New Challenges and New Beginnings

Have you ever been in that place in your heart where you know it is time to make a change?  This card is for you, my friends.  This sentiment from Verve Stamps is a quote from Anias Nin, and it always brings many feelings to the surface for me.  I have been in this place before, and I am sure I will be again.  Uncertainty.  Enthusiasm.  Risk.  Motivation.  Motive.  Which emotion does it reveal to you?

I stamped the sentiment in Colonial White Pigment Ink from Close to My Heart.  Then I sprinkled it generously with clear embossing powder and introduced it to my heating tool.  ;)  Pigment Inks are great for stamping on darker papers, and stay wet much longer than dye based inks.  This is why they are ideal for heat embossing.

These stitched hexagon dies from MCT started it all!  Well, that is, after I discovered CAS(E) this Sketch!: CAS(E) this Sketch #37.  See?

This was my chance to use my brand new hexie dies!  Then I wanted to pop one out in the middle of the card...then I wanted to add a butterfly since it is the Dynamic Duos Dessert Option this week using Black and Coral (aka Smoothie from CTMH.)

 But butterflies don't go with honeycomb, that would be bees!  Hmmmm...oooooo what about making a caterpillar with the hexies like I did on the layout HERE!  THEN I can add a butterfly!  The sentiment was chosen next in my creative process.  Can you see the evolution of this design now?  My brain is a tiring place to be sometimes!  ;)

I love the pop of these antennae from the black paper.  I attached them with a dab of liquid glass.  Absolutely unexpected and different, but necessary and welcome.  All the awesome waxy flax is also going away with the current Idea Book from Close to My Heart.  Change.

And so here it is, the butterfly.  I stamped her in Smoothie Ink with one of the D1535 Bugs and Hugs My Acrylix stamps.  The beautiful change that is within you waiting for you to let go and just do it.  Sorry, guys, but I am a child of the Nike generation, lol.  Motivational for some, downright scary for others.  Which is it for you today?

I pray that you embrace that butterfly within you that is just waiting to come out! 

Scraptacular Memories Workshop Wrap-Up!

I had a fantastic time with the ladies at my Scraptacular Memories Workshop last night!  Here is a wrap-up of the two layouts we completed.  The first one features the Chantilly Paper Packet, Bugs & Hugs and Sightseer My Acrylix Stamp Sets, and Chantilly Scrapbook Workshop on the Go My Acrylix Stamp Set.

 

This one features the For Always Paper Packet, Honeycomb and Distressed Backgrounds My Acrylix Stamp Sets.

You can find the inspiration for this layout HERE on my fabulous upline, Mandy Leahy's blog!  :)