Butterfly Mobile Tutorial

How to Make Butterfly Mobiles

Here is a tutorial for the mobiles I created for Avery's Vintage Butterfly Ball. 
Supplies:
Wreath - mine was a 12" from The Dollar tree
Fishing Line
Ribbon
Tulle
Greenery
Scissors
Die Cut Shapes in various sizes
Double Sided Tape or Glue Dots
All instructions and measurements will be for a 12" wreath

Step 1:
Wrap wreath with greenery (18") and ribbon (60") as desired. 

Step 2:
Cut 32 small die cut butterflies
Cut 32 medium die cut butterflies
(If you don't have a die cut machine you can trace shapes using cookie cutters or print a shape from microsoft clipart.)
Cut 4 strands of 22" long fishing line
Using double sided tape or glue dots stick coordinating front and back of each shaped butterfly to the 22" long strand of fishing wire.  Start your top set of butterflies 5" from the top. Alternate one small set with one medium set or whatever pattern you choose. I used 2 sets of each size on a strand. 
Only place glue in the "body" portion of the butterfly so that you can separate the wings into 3-D form. You will create 4 strands.

Step 3:

Cut 24 pieces of tulle. 20" long and 5" wide
Using 3 pieces of tulle I made 8 mini poms using the accordion fold tissue paper pom technique. But I have since discovered there are easier ways to make them as shown on Once Wed. 
Lesson learned for next time!
Step 4:
Tie 2 poms to a 18" strand of fishing line leaving space in between to tie a coordinating bow. Also leave 3-5" of space from the top so you have room to tie the strand onto the wreath. You will create 4 strands. 

Step 5: 
Tie your four strands with butterflies and your four strands with poms around the wreath. I alternated the strands and tied at various heights. Trim the fishing line at the top. 
Step 6:
Cut 4 strands of ribbon at 24" length to tie onto the wreath for hanging. Tie each ribbon onto the wreath...space evenly.

Step 7:
This is where it gets a bit tricky for me. Grab all four of the ribbons you just tied on and gather them together above the wreath. The wreath will be hanging below you. 

Tie those four ribbons in a knot at the top once you have it balanced where all sides are hanging even. I have to stand to do this and I find an extra set of eyes is  helpful to make sure I have all sides even. 

Step 8:
Hang from the ceiling with a hook or I simply used a push pin since I knew it would be coming down in a few hours. 

Enjoy! I am happy to help with any questions. So many possibilities with Easter right around the corner. 

Linking with: Craftomaniac, The Creative Girl, Type A, Skip to My Lou, DIY Showoff

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The BEAUTY in opposites

We received notice this week that a ONE MONTH old in our church has cancer. Those are the days I shake my head and wonder WHY???? I pray for the family that HAS TO be experiencing shock and devastation. As we set up teams to visit I pray for a miracle but I am also reminded of something I wrote awhile ago. Thought I would share...

The colors of purple, red, and yellow engulf you. Playful children’s artwork covers the walls. Silver balloons and toys are a regular sight you see. The sounds of children’s voices fill the air. There are waterfalls, trains, and even an indoor playground to entertain each child who wanders in. Where am I?

You might guess an amusement park or a child’s birthday party.

But, let me share with you the other sights and sounds going on around me.

Pacing parents in the hallway, the subtle weeping of a mother as she listens to the doctor give her “the news”, a heartbreaking cry of pain from a child’s lungs, child after child sitting in room after room with various tubes coming from their arms and chest, the sad eyes of parents and children meet your own and you know they are wondering “what is about to happen next?”

Where am I?

Where do these two worlds of sadness and joy meet?
Phoenix Children’s Hospital.

I wait with one of our families to hear the news that will either bring a smile to our face or tears to our eyes.

As I focus in on what is happening all around me I realize how much the world we live in today is like this moment of time I am experiencing.  

We live in a world filled with opposites.

death and birth.

divorce and marriage.

illness and cure.

bankruptcy and millionaires.

war and peace.

I ask the mom I am waiting with how she does it? How does she cope?

What she tells me isn’t unique or something she made up. She tells me that what gets her through each day is “TRUST!”

Trust! Trusting that God is in-charge and knows exactly what is going on. Trusting that, even through we don’t understand, God is bigger and more creative than we could ever be. Trusting that this place we call earth is just our small playground for the excitement that is to come in the big amusement park called heaven. Trust is the key!

Solomon shared some simple yet wise words of wisdom with us in Proverbs chapter 3 verse 5 that can provide us with the power of God at all times.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.”

This would be a great verse to memorize. For some fun memorization tricks of the trade check out this post from Ginger Ciminello.  

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dream BIG: week eight

I made a last minute call Monday night to attend the Working Woman's event at Cornerstone Christian Fellowship in Chandler. Boy was the hour and 15 minute drive worth it! What a treat! I LOVE a well run event. And the inspiration and motivation was just what I needed! Being a part of a huge room full of woman who are in the midst of dreaming BIG was so fun!!! Here are my notes. Hope you can glean something from the wisdom shared.

1. When launching your DREAM don't fear going in phases. It is a process!

2. Find a catalyst resource! A website, blog or person that will feature you. This generates buzz!

3. Delegate to experts and don't try to do it all. Involving others generates connections and more buy in. 

4. Collaborate, collaborate, collaborate!!!! Join with people you know to get the word out. 

5. Make every effort to communicate you are a REAL person that is really responding. Respond to people as quick as possible

6. Brand YOU! Do you know who you are and what you are doing? If not others won't either. Do you have a mission statement?

7. Comment and connect with others by commenting on like minded blogs. People will find you by relating to the comments you make.

8. Be original!

9. GIVEAWAYS, GIVEAWAYS, GIVEAWAYS! Who doesn't like free stuff!

10. Make the ASK! Ask people who have already made it BIG to look at your site, your work, your product with the purpose of sharing you with their world. The worst that can happen is that you are told "no". The best that can happen is that it is a "YES" and serves as a catalyst moment!

11. Make sure you are using your passion to serve others. 

12. MAKE yourself unplug and balance your business with the rest of life. 

My fun news for the week is that the distributor is expecting to see the final holder for the Cravings cards this week and then I will get to see it in person. And I am officially on a waiting  list to have the blog/website for Cravings designed.  Exciting stuff!!!

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Paper Flower Tutorial

Just in case you missed the guest post I did for Amanda at My Heart's Desire here is the tutorial on the fanned flowers I made for Avery's butterfly party.

 I had seen them in pictures but had never seen a tutorial so I just played till I figured out what worked for me. 

Fanned Paper Flower Tutorial

Supplies:

5-6 sheets of various colors and patterns of cardstock

Double stick tape

Punches, die cut machine, measuring cups, or cookie cutters

Glue Gun and glue sticks

Glue stick

Bamboo skewer or small dowel

Ribbon to wrap skewer (optional)

8 simple steps and you will be in flower city!

Step 1:

Cut 12x12 card stock in 4 strips at any desired width depending on the size flower you want. Mine are 4" in strips. If you use 8x10 sized cardstock you may need an additional strip. 

P.S. - I had to make this late at night so I apologize ahead of time for the flash photography going on. 

Step 2:

Fold your four strips into fans

Step 3:

Double stick tape the ends of your folded strips. You will end up with a long line as seen below. 

Step 4:

Bring your two ends together in a circle formation. Use double stick tape to secure. At this point your circle will probably flip up on you or might be a bit difficult to mange. Have no fear the fix is coming!

Step 5: 

Flip your circle to what you want to be the backside. Place glue from your glue gun on a circle punch or a square of card stock and use this to stabilize the "flower". One hand holds the circle with the glue and the other is pushing your folded paper circle tight. The inside circle should all be touching each other. You will need to hold your circle/glue there till you feel like it is on the dry side. 

At this point I need to interrupt this regularly scheduled tutorial with a MISTAKE!

When I flipped my flower back over and started to adorn the front side it wasn't working right. It was floppy. I went back to my original flowers and realized I had used all cardstock. The 12x12 paper I had used for this project wasn't cutting it. So I headed back to my paper drawer and grabbed bright colored cardstock. I repeated the above steps to get to Step 6. Hope this doesn't only happen to me! 

Step 6:

Adorn the front of your flowers any way you please!

In the original flowers for Avery's party I simply used various sized punches of coordinating patterns in the palate and then added a center button. It worked well for a vintage theme. 

For this flower I was going for Spring, bright and festive. I played with the the items you see around the flower and picked what you see in the picture. So many options! So many flowers to make! My Cricut and Silhouette were used for the below shapes but you could use a cookie cutter or measuring cup as your template to achieve any look you wanted. 

Step 7:

Glue a bamboo skewer to the back side of your flower. If you want to cover the skewer you can wrap it in any form of ribbon. I used green raffia for the ones seen in Avery's party. 

Step 8:

Place in the vase of your choice. I also think this one would be adorable hanging from ribbon. 

Soooo many possibilities! Easter, Fourth of July, Baby Shower, the list goes on and on.

Step 9:

ENJOY! 

If you make some I would love to see pictures!

P.S. - I always like to know how long crafts are going to take me. The 24 I made for the Butterfly Party took me a bit over 5 hours. It was some good TV watching! Hope that helps. 

Linking with: Tip Junkie, Craftomaniac, The Creative Girl, Type A

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Bow heads are people too!

The quest to Mess Madness continues. 
I can put a check mark by the closets!

Two weeks ago I posted this picture of my hall closet on facebook. I was surprised by the response. People empathizing and relating. But there were also "slap me in my face" comments from people SHOCKED and THANKFUL to know I had such a messy closet. 
It reminded me that peoples perception of me is not the reality of me. I have spent much of life in this boat. To the point that I wrote my 12th grade oratory on the subject. It was called "Bow Heads Are People Too". Here I am 20 years later still chasing down the topic.
So I thought I would provide some Carey perception busters for you!
1. I am tough to REALLY get to know.
I could tell you I am shy, an introvert or really busy. All true reasons that I am tough to know. But the fact is simply that it takes years of friendship and trust building with me to learn all the details of who I am. I once told a therapist that "my dating life stinks because guys tell me they are intimidated by me." I was hoping she would tell me I am not intimidating and instead she looked at me and said "okay, let's talk about what you do to be intimidating." I know I can still this way - I hear it from work colleagues. I don't mean to be. I am still a work in progress.
2. I wouldn't be the person I am today without therapy. 
Yes, I have spent a combined 10 years in therapy on and off depending on life's circumstances. I believe in it and recommend GREAT therapists for anyone who simply feels a bit lost in what do with emotions of feelings. Yes, it is hard to ask for help but for me it was worth the risk.
3. I don't keep junk in my trunk. 
If you knew all the traumas and dramas I have been through your mouth might drop. I don't come across as someone who has been through a lot of junk because I wake up each day and choose to see them as lessons learned and choose to see what God has taught me through the situations and circumstances. Oh yeah and therapy helped! :)
4. My screw ups saved me!
I tell people I have known Jesus since birth and have always been proud to call Him my best friend. But, I can say I never truly got Grace till I was 28 and allowed myself to screw up so royally that I had to get the power of His unconditional love for myself. I get it and I have a grip so tight on His love for me! I am thankful for His saving Grace each day!
5. JOY is the best medicine. 
People tell me I make it ALL (work, parties, kids, mothering, etc) look sooooooooooo easy! Well I am here to tell you it is not. None of it is easy but it is FUN! The things I do I do because I LOVE them and have a passion for them. I get up early and I stay up late.  If only I could add exercise to my passion list I would be golden. But there are plenty of days that I want to cry or I do cry because I get home from work at 6pm, the house is a train wreck and there is no dinner plan. I get grumpy because I feel like a failure as a wife and a mother. I beat myself up and wish I had planned better, wish I could stay at home or do more in the hours I have. But laughter and joy from my kids and husband snap me out of it and I start over again. 
Do I have messy closets? You bet! THAT is reality. 

"I'm baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama—compared to him I'm a mere stagehand—will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside out. He's going to clean house—make a clean sweep of your lives. He'll place everything true in its proper place before God; everything false he'll put out with the trash to be burned." Matthew 3:11

QUESTION: Do you think peoples perception of you is reality? 

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Meet Amanda Brown

This is my new friend from the blogging world. Amanda Brown. 

We are gonna be roomies at the Relevant Conference in October. 

Can't wait for the conference 

and can't wait to meet Amanda in person. 

I am guest posting on her blog today! 

Several of you asked how I made the paper flowers from Avery's party and now you can get the How To 

on Amanda's fabulous blog My Heart's Desire! 

Check it out...peek around

 and stay awhile over at My Heart's Desire. 

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The Birthday Girl

We celebrated the 1st birthday of my little butterfly a few weeks ago with a Vintage Butterfly Party!
Here are my favorite family shots from the day.

Mother & Daughter

Father & Son

Make sure you are getting out from behind the camera and link up with The Anderson Crew for:

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