I'm still here - and fabric flowers!

I didn't fall off the face of the earth - but yesterday wasn't the best "computer day" around here. First off I was checking my e-mail yesterday afternoon when all of a sudden my monitor started "freaking out". (I don't know how else to describe it.) The screen went black, then sputtered random screen shots - it looked a lot like when our Dish TV starts losing the signal when it's really rainy or stormy. Yikes! Fortunately, I had another monitor here, so Jerry was able to hook that up for me while I went out to run errands.

Then last evening when I was going to get back on the computer and get some work done, we had thunderstorms roll through. I shut my computer down about five minutes before the power went out. The power came back on, but then it went out again, and I think it did that one more time - before it stayed ON! (Yay!) But I didn't want to take any chances, so I left my computer off just to be safe.

So anyway, today the sun is out and I'm back at it. Although it's supposed to be hot, hot, hot! (Outside that is; inside I'm enjoying air-conditioned comfort - my favorite!)

But you didn't come here to read about my computer woes, did you? You came to be inspired by some great stamping, right? Well, how about this?
This beautiful card was made by my good friend Lou Ann. She is an amazing stamper and always makes gorgeous cards! I especially loved the flower, but I wasn't sure how she made it, so I asked her for directions. Here's what she shared with me:

I actually learned how to make these flowers at Jackie Bolhuis's gathering last month. Jill Olsen was there as Jackie's special guest. I don't know who deserves credit for the idea...I'm just glad they shared it with us. Let's see if I remember how it goes.

Fabric, silk, polyesther...pretty much anything flammable, scary isn't it? Using the Circles #2 die, cut fabric circles. Hold the fabric circle over a lit candle (not actually touching the flame, but close enough to catch the heat), turn the fabric so that the edge hits the heat and begins to melt. Go around each circle completely. Layer fabric pieces, holding each layer together with hot glue. Add button to center and pin back to back of fabric.

Okay Jayne, try one before you print ...to make sure I haven't missed something.

So I went to the fabric store this week (I couldn't wait) and bought about eight different kinds of fabrics. I was sooo excited to give this a try! Unfortunately, when I got home, would you believe that I don't have that Sizzix die yet? I have pretty much every other Sizzix die that Stampin' Up! has in the catalog, but I didn't get the Circles #2 die - YET! I'm placing an order later today so I'll be getting it soon. So I wasn't able to try this for myself, but this card was just too pretty not to share it with you! Here's a close-up of the flower. Beautiful, isn't it?

The rest of the card is made with the "Elements of Style" stamp set (in the current Summer Mini catalog pg. 12) stamped in Pumpkin Pie ink on Whisper White cardstock and then some of the flowers are highlighted with So Saffron ink. I love how Lou Ann did this because it shows that detailed stamps like this don't have to be totally colored in. Just a little yellow highlighting makes the flowers "pop"! She layered the white onto So Saffron CS and then Pumpkin Pie CS. The little "For You" is from the same stamp set, stamped with Pumpkin Pie ink and punched out with punches in layers - 3/4" circle punch, 1" circle punch, and 1-1/4" circle punch. A strip of 5/8" satin ribbon (pg. 13 mini catty) under the flower completes the look!

Hmmm.... I wonder if Lou Ann will notice if I CASE this idea for a Convention card swap??? I suppose she might, so I guess I should come up with something on my own... I can do it, it's just so much easier when you have an already gorgeous card to copy!