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Friday, May 15, 2015

Take Life by the Hand and Dance

Hello, sweet friends! I'm up on the Live & Love Crafts blog today, where my teamies and I have been inspired by movies this week. (In celebration of Cannes Film Festival in France.)

At the 1954 Festival, a beautiful ballet documentary titled Stars of the Russian Ballet was nominated for the Grand Prize. Some of the most famous and talented dancers of that time starred in the film, preserving a lovely moment in time where artistry and passion reigned supreme over perfect technique.

This card is for a precious child named Tralynn (and her mom). I happened upon her prayer page (Tralynn's Prayer Circle) and she tugged at my heartstrings. Tralynn is a warrior princess fighting cancer and I am so proud of her determination.
Maja Design's Sofiero Collection pairs with Coffee in the Arbour to create my floral stage. My base is made with Go Kreate Large Frame Frilly 10. Every ballerina needs her post-performance bouquet, so I combined my favorite shades of Wild Orchid Crafts roses (white, pink mist, lilac, and baby blue). Nestled within are sweet tulips, a new apple blossom, and a ruffly carnation.
I enhanced the tutu on my Marianne Design ballerina die with Madeleine lace, which is adorned with pearls. Her costume bodice was cut from The Magnificent Flowerstreet sheet and her base is a Marianne Design Circle and Flower Stitch. She is surrounded in a pearl string as she dances along her pearly path. A pearl rhinestone button centers my Juliette lace bow because you can never have too many pearls. The Cheery Lynn Designs butterfly remains my favorite, which is from their Small Exotic Butterflies set.

My sentiment is from a no longer produced Whimsical Designs stamp set, which is atop a Spellbinders Lacy Pennant (slightly modified for identical ends). This is my first time using a doily and I love the softness it adds.
This card will soon pirouette over to Tralynn to deliver love and sunshine. I will also be making a more typical kiddo card for her... but my heart was relentlessly prompted to create this ballet one for her first. Isn't she lovely?
Last week she twirled in a fluffy tutu through bubbles that her momma blew for her. It takes a warrior princess to dance while enduring cancer treatments... she is ever an inspiration. I hope she doesn't mind me exchanging the bubbles for pearls. ;)

Thank you for visiting and I wish you a beautiful day!

Wonderful challenges entered:
 *613 Avenue Create~ Anything Goes (Optional: Celebrate); Celebrating life!
 *Crafty Boots~ Ribbon or Lace
 *Creative Inspirations~ Shabby Chic
 *Scrapy Land~ Anything Goes (Die brands you carry are Cheery Lynn Designs and Spellbinders)
 *Simon Wednesday Challenge~ Inspiration Color Swatch
 *Simply Create Too~ Favorite Color Combo
 *Through the Purple Haze~ Spring Colors

Friday, May 8, 2015

Sweet Birth Announcements

Hello, sweet friends! I'm happy to be posting today on the Live & Love Crafts blog. :o)

This week the LLC team is showcasing Maja Design's Vintage Baby paper collection! The more I use it, the more I become enamored with it. It is the sweetest combination of elegance and whimsy. :o)

I was inspired to create birth announcements for two very special babies, which will be part of a memory box I am creating for their inspiring parents. These precious parents have endured such heartache. I found Miracles for Mabry-Kate at the start of this year and am honored to be creating for them. (A very short description of their situation is at the end of this post.)
As a fan of shaped cards, I couldn't resist making the birth announcements in the forms of a pretty dress and sweet overalls. Vintage Baby provides a marvelous variety of patterns from which to choose. :o)
The backs of the keepsake announcements display goodies from the Die Cuts sheet, which I am so thankful Maja thought to include! I love having everything so beautifully coordinated. The girl's is tucked in a pocket, while the boy's is held with the adorable Maya Road Love Heart Clip. The tiny tags are also cut from the Die Cuts sheet, which I've assembled to hold three special memories.
Mabry-Kate's dress is filled with Wild Orchid Crafts flowers, girly trims, and a layer of tulle. Pion Design butterflies are covered in Glamour Dust and I used a few of my favorite pearly products throughout. How adorable is the Maya Road Love Hanger? I've been so anxious to use it!
The rambunctious little teddies felt perfect for Owen's baby overalls! I couldn't find an SVG file that I loved as much as this shape that I had seen several times on Pinterest... so I sketched it out and cut everything the old-fashioned way! Sweet Little Boy (and Little Princess above) are from tear-away strips. Don't you love how Maja makes everything usable? I fussy cut the giraffe and elephant to decorate the pocket for extra whimsy.

Sadly, baby Mabry-Kate is no longer with us but she is celebrated every day by her family. She passed away in February at 10 months old. Sweet Owen was born five weeks ago and is fighting the same rare disease that took his sister. Mabry-Kate is called his guardian angel, as they never would have known to screen for this fatal disease if not for her. Owen has a chance to survive because of it and has already undergone transplant and intense chemotherapy beginning at 2 weeks old. He is a fighter and we are all believing he will survive! God and MK are watching over him to ensure it. :o)

Thank you for visiting and I wish you a sparkly day! :o)

Lovely challenges entered:
 *613 Avenue Create~ Anything Goes (Optional: Feminine)
 *Cute Card Thursday~ Add a Brad
 *DL.Art Thankful Thursday~ May Linky (Anything Goes)
 *Fab 'n' Funky~ May Flowers
 *Fussy and Fancy~ Lots of Flowers
 *Lil Patch of Crafty Friends~ Anything Goes
 *My Time to Craft~ New Baby
 *Penny's Challenge~ Anything Goes
 *Through the Craft Room Door~ Anything Goes



Friday, May 1, 2015

Sweet Inspiration at Live & Love Crafts!

Happy Friday, dear friends! Thank you for the lovely words about my new crafty adventure. I appreciate your kindness and encouragement, which only added to my excitement. :o)

Speaking of which, today begins a new monthly challenge at Live & Love Crafts and it's a sweet one! The photo inspiration is at the bottom of my post. We would love to have you join us! :o)

The sweet collage is filled with ice cream, which I paired with Maja Design's newest paper collection: Vintage Baby. This line is as versatile as it is lovely!
My card was made for an inspiring mother who is enduring the unfathomable heartache of watching her baby girl fight a terminal disease. I have been following her journey (and praying mightily for the miracle needed)... and you all know how this always ends up: my heart needed to create for her.
Treats lift a downcast heart, right? This challenge inspired me to send her sweetness. She's receiving a triple-scoop of kindness, sprinkled with healing love. All of the card front DP is from Vintage Baby, which worked perfectly for my confection. My cherry on top is one of Sandy's newest goodies: beaded pomegranate apples! This time I used the beautiful Wine Pudding shade.
Wild Orchid Crafts roses and sweetheart blossoms in white, baby blue, and lilac form my bouquet, to which pearl stamens are nestled within. They sit atop Cheery Lynn Design's Mini Fanciful Flourishes. Also tucked within the Madeleine lace-trimmed pocket is extra love, courtesy of Cheery Lynn's Two of Hearts. A flatback pearl flower centers my triple bow.

A La La Land Crafts Heart Banner flutters about, which I've layered in blue and pink plaids. My card base was created with Cheery Lynn's Horizon Square Boutique Stacker Frames, one of my favorites. The interior is a gorgeous design from Maja's Vintage Spring Basics line.
I hope this fills her heart with sweet love, knowing God and I are always here for her. :o) Thank you for fluttering on by and I wish you a beautiful weekend!

Photo inspiration for our challenge:
Playing along with the following fun challenges:
 *Cheery Lynn Designs~ Anything Goes
 *DL.Art Thankful Thursday~ May Linky Party (Anything Goes)
 *Inspiration Destination~ Anything Goes
 *Simon Wednesday Challenge~ Anything Goes
 *Through the Craft Room Door~ Anything Goes
 *Word Art Wednesday~ Encouraging/Uplifting Sentiment



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