Crocheted Flowers Everywhere!

Love love love Shelly’s tutorial on how-to crochet flowers. And let me tell you what, they are HOT STUFF right now. While you perfect your technique, there are a few places you can find them already made for you!

Close to My Heart has a collection of embellishments called White Daisy Mini Medley Accents. With it comes 4 super cute crocheted flowers, in 2 sizes!

Check out Fancy Pants Posies! They have several different colors and styles of these fun add-ons!

Or what about My Minds Eye? Their crocheted flowers are so delicate.

Want to cut out the middle man? Head over to Etsy – “Your place to buy and sell all things handmade”, and search for crocheted flowers! Buy what you see or have them made to order. I loved the flowers created by SweetPea Toad.

Creating digi-art? Cindy Doerksen on Your Digital Designers has a beautiful crocheted flower layer that might be perfect for your project.

Whether custom-made or homemade, find a way to get crocheted flowers on your project today. Check out a scrapbook page and card I’ve created using this HOT trend.

Close to My Heart Daydream Level 2 Paper Pack, Good Times & Noteworthy Stamp Sets, White Daisy Mini Medley Accents, Classic Numbers Dimensional Elements

Close to My Heart That’s Amore Level Two Paper Pack & My Stickease, White Daisy Mini Medley Accents, Just Blooms Big Pinks Flowers

For daily updates, go to fancymelissa.blogspot.com.

Brackets!

I just put down the March ’09 issue of Creating Keepsakes Magazine. Wow – bracket frames, stamps, die cuts, journaling spots are HOT STUFF! And I love love love them. They make a bold statement on your projects and they do a great job highlighting anything you put on them, journaling, title, quote, etc. Check out a few ways to use brackets on your next project:

Stamps:
Close to My Heart-My Acrylic Stamp Set Noteworthy- With this set of 25 clear stamps you get the frame (the words inside are seperate stamps), as well as the super huge brackets.

Die Cut Machines
Provo Craft Cricut: In addition to letters and numbers, the Storybook Cartridge has fun frames, brackets and flourishes.

Spellbinders Nestabilities: Labels These new dies are so stinkin’ cool! What an easy and inexpensive way to add this hot trend to your next project!

Collections & Kits
Making Memories: I honestly think that MM started this trend. I attended a class last year at a scrapbook expo, and we were using these frames. Super cool. You’ll find brackets in most of their collections!

Close to My Heart Emporium: This paper kit is gorgeous and so rich looking. It’s both masculine and feminine. And the bracket stickers are great for journaling!

Embellishments:
Close to My Heart Foundry Bookplates: These pewter accents will dress up any project. And you can paint them with acrylic paint to match.

Mini Albums:
Basic Grey Chipboard Bracket Album: This super cool album includes 2 cover sheets, 6 interior pages, and 1 key ring.

Here are a couple of projects I’ve created using brackets:

Margie Romney-Aslett from Making Memories taught a class on how to create a mini album using office folders. Everything used here is from MM’s 5th Avenue line. This is one of my most favorite projects!

A desk calendar using Close to My Hearts Display Album and Emporium paper and stickease.