Pansies are so Pretty

I had this canvas sitting around doing nothing.  Well, I couldn't let that happen, could I?  So, I added a layer of gesso followed by numerous layers of paint, stain, modeling paste.  After that I was stumped.  It sat on my shelf, mocking me as if to say, "You can't finish me.  Nananana boo boo!"

Yesterday, I played some more, adding some of Tim Holtz's metallic stains and paints along with some Dylusions stains. Then it appeared that the canvas was taking on a decidedly purple and pink tone.  So off to my favorite place for vintage photos, The Old Design Shop, to look for ... I didn't know.  So I added purple to the search box.  When I saw this picture, I knew it had to be the one!  My mom loved pansies. She said that they looked like they had little faces.

The rest just fell together.  I wanted to finish it last night, but there were other more important things on my agenda.  This afternoon, I went "shopping" in my newly organized craft space for lots of doodads and flowers.  (It sure pays to make up flowers in advance!)  Within an hour, it was finished.  I am so happy with how it turned out!

UPDATE!:  I had this idea to make some of the pansies 3D, so I printed more copies and did just that!

And here are two closeups of the flowers:

I am entering it into Simon Says Stamp's I Ought to Use This More challenge.  Considering that I found some goodies in boxes that I had completely forgotten, I guess I really should use the items more!

Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving Day is so near ... we are actually celebrating next weekend with family visiting from out of town.

Here's a quick and easy card that defines the day perfectly, created for a special person.  It's also my entry for three challenges:

• Frilly and Funkie's Thanksgiving challenge
• Mojo Monday's #318 challenge
• Cheery Lynn Design's Autumn Colors challenge.  For that particular challenge, I used the Sweet Williams Strip die and the Pair of Ferns die.  (I hope I win so that I can buy some more dies!  Better yet, I will print my wish list for "someone" to use for Christmas shopping!)

I also used a free graphic for the dictionary page from The Old Design Shop.  That's a place I will definitely visit again!  Thanks, sister, for the link!

OOOHHHH ... I have to update my photo.  The first one did not do the card any justice ... that's what I get for trying to photograph in dim light.  Here's the better version that really shows the true colors; I'll leave the original on the blog for comparison purposes.