Battered, Burned and Bruised!

Hello, Dear Ones! Well, I've admitted it before and I'll do it again ~ I am a copy cat! You poke something at my eyes ~ a thing of beauty ~ I want it ~ and I will try to copy it. That's what I've done but I'm battered, bruised and burned and I've lived to tell you about it!

Are you familiar with this most wonderful blog of inspiration...Under the Table and Dreaming?
This young lady, Stephanie is just amazing! She created the most beautiful wreath made of roses from the pages of a book! It was beautiful! My most gorgeous peepers eyed it! I wanted it and she had given instructions too! I was gonna copy her most gorgeous wreath! I was going to have me a gorgeous wreath made from the pages of a book! Yes, sirree!!


Just look! Is this not the prettiest thing you've ever seen. Well, maybe except for your new born babes! :) I coveted this wreath. I dreamed about this wreath! I was going to make this wreath! But she didn't warn me of the danger I was about to put myself in! No, no, Nannette, she did not!

So I began by reading her instructions here and gathered my tiny supplies. I found a white styrofoam wreath to use completely unaware of the peril ahead of me!

Got a big ole thick over 500 pages book and began by pulling it apart! Oh, I was in heaven having a wonderful time ripping out the pages. Then I began to draw my swirls. I was gonna have me a most gorgeous rose wreath made from the pages of a book.

Well, I cut out all of my 750 million swirls until my most dainty tiny fingers felt paralyzed. But I persevered. I'm just stubborn that way. I must tell you, that little Stephanie is a little stinker teasing me like she did. In my tiny head I thought ~ I'll make this wreath in an afternoon and will have it hanging on the wall by nightfall. No, no, Nannette! This did not happen. For days and days I twirled and glued.
That's not all...I was twirling away and hot glued the bottom circle of paper to the bottom of a rose and then it sprung out like a Jack in a Box! Oh, Lord have mercy! So I had to start gluing continuously as I twirled! Now comes the burning and blistering. Hot glue! Oh, I burned and blistered my most dainty fingers and even commenced to burn my upper lip! Don't ask how I did that! Oh, I was almost bleeding! Proceed with caution...

Did I give up? No, no, Nannette! Not on your life. I was going to have me a gorgeous rose wreath made from the pages of a book even if my most tiny dainty fingers fell off! Finally, I think God felt sorry for me and reminded me that I had a low temp glue gun! Eureka! That's it! I carefully began to twist and turn my paper roses, with damaged fingers, and glued while twirling with my low temp glue gun! Whew! Much better! Well, this went on for days, I'm telling you! DAYS! Oh, after all of the little roses where made, I inked the edges just like Stephanie said she did. This was pain free! Thank you, Jesus!

And finally...

I have a most gorgeous paper rose wreath made from the pages of a book!!
Now, Dear Ones, this is a small wreath and I believe Stephanie made a big one. I can't imagine how long it must have taken her. She's wonderful and all but I'm sure she rolled, twisted and twirled for many days. I wonder if she burned her dainty fingers? She's just not going to tell us. :)

I hung this puppy over my mirror over the fireplace in the den. There's only one problem. Do you see it in the above snap? Well, since my most gorgeous paper rose wreath is hanging in front of a mirror ~ you can see the back of the styrofoam wreath and it's nekked! That's Texan for 'naked'. Well, I'm going to have to rip out some more pages and glue them down on the backside so you won't see the white. Lord, have mercy!


But if you look at it front on...it's wonderful! Do you like it? I'm still battered, burned and bruised but I'm healing! I do want to thank Stephanie for her inspiration and the how tos to make this wreath. Go over and visit her and I know you'll come back to your blog with your tiny head spinning with inspiration. But beware and make sure you're prepared - I don't want you to become battered, burned or bruised! :)

As you see below, I'm really milking my most gorgeous wreath for all it's worth! :)
Do I get something for joining the most parties ever? :) You can always click on The Parties I Attend Page at the top of my blog to see parties I love to go to!

I'm joining Our Dear Susan at Between Naps on the Porch for Met Monday,
Our Dear Roeshel at the DIY showcase for DIY showcase Monday,
Our Dear Cielo at The House in the Roses for Show Off Your Cottage Monday,
Our Dear Carrie at Dittle Dattle for Amaze Me Mondays,
Our Dear Bonnie at House of Grace for Twice Owned Tuesday,
Our Dear Carolyn at My Backyard Eden for Make It Yours Day Tuesday,
Our Dear Maleahbliss at Little Eme for Tute {Yourself} Tuesday,
Our Dear Kim at Savvy Southern Style for BTB Wednesday Party,
Our Dear Tara at The Trendy Treehouse for Creative Share Wednesday,
Our Dear Jen at The Thrifty Home for Penny Pinching Party Wednesday,
Our Dears Fawnda and Jeannine at Fireflies and Jellybeans for Show Off Your Stuff Wednesday,
Our Dear Michelle at Someday Crafts for Whatever Goes Wednesday,
Our Dear Meg at A Little Knick Knack for Everything But the Kitchen Sink Wednesday,
Our Dear Gina at The Shabby Chic Cottage for Transformation Thursday,
Our Dear Gail at My Repurposed Life for Catch As Catch Can Thursday,
Our Dear Stacey at Fun to Craft for Look At Me Party Thursday,
Our Dear Courtney at French Country Cottage for The Feathered Nest Party,
Our Dear Cindy at My Romantic Home for Show and Tell Friday,
Our Dear Wendy at The Shabby Nest for Frugal Friday,
Our Dear Kate at Chic On A Shoestring Decorating for Flaunt It Friday,
Our Dear Rachelle at Fingerprints on the Fridge for Feature Yourself Friday,
Our Dear Vanessa at Southern in My Heart for Inspiration Friday,
Our Dear Donna at Funky Junk Interiors for Saturday Nite Special,
Our Dear Stephanie Lynn at Under the Table and Dreaming for Sunday Showcase,
Our Dear Laurie at Bargain Hunting and Chatting with Laurie for A Few Of My Favorite Things Sunday.

Be a bunch of sweeties,

Shelia ;)

I'll leave you with a little Note Song~

Hit Me With Your Best Shot

Well you're a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts, like the one in me
That's O.K., lets see how you do it
Put up your dukes, let's get down to it!
Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Why Don't You Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Fire Away!

You come on with your come-ons, you don't fight fair
That's O.K., see if I care!
Knock me down, it's all in vain
I'll get right back on my feet again!

Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Why Don't You Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Fire Away!

Well you're a real tough cookie with a long history
Of breaking little hearts, like the one in me
Before I put another notch in my lipstick case
You better make sure you put me in my place

Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Come On, Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Fire Away!

Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Why Don't You Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Hit Me With Your Best Shot!
Fire Away!
~ sung by Pat Benatar