I saw a cute project today by Brenda Ballesteros and had to try the idea.  It seems Stampin' Up! demonstrators are going crazy over paper and fabric flowers.  There are so many tutorials out there, we can keep the technique classes going for months just making flowers!  Many use the Big Shot, and it's a great way to crank out some fabulous looking florals for pins, embellishments and quilt patterns.  This one uses the 5-petal flower punch.

Brenda's top flower was scrunched up a little more, because her brad was smaller.  But I like the open look, too.  It's kind of like a lotus flower.  I guess.  When it comes to plants and flowers, I'm way out of my element.  My brothers both laughed when they found out I was president of the Virginia State Horticultural Society Auxiliary several years ago.  When plants see me coming, they curl up and die just to save themselves the pain and suffering later.  My husband and boys call our house "Death Row for Plants."  Except for Jonny's room.  He has a great plant garden.  He must have inherited the green thumb genes.  Seriously – generations of farmers on both sides of my family and I was totally skipped when it came to talents to grow things.

Back to the project…The flower is super easy.  I punched 7 of the 5 petal flowers (because I like odd numbers) and layered them.  I put a tiny bit of SNAIL on the center of each to hold them in place while I was layering.  I used the paper piercing tool and mat to pierce through the center for the brad.  Then, starting with the top layer, scrunch all five petals up.  When you get all seven (or however many you choose to punch) layers scrunched, slightly flatten them back down until you like how they look.  The bottom layer won't scrunch up very well, of course, because by then there's nowhere to go.  I added the flower to the box with a Stampin' Dimensional.

The box is a Big Shot Bitty Box (using the Bitty Box and Envelope die).  Mike always says, "Now, what would you use that for?"  Finally I started answering, "To give to you to put jewelry in for me."  He quit asking.  The flowers on the box (from "Asian Artistry) are stamped in Whisper White craft ink, then colored with watercolor pencils.  This technique has a couple names.  I've heard it called "Blackboard" technique and also "Black Magic."  Neither makes sense here, because I didn't use black card stock.  But it's a great way to get a colored image on dark card stock. 

This whole project takes about 10 minutes in a neat stamp room, and about 30 minutes if you have to search for supplies.  Fortunately for me, my room is still pretty neat after my cleaning spree during the snowstorm, so it was a snap to make. 

This box is a perfect gift box for the Simply Adorned charms.  You could make someone a lovely necklace or bracelet, and give it to her in a hand decorated box. 

Supply List (all Stampin' Up!  Contact me if you need anything!):
Stamp set:  Asian Artistry
Ink:  Whisper White craft; watercolor pencils
Paper:  Dusty Durango, Night of Navy card stock
Other:  Mat pack, paper piercing tool, 5 petal flower punch, Very Vanilla Hodgepodge Hardware, stampin' dimensionals

One of the drawbacks of playing all day is having to work at night.  So – I'm finishing up a project that's due in the morning, then Psych, then bed.  At least I have the accompaniment of our snoring dog to keep me company.  He's had a traumatic day.  He has a skin "issue," so has been licking and chewing a lot, because, I'm sure, he's itchy.  So we bought him a doggy donut thing for around his neck so he can't chew.  If you saw "Up," it's kind of like the "cone of shame," but it's more of a "tube of shame."  He looked so sad.  Here are the pictures of him with his head stuck in the trash can lid back in June; he kind of looked like that today.  But I know he was thinking, "I don't remember sticking my head in the trash can.  And I sure can't remember getting anything good."  Anyway – Mike put some spray on him so he could take off the "tube of shame," and now he's sound asleep.  The spray is supposed to have a bitter taste and stop "undesirable licking, biting and chewing behavior."  We'll see!