April Showers

It is the start of a new challenge today at Frilly and Funkie.  Suzz, our hostess is calling it April's Showers and here is what she has to say about it:

Create a shabby chic or vintage project inspired by the word showers. Think rain, storms, umbrellas, baby showers, wedding showers whatever comes to mind and start creating.

When I saw the theme, my mind immediately went to that old spring adage April Showers Bring May Flowers so I decided to make an umbrella and fill it with flowers.  We have had the April rain here along with a little snow so let's hope all that moisture brings some flowers because right now the only thing spring-like around here are the robins, the very confused robins.

I started with some card stock from Recollections for my blank and then added a background panel of one of the papers from Graphic 45's Gilded Lily 8"x8" paper pad.  Next I added some torn papers from Graphic 45 Secret Garden and Once Upon a Springtime collections.  I also made chevrons from those papers.  Bits of different venise laces were tucked here and there on the torn edges.

The umbrella was made by using a Nellie Snellen scalloped circle die with one of the Secret Garden papers.  It was folded into 8 sections and then one of the sections was removed before shaping it into a semi circle.  The wooden handle was cut for me by my husband on his laser cutter.  Once the umbrella was added to the card, I filled it with shredded paper and then added all sorts of flowers from Wild Orchid Crafts.  Some seam binding dyed with Tea Dye Distress Ink was fashioned into a simple bow and added to the top of the umbrella.

The sentiment is computer generated and cut out before it was inked with Antique Linen Distress Ink.  The butterfly from Hero Arts was stamped onto a scrap of card stock with Wendy Vecchi's Tree Branch Archival Ink and "painted" using Tumbled Glass Distress Ink.  Some gems from The Paper Source were added to the body and the antenna was made from Artistic Wire.  Finally a few sequins from the dollar store were added to the card.

I guess now I will have to make a box for this card because it is so dimensional it will never fit in an envelope.

I hope you will join us for this challenge - you have until 11:55 pm on April 25th.  The Design Team will pick one project as their favourite and the creator will have an opportunity to be a Guest Designer.  They will also pick 3 Top Picks and finally one randomly chosen winner will receive a gift certificate to go shopping at The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

I think I will enter this card in the following challenges:

Avenue 613 - Anything Goes with a Twist (Spring has Sprung)
Crafty Calendar - April Showers/ or Spring