Live Life In Full Bloom

Today's card is definitely not clean and simple!  I'm baaaaaack!!  I had so much fun making this.....

 It is actually not a card.  For part of her Christmas gift, I gave my bestie a display stand (just like the one I have and use for my pictures I post), along with a quote with stamped art.  Then, throughout the year, I make card fronts, panels, or collages with inspirational and uplifting quotes.  Then every time she gets a new one from me, she changes the display.  She keeps it on the island in her kitchen, where she sees it every day.  I try to make one per month, but sometimes time gets away from me; but eventually I do catch up, so then she gets two or three very close to each other!  
So, for this one, I used watercolor paper, cut to about 6.5 x 5".  I stamped and embossed with gold flowers and leaves from Impression-Obsession's clear set CL109 Damask Floral.  Kathy at The Daily Marker made some cards using doodle stamps, and watercolored them.  Since I am adding this the the 30 day color challenge there, I decided to use these doodle-like stamps for my project. 
 I watercolored the images using TH distress inks in shades of purples and greens/blues.  I stamped a few extra leaves and flowers, and layered them onto the composition, using foam tape on some of them for added dimension and interest.  
For the verse, I used IO's stamp D19119 Oval Word-Full Bloom.  I wanted it to be in gold, to carry the gold out from the composition.  So I stamped it very lightly with antique linen ink (second generation), then I painted over it with my Fine Tec gold paints, with a fine watercolor brush.  
A few sprinkles of gold and purple, and some Swarovski crystals were the finishing touches. 
I mounted the panel onto a shimmery blue card stock.  

Here are some close-ups of details:

 

Can't wait to give this to her!

I am also adding this to the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Flora and/or Fauna
Addicted To Stamps - Anything Goes
Virginia's View Challenge - All About Colors
Art Impressions Challenge - Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today.  Enjoy your week, and try to stay cool!

Blessings,
lynda