Crafty Dreams really do come true!

Crafty dreams really do come true! ♥

It was in the late-spring of 2011 that I submitted my first application for the Graphic 45 design team. My heart literally stopped when I was selected for round 2! Then the 2011-2012 design team was announced. I remember I woke up to email notifications the day the Graphic 45 blog announcement was made - my phone was literally "pinging" off the hook! It was then... on that very day... that my crafty dreams came true. I had always dreamed of being on the Graphic 45 design team, but thought with all the talent out there, how would I even be considered? But you know what? You never really know, unless you try. ♥

I came to love Graphic 45 back in 2010 when I was first introduced to Fashionista at my local scrapbook store. I fell in love with the color palette, the vintage imagery and design and the quality of the papers. It was then that I started posting videos on my YouTube channel "Mybutterflykisses12" of projects featuring Graphic 45. 

It's with a heavy heart that I had to make the decision this year to not apply for a 4th term with the Graphic 45 design team. The family behind the Graphic 45 name is nothing short of AMAZING! I want to give the most heartfelt "THANK YOU" to Diane Shultz, Aimee Filimoehala, Charee Filimoehala, and Joanna Harding for the most wonderful opportunity to design for Graphic 45. Not only have I made lifelong friends on the team, but being on the team was like being part of the family - and that alone, was very special to me. ♥

Today on the Graphic 45 blog is my farewell from the design team [me --> holding back the tears!] I hope you have time to run on over and peek and some of my favorite projects over the past year and a new project I created -- A Botanicabella tag album (sneak peek above)!

Click HERE to jump over to the Graphic 45 blog now.

I want to thank all my friends and followers alike for all the support over the years. This is not good-bye, but a brief "farewell for now". I hope to see you around social media... stay in touch! ♥

Much love and butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene

Upcycle with Graphic 45!

Hello there!

For today's project I am recycling some old mason jar lids that I had left over from a project. I didn't know what to do with them, but decided to try to incorporate them onto an altered wooden sign to use as decor in my home office. The sign features Graphic 45's Botanical Tea collection and some of the fun Staples Shabby Chic metal pieces! ♥

Here are more photos of the altered sign. Included below is a link to the Snapguide tutorial showing you some of the details of how I pulled this project together.

I distressed the mason jar lids with gesso and acrylic paint and sanded it down a bit once the paint was dry. The lids were a perfect accent under the fluttering butterflies!

I used small left over pieces of Botantical Tea papers from my stash to punch out the butterflies and create the circles on the mason jar lids. Don't throw out those small paper scraps after working on a project! You never know when they will come in handy! ♥ I store all of my small paper scraps in a clear plastic envelope so I can easily see the contents. The envelope is then stored in the same storage container where I keep all things "Botanical Tea". ♥

Here is the Snapguide tutorial:

Check out How to Recycle Mason Jar Lids to Make an Altered Sign by Arlene Butterflykisses on Snapguide.

I hope you give one of these altered signs a try!

Be sure to visit the Graphic 45 blog for more details on this project including the product list!

Thanks so much for stopping by.

hugs & butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene

Graphic 45/May Arts Blog Hop, Day 2!

Hello friends!

This week over at the Graphic 45 blog, we are hosting a Blog hop with May Arts, the creators of fabulously chic and gorgeous ribbons! Be sure to visit the Graphic 45 blog this entire week for a dose of creative inspiration from the designers!

We were asked to create a project with a touch of these gorgeous ribbons by May Arts. I created a multi-photo 12x12 layout of my sweet niece Jaelyn featuring Graphic 45's Enchanted Forest paper collection and May Arts ribbon!

Here is a sneak peek:

Be sure to hop over to the Graphic 45 Blog for more photos, a product list and a video tutorial showing you how to create this layout!

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a wonderful crafty week ahead!

hugs & butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene

Products:

Enchanted Forest: 12x12, 6x6 Patterns and Solids, Chipboard 1 and Chipboard 2, Journaling and Ephemera cards

Staples: Metal Clock Keys, Ornate Metal Key, Metal Door Plates & Knobs

Petaloo Flowers

May Arts Ribbon

Hot Glue

Glossy Accents

Aleene’s glue

Graphic 45: Altered Easter Egg & Tutorial

Hello friends and happy Monday!

Hope you enjoyed your weekend. Today, I'd like to share a special Easter project with you. I created this altered Easter Egg using a Styrafoam egg from Michael's and Graphic 45's Children's Hour and Time to Flourish paper collections.

I have a tutorial for you as well, showing you how I altered the egg.

Click HERE to visit the Graphic 45 blog for more pictures and my video tutorial.

First, here is a quick sneak peek of my altered Easter egg:

So much FUN! ♥

Click HERE to visit the Graphic 45 blog now.

Thanks so much for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderfully, creative week ahead!

hugs & butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene

Products:

Children’s Hour: April Collective, April Montage, May Montage

Time to Flourish: April Cut Apart

Petaloo flowers

5” Styrofoam egg

Pearl top pins (approx. 250)

Flower punch(es) - I’m using Stampin Up

Small Paint brush 

Rubber/Foam pad

Hot Glue

Pretty Pink Posh sequins

Sheer white ribbon

Crystal top pin

Inspiration Wednesday - Color Inspiration!

Hi Everyone!

I'm here with another Inspiraton Wednesday project for La La Land Crafts!

This week's theme is:

Color Inspiration

Won't you play along? Here are the colors we are working with:

I LOVE the vintage/muted pinks and the cremes!

For this challenge, I created an 8x8 layout of my sweet fur baby, Nala. Here are some close up photos!

Hope you like it! ♥

I layerd a bunch of La La Land Crafts DIES on my page. All products are linked below. ♥

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Be sure to check out more projects from Team Wednesday over at the La La Land Crafts BLOG.

hugs & butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene

Products:

 LLLC Dies:

Double Stitched Squares die (Set of 4)

Filigree Border die

Masquerade Mask die

Open Hearts Banner die

Photo Elements die (Set of 4)

Pierced Scalloped Circles die (Set of 4)

Stitched Nested Hearts die (Set of 4)

Two Leaves die (Set of 2), Winter Branches die (Set of 2)

Berry Flourish die

Graphic 45's Ladies' Diary paper collection

Recollections card stock

Pretty Pink Posh sequins

Wild Orchid Crafts flowers

Get Ready for Easter with Graphic 45!

Hello there and happy Monday! ♥

Today I have a project featured over at the Graphic 45 blog and I hope you run on over and check it out.  ♥ 

Easter is just around the corner and I've been in "easter egg alteration mode" in my craftroom the past few weeks! I created this fun Easter Egg hanging decor featuring Graphic 45's Children's Hour and Sweet Sentiments paper collections. Perfect to dress up your house for the Easter holiday!

Here are a few close-up pictures, but be sure to stop over at the Graphic 45 blog for more pictures and a video for this project!

Thanks for stopping by!

hugs & butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene

Products:

Children’s Hour 6x6 Patterns and Solids, 8x8 paper pad, Chipboard

Sweet Sentiments

Staples: Ornate Metal Keys

Petaloo flowers

Wild Orchid Crafts flowers

Recollections resin frame

Hot glue

Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive

Inspiration Wednesday - Flags or Bunting!

Hello friends, Happy Hump Day! ♥

You know what that means... it's Inspiration Wednesday with La La Land Crafts!

This week's theme is:

Flags or Bunting

I created a fun altered Easter Egg and incorporated an array of La La Land Crafts DIES, including the Scalloped Trim Banner Die!

This was so fun to make! 

Here are more photos:

Won't you play along with this week's challenge? We'd love to see your "Flags or Bunting" projects. Post your project on our Facebook page, or visit us for inspiration on our Pinterest page.

Thanks for stopping by and have an amazing week ahead! ♥

hugs & butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene

Products

Koi Circle Die (Set of 3)

Masquerade Mask die

Pierced Scalloped Circles die (Set of 4)

Two Leaves Die (Set of 2)

Flower Banner die

Scalloped Trim Banner die
Easter Egg (Michael's)
Sheer White ribbon
Crystal top pin
Rub 'n Buff: Antique Gold
I Am Roses flowers
Lace
Prima Butterfly papers
Recollections pearls
Pretty Pink Posh sequins

Get Ready for Valentine's Day with Graphic 45: Day 1 - Altered Window Shadowbox

Hello friends!

Today I want to share an altered Window Shadowbox that I created for Graphic 45 featuring Mon Amour. This project commemorates one of my favorite photos of my husband and I. We will be celebrating16 years this April and we're still going strong! ♥

Here are some photos of the shadowbox. I will also be sharing a Snapguide tutorial that will show you how to position your photos into the Graphic 45 Window Shadowbox for a perfect display!

Check out How to Position Images in Graphic 45 Staples Shadowbox by Arlene Butterflykisses on Snapguide.

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Be sure to pop on over to the Graphic 45 BLOG, where you can find more Valentine's Day inspiration from the Graphic 45 Design Team!

hugs & butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene

Products:

Window Shadow Box (Ivory)

Mon Amour 12x12 papers

Mon Amour 6x6 Patterns and Solids

Mon Amour Decorative Chipboard

Mon Amour Ephemera cards

Staples: Ornate Metal Drawer Pull, Ornate Metal Keyhole, Ornate Metal Key, Claw Feet

Wooden Block letters - Bottlecap Co.

Paper Studio Glass viles

Wooden Spool

Wooden cube

Wooden mini bird house

Momento metal corners

Metal Door pull

Wooden mini flower pot

I Am Roses flowers & rosebuds

Wild Orchid Crafts flowers

Recollections Pearls

White paint

Rub N' Buff - Antique Gold