Iris

 Happy weekend!  I hope the weather is playing nice wherever you may be.  It's a bit funny, but sometimes the cards I make bring me back a little when I look at them.  I remember this one was the very first card sample that I made for my June shows.  I just loved these Iris and couldn't wait to see them coloured up (I have always had a thing for Iris!)  Plus, I had just been given our new soft custard card and it just spoke to me for this card.  I used a combination of soft lead pencils with some marker highlights for my Iris which were stamped in Black Archival ink.  I actually stamped them three times in fact and die cut just the centre sections for the top two with the ovals in the Vintage Labels Four die set so that I could layer them up a bit.  I used the Enchanted Labels 28  to create my background.  Now, this is a rather large die, but I found that it can easily be cut down and re-sized to fit the Vintage Labels Four from Justrite.  You do really have to look, but I cut it down the centre then slide the excess under the other half until it was the size that I needed.  It is mostly hidden by the top die cut which is why it works so easily with this set.  I matted it with a piece of white card to bring out the design before adding my double pierced mats in custard card.  I tied a messy bow from Royal Blue seam binding (which is a very purplish blue) and topped it with a small flower that I had in my stash.  I used a light touch of Mustard seed distress ink to the top of the flower.  I stamped a small sentiment and cut it out with the Charmed I'm sure tag set.  I lightly inked it with Mustard seed as well while it was still in the die and tucked the end under my flower.  A few flatback pearls to the die cuts were the finishing touches for my first Iris card sample.  Finished dimensions are 6 1/2" x 6 1/2" in size (a mere baby by my standards, huh?!) LOL  All for now, Sue x