The Sympathy Flower Arrangement by R & K Crafts

Sizzix "Flower Layers #2" Die

Here it is everyone!!! Very excited. I took all the sympathy cards you've sent me and instead of just locking them away in a photo box or album-- I die cut them into flower shapes and made a bouquet that will never wilt and never die!

Sizzix "Build a Lilac" Die

Sizzix "Flower Layers" Die

After each card was cut into a flower shape

(with the help of the best 40 bucks- I ever spent a.k.a with my Sizzix BIG Kick). I took each flower and hole punched the center with a small hole puncher. Then I used various colored brads to connect the flower 'petals'. Then I stripped some silk flowers off of their faux branches (I have lots of spare silk flowers floating around the craft room, ya know!) Then I simply took one of the many gorgeous vases I received from the many flower arrangements people very thoughtfully sent me [in this case; the lovely white vase with a silver cross that Ms. Meaghan Menice, my "Kendra". Thanks, Kendra!] and started to arrange the faux branches into some dry floral foam. 3 hours later and many, many private moments with my beloved and always faithful hot glue gun... I created this!



Ta-da! I am so excited that this really grew into exactly what I envisioned.

I really wanted to immortalize all the warm and wonderful expressions of love

and sympathy that my friends and family sent me & to creat a bouquet

of flowers that will sit with my mother's frame/urn on our mantel. I am over the moon with how well this turned out!She now has a gorgeous flower arrangement that will never wilt and never die- just like our love for her.

Thank you for all the cards and the support! I am

forever grateful to you for it all. I hope you enjoy

the flowers as much I enjoyed making the project.

~Jenn

The desk!!! Before and After

So, the day I 'discovered' this desk on Craigslist; I was so excited by its potential that I actually broke family chain of command and went right to my father in law and begged him to take his truck to get me that desk!!! So, here its folks:

BEFORE:




Needs some TLC; but it was love at first sight!

 AFTER:


A little paint and lots of sweet words of encouragement later...



...and she set up beautifully. Here's to
R& K Crafts!!!!

 ~Jenn

Still setting up!

In the last few weeks, I've had a really intense journey of setting up my craft room, plotting my Etsy launch, and dealing with my mother's untimely departure from my world. As many of you know my Mum, passed away on April 1st and I being an only child had alot to cope with, in addition to the loss of my beloved mother, I had to exact her funeral wishes and then organize her memorial of photos and music for her service. All those creative art projects that I undertook really helped me cope and helped me enable my enormous family and my and her group of friends find some closure during this hard time.
I am definitely around. I am working and doing well (as she always raised me to take the knock down, but you gotta get up, dust off, and keep going). I know she is really proud to see me miss her greatly, but yet demonstarte her masterful upbringing by not being 'completely lost and devastated' by her passing. It also helps that I have faith...I'm definitely going to see her again. I just know it.
I am still planning to post before and after photos of my fabulous work table find from Craigslist and to show you all a very special way that I am turning all your heart felt and warm sympathy cards into flowers! Thats right, I am die cutting each card into a flower arrangement! I think its a great way to immortalize your love to me and her and also for me to decorate the mantel where her ashes are to be kept with flowers that will never wilt and never die, just like our love for her. So stay tuned...