Circle Easel Card

 I have been immobile for a couple days due to a muscle strain in my back.  Today I am up and around and fit for crafting...after some triage vacuuming.  I just found tutorials for Circle Easel Cards on YouTube; that was just the thing for today's brief craft session.  I decided to use Graphic 45's Curtain Call collection, an older pattern that I just purchased from ScrappyJack on eBay.  I traced the circles from a template and hand cut the pieces, first from brown cardstock, then from the G45 papers. 

 I needed to watch the tutorial closely to see how the easel was formed.  It is a simple concept but sometimes my brain needs extra TLC.  After bringing out some purchased flowers and leaves, I decided to cut my own using my new Tim "Floral Garland" strip die, along with flourishes from Spellbinders.  I added a bit of sparkle with Platinum Stickles and a jet rhinestone.  Everything was inked with Distress Black Soot. 

I want to comment on dies.  Tim's dies are an investment, but they work.  I wanted a flourish die and opted for this Spellbinders design because it was inexpensive.  However, I am frustrated every time I use is (fairly often); the die just does not effectively cut a clean pattern...even though I now run it through my Big Shot forewords and backwards for a double whammy.  Guess I'll be shopping for another Tim die.