why spring is the loveliest season

My life has been full of blossoms lately--some real like these

(we managed to catch the tail end of our cherry tree's blossoms when we returned from Arizona)

and these. I was inspired by Lauren's post on her wild roses, so we gathered some of our own...

and these that Maddy picked and arranged for me all by herself

and then spent about 5 minutes scooting them around on the side table for the perfect look, and after said "I'm your best design helper!" :)

and these

but mostly, my days have been consumed with fake blossoms, lots and lots and L.O.T.S. of fake blossoms! I was the decoration chair for my daughters' school's auction this year, and our theme was cherry blossoms. I decided to make tissue paper flowers and attach them to real branches to suspend from the ceiling around the ballroom. With a lot of help from other moms and kids from the school, my sister, my mother, my girls, and even Rich, we finally had enough blossoms for the project. They turned out beautifully (trying to track down a picture of the event for the full effect), and the process left me feeling mighty dexterous...I didn't know it was possible to get finger fatigue cramps! Here's a glimpse

and here's how we did it...

-cut tissue paper into squares (mine were about 3 inches on each side) and overlap them in a star of David type shape

-pinch them in the middle to form a light crease, then pinch in the other direction

-twist the pinched parts to form a "stem"

-attach a small piece of scotch tape to the edge of the stem (you can also use florist wire...I got poked one too many times and wanted something easier. Once all the blossoms are attached you can't even tell it's tape)

-wrap the tape around an offshoot of the branch to secure the blossom

-repeat....and repeat....and repeat!

I made a few green ones too, but decided not to use them at the last minute, so now they're in the girls' room: