That Time I Made a Topiary Out of Paper

As mentioned in a few posts before, the autism center my boys use is amazing. Most of the work on this project was done there. I cut out everything at home, then colored, shaped, and assembled most of it at the center. The topiary is from the kit Thank You For the Music at SVG cuts.

This is kind of picture intensive, so please be patient with me. There were a lot of components.

I took pictures of some of the process. I’m always amazed I can start with flat pieces of paper and make something substantial and dimensional. So I included pics for other people who might feel the same way 🙂

First, the focal points – the flowers. There’s two types. The main flowers and the fillers. Each main flower has 5 parts. I cut them out of blue paper, then added white to the centers, dark blue to the edges, then blended with a shade of blue somewhere between the color of the paper and the dark blue. I believe there were 32 big flowers.

I wanted a fuller topiary, so I used more filler flowers than called for. I used the same process of coloring them as I did for the blue flowers, just different colors.

 

I also wanted to add clovers and leaves to the base. The clovers are from the Springtime Box Cards kit at SVG Cuts. The leaves are from the pumpkin in the Harvest Sunset Kit, also from SVG Cuts.

I started with white paper  and colored the clovers and leaves the colors I needed them. I used a mix of ink and colored pencils.

 

 

And I just HAD to have a hummingbird. And wouldn’t you know it, SVG Cuts has one or those, too! This one is from their Hummingbird Box Card. Instead of cutting out different colors of paper, I cut all the pieces out in white, then colored the individual pieces before assembling. I made a mirror copy that I used to sandwich a wire between so I could make it hover by the topiary.

 

 

So those are the elements 🙂 Here’s some pics of the finished product. Thanks to my daughter who helped me get the pics 🙂

The clover.

 

The topiary and the hummingbird.

The whole topiary

And the card. I used a kit in my Craft Artist collection and designed this card. The flowers weren’t colored, which I LOVE because it allows me to color them 🙂 I used a combination of copics and colored pencils for the flowers on the card.

Singing Bird Card and Distress Markers

I’m probably so behind the times, but I finally found the Tim Holtz distress markers 🙂 I only have one set and will probably try and get the rest 🙂

I used the Penny Black stamp called The Sweetest Sound in my stamp positioning tool. I was able to color all the different areas  with the distress markers then go back with water to blend the colors.

After the coloring and blending was finished, I embossed the image with clear embossing powder so I could sponge on the colored back ground. I’m pretty happy with the way it turned out.

I used my Craft Artist program to add the frame 🙂

Someone did a simple act of kindness that had a huge impact on me this week. This card is for them 🙂

 

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxoxo

Valentine’s Day Clock

So this is a little late, but if you read the previous post, you’ll understand why 🙂

My husband and I have a running joke about when it’s time to leave work. He’s a great worker and has pulled all nighters before, when necessary. He also works with people from different time zones. This means that sometimes he’s on a call or working on a project for someone after our “office hours” are over either because the job has to be finished, or he loses track of time.

So I made him a clock. And a card, because Valentine’s Day.

And of course, it’s out of paper 🙂

Front view

Side (my husband used to live in France, so I wanted to incorporate that)

The clock file is from Dreaming Tree. I blinged out the 5 as a reminder to my husband that I miss him and it’s time to come home 😉

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxoxo

 

Hello? Is it Me You’re Looking For?

You guys, it’s been a minute, hasn’t it 🙂

That’s what happens with major diagnoses. Your time gets gobbled up trying to get a handle on things. Along with a second child being diagnosed with Autism, I’ve been fighting my own health battles. In addition to the Hashimoto’s (autoimmune disorder) I was diagnosed with coming up on three years ago, at the end of the year, I got a couple more diagnoses. Hypermobility Disorder, which means I’m super bendy, which is cool for party tricks and things, but it also causes chronic pain. The rheumatologist likened it to bendy fibro. Then in December, a different – and completely amazing – rheumatologist diagnosed me with a second autoimmune disorder – Spondyloarthritis. I won’t bore you with the details on that, but it’s causes chronic inflammation with causes chronic pain, and if not treated in time, can cause the spine to fuse together. Luckily, there is treatment and there has been no fusing of any kind.

So why am I telling you this? Because I finally have a handle on things (I think) and I’ve been able to start creating a little more again 🙂 But only because I have some really great people in my corner. I spend A LOT of time at the therapy center for my boys. They brought in a table and chairs for me to use to work on things. I’m sitting at it right now for blog updates. These guys are amazing and I’m so grateful to them.

So the next few posts I’m sharing, are things I’ve been able to do because of the kindness and generosity of others.

Thanks for stopping by!

xoxoxo