Flowers for You TopperCompleted by Pamela Horton The whispering Platypus

This is a very feminine design with delightful images of tiny mice and a glorious vase of flowers. I have used the theme offered as my base in making this card. I love decoupage and using the step by step method to complete cards offered in this format.

I made 2 copies of the sheet provided. The first copy is on 80gsm white copy paper. And I used this as my main backing sheet. It measures 10.5 x 10.5 cm. I cut out this image and used a ruler and a silver metallic pen to define all 4 edges.

I cut a silver satin finished backing sheet at 11.5cm square and used the same silver pen to define the edges.

I attached the 2 backing sheets together using regular D.S. tape. I cut out a pink backing sheet at 12.5cm square and defined all 4 edges with the same pen and used D.S. tape to attach this to the silver backing sheet.

I then cut out the main image from the second copy of the sheet provided from the CB matte white 120gsm card.

I then cut away the outer frame to use as part of the insert. This left me the topper which now measures 8.5cm square.

I defined all 4 edges with the silver pen and before I attached it to the existing backing sheets, I attached a blue with purple spot ribbon across the back of this topper 2.5cm up from the lower edge.

I used D.S. Padded tape to attach the topper to the backing sheets, and attached the ribbon tails around to the back of the pink backing sheet using D.S. tape.

I set this aside while I prepared the main card, which is a brighter pink linen finished card cut at 26 x 13cm, which I then scored and folded.

I used the single punch to make 2 holes on the front section 2mm in from the folded edge and 2.5cm from the top edge and 2.5cm from the lower edge.

I threaded a length of the same blue ribbon in the holes made from the inside to the outside and secured it with D.S. tape so that the bow could be easily tied at the top section of the card after the topper with the decoupage was completed.

I used regular D.S. tape to attach the backing sheets including the topper onto the card front. I then used the smaller elements from the second copy of the sheet which is the heavier weight card to attach using tiny D.S. padded squares, and tiny spots of thickened white glue.

I touched up the facial features and the tails of the mice using a very fine black permanent pen. To complete the insert I used the Butterfly Blank insert, cup878151_719, also designed by Sandra Carise, which matches this topper perfectly, and printed it at 10.5cm square onto copy paper.

This insert I have placed on the right hand side of the inside of the card and left blank for my special greeting.

On the left hand side I have used the frame that I had cut away from the second copy of the main image to attach using white glue spots.

I cut out the tiny mouse from the lighter weight copy and made him look like he was holding on to the flower.

I used the rest of the flowers from this sheet to embellish the verse I have written for this card, which you are most welcome to use.

I added the tiny mouse to the right hand side and he looks like he is kissing the butterfly.

I turned the card to the front and tied the bow securing it with a little D.S. tape and a spot of white glue as needed.

I was now able to slip the ribbon through the loose section inside the card and tie a simple knot.

I secured the tails down with D.S. tape and attached the larger spray of flowers over the tails of the ribbon.

I added the happy birthday sentiment to the card front using the silver and darker pink as the backing sheets for the sentiment.

A beautiful bright and cute outcome of this design by Sandra has made my day feel just as bright and cheerful as hopefully so will the recipient of this card.

Pamela Horton. The Whispering Platypus.