Cards with a simple, springlike design...

I must be getting tired of winter and wishing for spring in a big way. When I decided to make a cards recently, I immediately thought "flowers!"

I love this Lifestyle Crafts embossing folder. I think it's perfect for cards like this, and the elegant pattern embosses beautifully. Since it is a very symmetrical design, it is also easy to emboss the top of the cardstock piece, then turn it around and emboss the bottom part, leaving space for a sentiment.

I have a little box of Recollection white and off-white flowers, so I grabbed one of those and a couple of my ProMarkers and went to work to put some life into the flower. I used two shades of blue, and believe me when I say this flower is even more vivid IRL.

The flower center is a cluster of microbeads. I squeezed on some Glossy Accents and then sprinkled micro beads on top of that. When it was dry, I shook off the loose beads, and voila! - a perfect flower center. My daughter gave me a set of 6 colors of microbeads for Christmas, and I am loving them!

The leafy branch behind the flower was cut with a Memory Box die called "Fresh Foliage." After die-cutting, I cut the fronds apart and adhered the pieces under my flower so that they fell the way I wanted.

I was so pleased with how this card turned out, that I decided to try coloring a few more flowers and creating a set of four cards.

I had so much fun coloring the flowers and seeing how they looked on each card.

I stamped a sentiment on only two of them and left the other two blank. It will be easy enough to stamp something appropriate when the need arises. I've also left the insides blank for writing a personal note or for stamping a sentiment later on.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.
Cheryl