A Birthday Tribute

Today is my mom's birthday, and as a tribute to her and ALL of her creative talents, I wanted to create something just for her. I think I can owe my talents and creativity to my parents. My mother can cook, sew, create just about anything with her hands, ie, cross-stitch, crochet, knit, embroider, paint...you name is, she does it. My dad is a very talented man as well. Give him a tool, and he not only knows what it is, but can use it and use it well. We call him the "Jack-of-all-trades" dad. He's a carpenter, plumber, mechanic, engineer...the list goes on and on.

I am so greatful that I have parents who know so many skills and have trained me to know them as well. Not only just know them, but to do them well. That is what I am thankful for. So many times, we feel like cutting corners, taking a short-cut, whether in our jobs, whether in parenting, whether in leisure (sometimes), but they always told me if I was going to do something, to do it with all my heart and to do it well. And that is something my husband and I are trying to pass on to our children. It's not easy, but anything that's worth the effort is usually difficult, right?

So, I created this for my mom.

I got the idea from Mary Jo Albright, and she got it from the Martha Stewart Living 2009 Wedding magazine. I thought I would change it up a bit to make it my own. I used 12"x12" white cardstock, layered. The three layered pieces I ran through the Big Shot using the Flourish Texturized Plate. You really can't see it in the photo, but it looks very classy with the texture. The stamp sets are retired...Wonderful Wings and Bugs & Slugs. I stamped, embossed, cut out, and sponged each butterfly, then adhered them with dots and glue. It actually surprised me that it didn't take that long. Cutting was the most tedious, but I stuck to it to get it finished, and it went fine. The sentiment in the lower corner is from the Cherished Memories rub-ons, and I think I used just about every color in the SU! line. tee-hee

My goal is to put it in a white shadow box so she can hang it up in her craft room. I don't have it yet, and am debating whether to wait and give it to her completed or just give her the page with the frame later. Hopefully it will inspire her and remind her that she is an inspiration to me.

(I think I might have to make one for my stamp room, too. We are both "nutso" about color.)

Hope it inspires you, too.

TTFN,

Debi