Happy Anniversary

 Good morning my crafty friends!  Today's card will wake you right up, won't it!  I love red and black together and think they always make a card look striking, even sexy.  It is an incredibly simple card to recreate, taking little more than about fifteen minutes or so, which, I know can be quite appealing when your time is stretched.  I started with a piece of red card and simply stamped the oval medallion by Justrite all over the background using a black archival ink pad.  Re-ink in between each stamping and do some so they are off the edge of the card too.  I used some black tulle to wrap around the card and tied it into a knot.  I tied a messy bow using the lipstick red seam binding and added it to my tulle.  I used Spiral Flower four and some black felt to make a rolled flower.  To answer some of the questions I have seen in your comments about the felt flowers, not all felt is alike.  There are many different types of felt and you need to use the kind that is either 100% wool or a wool blend to be able to cut your die shape cleanly.  If you have ever purchased the inexpensive felt that is acrylic, you will notice that it does not cut very well, if at all.  However, use a wool felt and it will cut like butter!  I use the felt that Sam Poole stocks in her shop online (Creative Studios), it is beautiful to cut and the colours are lovely!  To make the rolled flowers, I use Cosmic Shimmer dries clear glue.  I make a thin line of it all the way along the base edge of my flower.  I wait about one minute so it gets tacky and then I roll.  I have never had one fall apart as this glue is the best! One word of caution with gluing felt though, any glue will leave a mark on felt even if it is dries clear type.  The felt will become hard and darker in colour where the glue is so you do not want to get it on your petals or it will show.  If I have missed answering any questions about the felt, please feel free to email me directly.
  After I seated my flower atop my bow, I added two stick pins for accents.  I stamped my sentiment (Justrite stamps) and cut it out with the small nested oval medallion die.  I used the die to create a faux nestie by drawing around the outside edge and hand cutting it.  I attached the tag with some Bakers twine.  I finished the piece by adding some black rhinestones swirls and piercing my inner layer of the black mat.  I think this one would look equally stunning in blues, pinks, white, you name it, pick your colour!  Finished dimensions are 7" x 8" in size.

   Now for the winner of the card that was posted on Monday!  Thank you for all your lovely comments and yes I do read them all (that is my favourite part of my day!).  The name that was drawn was:

Vie Carter!!!

Congratulations!  Email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your card!  All for now, Sue x