Ed128 FloralCompleted by Pamela Horton The whispering Platypus

When I copied this design and transferred it onto the 17x 17cm white card, I was a little apprehensive that it may have been a little too difficult.

However once I began the stitching and followed the guides given by Emy, it was simple and quick to complete and I am more than delighted with the outcome of the whole project.

I stitched the inner main circle with yellow polyester thread and the large petals with a bright blue polyester thread.

The shaping lines within the petals are done using a one shade darker blue polyester thread.

I then used my water colour pencils to shade the inner circle yellow and the petals in the blue. I then continued the stitching to finish off the green stems using a deep green polyester thread. I used several types of beads to complete the project.

The centre of the flower is completed with 8 gold metallic 0.5mm rice beads, and the centre piece is a silver floral bead spacer with a yellow crystal cut round clear yellow glass bead.

I used 28 tiny blue seed beads for the inside of the petals. I had chosen to leave the lower left small petal without these beads.

For the shorter stems, I have used 8 crystal cut clear blue glass beads and for the longer stems, I have used 3 beads on each one a metallic blue/green iridescent rice bead together with 2 tiny blue seed beads.

For the tips of the petals I have used 8 kite shaped facet cut clear blue glass beads. I have used the matching polyester threads to attach each of the beads.

In total I have used 8 blue/green 0.5mm rice beads, 44 tiny dark blue seed beads, 8 blue kite shaped glass beads, 8 crystal cut clear blue beads, 8 gold metallic 0.5mm rice beads, one yellow crystal cut clear glass bead and one floral bead spacer.

You may need 4 more seed beads if you wish to add the extra beads to the petal I have left without the 4 seed beads.

I have used a total of 77 beads and one spacer.

I have used A peel off glitter gold/ silver peel off around the edge of the finished work and used a glitter glue pen to edge the finished card front.

The backing sheet is a design by Clare Walker, cup827619_79993, Botanical leaf in blue, which I have also edged with the blue pen.

I used a peel of sentiment and punched 2 holes to thread the ribbon through and tie a bow, before attaching this to the main blue card.

To complete the insert, I used the same blue backing sheet for the left hand side and wrote this verse which I have added to the list of verses for flowers and I have added it onto my home page.

I loved completing this stitching design and I can see the potential for many more colour combinations. It would be amazing in purples and deep rose pink. Thank you Emy, it is truly a beautiful design you have created. Pamela Horton. The Whispering Platypus.