A Gift of Memories: When Mom Comes To Visit

Love learning new techniques and trying new things on my scrapbook pages. I think that's why the Technique Challenge at CM is one of my favorites. Suzanna, our extraordinary Diva Team Leader, hosts the Technique Challenge. And, this month she shared a quick flower tutorial that we were to use on our challenge project.

1. Punch a circle out of some scrap cardstock. Size doesn't really matter nor does color as this is just to provide a base for your flower and make it easier to adhere to your layout.

2. Cut a strip of fabric with pinking shears. 1" wide for smaller flowers and 1 1/2" wide for larger, or any old size you like!

3. Hand stitch the fabric to the cardstock circle, gathering the fabric in pleats as your move around the circle.

4. Top the flower with felt and buttons with embroidery floss.

Voila! Nothing like a little blossom to brighten up a page. Your challenge is to make at least one fabric flower and use it as an embellie on a page, card or project. Wouldn't a hair clip with one of these be cute?

Omgsh, aren't those flowers so fun? And I just love her sample page. The colors of course .. and the photo of that beautiful little girl. xoxox But, I also loved how she 'stemmed' her flowers with the leaf ribbon! And, she repeated the pinked edge detail of the flowers on the pinked edge of her background cardstock! LOVE that! Thanks, Suzanna, for this fun technique ... and inspirational example!

I set about giving this technique a try. It's not quite as easy as Suzanna makes it sound. I had a bit of trouble getting my flowers to pleat the way her's did. But, practice makes perfect, huh? I'll definitely try this again.

Mom and I were invited to join Justin and Lisa for Christmas Eve dinner at their house. I think it was because Justin wanted more of that brined turkey that I made for Thanksgiving. hehehe We brought brined turkey and 'Not Your Mama's Green Bean Casserole' and Justin and Lisa had made the other traditional dishes we love ... shrimp salad, bubbly baked beans, smashed potatoes, sweet potatoes ... and Lisa's sister, Chrissy brought punkin and apple pies! It was DEEEEE-LISH!

In addition to some fun 'poppers' at each place setting, Justin and Lisa used this stinkin cute elf hat .. with the funniest ears ... as table decoration. When you squeezed the lobe of one of the ears the hat started to dance and sing! It was a picture taken after our wonderful family dinner that inspired this page using Suzanna's Fabric Flower technique.

BBWWWAHAHAHAHA! Isn't this page hilarious? Spritzed the background with some green misting spray. Punched some circles for the border detail. Was tickled to bits to find some patterned paper in my stash that almost matched Mom's shirt perfectly! Added 3 fabric flowers for punch ... some cardboard, strip journaling, rub on letters for the title. So much fun!

Now, honestly ... where else can you go to find a fabulous tutorial for a new technique, a recipe for the world BEST green bean casserole (I actually think it's the sherry and heavy cream that make it soooo good) AND a hilarious scrapbook layout all on one page?