Honouring Leslie

It's a bittersweet day for us Flourishes girls...today is the first Flourishes Friday without our team-mate Leslie Miller.  Leslie has been with Flourishes on the Design Team since the company began, so when she announced to all of us a few weeks ago that she was "retiring" from FLLC, we all felt pretty sad.  We all understand and support her - but I'll really miss her.

Leslie is one of the reasons I even considered being on a Design Team, and especially with Flourishes.  I wanted to do beautiful design work just like her!  Leslie's work speaks for itself.  She has impeccable design talent.  Her colouring is always flawless and it has a dreamy quality that I love;  she puts papers together beautifully, and embellishes with such a clean classy style.  I admire her work so much, and above all appreciate her.  She is supportive, fun, has a delightful sense of humour, she's an encourager, loyal and she is such a great team player - she is a great lady, and she always WOWs me when I come to her blog.

So...today we decided that we'd honour Leslie with a little CASE-work of our own.  Each of the DT girls playing today picked a card of Leslie's to CASE.  I had a very hard time choosing one, and had a whole bunch of cards I would love to CASE, but finally settled on this one.  HERE is the link to Leslie's creation....which knocked my socks off, and here is what I did.

I absolutely LOVED how Leslie made the three blooms of Zinnia's shine in her card, so I took out a different set - Sweet Nature with the Ranunculus blooms - which is a slightly larger flower, and gave them the same feel.  Coloring is done with Copic Markers - Tea Rose Collection, with some Evergreen Collection in the centers.   I loved how Leslie's card incorporated the neutrals as a base for the pop of pink in the flowers - so this Designer paper  Memory Box  - Valise  has a similar feel to the papers Leslie used but in a bit warmer colour palette.  The scale is different in my card than Leslie's with the larger flowers and leaves, but it has the same impression. 

I don't have the same punch Leslie used for her greenery- so I just used my Sizzix leaves die.  I also incorporated the new Edgeabilities from Spellbinders on the horizontal strip (soon to be in the FLLC Store) - oh my word I LOVE these new style of dies, and as soon as I can I am planning on getting more!   Then a little touch of linen ruffle ribbon and some pretty brads finishes it off.

Leslie, I will miss you on the team - so much!  But I wish you nothing but the best as you create at a pace that feels right to you, and still gives you time for all the things you love, including your beloved, your garden and your Wally too.  You've blessed my life greatly!

Now you can see some more CASE-work of Leslie at these DT girls blogs

• Barbara Anders
• Christine Okken (you are here)
• Cindy Lawrence
• Dawn Burnworth
• Julie Koerber 
• Stacy Morgan
• Tammy Hershberger (filling in for Danielle who's got intermittent power due to hurricane Irene)
• Sharon Doolittle
• Jan Marie Caruso