Tuesday, January 12, 2016

City Crafter Guest Designer - Butterfly

Hello Everyone!

I am very honoured to be here today as the Guest Designer at City Crafter for their latest challenge "BUTTERFLY". I send a thank you out to Kirsty and the entire team for inviting me to spend the day with them. Such a talented group of ladies, I do hope you will hop on over and see what the other team members have created.



City Crafter always has a beautiful photo for you to pull inspiration from, and this is the photo for their "BUTTERFLY" challenge. I decided to concentrate on the piece of wood with the black butterflies, the postage stamp, the book pages and the paper underneath with the pink flowers.


This card is my way of sending out a huge thank you to two very wonderful, kind, talented ladies who sent me such lovely happy mail this year. Thank you to CHRIS of pearshapedcrafting and SAMRA of Paper Talk with Samra. Many of the products I have used on my card today were pressies from these sweet friends! Please do drop by and visit these gals, you won't regret it!



For the wood planks I used DecoArt Americana paints Dark Chocolate and Pebbles as well as some Weathered Wood Medium, some Archival ink Potting Soil, Distress ink spray Walnut Stain and Picket Fence. The little butterfly is from the new stamp set that Chris sent me.

The book page panel was also supplied by Chris (she used some pages as padding in the package). I used a spritz resist and then some distress ink Ground Espresso to get the splotchy pattern.





The flowers are punched using Sizzix Spiky Floral and coloured with Soft Blossom from Hero Arts. The leaves are from a Prima stamp set that Samra sent me. The postcard stamp is from Urban stamps, the small postage stamp is from Stampology and the large butterfly is from a discount bin at Michaels. The frame is from the new stamp set that Chris sent me, I just fussy cut it out. The sentiment is from Heartfelt Creations.




UPDATE:
My card won awards from the following wonderful challenges:


    
  

***

So I think it's time that I introduce you to some of my extended family. These little creatures have become a part of my daily routine with feedings twice day (except when it's too cold for the poor little buggers).



First up we have the girls. Brenda, Karen and Shirley. Brenda is the biggest of the girls and she's the feistiest one as well. She has a little scar on her hind leg that tells me she can hold her own in a fight! Shirley is smallest and very shy, she rarely comes down from the roof, so I toss peanuts up there for her to grab. Karen is the friendliest. She comes right onto the balcony and as of yesterday, will even eat out of my hand!!



You can see here that I have tied a branch of the tree to my balcony railing and attached a strip of carpet to the bars...I decided to do this after one of the boys took a swan dive because he couldn't figure out how to get off the balcony! Poor little fellow, don't worry, he landed in a bush and ran away unscathed. Here is Karen, perched up on the railing eating a peanut.




SIDE BAR -  So hubby has hooked me up with a zoom lens, and I was practising the other day trying to hold it. Why practice you ask...well because the darned thing's almost as big as my head and I have to steady it with just one hand so I can still use the focus and push the shutter with the other hand! It's a bit like entering an ice-cream eating contest when you're lactose intolerant...nothing but moaning and groaning!

Anyway, here is my first semi-successful shot, I took this from inside the house! Be prepared for some serious close-ups in the near future! HAHA!


That's it for today. Thank you for stopping in and for all the amazing comments. I read and appreciate every single one! If you have any questions, please let me know.


85 comments:

  1. Hi Pamellia
    You put such a lot of work into your projects and it shows , loving all the layers and the butterflies are beautiful.
    Big Hugs
    Elaine H X

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  2. Gorgeous design with the ying and the yang ... old wood plank look with the soft pink blooms. Very cool! Loved meeting your friends. :) And great close-up with the zoom lens. Wow! That is powerful! xx

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  3. Wonderful card, very pretty with all those gorgeous layers. The squirrels are very sweet, such fun, they are cheeky creatures. But watch out for those vampires, always have garlic in your pocket! Hugs, Valerie

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  4. Great design... Fabulous shabby layers. Really drawn to the black and pink combo and those black leaves... Really effective xxx

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  5. That project is a spectacle of beauty Pamellia...every detail perfectly thought out!! Great pictures of the squirrels, they look very healthy!! xx

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  6. What an amazing card - so beautifully composed and textured and layered. I enjoyed meeting your extended 'family' - what fun to have them visit.
    Blessings
    Maxine

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  7. Hi Pamellia what a fabulous creation absolutely beautiful hun, I love your wonderful pictures of your daily walks, the squirrels are so tame.
    Hugs Julie xxx

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  8. An amazing card with so many wonderful layers to admire and inspire us.

    Terrific photographs again thank you for sharing those.

    Love Chrissie xx

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  9. Absolutely stunning work once again! Just wow!
    And such an adorable squirrel too. Fab photos hun x

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  10. Loving the colour scheme you used, the pink with the brown is brilliant. Happy crafting, Angela x

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  11. Wow love it!!!!!!!! awesome layout and details hun, fab photo's again too, when you get the knack of one handed photography let me know, my hand shakes like a leaf, lol

    they must really trust you to get so close, the squirrels I mean he he, we have an odd one in the bushes across the road, if they see anyone they do a runner!!! so no chance of a close up for me, lol
    hugs Liz xx

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  12. Absolutely beautiful, Pamellia! A real showstopper! Great shots of ‘the girls’! xxx

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  13. WOW! stunning Pamellia, love the design just gorgeous. Love, love, love these photos girlfriend, I adore squirrels I know lots of people see them as vermin but I think they are adorable little creatures. You are so lucky to have one come and feed from your hand you have obviously gained their trust. Keep it up.

    Have a great day

    Love & hugs

    Jacquie J xxx
    http://jewelscardcraft.blogspot.co.uk/

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  14. Gorgeous Pamellia. I love all the grey tones and the subtle spot of pink, lovely.
    Hugs, Veerle :-)

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  15. Oh I'm so thrilled that you are guesting with us at CCCB... Your card is a stunner as always! Love the rustic feel of this ... Your photos are beautiful and I have plenty of those cheeky squirrels here! Good luck with your zoom lens haha!

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  16. A beautiful piece of art as always, your attention to detail is amazing, always so much to admire!
    Fabulous photos, looking forward to what you produce with the new zoom!
    Chris
    x

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  17. Beautiful and awesome creation, as always, such a lovely colour combo and sweet added goodies. So love those gorgeous pics too...rotten google is now just making me verify stuff after 6 comments...grrr
    {aNNie}

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  18. Wonderful card, Pamellia, and your details are always fantastic! Love your photos of your furry friends!

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  19. Absolutely stunning work Pamellia, love the grungy nature to it. Funnily enough grey squirrels are classed as vermin over here in the UK because of the decline of our native red squirrels.....I still love them though ;)
    Hugs
    Donna xxx

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  20. Gorgeous card with so many fine details.
    Thanks for cute photos you share, Pamellia.
    Hugs xx

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  21. Gorgeous card Pamellia! Congrats on the GDT spot :) Love the vintage look to your card and gorgeous embellishments!
    Hugs

    Samra
    Paper Talk with Samra

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  22. Ohh so Gorgeous !!loved the color scheme and the layers are superb :)

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  23. Ohh so Gorgeous !!loved the color scheme and the layers are superb :)

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  24. What a gorgeous Thank you card you made Pamelia! I love it so much...

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  25. Very Vintage looking. Thanks for joining Ruby's Rainbow.

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  26. What a great card Pamelia! I always love to see how many inks, sprays, and glitters you add to your creations - mine would look like mud - yours look sparkly and wonderful! And what a wonderful squirrel feeder you have become - they are so cute!

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  27. Wings take flight, letters take flight around the world... terrific theme. Pamellia, I honestly don't know where you find the time to make these wonderful creations with all the techniques you use, but I do know I love seeing them!

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  28. I love visiting your blog and seeing all your lovely creations and looking at all the photos. You have such a wonderful eye for detail.

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  29. Your wood background is amazing! I really love all the layers and textures on this beautiful make Pamellia, you have excelled once again.
    How sweet are those squirrels? We have a couple visiting our garden at the moment burying their nut store for the winter in our lawn but they aren't as brave as yours to eat out of my hand.
    Lorraine

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  30. Wonderful vintage look to this and love the touches of pink against the wood distress wood. Thanks for joining Ink

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  31. Awww, such beautiful work! Love all the pink and butterflies! Thanks for being our guest this week at CCCB, such a pleasure to have you with us!
    Love your shots too!

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  32. Oh wow, what a stunning card, Pamellia!! The wood background looks amazing!! All of the layers are fabulous...you always layer everything perfectly!! I love the butterflies and the ribbon and every single detail!! It's absolutely gorgeous my friend!! Congrats on your guest design spot!!

    Your little fuzzy friends are so sweet!! I had a "pet" squirrel in college...Fuzzy. We fed him from the window ledge every day :) And oh my gosh...the zoom lens!! I got one, too and I can't hold the darn thing, it's so heavy!! It helps to use a tripod!! I can't wait to see your close-ups!! Have a great day my friend!! Big hugs :)

    Lisa
    A Mermaid's Crafts

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  33. What an amazing card - over the moon artsy!
    And those cuties! Wow... just lovely your new girlfriends .. sweeeet!!!

    oxo Susi

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  34. Totally gorgeous card Pamellia..love the layers and thickness, awesome colours with the browns and pink..beautiful..and love your squirrel friends..you are so lucky to be so close to nature..

    Luv CHRISSYxx

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  35. Pamellia we are honored to have you with us. The mix and match of mixed media, nature and shabby chic is mesmerising. So many lovely details and layers. Wow! This style is not my forte but I truly appreciate gorgeous designs like this gem made by you! Thanks so much for being our Guest Designer at CCCB. It's a pleasure and privilege to have you with us! XX
    .

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  36. Another stunning card love the design ,colors ,and all the layers . You always have so much detail that I have to go back several times to see them all . Love the photos of you new adopted family. be careful they don't get inside your home and make a nest .

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  37. I love all your fab layers, so interesting. Thanks for joining Aud Sentiments challenge. Elaine

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  38. Stunning project Pamellia, beautiful layers, colours and textures, love how you got your details from a picture.
    Gorgeous photos, love the squirrel.
    Pam x

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  39. Hi Pamellia, hope,you are well. Love,your squirrel photos. Your card is gorgeous as always. I love the touches of pink and I love how,you were inspired by the gorgeous inspiration picture. I love the Browns with the pink, very classy. As always beautifully put together. Hugs. Tracy x

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  40. Another beautiful creation Pamellia, your cards are always works of art - absolutely stunning.
    Pauline
    x

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  41. Wonderful composition on this gorgeous card Pamellia and I love your photos again! You live in such a magical place, lucky girl!

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  42. Hi Pamellia,
    another of your very stunningly beautiful creations here.
    I love everything about this gorgeous creation.
    wonderful flowers they look soooooooooo! pretty, and those butterflies are very sweet.
    Great photos of the squirrel.
    Lots of crafty love. Jenny L.

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  43. A gorgeous card Pamellia. I love how you have given the animals in your photos some names.
    Yvonne xx

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  44. I just love this Pamellia - a lovely design and beautiful details- thank you for playing along with us at Fab'n'Funky challenges this week hugs Judith x ps I love the pictures of your girls!

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  45. Congratulations on your guest spot and what a gorgeous card you created for them. I adore the neutrals, especially with those dark coffee tones and brilliant wood plank effect (as always!). Stunning work as ever, Pamellia - and how lovely that you were able to incorporate some of your happy mail gifts. Great photos again.
    Alison xx

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  46. You never cease to amaze, Pamellia! Absolutely gorgeous, like chocolate! How fun to use new gifts, and in such a beautiful way. And love that new lens. Sounds like you won't need any type of other workout, lol! But what incredible detail!! Go, girl!!

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  47. Wow! Your are is beautiful!! Thanks for playing along with us this week at Little Red Wagon! :)

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  48. Congratulations on your GDT position, Pamellia! Beautiful use of a variety of butterflies! And fabulous thank you card! Such lovely, soft color accents. Hugs, de

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  49. I just have to say first that the picture of Shirley is the cutest photo EVER... totally made me ahhhhhhhhhh out loud!!! I LOVED meeting your girls... and I'm so happy they are good and fat too. Your last picture with the new lens is wonderful... wow... you can see everything so perfectly.

    Now on to the INCREDIBLY BEAUTIFUL card. It seems to me that you HIT THIS ONE OVER THE WALL as a guest designer. It is PERFECT for their inspiration photo... wow. And it is just sooooo vintage and lovely. The 'wood plank', the paper, all the layers and yummy texture... it's just totally STUNNING in every way. Honestly thinking it has to be at the very top of my favorites list of your designs. Plus... it makes it special that "happy mail" helped create it too!! j

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  50. What an adorable card! And I love the colors!

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  51. Fabulous card lots of interesting layers .Thank you for joining us at Aud Sentiments challenge good luck Ginny ♥
    Aud Sentiments
    My Blog As I do Rodos

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  52. Congrats on the GD spot Pamellia and this is a beautiful card, love the layers and the black/pink combo of the flowers is gorgeous.
    Loved the photos, so cute.
    Avril xx

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  53. Congratulations on your GDT spot and your card is absolutely stunning! I love the splashes of pink! Good luck with your 'shooting' trials! :-) xxx

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  54. Wonderful to see this inspiring card this morning, with the neutral colors against those spring-like pinks! Those layers are scrumpdilly-icious! Love the wood planks and the book page splotchy effect! (What is this "spritz resist"??? I've got to give that a try!) You have really nailed it taking inspiration from the photo! Congrats on the Guest Designer spot, too; they couldn't have a more creative and talented person to fill the bill! How sweet to make a card to include Samra's and Chris' happy mail, and how sweet of THEM to send it!!!

    Awesome subject for your photography, too! Wow, the squirrels are beautiful and tame; not like the rats with fluffy tails we have here! I love the little bridge you have created for them, and I'm sure they do,too! How thoughtful and kind! I'm sure you will be slinging that new lens around like an old pro before you know it. Great practice shot!

    It is always a pleasure to visit your blog, to see you lovely artwork, and to enjoy part of your day with you through your amazing photography and writing! Big hugs!

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  55. Wow! This is absolutely stunning. Thank you so much for sharing with us at Ruby's Rainbow.
    Hugs Helen P X

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  56. Such a beautiful piece Pam! I never use flowers because mine never look as graceful and as beautiful as yours do in your arrangements! clever lady!
    look at you, having everyone eating out of your hands! heehee Great photos and i want to see if that lens is REALLy as big as your head! haha xo

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  57. Fantastic take on the photograph Pamellia. You really do reign supreme when it comes to reproducing the look of wood. I love how you have contrasted it with the soft pink bow and beautiful flowers. Another winner if you ask me.

    Dionne xx

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  58. WOW this is gorgeous Pamellia! I love all of the different stamps you've used and your beautiful textures! Congrats on your GDT spot!
    Hugs, Tammy

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  59. Congratulation on the DT spot - you have done them proud and so pleased to see that part of our gifts were useful! I love the squirrel pics - you are so lucky to have them on your balcony! Great close up shots too!! My new camera is so small it fits into my handbag!! Hugs, Chrisx

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  60. OMG Pamellia this post is full of awesomeness, delight and beauty, your card looks spectacular, the butterflies, colours and design are truly wonderful, also seeing you pictures you have transported me to another world, thank you
    hugs
    lorraine x

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  61. This is absolutley STUNNING, Pamellia. I just adore the wooden base. Thanks so much for playing along with us.
    Karen
    Really Reasonable Ribbon

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  62. I really thought that was real wood! another stunning creation.

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  63. Such a beautiful project - love the colours and the butterfly! Thanks so much for joining us at the Fab 'n' Funky Challenges blog.

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  64. Aw nuts! Hehe! Your squirrel is fantastical! So fun and I bet they love their little post. Awesome sauce! Now your card is gorgeous as usual. I love those butterflies and the old vintage look of the papers. Such lovely layers. Wowzers on the layers, and the layers! Congrats on your guest spot! Hugz to you muffin. ~Doc

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  65. Congrats on your GD spot! Your project is so inspiring! The color pallet is gorgeous and just love the vintage feel of it all! Absolutely gorgeous!
    Sherrie K

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  66. Congrats on the GDT spot, Pamellia! Your brilliant card is grunge and elegant at the same time! You create the most beautiful cards I've ever seen! Love all the layers and that vintage feel to it! It's a spectacular piece of art with incredibly beautiful elements and color tones!
    What stunning photos! I am in heaven!
    Huge hugs to you! Branka xxx

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  67. Can you hear me "oh-ing" and "ah-ing" over this gorgeous card you made? I'm pretty sure you can! ;) It's stunning! You sure did them proud at the City crafter (btw, congrats on being a GD for them).
    Your new "friends" are adorable. So fluffy and cute! :D
    Hugs! xx

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  68. I can always spot your creations a mile off - you really are the queen of Shabby Chic and I love your style. I really like the 'postage' theme you have here and the pearls on the butterflies. Thanks so much for being our wonderful GD at City Crafter this week.

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  69. Beautiful layers and a gorgeous colour palette Pamellia, love those pretty posies and a discount bin butterfly never looked so beautiful! Have fun with your new friends and happy picture taking! Deb xo

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  70. Such a beautiful project. Loving the layout and flowers. Thank you for sharing your project with us at Get Creative challenge.

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  71. Congrats on getting a guest designer spot - how lucky they are to have you! I love the look and feel of this vintage beauty, and beautiful butterflies too - just gorgeous! xx

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  72. This is beautiful! I love all your layering and embellishment. Great distressed design. Thanks for playing with us at Inkspirational!
    - Shauna

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  73. Hi Pamellia
    Only you could make faux wood look more authentic than the real stuff lol!
    Gorgeous work of art.
    Your new friends are so cute. I must try and upload my video of our blackbirds.
    Doesn't wildlife make you smile?
    Best wishes.
    Ang x

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  74. congrats on your GDT spot and fabulous card love the faux wood background and textured layers-love the butterflies
    Carol x

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  75. my goodness, I absolutely love everything about this beautiful card! the bows are simply lush! I adore the vintage feel to it. :)

    thank you for sharing the squirrel photos, too.

    thank you so much for playing along in the Really Reasonable Ribbon "Look What I Got' challenge! :)

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  76. Oh, Pamellia! Everything you create just sings! This is such a gorgeously composed card! I love all the distressed layers, the soft touches of pink and that fabby shabby chic bow just seals the deal! Thanks for sharing with us at Really Reasonable Ribbon!

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  77. This is absolutely amazing, Pamelia.
    We also have the first challenge and hope you could join us there.

    Hugs,
    Merlina
    My Crafting Stories
    http://mycraftingstories.blogspot.co.id/2016/01/challenge-1-anything-goes.html

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  78. This is beautiful Pamelia! i love all your layers! Thanks for joining us at RRR, Cherry

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  79. On wow this gorgeous. I love the layers and the colours. Thank you for joining us at Southern Girls.

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  80. On wow this gorgeous. I love the layers and the colours. Thank you for joining us at Southern Girls.

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  81. Pamellia, there's a lovely surprise for you over on the Southern Girls Challenge. Pop on over to see. Congratulations! Hugs, Wends x SGC DT

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  82. Hello my friend how are you?? it seems as though it has been an age since I was here (please forgive me) you card is AMAZING as ever you know I love your creations!!! and those darn squirrels are the cutest how sweet and wow you are hand feeding them too that takes some patients to gain the trust like that
    Anyway have fun with the camera the pics are fabby
    Jacki

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