Embracing Earth's Beauty and Exciting News!

Hello, sweet friends! Today is a special day on my sparkly little blog. I am honored to be the newest Design Team Member at Live & Love Crafts, my favorite store! (Truly I must be dreaming!) Thank you for this incredible opportunity, Sandy! :o)

I'm wrapping up the DT's Earth-themed week on the LLC Blog with a project that embraces and celebrates Earthly treasures. I was inspired to create a Springtime tussie mussie overflowing with the natural beauty that surrounds us. :o)

With Sandy's gorgeous range of products, there's no shortage of beauty with which to work! Pion Design's Blue Fabric from the Paris Flea Market collection was used for my cone base, chosen for its resemblance of a soft blue sky with flowers drifting in the wind.

Madeleine lace ruffles down the base as a breeze, lined with pearls because they are irresistible. (Maybe each one is a dream or prayer, floating upward to the One who gives us the desires of our hearts.) The butterflies are cut from the coordinating Pink Fabric sheet.

Shabby Rose Organza trims the top of cone in cloudy softness, which is filled with a plethora of LLC goodies. Among them are a few of Sandy's lovely new products: pale pink poppies, pink mist roses, and sweet beaded Apple Chutney pomegranate apples. I adore these apples, which even have beaded stems. Creating with such dreamy products is magical, as you all certainly understand. :o)

Thank you for fluttering on by! I wish you a sweet and sparkly day. :o)

Playing along the following lovely challenges:
 *613 Avenue Create~ Anything Goes (Optional: Humorous Sentiment)
 *Come and Get It~ Spring is in the Air
 *Cupcake Inspirations~ Spring
 *DL.Art Thankful Thursday~ April Linky Party (Anything Goes)
 *Fussy and Fancy~ Springtime Flowers
 *Penny's Paper-Crafty~ Use Spooled Items

Pion Design - Paris Flea Market 12x12 - Blue Fabric	Pion Design - Paris Flea Market 6x6 - Pink Fabric	Lace "Madeleine" (25mm)	Shabby Rose Organza Trim (35mm)	Pearl String, 2mm pearls
Pomegranate Apples	WOC Poppies	WOC Wild Roses, 30mm	WOC Open Roses, 20mm	WOC Open Roses, 15mm
WOC Open Roses, 10mm	WOC Cherry Blossoms	WOC Carnations	WOC Tulips	Flower Sprays
Tim Holtz Distress Ink Pads

InLinkz.com

Sympathy Card (and happy to be back!)

Hello, sweet friends! Thank you for the lovely emails and messages checking up on me over the past 2.5 months! I appreciate you and am thankful you stuck with me during my absence. :o)

The last three cards I posted were for a beautiful family whose little one was fighting for her life. Precious Audrey has earned her wings and is flying high, free from the battles she fought throughout her short 1.5 years. I love and miss her so much.

The inspiring love her parents share (celebrated in this card) continues and is helping them endure a heartache I wish no parent faced.

The gorgeous papers are from Pion Designs' Paris Flea Market, chosen due to their coordinating pink and blue patterns. Audrey was a twin, leaving behind a confused little boy who calls Heaven on his toy phone to speak with his sister. I wanted my card for their parents to show that Audrey and Asher are always together.

My sentiment is from JustRite's With Sympathy stamp set, which is layered upon Joy! Crafts Frame and 3 Corners. The coordinating Ornate Edge adorns the top of the card. Wild Orchid Crafts blossoms provide a sympathy bouquet that will never fade, with Cheery Lynn Designs Mini Fanciful Flourishes scrolling beneath. A Cheery Lynn Two of Hearts die accents the corner, topped with a Pion pink butterfly... Audrey's heart will always flutter within her grieving family.

The small banner is cut from a Maja Design My Precious Daughter paper, delivering a lovely message when words were so hard to come by. Beautiful Chloe Lace from Live & Love Crafts trims the center, which is topped with a WOC flat-back pearl strand. The papers and most of the flowers are also available from Live & Love Crafts, which is my favorite store. It's so dreamy.

A sprinkling of pearls, Pion Paris Flea Market butterflies, and machine-stitching finish a most difficult card to create. I pray it continues to deliver heavenly hope and love to this family I dearly love.

Thank you for fluttering on by and I wish you a beautiful day. :o)

Lovely challenges entered:
 *613 Avenue Create~ Anything Goes (Optional: Diamonds)
 *Crafty Boots~ Red, White, or Blue
 *Die Cuttin Divas~ National Garden Month (use something found in gardens)
 *Fussy and Fancy~ Springtime Flowers
 *Through the Craft Room Door~ Anything Goes
 *Through the Purple Haze~ Anything Goes