I Never Promised You a Rose Garden...Well, Maybe...I Did :-)

After seeing a marvelous punch shape on the internet I created a Silhouette cutting file for this marvelous rose. It looks soooo..... realistic. The picture does not do it justice. This cutting file will be shared on the Silhouette Plus Group file shares for the "In With A Buzz" members. Sign up and start posting to get this awesome cutting file. You can decorate frames, packages, make topiaries and so much more with this lovely cutting file. There are some great tutorials on how to shape the petals and give it dimension on YouTube.

I use ink on the edges and center to add depth. Chalk and markers can also be used but, I find inking best for my technique.

Come on an join our fun group with all its wonderful sharing, caring, and helpful members. Her is the link again to join in the fun:

http://z15.invisionfree.com/Silhouette_Plus/index.php?act=idx

It's a Lily Freebie!

What would Easter or Spring be without a pretty Lily to decorate a Easter gift. I will use these instead of bows for a pretty Spring looking package. Here is how I made them:

1. Cut all of the petals out on a plain white piece of cardstock.
2. Cut the leaves, centers of the Lillies, and the base of the Lillies on a pretty green cardstock.
3. Using your fingers rub the petals enough to work the paper a bit to smoth out. You can use a small tool to curl the edges of the petals just a bit. You want them to look as realistic as you can.
4. Ink the edges with a pretty color of your choice. I used mauve. Using a sponge apply some of the color in you have chosen in the center area of the petals. After you have done this; use a burgandy colored marker and dot the centers as seen in the ones below.
5. Glue each petal ( 6 petals) to the starburt shape with a quick dry glue. I used Allene's Tacky Glue.
6. The center of the flower is the piece with the little circles on the ends. Color these ends with the burgandy marker; as well as the center circle. Apply a dab of glue and place it into the center of the dried Lily.
7. Rub the leaves to work the paper a bit. Next, use a tool on hand to scratch the fine lines of the leaves to make them look more relistic. Now, you can grab a darker shade of green ink and rub it on the leaves to create some depth in the leaves. Make the edges and the base of the leaves a bit darker.
8. Glue the leaves to the back side of your Lily.
9. Work on the look and shape you want for each petal and leaf. The fluff up the center of the Lily for a great looking flower.
10. Last but not least; sit back and admire your work.

Here is how my Lillies turned out:
Here is the link to the cutting file: http://www.fileswap.com/dl/7g3pojg/Lily_Template_3_sizes.studio.html

CANCER IS ONE UGLY!!! WORD

I've not been able to post much as I am now in Texas to help out my Mom and Step-Dad. His birthday was on March 13, 2011 and on March 14, 2011 he was given the horrible news that he has samll cell lung cancer which has invaded most parts of his body except for (thankfully) his bones and brain. I am so darn angry. He is a good man and the love of my Mom's life. I pray all of this chemo will put him into remission so he can enjoy life a little bit. The chemo makes everything taste metallic to him; he cannot enjoy food or drinks for several days after the three days of treatment. He goes to chemo for three days then he is off for three weeks. By the time he gets his taste buds back it it time to go again. During the week of his chemo he has three horrible days. He takes a shot for him immune system on Thursday. After Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesdays of chemo the shot  on Thursday kicks his butt. He doesn't start feeling better until Sunday.

On top of all that he is gong through; this past chemo led him back inot the hospital with a terrible type of pneumonia that wore him down. He has lost an additional 12 pounds of weight since his release. This week he will put several pounds of fluid back on since the chemo makes him swell up. This is one hell of a nasty trip he must take to get a little more life out of this life here on earth. I pray he gets to have some wonderful and much better days ahead.

Right now they are in the; what I believe to be the denial stage. The communications are closed and nerves are raw. Nobody, talks about the cancer, his hair is now falling out. As he rubbed his head yesterday and watched it fall to the ground he simply said; "Well, there goes my hair." his facial expressions said more. My Mom cries at the drop of a hat and her stress levels are over the top. I am so worried for her and the toll this all is taking on her,

They live out in the country and have so much to be done. I am taking care of everything I can but worry when I leave to go home; who will take care of them. My step-sister has been wonderful. She drives in every other weekend. She lives 72 miles away. She and her daughters have been wonderful about mowing the property. My brother lives near but, is at the hospital working all of the time. When he has a few days off he has to play catch up for his own home. He tries to come out and see them several times while he is off but his time has been limited. He also takes care of my biological Dad who lives here.

This seems strange to write about all of this on a crafting, Silhouette cutters blog but it is also to let my few readers know where I am and what is going on. I'm not sure you all will see too many new things concering crafting as my job here is to do all I can to help my family out. Please say a prayer for them. Thank you.