Recreating Reality…Well Sort of….

One of our local nurseries had some gorgeous begonias blooming under their oaks. I snapped a photo because I thought they would be great to use as a template for making some new paper flowers. I loved the darker edges to the begonias so I wanted to recreate that in paper.

When my first set of Copic Markers (Sea and Sky)arrived I dove right in and started playing around with them. Had no idea how to use them! They are alcohol based markers and all "the rage" with everyone from card makers to professional artists. I just started coloring white muffin cups making

darker edges and lighter brighter interior petals with my markers so they looked like the begonias. I was making the grouping below for my golf instructor's wife whose favorite colors were blue and green…. Remember, I started with white inexpensive muffin cups.

I added some bling with the rhinestone wedding picks I got at Hobby Lobby…The black vase is I chose for the arrangement is an Eiffel Tower, which I found at HL. I love the contrast of the black, blue and green. The little petals are tissue paper cut in the shape of leaves, then pieced into the stems and secured with florist tape.

Can you see the butterfly? She has two layers which gives her dimension…both layers made with my Big Shot, then colored with Tim Holtz distress ink, and highlighted with glitter and little jewels for the body.

So there you have it! 
A recreation of the real deal…well at least,

Sort of like the real deal!
Mother Nature has me beat big time.

Everyday Changes, Forever Changed

Sometimes it feels like each day repeats itself. A routine goes on. The sun comes up, the sun leaves the sky. And sometimes it feels as if nothing momentous ever really happened in-between. But no person is the same today as he or she was yesterday. I am not. I am forever changed, everyday, with each moment I catch sight of a tiny hummingbird flitting in our pepper tree, with each thought that passes in and out of my mind, some kind, some not so kind, with each "happen chance" meeting of a stranger in the store or on our evening walk. Each day, someone, somewhere has said or done something to make a "forever change" even though it seemed like it was just me walking through my everyday routine. 

Yesterday I saw an older lady struggling with her walker in the Raley's parking lot. She was having trouble navigating over the speed bump. I felt so bad for her. Then I could see her trying to get all her groceries into the car while still holding onto the walker and being scrunched by her door which was too close to the car next to her. This just didn't seem right. I had to stop. I asked if she could use some help with her walker. She said, "Oh yes, if you wouldn't mind." She told me how to fold up the walker and put it in the back seat. Then we rearranged her groceries and news paper from the driver's side to the passenger seat. She explained that she hated getting so old and slow, not like she used to be. But what would happen to her if she had to stop driving…even though it hurt her hip and sciatica. She really hated getting old. I said, "Don't give up." She was wearing bright bobble earrings and was very nicely dressed…I said, "I like your earrings." We chatted a little more. She held my hand and said "Bless you." A bunch of times.

This everyday occurrence changed us both. We were both helped and forever changed because the memory remains that once did not exist. Taking each day for granted is so easy. We seem only to appreciate things once they have been taken away from us--as death reminds us. But each minute and each day have their own kind of death. They will never come again. And so we are indeed forever changed as we leave them behind.

Shelly Gets A Garden

My friend Louisa came over with her favorite vase "Shelly" and we made her a garden to wear. Here is her first iteration…love the green butterfly addition…I made it with my Big Shot and glitter. 

We made the flowers from candy cups and cupcake cups. I really like the colorful polkadot one below because I tried out a new edging and added the turquoise jewel. The blue polkadot one is made with washi tape applied on top of a white cupcake cup.

Love the orange and purple flower below because it picked up Shelly's colors perfectly. Here you can see the butterfly better.

Louisa wanted more height to the vase so we added the branches and another butterfly later on.

I think she's splendid!

The Necessary Mess…of Craftiness

My latest obsession is crafting flowers out of muffin cups and candy cups. I watched a tutorial, switched it up a little and started creating…now I can't stop! My office wears the necessary mess of craftiness.

Making these silly flowers is addictive because there is no end to the variety of shapes and colors and do-dads you can add to 

create a one of a kind flower. You can see I added little rhinestone picks to the red white and blue one above.

I used washi tape to cover a white muffin cup..the blue polkadot one above is a washi tape design. I used a raffia covered stem for most of them so they kind of dance in the vase.

My plan is to set up a table downtown 

and give them away...

Along with my little cards…

I'll keep you posted!