Eclectic and Butterflies

 I love butterflies.  That's it. The new silver and gold thread that is being offered in the Annual Catalog is an excellent option for the antennae of this beautiful creature.  

To make the antenna I took a strand of the silver thread about 3 or 4 inches long and folded it in half.  I tied little knots at the ends of the thread (cutting off any excess) and secured the thread with glue dots to the card where I wanted my butterfly to be.  I put glue dots on my butterfly, to ensure there would be not unexpected flight of the butterfly off my card and completed the whole process by adding rhinestones for the butterfly's body and head.  

Now it's time for you to get that thread out of your box, or off your shelf, and make some antennae.  Your butterflies will appreciate it and your project will take a step up on the beauty ladder!  

Enjoy your day.

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Hello Life Project Kit with a Twist

So remember when I told you I couldn't get the pom-poms on my kit to look right, so after months of leaving it alone, I finally picked my kit back up and came up with an alternative solution?  So, here is the way this kit looks like from Stampin' Up!

...and this is my version...

I took the rectangular Filter Paper (on page 148 of the Annual Catalog), doubled it, now having 8 layers, and cut it with one of the smaller dies in the Floral Frames Collection.  Then I spritzed the whole stack with my Crushed Curry Ink Refill, diluted with alcohol (I used about 20 drops of color), and then I crumpled all of the pieces together once they were "mostly" dry.  I put a brad in the center, after I pierced a hole with my Paper Piercer tool. and once the flower was completely dry, I came back in with additional color in my spritzer (I added more drops for my vibrancy) and sprayed a few accents spots.  I was very pleased that I was finally able to complete my wall art.  It's a great project and I'm sure others will have no problem with those silly pom-poms, but sometimes I'm just a bit challenged in that category;)

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Hello Life Project Kit was My Inspiration

This is my "bold" card that we made at club the other night.  I posted the soft, subtle card a couple of days ago.

When I started working on my Hello Life Project Kit, when it was available in the Occasions catalog, I had a hard time trying to finish it because I just couldn't get the pom-poms right.  Needless to say I let it set until I finally had a plan on how to finish this sweet kit. I finally chose an alternative for those crazy balls.  I'll show those in a later post:)                                    

Anyhoo...one of the things I really like about this kit is the color scheme.  Hence my inspiration for this card:)  Adding the Silver Glimmer Paper and the rhinestone gave my project just the right pizzazz!  Don't you just love the Pansy Punch that coordinates with Flower Shop?  And the Sassy Salutations that have been around for awhile now, is one of my "go to" sentiment sets.  Try this card!!  It'll make your heart smile and the person who receives it will really know you care!

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Ombre in Mint Macaron

I think the Work of Art stamp set is one of the most versatile sets I own.  I've seen so many things done with the various stamps in this set and I want to try them all!

I had my club the other night and the first card I chose to design was bold and bright (I'll show this card at another time), so I wanted the second card we made to be the exact opposite, subtle and soft.

I also wanted this card to be quick, and it fits the bill on all counts.

I ran the pink pirouette piece, which is 3"X 5", through the Big Shot with the Decorative Dots embossing folder.

Next I stamped in Mint Macaron on a Whisper White piece cut to 2 1/4"X 4 1/4".  I inked only once and started at the bottom of the piece, using the ombre technique.  Then I stamped the sentiment in Smoky Slate, stamped the hearts in Pink Pirouette, punching them out with the heart punch from the punch pack.  I took the Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer Paper and cut two strips 1/4"X 4 1/4".  I popped the stamped piece up with dimensionals and then slid the glimmer pieces in on the edges.  All of the other gluing I did with the Multipurpose Adhesive, since it's easily repositioned if it's not straight, initially.  I rarely get things straight the first time;)

Enjoy your Thursday, and oh, if your a Stampin' Up! demonstrator, enjoy the unveiling of the Holiday Catalog at Convention or in the live stream today!  

See you next time.

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Weekly Deals!!

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Masculine Birthday

My BIL's birthday is coming up and he's such a character I felt like the eyeballs were the perfect accent for this masculine-type card.  I love this DSP and I and definitely seeing more and more of it in my creations!!  I really love the envelope, too.  ~~Happy Birthday, Patrick Druez~~

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Weekly Deals!!

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Best Friends will Stay in our Hearts Forever...Thank You Zoe

Last night we had to say goodbye to Zoe.  It is with a heavy heart that I say these words.  This is my second card I made after Zoe fell ill.  It is actually for a swap event I was going to go to tonight.  I won't be going, though, because I just don't feel like being festive. I do want to share it because, unbeknownst to me when I was making this card, this is exactly the perfect thing to say to my beautiful doggy angel in heaven.

I know that time will heal my and Bob's hearts, and our daughters hearts, and everyone who knew and loved Zoe(s) hearts.  Right now, though, my heart is raw with sadness.

Crafting and Stamping are Great Therapy

Yesterday I woke up to my husband urging me to "Hurry, come with me, I think she's dying"  I knew immediately he was talking about our dog Zoe.  We've been treating her for a heart condition that is common to Boxers since last October, with 6 different medications twice a day.  She has actually been doing very well, but today she collapsed on her morning walk with Bob, and we feared this was the end.  Bob carried her home, which is no easy feat when you're talking about unsupported weight, and we laid her down in her favorite spot.  Zoe was conscious, but that was about it.  She couldn't lift her head, and she was so pale.  Her heartbeat was all over the place and we just knew the outcome was grim.

I checked on her often throughout the day, and every now and then she would actually get up, get a drink of water, and then lie down again.  Okaaay, that's a good sign, right?  I continued to administer her medications as prescribed, but mid morning she lost everything that was in her belly, including the meds that could help her.

I couldn't just continue to stare at her all day.  She didn't need me to, I couldn't continue to see her in the condition she was in continually, so I went to my stampin' retreat and began to create.  As I thought about what I would make, I thought about our lives since Zoe came to us 2 1/2 years ago. She was a rescue from a kill shelter and she has been the most amazing, kind hearted, lovable dog we have ever known.  She's a clown, a pal, and a healer of our hearts.  As I thought, I stamped and as I stamped I thought.  Here's Zoe:)  She's a boxer mix and she is simply the best!

 Here is the card that was completely inspired by our girl.  Zoe is bright, like the new In Colors.  And she is our jewel, like the buttons on this little lady's cover and pocket book.

Thanks, Zoe, for your inspiration and I hope anyone checking out this post is inspired, also!!
Have a good Wednesday.

Oh, and as a minor update, Zoe has kept all of her medicines down today, has started drinking more and actually met me at the door when I came home from getting my granddaughters from camp, and her little nub of a tail was wagging her familiar "Welcome...I'm so glad you're home" wag.

Weekly Deals!!

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Fireworks for the Red, White and Blue!!!!

Have a great Holiday and remember to take care of each other out there!  Thank you to all who have given us this opportunity to celebrate our country, our freedom and one another!  You ROCK this world!

Project Life by Stampin' Up!

Memory Keeping My Style

I must admit, I have some very cool friends who are the most awesome scrapbookers.  I am in awe every time I see their books and all the attention to detail and their pages are truly works of art.  I have tried, several times, to do what they do.  No way...I don't want to do it.  I would like to say I love doing what they do, but it's just not in me.   

Enter Project Life by Stampin' Up!  My world has changed.  I CAN do THIS!  It's journaling, organizing pictures and just showing what is going on in my life and it's FUN!!  I can be creative, add dimension and color to my books, and it doesn't take an army of "stuff" to accomplish the deed.  THIS, I can handle!!! 

Our twin grandsons came to visit last month and we had so much fun going to the zoo, playing in the water, riding the Ferris wheel, going to a lantern festival, riding a camel and on and on.  I had to capture these events in a memory book, and Project Life by Stampin' Up! was my perfect opportunity!  Love, love, love this memory keeping system!!!

Watercolor Wishes Card Kit by Stampin’ Up!