Butterflies and Helicopters

Yesterday, from my balcony, I witnessed the takeoff of hundreds of little "helicopters"; the winged seeds of the maple trees that flank my balcony. Every time a gust of wind shook the trees, whirling, dancing seeds took off to find welcoming earth to settle into.
I had recently watched a documentary on Monarch Butterflies, who winter in Mexico, and migrate in groups of thousands, making a journey seemingly impossible for such delicate creatures. The seedlings, too, are delicate, and not all land in a nurturing place.

If such fragile creatures dare impossible journeys with no visible help or encouragement, what can I not accomplish with friends, family and faith to support me!

The project in these pictures is one I've been at least a couple of years getting to. I used a kit from CardKeepers http://cardkeepers.com/wp/ which I covered with cs and stamped images. Now I don't risk having the cards I've received in trade or as RAKs get damaged. Having them easily on hand means I've got another source of inspiration.
Whatever you do today, I wish you success.



                                                                                 

Asian Squares and Oriental Darlings

It's 64F this morning, and another sunny, near-windless day is announcing itself. Cliché or not, mornings, especially beautiful ones, always make me feel as if anything is possible. What I failed at, or failed to do yesterday can be a triumph today.
A sparrow just alighted on my window tree and chirped at me! Possibilities, possibilities! If I could bottle mornings to inhale in moments of discouragement...!
This card was inspired by a great CSDesigns challenge at Papercraft Planet, Darlings of the Orient. Chris Stern of CSD is celebrating the launch of her latest digi stamps, Asian Squares, and challenges us to use any square--or squared--Asian image as the focal point of an art project. Take a look at what members of the design team have come up with: http://www.papercraftplanet.com/group/csdesigns/forum/topics/cs-designs-darlings-of-the
My Oriental Darling is Stampington's Puccini's Muse, and she's stamped in SU Cranberry Crisp. If you saw my last two posts, you know I'm on a Cranberry roll!
The little butterflies are from CSDesigns digital stamp collection, Itty Bitties Butterflies, and are watercolored with Sparkling H2Os by Lumenarte. The sentiment is also a CSD digital stamp. I love combining digital with material stamps!
I hope your morning is off to as great a start as mine, whatever the weather.