• Paper Roses!  Blushing Bride card stock was used to make this trio of roses created using the Fancy Flower Punch.  After crafting the roses, I spritzed them with Stampin’ Mist and crushed and formed them into the shape I wanted.  After they dried, a large Basic Pearl was placed into the center of each, and a liberal spray of Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz was applied as a final touch.  A Splitcoaststampers tutorial for similar roses can be found HERE.

• Gilded Lilies! The Five-Petal Flower Punch and Whisper White card stock were used to create the lilies in this bouquet.  The edges were inked with Blushing Bride and speckled using the Color Spritzer Tool and a Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker.  A liberal “Smooching” with Vanilla Shimmer and Basic Pearls complete these flowers.

• Ribbons! Always Artichoke Seam Binding and Whisper White Organza snippets are used to fill in the “blank spaces” and add contrast.
• Greenery! The “Frond” from Growing Green, watercolored with a Blender Pen and Always Artichoke ink, seemed like the perfect greenery with which to complete the bouquet!

Stamp Set:  Growing Green (W 118758, C 120624);  Ink: Soft Suede (115657), Blushing Bride (119786), Always Artichoke (105219), Soft Suede Stampin’ Write Marker (120973);  Card Stock:  Blushing Bride (119796), Always Artichoke (105119), Whisper White (100730), Very Vanilla (101650);  Tools:  Big Shot (113439), Square Lattice Textured Impressions Embossing Folder (119976), Fancy Flower Punch (118073), 5-Petal Flower Punch (119880), Color Spritzer Tool (107066), Sponge Dauber (102892), 2-Way Glue Pen (100425), Blender Pen (102845);  Glitz and Glam:  Whisper White Organza Ribbon (114319), Always Artichoke Seam Binding (121000), Basic Pearls (119247), Vanilla Shimmer Smooch Spritz (118772)

Stampin’ Up! Promotions

Strength & Hope Campaign
Purchase the special Strength & Hope Stamp Set or Digital Kit, and Stampin’ Up! will donate $2 to The Breast Cancer Research Fund.

Remember, I am always available to answer your questions, whether its about the cards that I create or the techniques that I use! I am only an email away! Until next time…

(Orphan Puppy Update:  A few days ago, I reported that one of my blogging friends, Ruth, had lost her dog, Lil, when she went into distress giving birth.  I have good news to report! The new “Mom” has accepted these babies into her current litter and is now attending to 16 puppies.  Her own litter is transitioning into the weaning phase.  The foster mother and all puppies are being closely monitored.)

Me:  OK, Twins! Who wants to talk about their show this weekend!
Brody:  I will! I will! Can I go first? Huh? Can I, Mom?
Me:  Brody, you seem very excited.  What do you want to tell Mom’s friends?
Brody: I beat my sister! I was named Best of Breed Puppy on Friday! And then on Sunday, I was the Preserved Weiner.
Muffy:  That’s Reserve Winner, you idiot.
Me: Muffy Lin! Let your brother finish!
Brody:  Oh, yeah!  I was the Reserve Winner and I beat out other big boy dogs.  I got to have my picture taken with the judd twice.  Once for being Best Puppy, and once for being the Reserve Winner on Sunday.  That was fun!
Me:  You did an excellent job, Brody! You looked very handsome in the ring Sunday!  How about you Muffy?  Do you want to talk today? 
Muffy: NO! I don’t want to!
Me: Why not Muffy?  You always love talking to Mom’s stamping friends.
Brody:  She doesn’t want to because she was a loser this weekend.
Me: Brody! That’s enough! Do you remember how badly it made you feel when Muffy called you a loser?
Brody:  I’m sorry, Mom.  I’m sorry you didn’t win like I did, Muffy.
Me:  What’s wrong, Muffin?
Muffy:  I’m so sad, Momma.  I didn’t win first all three days.  I always win first.
Brody:  I saw Muffy show, Mom.  Michelle the Handler said she had “ants”.  And then I heard her say that Muffy was a bad dog because the ants made her not stand still.
Me:  I think you mean she was “antsy”, Brody.   Michelle said Muffy was having some issues in the ring.
Brody:  Why did Muffy need tissues in the ring, Mom?  Remember when Muffy got into the whole box of tissues that Dad left on the floor by the bed when he had his cold?  Boy, was Dad mad!
Me:  Issues, Brody…not tissues!
Brody: Oh…
Muffy:  But I always win, Momma! That other girl dog who beat me never beats me, and she beat me two out of three times this weekend.  Didn’t these judges know I was the Winner, and Best of Winner and Best of Opposites on both Saturday and Sunday last week.  What’s wrong with these judges!
Me:  Muffy, you must always be on your best behavior in the show ring or you are not going to win.  You can’t rest on your laurels. 
Brody:  Who’s Laurel, and why can’t we rest on her, Mom?  I love to rest on people.
Me:  What I mean is that you can’t rely on your past achievements.  It’s a bitter pill to swallow, but hopefully you have learned a lesson from this.
Brody: Mom, we don’t have to swallow bitter pills, remember.  You bought those yummy pill pockets to put our medicine in when we are sick.  I love them.  They taste yummy.  Can I have a pill now, Mom?
Muffy: I’m sorry, Momma. I wanted to win so badly for you this weekend. Do you still love me even when I don’t win?
Me: Oh, Muffy! I love both you and Brody regardless of whether you win or lose.

So there you have it! Brody had a fabulous show.  It was the best of times for him.  He was named Best Boxer Puppy on Friday and he was the Reserve Winners Dog on Sunday.  At his age, both were awesome wins for him.  As for Muffy, it was the worst of times, in her book.  Michelle will be giving her some extra lessons in standing still!

Of course, I always fall behind on dog show weekends.  So, here’s to catching up! Until next time…