Craft Barn Challenge #8 & Emboss It At The Stampman

Firstly, I'd like to say a big hello and welcome to my latest followers - it's lovely of you to want to keep up with what I do.

The latest theme for Craft Barn Calendar challenge is children/cute - I'm now up to date as well, for how long, I've no idea!

I don't really do cute so it had to be children for me. I've got some children stamps but they weren't really shouting out at me so I decided to dig out my La Blanche stamp of the girl with the sunflowers. I love this stamp but find it quite difficult to choose the right context in which to use it.

I'm not sure about choosing pink for my main image but in the end, I was happy enough with it.

I'm also going to enter my calendar page at The Stampman. Their challenge this month is to emboss it. I've used an embossing folder and embossing enamel so I think this piece fits the criteria.

Here's my calendar, see what you think:

Using artificial light is not the best but there seemed to be no light today! I've hidden much of the stamp by framing it but I wanted to add a 3D element with the little flower and it wouldn't match the sunflowers used on the stamp . I also like the oval shape so didn't mind cutting off the bottom of the image.
The frame is made from a Tim folder which I cut pieces out of including the central oval panel to make the frame. Distress inks were used to colour the frame followed by some chunky embossing enamel to give an aged effect. The frame is mounted onto card stamped with archival and coloured with distress inks. Some machine stitching finishes the look.

It was difficult to place the calendar stub but as I have another one which protrudes to the left, that seemed the most sensible option. 

The cotton lace on the bottom edge adds a feminine touch to the already 'girlie' piece.

The little flower is punched with a little pearl in the centre. The calendar stub has some Tim tissue tape on the top edge to hide the ugly holes left after removing the stitches holding the calendar together. Some archival was swiped round the edges followed by some machining to match in with the main background.

Hope you've enjoyed looking at this piece and reading how it came about. I do tend to waffle on but you could always look at just the pictures if you wish! Wonder what the Craft Barn will come up with for their next challenge?