I'm Back & I Am Roses Holiday Blog Hop!

Hello my lovelies!

Wow, it's been over 2 years since my last blog post. As you may know, I took a little break to focus on family and career. But I've always had the itch to come back to the crafting table. I'm looking forward to sharing more projects here on my blog and YouTube. However, if you are interested in seeing my current projects, I post most often to Instagram and Facebook.

Now that I've had a chance to say "hello", let's jump into some Christmas Blog Hop FUN!

I'm here today with a project featuring I Am Roses flowers! Be sure to check out the blog hop details below as there are several prizes to be won. If you love flowers like me... you don't want to miss out!

For my project, I created a 12x12 layout of my sweet yorkie Nala. Nala passed away on Thanksgiving day this year. It was such a difficult time losing her and I am still (and will forever) miss her presence in our home. She was a huge part of our family and we think about her every day. I wanted to create a special lay-out of this picture we took of her about 4-5 years ago. She was the cutest thing snuggling-up in my blanket with her Santa hat and dress on. She was definitely full of spunk and life, but she loved cuddling up with us the most. 💕

Blog Hop Rules:

Here’s how to play:

Hop along to each of the Designers’ blogs and be sure to comment on their individual "IAR Holiday” Blog Post

• There are 3 HIDDEN BLOG CANDY PRIZES up for grabs spread throughout our  Designers’ blogs!
• Be sure to Subscribe/Follow the I Am Roses Challenge Blog
• Commenting along the way highly increases your chance of winning a Prize Voucher.
• Comments will be CLOSED on 11:59pm PST on Saturday December 22nd (This blog hop has a duration of one week)
• We will be randomly selecting 3 winners from the comments made on our Designers' blogs and will announce the winners here on the I Am Roses Challenge Blog on January 1st!

Now get hopping and be sure to comment along the way!

Alexandra Morein

Arlene Cuevas (You are HERE)

Avishag Alon 

Irina Shmatok

Jo Thompson

Rachel Parys

Rhea Weigand

Rina Galit

Roselany Caroline

Rosemary Bridges

Svetlana Lipnitskaya

Tamara Potocnik

Veronika Ziborova

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs & butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene


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I Am Roses Products used on this project:

GB-4 White Gardenias
R3-12 Red Mulberry Roses
R3-15 White Mulberry Roses
T20-101 Red Small Semi-open Rose Buds
T30-15 White Semi-open Rose Buds
LY1- 78 Mixed Red White Lily Paper Flowers
B33-2 Holly Leaves

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

Card featuring Enchanted Forest collection by Graphic 45!

Hello friends!

I'd like to share a card I created featuring Graphic 45's Enchanted Forest paper collection. This collection is so whimsical and fun, it was the perfect collection to create this card with loads of layers! 

Here are more photos:

I fussy cut some butterflies from Botanicabella, which complimented the card...

I love all the fairies and vintage imagery of this collection...

Thank you so much for stopping by to take a peek at one of my last projects with the Graphic 45 design team. I have another project left to share with you, coming soon! Hope to see you back here for that! ♥

Be sure to visit the Graphic 45 blog today for more card inspiration!

hugs & butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene

Product List:

Enchanted Forest - 8x8 paper pad, 6x6 Patterns and Solids, Journaling and Ephemera cards

Staples: Metal Clock Key

Petaloo flowers

Prima pearls (black)

Paper Trey Ink kraft card stock

La La Land Crafts dies

Botanicabella (butterflies)

Twine

Ranger Distress ink - Black Soot

Celebrate Special Moments with a Layout and Graphic 45!

Hello friends!

Today I'd like to share one of my last Graphic 45 projects for the 2015-2016 design team term. It's been an amazing journey designing for Graphic 45 for 3 years! But because my career is taking me in a new direction, I had to make the tough decision not to reapply for the 2016-2017 design team term. Unfortunately creative time will be scarce, and I'll be taking a little break from blogging and YouTube for a bit. 😔  (Not just yet, I have a couple more projects in the pipeline!) It was a very tough decision knowing I'll need to "disconnect". However, I know in my heart it's the right decision for me and my family. ♥

I created this 12x12 scrapbook page of my niece Cadence who performed in her very first ballet recital last month -- I'm so proud of her! I created this scrapbook page so her mommy and daddy could remember that special night. The page features Graphic 45's A Ladies Diary Deluxe Collectors edition and some odds and ends from my stash of A Ladies Diary from years back.

I love that Graphic 45 revived this collection as it's one of my all time favorites! ♥ Grab it quick while you still can!

Here are more photos of the scrapbook page, and don't go too far because I have a video tutorial to share with you that shows you beginning-to-end how this scrapbook page was created.  ♥

Here is the video tutorial showing you how this scrapbook page was created...

I want to thank each and every one of you for following me on my creative journey, many of you have been with me since the very beginning and I have made so many valuable friendships along the way. Please know that this is not "goodbye" but simply "see you later". ♥

hugs & butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene

Product List:

A Ladies’ Diary Deluxe Collector’s Edition pack

A Ladies’ Diary 8x8 paper pad

A Ladies Diary chipboard

A Ladies Diary Stickers

Staples: Metal Clock Key

White Doilies

Petaloo Flowers

Wild Orchid Crafts flowers

La La Land Crafts Two Leaves Die

MFT Jelly Bean Green cardstock

Recollections pearls

Pretty Pink Posh sequins

Twine

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: Communique card

Hello there!

I'd like to share a card I created featuring Graphic 45's Communique Deluxe Collector's Edition pack. I LOVE that Graphic 45 brought back this classic collection, it's one of my all time favorites! This card was created for the Graphic 45 booth at Winter CHA 2016. 

Here are more photos:

I love the imagery and vintage feel of the collection...

And of course... I had to finish the inside of the card as well. ♥

Thank you so much for stopping by to take a peek at my latest Graphic 45 creation.

Be sure to visit the Graphic 45 BLOG for more inspiration from the design team!

Have a wonderful day!

hugs & butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene

Products:

Communique Deluxe Collector’s Edition pack

Staples: Ornate Metal Keyhole, Ornate Metal key

Paper Trey Ink Kraft card stock, Black card stock

Petaloo Flowers

Twine

Recollections Pearls

Black Doily

Inspiration Wednesday - Add Glitter!

Hello friends and Happy Wednesday! ♥

I write this with a very heavy heart... I'm here with my final project as a designer for La La Land Crafts. It's a very, very sad good-bye for me as I struggle to prioritize family, work and personal obligations. 😞  I want to thank Irina and LLLC for the wonderful opportunity to return for a couple of years and design with their wonderful products. I will greatly miss the team, but I know they won't be far! I will continue to adore and create with La La Land Crafts and their amazing line of stamps and dies!

This week's theme is:

Add Glitter

I created this shabby chic card featuring a few of the fabulous dies you can find over at the La La Land Crafts SHOP. Here are more photos:

The focus of my card is the gorgeous Arched Window Die. I adorned it with some pearls from my stash...

The Two Leaves die (Set of 2) is one of my new favorites. I love to layer with them...

Play along with the design team and upload your Glitter themed project to our Facebook page, we'd love to see it! For inspiration, be sure to check us out on Pinterest, too!

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a peek.

Have a fabulous crafty week ahead! ♥

hugs & butterflykisses xoxo,

Arlene

Products:

Arched Window Die

Feathers die (Set of 2)

Two Leaves die (Set of 2)

Honeycomb die

Graphic 45's Botanical Tea papers + chipboard

Fabric flowers

Plastic doves

Lace

Petaloo Flowers

Wild Orchid Craft flowers

Recollections pearls