konnichi wa (kon-nee-chee-wa) Japanese for hello, daytime Today is a good butterfly day. Recently I have been noticing just a few, drifting around. monarch butterfly on marigolds "There is nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly." - Richard Buckminster Fuller "Butterflies are self propelled flowers." - R. H. Heinlein c.1913 "The green grass and the happy skies Court the fluttering butterflies." - Astrid Alauda recycled junk mail bottlecap magnet www.inkspired.etsy.com vintage illustration Let's have some fun with our colored pencils: a butterfly mandala a fun butterfly doodle Here are two butterflies to cut out and use as masks: Carefully cut out eye holes. Use a paper hole punch to punch small holes on either side. You can see where easily on the first butterfly. Knot an elastic cord (found in the sewing dept.) and thread through the holes, starting from the top, Left side. End on the top, Right side. Adjust to fit. Knot cord, and cut off extra. For extra bling, you can knot your cord, leaving enough cord to string on a few beads. The last bead strung, fill the bead hole with some glue, and thread onto elastic cord. Let dry. This should give you some pretty beaded dangles on each side of the mask. a butterfly gem coloring page, courtesy Dover Publications "If nothing ever changed, there'd be no butterflies." Author Unknown Here is a lovely beaded butterfly pattern: "But these are flowers that fly and all but sing: And how from having ridden out desire They lie closed over in the wind and cling Where wheels have freshly sliced the April mire." - Robert Frost, from "Blue-Butterfly Day" Let's have some fun iris folding. If you have forgotten how, or are new to this paper craft, type in my blog search box: iris folding, or paper craft to find how-to tutorials. butterfly pattern removed at request of bergkaarten courtesy of www.irisfolding.circleofcrafters.com courtesy of Chona courtesy Valita Reynolds vintage illustration Next up: a couple of scherensnitte patterns the top one has the butterfly, the bottom one a pretty roses pattern This one can be a wonderful greeting card. It is from this out of print book: This next one is more to give you an idea rather than to actually copy it. It is in traditional Papel Picado style. (Mexican Papercutting) "We are like butterflies who flutter for a day and think it is forever." - Carl Sagan a stained glass, beveled tabletop plate from www.hollyandivy.com Take off with this idea, and go get out your clear glass plates, napkin appliques or wrapping paper cutouts, and that jar of Modge Podge you have! Type in my blog search box: decoupage and get the tutorial if you need it. May the wings of the butterfly kiss the sun And find your shoulder to light on, To bring you luck, happiness and riches Today, tomorrow and beyond. - Irish blessing until tomorrow - inkspired http://www.inkspired.etsy.com/ [email protected] http://www.inkspiredmusings.blogspot.com/