearls because... well... I just love them. ;) I stitched around the entire base with a zig zag stitch for variety and added two filigree heart corners from Storybook. Matching Wild Orchid Crafts lace completes the bottom, which I dotted with pearls for a graceful touch. (Side Note: I love this white Guipure lace design even more than the larger, slightly different cream version I used on my last project. **swoon**)

For a pop of sunshiny warmth, I added three sparkling orange butterflies. I love how they stand out against the pink base. Two pink ones are also fluttering about, although their script bodies do not show in the pictures... they coordinate with the script on the base. The pink ones are dotted with a pearl, with one of them resting atop a pretty lotus petal. (I wouldn't be able to resist, either!) All of them are facing upward because their focus is always above... just like we strive so hard to keep our focus on the One above. I hope you like this as much as my sweetheart does... if it's not too girly, I'd love to give this to him for our anniversary since it was inspired by him and created with our anniversary in mind. He prefers when I make things with my favorite girly supplies, anyway. :o)

Challenges entered:
 * Fantabulous Cricut~ Fancy Trims
 * Go Fish Challenge Blog~ Photo Inspiration (creative use of typeset)
 * Love to Crop~ Pink, Orange, plus ONE other color (white)
 * My Sheri Crafts~ Warm Wishes! (They said we could use our imagination... to me, the ultimate warmth is heavenly love shared with my sweetheart and the thought of summery flowers. Nothing warms me better on this chilly day!)
 * Sentimental Sundays~ Let's get sentimental (focus on the sentiment)

Thank you for fluttering on by today! I wish you all a gorgeous day of blessings and smooshy hugs. :o)

Key Recipe Components:
 * Cricut cartridges: Giant Flowers, Gypsy Wanderings, Storybook
 * Spellbinders Nestabilities: Fleur de Lis Squares
 * Sentiment: Written by me
 * Paper: Bazzill, DCWV
 * Inking: Tim Holtz Victorian Velvet Distress Ink
 * Lace: Wild Orchid Crafts Guipure White
 * Button: Tim Holtz Fanciful Buttons
 * Butterfly Punch: Fiskars
 * Pearls: Recollections

Photobucket

29 comments:

  1. Wow congrats for winning that big flower die cut...
    that is one awesome flower... love all those wee butterflies flying all around the card...and what a pretty sentiment....

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  2. Beautiful flower, lovely trims and a gorgeous wall hanging. Love your comment "Our focus is the Lord and His perfect love, and as we grow in faith together, our love grows at the same time. It's truly a beautiful thing." So very true. Makes for a very strong, healthy, wonderful marriage.

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  3. You have to give me a minute, Karen...I'm at a loss for words!! Wow!! The one that keeps popping into my head is stunning!! Just when I think you can't create anything more beautiful than the current project, you create the next one that blows me away!! Love everything about this!! The lace is gorgeous!! What an amazing gift for your sweetie!!

    I hope you are having a great week my, sweet and sparkly friend!! And I hope that your family is doing well and feeling good!! You know I keep them in my prayers :) I'm off to try and buy the giant flowers cart...you have inspired me!! The lotus is beautiful!! Thank you so much for linking up at Love To Crop and at FCCB!!

    Hugs, Lisa :)
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  4. Oh Karen, i am sure your sweetheart will love this. i am always so blessed when i stop by and i am double blessed when i see you have left me a comment, you have such a way expressing your creations.. i love the way you put the "butterflies facing upward because their focus is always above... just like we strive so hard to keep our focus on the One above." You are truly an amazing person and i truly blessed by knowing you. God puts the right people into our lives at the right time.. love and hugs Sandy from ukiah

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  5. Beautiful card- I love that big flower!!! Thanks for playing at Go Fish Challenges!
    :)Amy
    Amy's Crafting Space
    Go Fish Challenges Design Team Member

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  6. Absolutely stunning my friend! You are so darn gifted and talented and so glad you share your beautiful work with us:) I love the GORGEOUS flower and the [retty lace along with that awesome sentiment. Very beautiful Karen-no surprise though..you continue to deliver! Love this! I must check into this cart:)
    Thanks for joining us in the challenge at FCCB!
    Sherrie K
    http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com

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  7. This die is wonderful and you have made really beautiful flower. Love the sentiment and a touch of decorative lace. Thanks for joining at sentimental sundays this week.

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  8. what a lovely card and great flower accent! thanks for sharing with us at My Sheri Crafts!

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  9. That flower is so gorgeous! Thanks for playing along with at Go Fish! :)

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  10. This is so incredibly beautiful - not only for the flower and wonderful frame and details, but because of the sentiment and passion behind the project. Gorgeous, gorgeous wall hanging!! May the love shared between you and your husband continue to blossom. Happy anniversary!!

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  11. AHHHHHH!!! It's incredible!!!!!!!!!!

    *needs extra puffy tissues cause I can't stop the happy tears that keep coming*

    OMJ Sunshine!!! Do you know how happy you make me? This creation is a shining exhibition of your gorgeous heart and how special God made you, sis. Your inspirational message that you wrote just for this wall hanging is so perfect...I can't stop smiling every time I read it. It captures everything that you and Sbf's and God's shared love represents. You are both so incredibly special in His eyes always, Sunshine. Everyday He loves you more and more and more because of how you forever turn your hearts to Him.

    I SO want to learn how to make a gorgeous lotus like that. *dreamy sighhhhhh* Know what else I can't stop staring at...the precious little orange butterflies. OMJ!!! I LOVE THEM!!! *hugglers them oodles and camps out with them and their happy pink friends on the lotus petals forever* SQUEEE!!!

    Do you know how much he is going to love this gift, Sunshine? It will be the best anniversary present he has ever gotten. Nothing means more than something that was made with all the sparkling love in your heart. *twirls you and dances happy lotus dance with you* SQUEEE! I LOVE THIS WALL HANGING SOOOOOO CRAZY MUCH!!!!!

    *forever squishy squishers for God's super sparkling little designer*
    ~~~Christina :)

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  12. Oooooh, look at how girly!! I love that! Know what else I love? I love that your sweet boyfriend likes getting girly things from you. That, my friend, is LOVE. *happy sigh*

    How cool is that flower? Oh my goodness! I thought I was finished with buying cartridges, but...WOW. And your butterflies - those little guys are so perfectly placed. And the LACE!!!! *swoons* That lace is perfection. So elegant.

    Of course, I have to mention the beautifully written sentiment. What a perfect way to describe how we should all face each day. You really are an inspiration, you know that? You ARE. :)

    Happy Anniversary. :)

    Hugs,

    Nita

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  13. Absoluteky gorgeous Karen! thanks for joining My Sheri Crafts.
    Charlotte

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  14. just beautiful. It is a ray of sunshine! Your flower is wonderful and I love the placement of the lace. It seems you have made many people happy with your blog post and that is a wonderful thing - a blessing. Thanks for coming over to SENTIMENTAL SUNDAYS. LUV Samara

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  15. Karen, This is breathtaking! I find it AMAZING what you do with paper... The lace, the butterflies, the paper, the stitching, are all just magnificent, however the inspiration behind this pure JOY and the sentiment are just as beautiful as can be. Just an absolutely lovely gift!
    Have a WONDERFUL night!
    Shelly

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  16. This card is beautiful!! I LOVE that flower!! So elegant!!
    Thanks For Playing with us @ FCCB!!
    TFS!! Take Care!!
    Jennie @ http://earthyscrap.blogspot.com/

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  17. WOW!! Yours is the first project I've seen made with Giant Flowers -- and it's breathtaking! Love your fancy trims, too. Thanks for joining us this week at Fantabulous Cricut!

    Jessica
    FCCB DT
    http://cricutafterdark.blogspot.com

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  18. Hi Karen,
    I have something for you at my blog...please stop by and grab it:) Have a great wknd my friend!
    Sherrie K
    http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com

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  19. Hi Karen - after you stop by Sherrie's blog...stop by mine!! :)

    Have a wonderful weekend my friend!! :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  20. This is truly gorgeous. I love your sentiment. I'm your newest follower and subscriber.
    http://cricutmimi.blogspot.com

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  21. Like I said before..GORGEOUS card! Thanks so much for linking this beautiful card up at Go Fish challenge:)
    Sherrie K
    http://sherriescraps.blogspot.com

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  22. Just wanted to stop by and tell you that i have thought of your "butterflies" that are always facing upward because their focus is always above... so many many times this past week, it has kept me looking up instead of looking at the circumstances around me. (well it took me awhile to get my focus up, but thinking of your "butterflies" have been a blessing. Thank you my friend... hugs from ukiah

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  23. Well my friend, i am sure you are going to be getting this from LOTS of people, but i just had to give it to you, thank you for being you... you are such an amazing friend. hugs

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  24. I just wanted to stop by and tell you how much your comments mean to me, Karen!! You are so sweet and genuine and I truly value your friendship!! You simply sparkle!! Hugs my sweet friend :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  25. As always you have made a beautiful project. The papers are lovely, the flower is beautiful, and the sentiment is perfect. I love the butterflies, seeking the light from above. Isn't it wonderful to have a sweetheart that has your same desires for our Father.

    After your other visits please also come by my blog for an award from me too!

    Hugs, Pam
    http://craftycards4u2.blogspot.com/

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  26. OMG Karen your card is just so Gorgeous. I just love everything about it. Thank you so much for joining us over at GoFish! Challenge . Hope to see you again.

    Hugs,
    Kate

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  27. Karen, this is simply MARVELOUS!! I love how delicate and beautiful your card is -- Absolutely BEAUTIFUL!! :)

    I'm tickled PINK that you joined the Challenge at Love To Crop!! Thanks so much for sharing your talent!! :)

    Amy :) at www.lovetocrop.com

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  28. Karen, sometimes my fingers move faster than my brain!! I think your wall hanging is delicate and beautiful (and I apologize for saying card)!! :)

    Thanks again!!
    Amy :) at www.lovetocrop.com

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  29. Oh Karen, this turned out just beautifully! What a sweet wall hanging to remind you and your sweetheart about the foundation of your love, just makes my heart smile :) Each detail is so pretty and that flower is beautiful!

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Thank you for leaving some love! Have a beautifully blessed day. :o)

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