Lavender Love

A few days ago, my 4yr old daughter picked a few flowers outside and did what I remember doing to my mother when I was little: "Here Mom, I picked these for you!". So what does one do with these floral treasures? One word: Microfleur. An Australian flower press that performs in seconds what usually takes weeks. More info here: http://www.microfleur.com.au/; I purchased my units from http://www.marcopaper.com/, based in Ohio. They come in 2 sizes: 5" and 9" square. Retail is around $35 for the 5" and $50 for the 9". I use both sizes but if I had to only purchase one I would purchase the larger size - it is ideal for drying ferns. A Microfleur unit comes with a top and bottom plastic unit, plastic clips, 2 felts and 2 cotton sheets. To use a Microfleur, take one of the two plastic squares, layer one of the two felts, then one of the two cotton sheets, then the item(s) to be dried, then the cotton sheet, the felt and the plastic unit. Clip together. Nuke for about 45 seconds (depending on the size and quantity of the plant material). Carefully remove dried item and place on a piece of white cardstock for a few minutes. This allows the flower/leaf/etc to fully 'harden' or dry off completely. Presto! You have a dried flower! I recommend using PPA (Perfect Paper Adhesive from www.usartquest.com) for adhering dried elements - PPA has a UV protectant and is archival. card directions: Press flower in Microfleur. Spray Evening Primrose Glimmer Mist (www.mytatteredangels.com) on a piece of white cardstock and allow to dry. Tie dried flower with 3/8" silver organdy (Stampin' Up) ribbon. Using heat tool, age/slightly melt organdy ribbon ends. Stamp harlequin image (Stampers Anonymous) on white (now purple) glimmer misted cardstock and adhere dried flower using Perfect Paper Adhesive (www.usartquest.com) and allow to fully dry. Mat with black cardstock and set aside. Repetitively stamp harlequin diamond image vertically and circle yesterday, today, tomorrow, forever image (both - Art Warehouse) with Perfect Medium (Ranger - or use a VersaMark pad) on lavender card base (Stampin' Up). Stamp harlequin diamond image in Adirondack Cool Peri (Ranger) on white cardstock and cut out. Stamp 'love you' (Art Warehouse) on diamond center. Mount onto card base with a glue dot. Mount dried flower unit to card base. Using a fine needle and quilting thread (stronger than regular sewing thread), attach key and lock to ribbon knot and tie securely in place.

finished card size: A2.