Inspired by Nature Page

Last month on club night I took a photo of each one of the girls out in my garden where the Cone Flowers and Black Eyed Susans were blooming. I told them it would be used for our September club project. As always, the month went flying by, and this past Friday was September stamp club night! Here is the project I had ready for them:
They each got a full sized portrait of themselves along with the group shot... they could then decide how to use them. They had a choice of 2 different color schemes, either the Mellow Moss with So Saffron & the Haiku designer paper as shown above or Mellow Moss with Perfect Plum and the Perfect Plum prints as shown below. They could use the "live with passion" stamp that came with the Inspired by Nature set or the "Time spent with friends..." stamp from the retired Level 3 hostess set Time Well Spent. The Mellow Moss background was stamped with the cone flowers inked in Versa mark and then we used the poppin' pastels technique to color them. Next the grass was added using Mellow Moss ink. At the top of the page the swirl from Baroque Motifs was added and then over the top of that I used the Sanded background stamp to give the page some texture.

This is the first club meeting where my "Big Shot" could join us...so of course I had to use the Top Note die cut for the journaling box. I was a little concerned that perhaps the group would have "Big Shot envy"(I've heard of other cases of this! ;-), but I shouldn't have worried...they were CRAZY for my Big Shot so that made me happy! Actually, my hostess club groups always make me feel happy and appreciated. I think they really liked the projects I had for them this time because I was getting a big head with all the nice compliments they were giving me.

Before I started with Stampin' Up! I only knew 2 of these ladies - it was through them that I have had the pleasure of meeting the rest of our group. I'm now lucky to consider them as my friends. I think that has been the most rewarding part of being with Stampin' Up!...meeting so many nice people who share a common interest.

I also did a second page to include the entire group. Here's my completed 2 page layout:
See guys...I told you that you all would be on the page and not just Julie! (they thought I was playing favorites when they saw my sample) I will also do a 2nd page for the plum layout that will include photos of the flowers I've taken in my garden this summer...because I am "inspired by nature". ;-)

Thanks for visiting me today...hope you have an inspiring day!