Home for the Holidays: Whimsical Wednesday Challenge!

Happy Wednesday, my sweet friends! Thank you for your loving support over the weekend... my family and I appreciate it. You are all amazing. :o) Hugs!

This week's Whimsical Wednesday challenge is Home for the Holidays! Create any winter, Christmas, or New Years themed home decor item to play along with us this week. With the big celebration this weekend, there's still some time to make that perfect accent or centerpiece with your own crafty hands. :o) Or as is the case with mine, one with a couple of Christmassy elements, but meant to stay put beyond that glorious day.

Made for my sweet, amazing mom... snowy flowers that will never wither. :o) (And a cute stocking tag, too!)
"Warm Winter Wishes"

This turned out to be a favorite project of mine! I happened upon a paper flower arrangement during a google search a couple weeks ago and instantly fell in love. I needed to make my own version and decided on a wintry wonderland bouquet with a couple pops of gorgeous festive red. All of the paper is Core Couture, so it is indeed sparkling like winter's beauty.

I sketched out some ideas, flipped through my little Cricut cart booklets to select a few different flowers... and five million pop-dotted layers later, my snowy bouquet was complete:

The Christmas ornament (and tag) hanging by a pearly snowflake contains the beautiful Whimsical Designs sentiment, which is from the Snow Much Fun set. I embossed it in silver to match the icy silver flecks in the flowers and also embossed some snowflakes from an Inkadinkado Christmas set. I love that I always have the ideal sentiment on hand with these magnificent stamp sets! :o) They make me happy, just like these enormous flowers. Oh these flowers... I practically cleared out my stash of pop dots. They range in sizes for a more realistic appearance. The smallest is 11 layers and the largest is 19 layers, with each layer being 1/4-inch smaller than the previous. To complete the arrangement I added a few different leaves, a couple of my favorite Cindy Loo flourishes, and added some pearls that my mom adores. (And of course a smattering of snowflakes.) The flower stems are made with rolled up white paper. Straws would have been much easier, but mine are all striped or neon... which just didn't quite coordinate. ;)

One side of the Cindy Loo basket contains another ornament, given to me by my sweet friend Jayne. I'm unsure what cart it is from, but I absolutely love it and think it's perfect for this project.

I backed the opening with a swirled golden paper, then covered it in Star Dust to make it sparkle with the Lord's light. Both of the ornaments are topped with silver Stickles and hung in silver. (And a winter butterfly wanted to be a part of this gift.) I made the basket from Cindy Loo and filled it with river rocks to prevent a tumbling accident. I admit it was a bit time consuming assembling the flowers with so many layers, but it was well worth it. Plus, this project was completely enjoyable and fun. I'll be giving it to my mom on Christmas Eve, along with a massive hug.

Since this project isn't exactly wrapping-friendly, I made a coordinating tag. I used the same papers, plus some sparkly Snow-Tex, microbeads, and ribbon. Why so snowy? Because this stocking has been dancing in the snow! :o) (Although technically the rain and fog came, so they are photographed separately. So unfortunate!)

If you view it larger, you'll see the pretty microbeads on the two bottom white sections. I wanted the stocking 'snowy' in a few different forms, so I used the microbeads on the bottom (lightly pressed into Glossy Accents), embossed the top section with a snowflake folder, and added some Glistening Snow-Tex along the trim. My mom loves ribbon and buttons (don't we all?), so I finished it off with some Prairie Bird Boutique crinkle ribbon, a shiny button from a goodie box I won from my sweet friend Pam, and a Peppermint Stick Trendy Twine bow. :o)

I hope you'll join us this week by linking up your winter, Christmas, or New Years home decor project to the Whimsical Wednesday challenge post! I am excited to see your creations. :o) Our very own Whimsical Designer Nanne is this week's generous sponsor, donating a prize pack of marvelous Webster Pages scrapping supplies. Thank you, Nanne! :o)

Be sure to flutter on over to the rest of the Whimsical Designers' blogs to see their beautiful creations. Thank you for visiting me today! I hope everyone has a sparkly, joyous, whimsical Christmas. :o)

Challenges entered:
 * Die Cuttin Divas~ Holiday Decor
 * Fantabulous Cricut~ Trimming with a Tag
 * My Craft Spot~ Tag... You're It!
 * My Sheri Crafts~ Let it Snow

Key Recipe Components:
 * Cricut cartridges: Cindy Loo, Create a Critter, Florals Embellished, Wall Decor and More
 * Cuttlebug embossing folder: Snowy one from Winter Wonderland set
 * Stamps: Sentiment~ Whimsical Designs~ Snow Much Fun; Snowflakes~ Inkadinkado
 * Paper: Core'dinations, K and Company
 * Ribbon: Prairie Bird Boutique
 * Twine: Trendy Twine (Peppermint Stick, purchased at My Craft Spot)
 * Microbeads: Recollections
 * Punches: Butterfly~ Martha Stewart Small Monarch; Snowflake~ Marvy
 * Miscellaneous: Glossy Accents, Pearls (Recollections), Snow-Tex, Stickles

Whimsical Wednesday Halloween Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Whimsical Wednesday blog hop, sweet friends! :o) You should have arrived here from the incredibly talented Cathryn at In the Pink. If you're just swinging on by to say hi, skip on over to the Whimsical Wednesday blog to start at the beginning. I'm the final stop before returning to the challenge blog, so thank you for making it all the way to the end! Celebrate with a cupcake or...

...a festive autumn carousel filled with trick or treaters! :o)

For my project I decided to make a carousel for the sweet kiddos to play on after their hard work stocking up on candy. Down the center of the carousel is a skewer, so by setting it upon an empty ribbon spool it is able to manually rotate. The poles are wooden skewers wrapped in ribbon and Trendy Twine. Some are a beautiful red twine, while the others are rich chocolate brown. Want to see a few close-ups of the occupants of this fun carousel?

The horses and little kiddos are all digital stamps, which I colored with Copics (and lots of sparkle that did not show up in the photographs). First up is our sweet fairy in pink and one little kid who is so excited for Christmas that she dressed as an elf:

Next is a little girl in her bright, sparkly ladybug costume. And guess what? Her costume is so authentic that she lured a real ladybug to the carousel! (Or maybe it just wants to take some of her candy.)

Lastly, a sweetie pie kitten. One of the children wanted to bring her furry friend with her. :o)

I snapped a picture of the top so you can better see the gorgeous gold braid, fall foliage paper, and the frolicking butterfly.

I searched endlessly to find a tutorial that matched my initial vision. The closest I found was an earring carousel, which certainly helped me out. In case you want to make one, I'm including the link. I made some tweaks and did things in a different order, but it's a good base. I already have mental plans going for a winter one, a double carousel, etc... there are just so many options for this fun project! :o)
Tutorial: Artz de Scrap Earring Carousel

EDIT: Adding this to Alex's Made It Myself Mondays! Please note the hop and blog candy opportunities have ended. :o)




We have several generous sponsors for this event and they are offering up some incredible prizes. Thank you, sponsors! :o)
 * Trendy Twine~ Original Sample Pack
 * Trade Fish Designs~ Rest in Peace stamp set
 * Prairie Bird Boutique~ One bundle of Shabby Crinkle Ribbon (winner's choice)

Our grand prize for one lucky winner is generously donated by PSA Essentials! It is a stamp package valued at $75, consisting of:
 * Stamper body
 * Peal and Stick stamp set
 * Orange/Black inker
 * One customized stamp
To be eligible, you must leave a comment on each blog and then return to Whimsical Wednesday and leave a comment. You have until Sunday night, October 9th, to visit all of the blogs. :o)

Whew! That's a lot of goodies up for grabs! Hopefully you won't mind one more... because I simply cannot resist offering up some blog candy! If the random winner is within the contiguous United States, you'll receive a fun package:
 * Cuttlebug embossing folder
 * Twine
 * DCWV paper stack
 * A few extras... because it's fun to share

Due to high shipping costs, if the winner is outside of the contiguous USA, the prize will be in the form of a gift certificate to a fabulous craft store. :o) To be eligible to win my blog candy, simply leave me a comment on this post. I do not require that you become a follower, but of course would love it if you do. :o) The more, the sparklier! If you are unable to leave me a comment due to Blogger being uncooperative, email me and I'll include you in the drawing. My information is on the Contact Me page. :o) I'll select and announce the winner on Wednesday, October 12th.

Now it's time to dance on over to the Whimsical Wednesday page to complete the hop! Thank you for playing along with us! Have a beautiful weekend. :o)

Key Recipe Components:
 * Cricut cartridges: Create a Critter, Florals Embellished
 * Stamps: All trick or treaters: Pink Cat Studio images; Carousel horses: Dance of Love, by Whimsy Stamps
 * Paper: Bo Bunny Forever Fall and Orange Citrus Dot

You Make My Heart Happy and Sweet Saturday!

Happy Saturday, sweet friends! I hope your September is already filled with tons of happy memories. :o)

Yesterday was amazing! I crafted and baked, which means my heart was happy dancing. I made a card for a few challenges (although it now appears I missed My Craft Spot), which will be going to a coworker of my sweetheart. I knew all week what I wanted to do, which is one of the reasons I love participating in challenges... one minute you don't know what to design, then the next you check a favorite challenge blog and your mind is racing with possibilities. They are such a blessing!

"You make my heart happy!"

The instant I saw the "Winged Things" challenge, I knew I wanted this butterfly to take center stage. The following day when I saw the yellow challenge, these papers were my first thought. The finishing touch came to pass when my sweet boyfriend surprised me with a bouquet of new ribbon... the very ribbon I've been longing for! Color me excited. He lives near a Hobby Lobby, so he zipped in and picked out several colors of the pretty ribbon he knew I liked. :o)

Butterfly elegance was my goal, so I wanted to make a fairly streamlined card... which doesn't come easy to me. I'm so accustomed to adding a million elements, most often of the cute variety. It was nice to revisit this side of me! ;) All three sparkly patterned papers are from the gorgeous DCWV Lemon Flower stack, which I completely love. I used the silhouette of the butterfly to ensure ample room for the paper's beauty to shine, then simply added a sprinkling of yellow rhinestones for the body and gave her a sparkly black shadow. I envision the pops of yellow to be sundrops, while the ribbon signifies being wrapped in sunshiny warmth. (Essentially a giant, fluttery hug.) I pop-dotted two of the layers, so there's a lovely amount of dimension. :o)

Challenges entered:
Fantabulous Cricut~ A splash of color (yellow)
Getting Cricky~ Winged Things

You know what also makes my heart happy? Chocolate. Cue Sweet Saturday! Ironically, my treat for you this week sort of matches this card... both are dark with pops of color. If you are enamored with rich chocolatey goodness, then we speak the same language and you really need to make these cookies. Triple Chocolate Oreo Chunk cookies, to be exact.

Oh my. I knew this was going to be delicious... four forms of chocolate in one cookie? How could it not make my heart flutter? The super dark parts you see are Oreo pieces. These are rich and chewy, an explosion of chocolate in every bite. If anything is troubling you, these surely will make it all better. I confess to eating two of these last night while I finished my card... but in between I had steamed veggies, so I think that nullifies one of them. Right? ;) Make and enjoy these drops of chocolate decadence as soon as possible. :o)

Note: This makes a *ton* of batter. Certainly not a bad thing, but something to keep in mind. If you make smaller cookies, you'll have over three dozen. I prefer huge cookies and it still made a ton. I think I know what I'll be snacking on while watching football today.

Have a wonderful holiday weekend, my friends! Thank you for brightening my days. :o)

Triple Chocolate Oreo Chunk Cookies
Yield: (at least) 18 jumbo cookies

Ingredients:
2½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¾ cup dutch processed cocoa
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup light brown sugar
2 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup chopped white chocolate (or chips)
1 cup chopped semi-sweet chocolate (or chips)
1 cup chopped Oreos

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375º F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone mat. Set aside. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt, and cocoa powder. Set aside.

With a mixer on medium speed, cream the butter and sugars together until smooth. Add the eggs, one at a time. Add in the vanilla extract. Mix until blended well, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.

Slowly add the flour mixture and mix just until the flour disappears. Stir in the chocolate and Oreos. Drop cookie dough by scant ¼ cups onto baking sheets.

Bake cookies for 8-10 minutes. Do not overbake~ when they start to crack and are set around the outside but still soft in the middle, they are ready to come out. They will set up on the baking sheets. Remove from the oven and let sit on the baking sheet for 3-5 minutes. Move to a cooling rack and cool completely.

Source: Brown Eyed Baker

Key Recipe Components (for card):
 * Cricut cartridges: Elegant Edges, Florals Embellished, Gypsy Wanderings (tag)
 * Paper: Core'dinations, DCWV
 * Stamp: Scrappy Moms Stamps Quirky Quotes
 * Ribbon: Hobby Lobby
 * Miscellaneous: iRock

Altered Notebook and a Mini-Gush!

Happy Friday, my sweet friends! I hope your week has been lovely. I have lots to share with you today! :o)

First up is my first venture into altering items. Though I liked the cover of my very special notebook, I didn't love that fact that a million identical ones were manufactured. Hehe. This notebook contains ideas for writing, photography, and dance... very special, indeed! I kept it pretty simple, but absolutely love the result and I hope you do, too! :o) I need to include a few pictures to show you some of the details. I'm not sure why these are uncharacteristically blurry, but it was 100º outside so I wasn't about to have an hour long photo session. ;)

"Creativity sparkles within a dancer's heart."

Isn't it pretty? I just love how vibrant and cheerful these pinks are... perfect for holding my dreams. The ribbon tied to the top spiral with a sparkly flower on the bottom functions as a bookmark. :o) The sparkly flower on the bottom right was cut out of a coordinating patterned paper. You all know me well enough to realize there's a story playing out on this cover, right? It begins here:

The biggest butterfly (embossed, but hard to tell) has just taken flight, which is why she's closest to the sentiment. She's just beginning a new journey, still a bit unsure where her place is. But her dreams drive her so she keeps trying, discovering, and growing... and that's why her gifts are beginning to develop, portrayed by the sparkling pink trim on her shadow. The two above are further along in the journey now, which is why they've turned completely sparkly. No longer just the trim... but 100% sparkle because she's letting her light shine through every creative endeavor. It's impossible *not* to sparkle when you let your heart shine. I covered them in Glossy Accents to make them shiny and durable.

However, you probably noticed the smallest of the three glittery butterflies has gone adrift:

Sometimes on your journey, whatever it may be, you go off course. In my personal scenarios, self-doubt and frustrations can cause a hiccup in my path. I drift away a bit, caught inside a mental battle that can sometimes rear its ugly head. But the good news is that I'm just like this tiny butterfly. If you look closely at the picture just above, you can see that she's returned to the sparkly path that guides her back to the heart of it all, written on the notebook between the spirals: Artistry and passion. Back on track, the possibilities are endless.

The bottom left has a tiny garden of three tulle flowers, dotted with pearly centers. These wispy beauties are among my favorites because they remind of me ballet tutus. How could I not include these on the cover somewhere? :o)

Lastly, the interior! I made a cute, sparkly pocket to hold some papers, pictures, etc. I love this design because it makes me think of the Waltz of the Flowers from The Nutcracker! :o) I attached two clippies to the ribbon to hold small tidbits of inspiration.

And now, a mini-gush. Some of my super fabulous crafty friends wanted to hear a bit about my Josh Groban concert on Saturday! I'll spare you the two hour novel I could easily write about it... and will simply tell you that it was one of the best nights of my entire life. I first heard him sing in May of 2001, and proof of his impact on me since can be found within this special project, which I made a couple of months ago. The final tag I posted in that entry, containing three songs that will play a key role upon my eventual return to dance, are all his. Ten years and two months after discovering him, I finally got to hear him sing live... and it was indescribable. His voice is unlike any other, as is his music, so it made for an absolutely perfect night. One I have waited a crazy long time for. And, I confess... it didn't hurt that HE HELD MY HAND FOR TWO OR THREE SECONDS. Forgive the caps (and bold and italics), but it was a pretty special moment. ;) (I love you, aisle seat. Floor Level, Row Six, Seat One... I love you like I love sparkles.)

He sounded spectacular (naturally), the music selection was incredible, and it was two hours of pure bliss. Endless thanks to my sweet boyfriend for surprising me with that golden ticket. :o) And a special shout-out to my dear friend Ellen, who so skillfully deciphered my text messages just before the concert began, a couple during, and of course after. Especially during... it takes talent to become proficient in Karen-speak when emotions are running high like that. (You do realize you're the only one who got a hand-holding text shortly after it happened, right? You needed to know pronto... as soon as my hand would function.) ;) She is amazing and I'm so thankful we were able to somewhat share in the gorgeous experience together, despite the distance. :o)

And guess what? Josh has another concert in Michigan on August 6th. Yep, I'm SO there! Row Six, Seat One. Sound familiar? Let's hope it's golden once again... as the cherry on top of what will surely be another night of brilliance.

Thank you so much for stopping by today and persevering through this lengthy post. You are all angels! :o) I'll be doing a Blog Award catch-up with my next post... I'm so honored. I don't take them lightly and I'm thrilled to finally be sharing the love this weekend. I hope your day is filled with love, hugs, and all things beautiful. :o)

Key Recipe Components:
 * Cricut cartridges: Elegant Edges, Florals Embellished
 * Cuttlebug embossing folder: Polka Dots
 * Paper: Core'dinations, DCWV
 * Stamps: Martha Stewart (three glittery butterflies on the cover)
 * Ribbon: Essentials, Papertrey Ink
 * Twine: Sew Easy (lollipop)
 * Flower: Prima Fabric Fancies
 * Miscellaneous: Fiskars butterfly punch (teeny tiny ones on the pocket), Glossy Accents, iRock, Liquid Pearls, Martha Stewart glitter

Butterfly Garden Card

Happy Friday, my sweet crafty friends! I hope you're on the verge of a glorious weekend. This busy-bee week flew by, but I'm confident this is the last time five silent days will flutter by between posts. That length is just unsparkly.

Earlier this week as I was commenting on some lovely cards, I stumbled upon a few challenge blogs I hadn't seen before. They're fabulous and listed below! I checked their weekly requirements and with those in mind, created one of my new favorite cards. This is for my sweet friend Dana, who loves butterflies as much as yours truly. The border flourishes I cut out replicate swirly lattices opening up into a butterfly garden. One reason butterflies are so stunning is that they're both whimsical and elegant, so I touched on both characteristics in this card. I wanted the overall theme to veer toward the elegant factor, so I embossed the interior gate panels and used liquid pearls (for the first time!) to decorate the main butterfly and line the ribbon. (I'm in love with this bottle of opalescent gorgeousness! I need to work on application, but that will improve with practice.) I think white-on-white is flawless beauty, so I made that butterfly the same iridescent white as the liquid pearls and as the lattice. Dana loves a pop of color, so I punched out some orange and green sparkly butterflies to incorporate one of the challenges. Since the paper is actually jellybeans, I was able to get a curve of white on the trims of the wings.

The black shadow base isn't the butterfly's shadow, exactly... it's to represent Dana, who so often has supported me, glued to my side, and made it possible for me to fly. :o) Something makes this card extra special. As I referenced in my introductory post last month, the avenues of creativity so often overlap in the most exquisite ways. As this card came to life, it inspired something for the writing side of me. A much needed spark for a story that's waiting in the wings to be written. Thank you, Dana! :o)

I bent the wings and pop-dotted the oval base for some dimension. (This was also the first time I used a genuine paper piercer! So much nicer than my previous way of using a needle, which loved to prick my fingers as I pushed it down.)

Here's the interior sentiment... carried along by the dancing butterflies. Her loving heart is beautiful. "Butterflies dancing beneath the afternoon sunshine carry your love from your heart to mine."

Thank you for fluttering by my blog today. Your visit sparklifies it beyond what I could ever add. :o) Tomorrow's Sweet Saturday is delicious, so be sure to check back soon! Chocolate chips and cinnamon will be waiting. :o)

Challenges entered:
 * Flutterby Wednesday (Use pink, orange, and green)
 * Getting Cricky (Anything goes)
 * Wacky Wednesday (Embossing)

Link-Up Parties! I'm including this at the lovely Alex's Made It Myself Mondays and Patches of Pink link-up party... please join in the fun! I haven't been able to play often of late, so I am excited to be participating once again. Inspiration abounds at both locations. :o)







Key Recipe Components:
 * Cricut cartridges: Florals Embellished, Storybook
 * Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder
 * Paper: Bazzill, DCWV, Papertrey Ink, SEI
 * Ribbon: Offray
 * Fiskars butterfly punch and corner punch
 * Miscellaneous: Liquid Pearls

Father's Day Card

Happy Tuesday, my sweet crafty friends! I hope your week is full of sunshine. :o)

Today I'm sharing my Father's Day card. My dad is something special... he is a true giver. Those who give so generously, without ever considering it a 'sacrifice' of time or resources, have the most gorgeous hearts. That is my father in a sparkly nutshell. I hope his bird-loving self enjoys the little scene I created. (And I hope you do, too!) :o)

The shadow of the branch is trimmed in golden Stickles to signify the sunset's glow illuminating them from behind... just like the aura of a father's love. The leaves extend beyond the card's edge, as a father's love transcends boundaries. The windows show hearts inside, as he always fills our homes with love. And lastly, there are touches of sparkle on the birdhouse because he always brings out our inner sparkle. :o) Along with this card he will receive his favorite dessert that I first made on Thanksgiving... you'll have to come back for the Sweet Saturday feature following Father's Day! All I'll tell you is that it combines creamy cheesecake and caramel apple pie. Truly divine.

The sentiment reads: "Like a creamsicle sunset, a father's love warms the heart."

A few notes: I dabbed the orange/tangerine splotchy background with Merlot and pink inks to add to the sunset essence I was going for. Regrettably, all the tones don't seem to show as clearly as I'd like in the picture. The embossed leaves are lightly brushed with Espresso ink for added dimension. The windows are filled with Glossy Accents to make it appear as though you're looking through glass. In the second picture I tried to show the "glass" on the bottom window and the illuminated leaves a touch better.

Since crafts are extra fun when shared, I am linking up this cute little card to the places that inspired it. :o)
* Patches of Pink link-up party! This is always a joy and is extra special this week for one lucky entrant.




* Fantabulous Cricut Challenge: #1 Dad* My Craft Spot Challenge: Tie It On! (My first time playing here... so excited!)* Cooking With Cricut Challenge: Color challenge (In honor of Gingersnaps!)
Key Recipe Components:

 * Cricut cartridges: Cindy Loo, Storybook

 * Cuttlebug embossing folders: Polka Dots, Swiss Dots

 * Paper: Basic Grey, DCWV, Papertrey Ink

 * Ribbon: SEI

 * Button: My Mind's Eye Tres Jolie

 * Miscellaneous: iRock and Stickles

Thank you as always for visiting! I genuinely treasure you all. Thank you for sharing in my crafty journey. :o)

Butterfly Wishes

Happy Sunday, friends! A batty week prevented me from crafting or blogging, but at last I've returned to my happy new home. I've quickly grown fond of my itty bitty blog haven and don't expect to be away so long again. I've been blessed to already encounter such beautiful people. (That means you!)

Time for the crafty goodness! (Butterflies again! I can't help myself. There's always room for butterflies.) This warrants a bit of a story, but I won't blame you if you skip the writing and zip to the pictures. ;) I promise! I understand time constraints. This is a rare instance to be so wordy and picture heavy... it's just one of those creations that came to be in a unique manner.

Before I begin, just a note that I'm including this in three fun locations since it's always fun to share. :o)

* A wonderful link-up party at Patches of Pink. (Click the pretty button to see some wonderful creations.)

 * Alex's weekly link-up party, which was a ton of fun last week! Join in if you haven't already. :o)

* The weekly challenge at the inspiring Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog, which requires the use of a triangle and rectangle within the project.

I carved out some creativity time this weekend to make a fun project. This is special to me because it represents something exceptionally gorgeous. It's one of those beautiful instances when three of my passions combine into one glorious moment. The inspiration for this design came about while I was frolicking outdoors with my trusty camera. I was still reveling in joy at the unexpected news that I just might return to dancing soon'ish... this very summer or autumn, after so many years of waiting in the wings. Hope was dancing through me when I happened upon a tiny treasure trove of wishes. Such flawless timing. 

The wind tried its best to deter me, but I dropped to the ground and semi-patiently waited for calm. I only had a few seconds of cooperative weather, so I snapped away and pleaded with my simple kit zoom lens to perform beyond its technical ability. I'm fairly new to photography, but have high aspirations... in time my skill and equipment will catch up to my visions. So much patience required at the beginning of a journey. It's thrilling to capture a moment like that. Seemingly simple on the surface, but so much more fiery if you dig deeper. Nestled alongside a flower bursting with hope and wishes, my love of photography melded with my ultimate passion for dance, which in turn propelled me to *this* cherished creative outlet. I  needed to attempt to create something to emulate this moment of sunshine.

I came up with a basket to encourage and sustain my "butterfly" wishes. I refer to them as such for two primary reasons: to reflect the graceful aspect of dance, like a butterfly whimsically fluttering across her own stage... and also as a symbolic messenger to carry my prayers heavenward. When any moment of doubt creeps in or the inability to dance cuts too deeply, I'll take out one of the tags tucked inside. There are a couple themes, as you'll see. Additional tags may be added when time permits. 

(Disclaimer: A gargantuan bumble bee was very interested in me and my basket, so I didn't have time to experiment with capturing the best pictures. He wasn't as cute and friendly as the one on the Create a Critter cartridge.)

The two tulle flowers on each side of the basket make me think of ballet costumes, though I love them in their own right. They're lovely accents without shouting that they're there.

Three tags list a few of my favorite ballet roles and classical compositions, and when I choose one of those I'll listen to the stunning orchestration and watch the accompanying ballet choreography.

Half are Scriptures to remind myself where my focus needs to be and the power that is already at work within me. 

The final one is extra special. It's a reminder of what awaits me. This tag contains three of my favorite songs, which will be my first three choreographies when I can dance again. They've already begun in my heart. :o) (And you can finally see the sweet butterfly at the back of my basket.)

It's only appropriate to conclude this post with the aforementioned inspiration. Make a wish...

... or several, thanks to this abundance. :o)

Key Recipe Components:

 * Cricut cartridges: Cindy Loo, Florals Embellished, Create a Critter, Classic Font

 * Paper: SEI, DCWV, Heidi Grace, Papertrey Ink

 * Sentiment: Digital stamp from Playing with Paper

 * Ribbon: SEI, Offray, and miscellaneous

 * Flowers: Prima Fabric Fancies

 * Buttons: My Mind's Eye Tres Jolie

 * Heaps of diamond Stickles

You are beyond angelic for taking the time to share in my story. Thank you for visiting and I wish you a sparkling Sunday. :o)