A misspent childhood

A semblance of normality is returning and I have even managed a bit of crafting............the shingles in the derriere..........I mean literally.........are hampering things a bit so sitting in short burst, but I've had an overdose of C&C and bursting with ideas I have to get onto paper. Apart from that all patients are progressing nicely.

This week the new 'Fairy Flutterfly' stamps landed from Nikky at Polkadoodles. I have to say I am totally impressed by the quality and wonderful funky feel to the images which are very finely cut and stamp beautifully. At £6.49 a set they brill value........all sets have the fairy, her wings.......which Nikky has very cleverly drawn as butterflies so they have dual use, plus several co-ordinating elements.

My easel card creation fits three challenges, Stamping for the Weekend who would like to see 'Ribbons and Bows', Creative Card Crew who have the theme 'Birthdays' and Cupcake which has the theme of 'Childhood Memories'........this is where the misspent childhood comes in as mine was spent in a fantasy word believing fairies really did live at the end of the garden.........so what's changed, I still do and then as now I talk to butterflies.

This stems from three of my Great Aunts who used to walk with me through the gardens of the beautiful thatched cottage where my maternal grandparents lived and talk to butterflies as we went, referring to them by name. When I questioned this I was told they all had a very special purpose in life and represented the spirits of departed relatives. One of the aunts, Mirrie, was a spiritualist healer and radiated incredible peace and tranquility and from a very young age she always had a very special place in my life.

When she died I was given her engagement ring, it is too fragile to wear regularly but I believe it has a special purpose in my families life and in times of 'need' such as recent events and also special family occasions, Mirries ring comes out and I wear it and place it on a finger of the loved one who is suffering. When our eldest son married last year I gave it to my DIL to wear for their wedding and will do the same to the fiancee of our second eldest son for their wedding next month.

So you will understand why butterflies hold a special meaning to me and why they feature so often on my artwork. You could call me unhinged, but we all need something to believe in, to give us strength and for me this in part is where I draw mine from.

I have used what is probably my favourite of the new stamps of those I have to play with which is called Gracie. I stamped her twice colouring with Copics and stamped her wings onto fantasy film. The DP's are all from Polkadoodles new Paper Boutique CD. The borders are punched with Martha Stewart embossed zig zag, the fairies mat a Nestie run through the Big Shot and the butterfly also a punch with some tied matching ribbon for the thorax. Roses, ribbons, pearls and sickles added to embellish.