Purple Iris

Hi everyone!  I also want to say big  hello to the newest members of the blog as we have had an extra surge in the followers of late.  Today's card is another from the Heartfelt Creations line of stamps and dies.  More colouring with this one and I have to confess to being a bit rusty at it.  The iris was done with coloured pencils as they were what I had handy to use when I made this card.  I used the matching die to cut out the iris, but then I stamped it one more time and cut it out only the top petals, this time by hand,  to mount upwards.  I added a few leaves around it and mounted it on an oval with a slightly larger purple oval mat.  I cut two chateau gate dies in black.  I taped the gate closed from behind and cut the die just below the centre under one of the swirls.  These were both done this way and then mounted end to end underneath the iris to give it a pretty scrolly outer frame.   Setting the focal element aside for a moment, I created the background by using the Valor embossibility folder to give it an embossed texture.  I added a border from two of the edgeability inserts with a cutting edge all done in white.  There is a backing piece done in a deeper purple that I just used the cutting edge to mirror the first border.  I added some pearl PVA glue dots down the middle of the two insert patterns.  I ran a piece of thwe silky crush ribbon around the card (under the border) and secured it to the back of the card and added a bow with glue dots.  I stamped my sentiment on a tag and inked lightly around it.  I added it to my bow with a bit of Bakers Twine.  I mounted my focal element on 3D foam above my ribbon and bow, added a few decorative stick pins and pierced around the edge to finish it off.  So you have my early signs of spring here even if Mother Nature isn't cooperating! LOL  All for now, Sue x