Hello beautiful March! I love this time of year and am certainly in the mood for spring. While creating my projects for today's Papertrey Ink Sr. Team post, I had warmer weather and some spring blooms on my mind. This winter has seemed a tad longish to me :).
(photo from Pretty Zoo)
My inspiration for my projects using the Friends 'Til the End stamp set comes from the above photo. Gosh, I keep looking at it and love, love, love it. It was just what I needed in order me to know what direction to go with my stamping.
Paper-piecing is one of my most favorite ways to stamp and so I pulled out several coordinating patterned papers from Papertrey Ink and combined them into making one flower. I used paper from Damask Designs, Happy Spots, In Bloom, Road Trip, and Sweet Symphony collections.
I needed small leaves for my flower and turned to the Sweet Life dies, some Limeade Ice and vintage trim. The center of my flower is embellished with a blossom from the Pansy collection.
I loved how the letters in the inspiration photo were mixed colors, so I inked up my sentiment stamp using Melon Berry, Spring Moss, and Aqua Mist to stamp the first part of my sentiment. I then used the Headline Alphabet Die along with Classic Kraft, Limeade Ice, Melon Berry, Aqua Mist, and Harvest Gold felt.
My tag uses the larger flower from the Friends 'Til the End stamp set and the same paper-piecing technique. I used the Tag Sale #2 die and Rustic Cream cardstock. The sentiment is stamped along the edge of the tag in Dark Chocolate ink.
I pulled out my Lovely Layers die collection and vintage trim to cut a second layer for my flower and topped it with a blossom from the Orchid collection. The tag is attached to a small glassine bag dressed up with tissue trim and a bit of burlap. Tags are so much fun to personalize and a perfect way to make a package extra special. The scrunched seam binding used on my tag can be found at Craft Spot.
Thanks so much for visiting today. The other Sr. Team members have some lovelies ready to share with you on their blogs as well.
Melis
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Beautiful set and the perfect way to kick off the month of March!
Posted by: Patty O'Malley | March 01, 2013 at 04:33 AM
Love your card and tag, Melis. You've incorporated so many goodies I'm going to have to take another look!! The 'patchwork' flower and the mutlicoloured "friend' sentiment are so much fun!!
Posted by: Karen Corbett | March 01, 2013 at 05:05 AM
Oh my gosh what a cool idea! Thanks so much for sharing!!
Posted by: Linda Hopton | March 01, 2013 at 05:23 AM
This is so creative and FRESH, love it!!
Posted by: Diane Jaquay | March 01, 2013 at 05:43 AM
Paper-piecing is back! I have not done that in a long time. Your cards are lovely and I need to revisit my stamps and to some piecing myself.
Posted by: Bobbie Duran | March 01, 2013 at 05:53 AM
Oh, Melissa, you never cease to amaze me with your lovely designs! The unique flowers you've designed are absolutely beautiful. Kudos for working your magic again. Thanks so much for sharing such wonderful inspiration!
Posted by: Judy F. | March 01, 2013 at 06:01 AM
Oooooh and aahhhhhh and I want to try this idea though I didn't have this die or stamp. Lovely!
Posted by: Jodi e | March 01, 2013 at 06:27 AM
Well Melissa, this is a perfect way to use this stamp. Perfect papers, perfect colors, dies, textures and embellishments. Simply perfection!
Posted by: Nancy Penir | March 01, 2013 at 06:38 AM
Your card and tag are just beautiful. Any tips on your paper piecing technique? I wouldn't have a clue how to start. Yours seems to match so perfectly. Did you use only scissors or is there a die? Thanks for your wonderful creations today.
Posted by: BeverlyBL | March 01, 2013 at 07:06 AM
Ah-MAZ-ing! So in love with this project Melissa! Can't wait to create my own version of this - just realized I don't own the die set (HOW did that happen?!) but LOVE it!
Posted by: Donelle U | March 01, 2013 at 07:21 AM
You are always such an inspiration! Love, love, love this card - for some reason it reminds me of my old "holly hobby" days. Only much more sophisticated. :-) Stunning!!!!!!!! Your eye always seems to envision the perfect die cut to use to embellish with and reflect the nature of the project
Posted by: Roxanne | March 01, 2013 at 08:16 AM
What a wonderful card and tag! Love the paper pieced flowers! Just so beautiful!
Posted by: Jill norwood | March 01, 2013 at 08:38 AM
I agree winter has been long and I'm ready for spring! Your sweet card and tag have put me in the mood for pretty blooms!
Posted by: Lisa | March 01, 2013 at 11:38 AM
So creative! You are NOT a lazy crafter, that's for sure. The detail in every one of your projects is totally amazing. Love this.
Posted by: Diana K | March 01, 2013 at 01:17 PM
What a simply fabulous card! The colors are so pretty. The pieced flower is eye-catching and I can't see anyone doing it as beautifully as you. I love what you are doing with the vintage trim and the Lovely Layers dies.
Posted by: Bev | March 01, 2013 at 02:45 PM
LOve the quote and how it was such an inspiration for you.
Posted by: Nancy G. | March 01, 2013 at 04:47 PM
Very inspirational, thank you. I will be re-creating your design this weekend.
Posted by: Liane | March 01, 2013 at 04:50 PM
I love how you paper pieced this flower! I would have never, in a million years, thought of that. It's so lovely!!!
Posted by: Gina | March 01, 2013 at 06:01 PM
Betsy, your work is always such an inspiration to me! What an incredible amount of work went into this piece, the paper piecing on both your designs is perfect. I love your use of felt letters for "Friends" and especially your use of Lovely Layers dies to add dimension to the tag. Thanks you for sharing your talent with us yet again!
Posted by: StephH | March 02, 2013 at 05:18 AM
Beautiful Melissa! And I loved the inspirational piece you used - why? I doodled a rose with three leaves several weeks ago on a piece of scratch paper - it looks so much like this. I've been thinking about Zentangles, doodling and watercolor lately. Oh the places we go when we create :) Your pieces always inspire me - thank you. : )
Posted by: Susie | March 02, 2013 at 07:25 AM
wow, incredible design and beautifully made :)
Posted by: janet wilson | March 02, 2013 at 07:32 AM
Oh my love the colors and all the details. How time consuming but so worth it. I love the card and the tag. Not just another tag but an awesome TAG. Love it, love both.
Posted by: Billie A | March 02, 2013 at 07:44 AM
Love, love, love how you pieced together the flower!! BEautiful!!
Posted by: Kristii | March 02, 2013 at 12:13 PM
I just love the paper piecing with this flower! I have to pull out my stamp and give this a try. Thanks for the inspiration!
Posted by: Kathryn B | March 02, 2013 at 01:06 PM
This is just too cool! I love the paper pieced flower, and the rainbow-ish sentiment is amazing!
Posted by: Renee VanEpps | March 02, 2013 at 05:11 PM