I'm making progress in spite of myself!

I thought I'd show you my progress on the banner(s) for the baby shower ~ I know I should have finished it days ago but I've never made one before plus I just hit the wall with it creatively!! Do you do that?
And being the perfectionist nut that I am I just stall out and walk by my art room and stare at it!

I think it's going to be way too long but I wanted to try it....I will string the three words with ribbon as three separate banners "Welcome Baby Clara". I reinforced the scrapbooking paper with posterboard (a cheap alternative to cardstock!) Boy, that was a TON of cutting! Then I needed something to back each of the letters as there was so much pattern going on. I wanted something to break that up and thought paper doilies would work. Well they looked too dinky so I hand pleated white crepe paper around each one....sixteen of them!!
Why do I make a simple little project so difficult ~ ugh!

I do like how it's turning out finally and of course now I don't have enough eyelets so I'm heading to the store to get those today. Next will be a little embellishing and then I've got to move on to a few other smaller things!!!

A few image gifts for you!

Thank you all so very much for such sweet comments on the magazine articles!! I truly believe in my heart that it's because of each of you and your encouragement that I've had the confidence to create and even write an article. And just remember....you can do this too!! Create your beautiful work, send it in to the magazine if you'd love to be published, if I can do this I know that you can!

I hope you have a terrific Friday dear friends ~

xxoo, Dawn

ps. this is my 800th post!!! I promise I'm going to have a wonderful giveaway the week of Feb. 11th ~ my two year bloggiversary!!!

Beautiful handmade flowers from a friend ~

This weekend I got a package in the mail from my sweet friend Marcie of The Rustic Victorian. I love Marcie's taste and she had told me she was sending me a package of flowers that she had made and wanted me to try a few.

Well, I opened up the box and just look at the beauty that came pouring out!!!! These gorgeous handmade flowers are made from....coffee filters!!! Marcie created a pattern (which is a slight rectangle shape, a little wider than it is tall) and gathered several layers together and tied with twine and the result?? MAGICAL!!

On the brown filters she used a tea bath and the pink ones were dipped in pink Rit dye!! She then dried them in the oven on a low temp. Don't you love them??

I had commented on a gorgeous print that she had shown on her blog and she sent me a couple of copies of it too!!! I want to keep one for myself and create a piece of artwork with the other ~ Thank you so much Marcie, you know my heart and know what I LOVE!!!

Now to try my hand at these flowers......

I've got to use these pink flowers at the baby shower!!

She even included a few filters for me to give it a try!

I played a little with the banner a little on Sunday but didn't get very far ~ I need to pick up some white paper doilies, I can see them behind each letter ~ we'll see....and the pennant shape wouldn't work with my big ol' letters so I'm revising my idea ~

This weekend DH and I bought our shower gift for Emily and Brent! Plus a little extra goodie we ran across and couldn't resist. I can't give you a peek because Emily reads my blog (hey sweetie!) but I'll show you after the shower!!

I hope that you all have a wonderful week ahead. Try to make a little time in your schedule to do something you love ~ it will warm your heart and make you smile.

Wishing you a terrific Monday dear friends!

xxoo, Dawn