Lilac Branch

I made this card using a new Sizzix die called Build a Lilac and different shades of purple Bazzill cardstock. After I cut out several individual flowers I sponged the edges with Purple Hydrangea Versa Magic and I bent them a bit with my fingers. I then used glue dots to stick them down to the background panel, from Lasting Impressions, in a pattern that I liked. I layered some smaller on top of the larger ones and some by themselves. The leaves are also cut from the same die with Bazzill paper and inked with Versa Magic Tea Leaves. The center of the flowers were filled with Liquid Pearls and then I sprinkles Winter glitter on top. It softened them without too much sparkle and I really like the way it came out. The hardware is from SU! and the dragonfly is a silver charm that I distressed with some Espresso alcohol ink to tone it down and make it coordinate with the hardware better.

Here's a close up of the flowers.

Lilacs are my all time favorite...although I am an avid gardener and I have many favorites...the smell and the color are just such an intoxicating combination. I like to imagine that's what Heaven smells like...I have four bushes growing in my yard and they are all in bud now. Well, all except the one I rescued from my grandpa's house a few years ago. He lived in the Adirondacks, which is now the family summer home, and my grandmother planted a lilac bush many years ago in the yard but I had never seen any flowers on it. It was in deep shade under a very large pine (which may have not been the case when it was planted!). After my grandfather passed away in 2004 I dug it up and brought it home with me and planted it on the side of my house on Long Island. We had the house sided in 2006 and the workers dropped materials on top of it and practically split it in half! I pruned and salvaged what I could and when they were done I decided that it needed to be moved to a more prominent and sunny spot, where I could see it all the time and make sure it was ok. It's been in my backyard now since the fall of 2006 and this is the second year it has produced foliage but no flowers. At my local nursery they told me that so long as it leafs out every year it has the potential to make a come back and bloom. I also read that it can take up to 3 years for a lilac to bloom again after a stressful transplant. So while I see no buds again this year at least I take comfort in knowing that it is still alive and has a good home. I talk to it too...but you all do that too, right? I talk to plants, trees, bugs, animals (of course!) and mainly myself. It's a bit concerning at times I think. Oh well. Happy Tuesday!

Edited to add:

Ila said...
This is Gorgeous!! I love lilacs too...but hubby is allergic so we had to dig all our out.

Wait! What? Ila, have you never heard of divorce?!! Okay, just kidding...but I would be devastated! I mean, my dh hates Rosemary and I am still bitter that I can't cook with it!

Not really ;-)