Some rosettes to celebrate

The last couple of weeks have flown by in a haze--both literal and figurative.  I spent some time in Portland with my BFF mid month and had a wonderful time getting reacquainted with her almost 2 year old son.  My kids are 11 and 13.  I have forgotten how much energy is needed to keep up with a 2 year old! 

Then the day after I came home, a wildfire happens and we end up having to evacuate our home!  I know, wildfire in January?  Yup.  Anything is possible in Northern Nevada.  We did not have much time to get out, so all of my stamping things were left behind. Only what could fit in the back of my mini van and my husband's civic was taken.  Honestly, when I looked around to decide what to take, there was not a lot that I "needed."  We have a comfortable home, but I have never been a "big ticket item" kinda gal.  It was such an eerie, surreal feeling driving away from our home.  The smoke was so thick that I could not see the road well, but the orange glow of the fire was there.  A frightening experience.  Driving away knowing that there is a good likelihood that when you come back the home will be gone...well, that is hard.  My children were understandably upset, but the whole experience has been a good lesson in gratitude. Sometimes it is good to be reminded of the blessings. We have been blessed again, and for us, all has ended well and we are home.  The fire was very close, but no damage.  Some friends were not so lucky and lost everything.  It just breaks my heart.

So when the clamor of getting back in the house was over, and some tears of gratitude and exhaustion were shed, I had to sit with my stuff and create.  I bought the new Rosettes Die from the Occasions Mini catalog and decided to make myself a paper flower bouquet.  It is a celebration of life.

The die creates almost any size rosette you want.  I made all of the pictured rosettes using the one die.  The largest rosette you can make is 12" across.  It's huge!  I made another project with that rosette that I will share later. You could also cut off the edging of the rosette before you fold it and edge punch the paper with another design if you desired.

I used my paper shredder and shredded paper for the "grass."  You can see in the above picture one of the smaller rosettes.

Can you see the butterflies?  I punched out some butterflies with the Butterfly punch in Silver Glimmer Paper and then used Window Sheet strips to make them "float" above and around the bouquet.  It turned out just right.  It is happy and playful.  Olivia, my DD, did all of the folding of the rosettes as well as gave me embellishment ideas. 

Thanks for visiting my blog.  If you are of the mind, please include in your prayers the families in Northern Nevada who lost their homes in the fire.  Unfortuately, there are more than a few of them.

Stay safe.

Kristine