The Blossom Petals punch from the Summer Mini catalog inspired me to think about a flowers class…one that would show lots of ways of embellishing with flowers.  The Bloomin’ Madness class last Saturday was the result, and one of our projects was a bookmark:

• Charming and All Holidays Stamp sets
• Shimmer White and Baja Breeze card stock
• Baja Breeze and Rose Red Classic ink pads
• Big Shot and Two Tags Bigz die
• Blossom Petals and 1 inch circle punches
• Vintage Flower Adornments
• Crop-a-dile
• White 5/8 inch satin ribbon
• Tombo the Wonder Adhesive

Peggy’s idea was to use this as a bottle tag when you give a gift of wine.  I like the way that woman thinks.

When I construct a flower like this, I invariably start with a small circle of cardstock.  I get enough Tombo (the Wonder Adhesive) all over my fingers as it is without having to keep track of all the pieces.  The punched circle provides a platform to build on so that I can concentrate on getting Tombo on just the ends of my fingers instead of halfway up my arms.  (Don’t laugh.  It’s been done.)

Those little Adornments have really grown on me – I only have a couple left from the package of 24.  They’re not being carried over into the Summer Mini catalog (which I have in my hot little hands) and we can only hope that they’ll make an appearance in the 2011-2012 Idea Book and Catalog.  Honestly, I would love to be in on one of those meetings when they decide what stays and what goes.  Is it based on sales?  Trends?  Shelli’s favorites?  A dartboard?  Seriously, you’ve got to wonder sometimes.  (Don’t get me started on Branch Out.)  Make a note of June 1 on your calendar, though, because that’s the traditional release date for the Retirement list for the current year catalog.