The flowers of late winter and early spring occupy places in our hearts well out of proportion to their size. 
                               ~Gertrude S. Wister

I love this image from Cathy St. Clair at Paper Garden Projects. It's part of the Spring Blooms Digital Stamp set you can get for free here.

I did my research before coloring this flower and learned crocus blossoms can bloom as early as February. I've never planted them (not sure how they'd do in our Texas heat), but I can remember them pushing up even through the late snows in Mom's backyard garden back in Indiana.

Paper Garden Projects just invited me to be a part of her Paper Garden Projects design team – and I'm so incredibly, unbelievably, ridiculously excited. I love everything her store carries. Just follow the link on my side bar to see what Cathy and her team are up to and to visit the other incredibly talented Paper Gardeners.

I'm very picky about participating in design teams. I don't do many because my job is so demanding that, when I get a chance to play, I want to play with images I absolutely adore. I turned down an invitation from a different company to join Paper Garden Projects because I'm so enthusiastic not only for what Cathy offers (stamps, etc., from a variety of high quality manufacturers like Penny Black, Mo's Digital Pencil, Eat Cake; Copic markers; Neenah and Prism, Nestabilities . . . ) but also because of Cathy's great customer service.  I hope I do PGP justice!

For inspiration I turned to always reliable Mojo Monday Sketch challenge (MoJo133).

Since I haven't colored many (any?) flowers before with Copic markers, I turned to the Copic Creations challenge this week, CCC25, Flowers! The challenge runs through April 15 and it's sponsored by Paper Garden Project. It's not too late to enter for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate.

And, finally, Our Creative Corner is challenging us to use bows. Well, snap! You know I love the bows.

Here are the Copic markers I used and the rest of the recipe.

• Embellishments – Dew Drops
• Fibers – Stampin' Up! 5/8" satin ribbon
• Ink – Copic Markers (see above)
• Paper – Neenah, Stampin' Up! Barely Banana, Basic Grey Urban Couture
• Stamp: Spring Blooms Digital Stamp
• Tools: Nestabilities, Martha Stewart border punch
• Misc.: Tim Holz Crackle Paint (peeled paint), Tim Holz Distress Stickles (Rock Candy), Flower Soft

Yes, Pantone Inc., the New Jersey-based authority on color for design professionals, named turquoise the color the year today. Pantone says: "Turquoise evokes thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world, while at the same time restoring our sense of wellbeing." Wow. well, we gotta celebrate that!

Okay, I have to tell you I'm not too sure about this card. My daughter says its "great." She's got a design degree so I take a lot of stock in that. My husband says, "It's not your best." So, I'll let you all be the judge.

I made this for this week's Our Creative Corner Color (OCCC) where Joycelyn challenged us to use Blue and Green hues. I also turned to this week's Card Positioning System sketch challenge (CPS150) for my layout. (Yes, it's a loose interpretation.) Using challenges like these really helps me stretch myself – you know, all part of my moto of "Vigor and Vim in 2010."

In addition to celebrating the color turquoise, this card also pays homage to the Russian Nesting Dolls (aka Matroyshka or Babushka doll). I love that Babushka is the Russian word for grandmother. What a great thing to celebrate. Grammies rock the world!

Here's the recipe for my OCCC/CPS150/Babushka/Turquoise card (yes, I really get a lot of bang out of my cards).

• Embellishments: Stampin' up! (SU) Sweet Pea Stitched Felt, SU Fleurettes II Accents & Elements

• Fibers: SU Pink Pirouette Striped Grosgrain (retired)

• Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black; Copic Markers E0000, E00, E02, R0000, R81, R85, G20, YG63, BG 49, BG45, and BG10.

• Paper: SU cardstock: Old Olive, Taken with Teal, Pink Pirouette (retired). SU Designer Series Paper Holiday Treasures. Neenah Classic Crest Solar White.

• Stamp:SU  My Matroyshka

• Tools: SU Scallop Trim Edge Punch, Nestabilities Label II Die.