Today I am a guest designer at the Runway Inspired Challenge!

Here is this week’s inspiration photo:

I just fell in love with this outfit! The colors, the flow of the fabric, it is just simply gorgeous!

Right away I knew I wanted to recreate those colors just as they are on the fabric. To me it seemed like water colors splashed into each other. I was also inspired by the pleats on the bodice and how the fabric looks like satin, although the ruffles of the skirt looks like chiffon to me.

So I thought and thought and finally came up with this design:

I created the fan by cutting out two semicircles and using a protractor to measure and make the score lines. I then white embossed a branch and bird stamp from Stampin’Up!’s “Art of the orient” set, and used an aqua painter to apply some inks.  Then I folded the fan along the score lines and cut out very thin strips of black card stock (using a paper trimmer) and attached them to the back of the fan along the folds. Finally I glued the end of the strips after I placed them on top of one another, just like in a real fan.

I also made the tassel using black embroidery thread. And lastly, I cut the middle circle using a circle cutter, and punched out the two small circles, then adhered a piece of ivory satin fabric on the back. I just had to have some satin in the card! It actually looks a lot prettier in real life, which I couldn’t capture in the picture…however, you can still click on the picture and enlarge it to see the texture.

I am sure most of you know, but in case you don’t, “Arigato” is Japanese for Thank You. I though it was quite fitting with the fan.

Here is a close- up of the fan:

Please make sure to visit the Runway Inspired Challenge  and check out what the design team has created.

And if you are inspired, like I was, make a card and submit it for a chance to win a $15 gift card to Simon Says Stamp.