Rosette Wands: I Feel the Love

Happy Monday, my dear friends! I hope your weekend was beautiful. :o)

Today's creations are extra special, as they're for the cherished I Feel the Love Project, hosted by the sweet and talented Madison of Funky Cards. Each month she highlights a particular person, family, or organization in need of extra love and sunshine. In turn, we have the honor of being a blessing by using our passion to serve others. This ministry brings me inexpressible joy, as you well know by now! :o)

This month's collection is for Sheffield Place, which is a homeless shelter for mothers and their children. The difference they make for these families is something to behold. We were asked to make cards and decorations for the monthly birthday parties for the kids at the shelter. Due to an incredibly busy month, I was only able to complete a fraction of what I envisioned nearly four weeks ago. It breaks my heart, but I hope they feel every tidbit of love that went into these decorations.

I made rosette wands with flowy ribbon and all types of happiness for festive centerpieces on the tables... or to be joyously twirled by sweet little kiddos! (I wouldn't blame them.. I mean, these sparkle something fierce!)

I made sixteen of them. Indeed it took eons, but it was worth every required day of work. The "wands" are bamboo skewers, which I painted with two coats of turquoise glitter acrylic paint and a layer of sealer for protection. They're all turquoise because it's cheery, bright, and just such a gorgeous color. I made the rosettes in three sizes for variety. The biggest one is made with 12x2.5-inch strips, the medium ones used 2-inch wide strips, and the smallest rosettes came from 1.5-inch wide strips. For extra festive fun, each wand has two lengths of ribbon attached in the back.

I took a few pictures for a closer look at the varied designs. Some have added rhinestones to the center designs, some of the rosettes are trimmed in Stickles, and some have various inking. Most are different in some way to (hopefully) appeal to lots of kiddo favorites.

I made multiples of a few, like the butterfly paper rosettes and the colorful flower ones above. The purple stripes have different centers, but the back one wasn't cooperating during picture time.

This set is less frilly and somewhat more gender neutral. (I know it has the same flowyness... but on these ones, that's not ribbon cascading down. They're streamers. Hehe.) The sun and frog are from Create a Critter, with Peachy Keen faces for each and googly eyes for the froggies. (Do you see the froggie paper?! It's so cute!) There are two different baseball ones for sporty types. The blue/green plaid one is a fave. I just love how the plaid looks in a rosette. (And the ribbon isn't actually that spunky. The things you notice after the pictures are done...)

Lastly, these sweet ones. I couldn't send a box of decorations without having hearts somewhere, so I used a Spellbinders Fanciful Holiday heart in the same paper as the rosettes. 

The big purple one certainly doesn't look like a kid one... and that is for a reason. I wanted to make one in honor of the mothers that are fighting so hard to right their lives. Each birthday party for the children at the shelter is a celebration for their moms, too. They could give up. But these ones are determined to return to self-sufficiency and certainly deserve a fancy rosette of their own. :o) I used my Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch around the outside as well as the interior. If you look closely, you'll see a punched design just outside of the scallop center decoration.

I hope with all of my heart that these bring some birthday joy to everyone at the shelter. Isn't this picture adorable? Such radiant smiles. There's only one day left for this current collection, but the good news is that a new one starts Wednesday! :o)

Challenges entered:

 * Make It Monday~ Anything Goes

 * Paper Playtime~ Anything Goes

 * Simon Says Stamp~ Anything Goes

Thank you for twirling on by! I wish you a day sparkling with love and sunshine. :o)