I Am My Mother's Garden~

As a Design Team member I made this Gothic Arch for the Bella Creations Tres Chic Challenge. When I saw the Mariposa papers I was to work with I knew I wanted to include some deep red mulberry paper and parchment to the mix.

I gathered up several edge punches, sheer ribbon, thin stiff cardboard, then suddenly got the idea to include a white moire frame to the front! I found the Moire frame in the bridal section of Michaels.

 Here are the steps to making this Gothic Arch~

*cut a house shaped piece of firm cardboard to the size you like (mine was approx 7"x 8")

* tear paper into strips and punch one edge, if desired

*starting at the top, glue paper to Arch overlapping each new strip. Ink edges.

*I used Velcro to attatch the white moire frame to the front. This allows me to remove the frame to place a photo inside, then re-attatch without disturbing the floral spray!

*I added a ceramic floral spray and single red Prima paper flowers. Add Prima crystals.

*I added the last 4 lines of a poem to the front. The entire poem is on the back.

*I added an additional piece of cardboard to the back for strength and cut an easel stand at an angle

This was so fun to make!! You could make several, decorate the backs, and bind them together into an album. Here is the poem I printed on the back~

My Mother's garden

My Mother kept a garden, a garden of the heart,
She planted all the good things that gave my life it's start.
She turned me to the sunshine and encouraged me to dream,
Fostering and nurturing the seeds of self-esteem...
And when the winds and rain came, she protected me enough--
But not too much because she knew I'd need to stand up strong and tough.
Her constant good example always taught me right from wrong--
Markers for my pathway that will last a lifetime long.
I am my Mother's garden.
I am her legacy-
And I hope today she feels the love
reflected back from me. ~~~Anonymous