Monday, September 22, 2014

A few scraps

 
 
 
 
This card was created with leftover pieces from a previous card. I tied it all together with the flowers and scroll work. I am terrible for saving all my scraps but look how nicely it turned out. I have gotten better and now I only save the larger scraps. I must admit, my scrap drawers were getting pretty ridiculous. I have a rolling cart that has 6 drawers. One is filled with white scraps, one is cream, a  pink & black,  a yellow/orange/brown, a blue & green,  and a red/purple/metallic drawer. It sits right behind me and it is within arms reach so when I need a scrap it is right there.  I hate to waste paper but something had to give so now I toss out all the little scraps begrudgingly.  
 
The designer paper is All Abloom from SU. The card stock is also from SU and is Lost Lagoon and Barely Banana. The flowers were from the $2 bin at Michaels. I cut out the leaves with a Sizzix die called Branch w/Leaves and the scroll is Elegant Scrollwork from MemoryBox. The sentiment is from Just Right called Seeds of Kindness. The yellow panel was embossed with the Cluster Set embossing folder from Sizzix.
 
 
 
 
 


It has been a wonderful summer watching the twin fawns growing up and learning the survival methods they will need as they they continue to grow. They come to the yard daily and and they have now lost all their spots. We have also had a pair of cardinals that have raised their young in a nearby tree. I didn't realize how big of a role the male plays in raising the little ones. He feeds them and teaches them how to fend for themselves while the female starts laying her second brood of the summer. It is comical to see the young bird who is almost as large as the parents begging for food. We also have four turkeys that come almost daily. One tom and three hens - must be quite a fella cause the ladies sure seem to like him.

~have fun and enjoy!

Sunday, September 7, 2014

Colored pencils

 
 
 
 

Friends- they certainly make the world a better place. For those of you who know me, you know I am not one to use my colored pencils very often, but when I got this new stamp from SU it screamed pencils. It is called Corner Garden and I was drawn to the shades of purple. It turned out better then I had expected. I a sentiment from Jillibean soup by Hampton Art called Handwritten Sentiments. There are several nice ones in this set. To fancy it up a bit I used the border punch from MS called Deco Fan and then added some rhinestones. After I had finally finished coloring the flowers I noticed a smudge and I was heartsick, but being a long time stamper I knew exactly what to do. I covered it up with the butterfly which is a Memory Box die cut called Pippi Butterfly.
 
 
 
The pencils I used are Prismacolor and the colors I used are below.
 
PC934 Lavender
PC956 Lilac
PC1008 Parma Violet
PC932 Violet
PC1096 Kelly Green
PC988 Marine Green


Another great weekend is almost over. I got all my chores done that I had on my list for the weekend (which is always a good feeling) and I even had some time to make this card. I also managed to squeeze in some time to soak up the sun. Not too many more 80 degree days left I am afraid. The leaves are turning, the nights are cooler and the deer are starting to get their winter coats. That's not a very good sign. I also like fall but I hate the end of summer just as much. I guess I can't have both, now can I.

Hope you all have a great week.

~Have fun and enjoy!

Monday, September 1, 2014

Bucket List- check




 We headed up north to the U.P. for my sister-n-law's wedding last weekend but we took a few days off before and headed over to the west side of the state for some much needed fun. My children are still in disbelief that the DH and I went zip-lining and that it was my idea. Let me just say it was so liberating and awesome. We did the full 3 hour canopy tour and were 100 feet up in the air on some of the lines. There were 5 swinging suspended wooden bridges that we had to walk across to the 9 different zip-lines. The views were spectacular after the first 2 lines when I could stop focusing on technique and just enjoy the ride.

We rented a condo on the beach for two nights in Boyne City and we could see the entire harbor on the south shore of Lake Charlevoix from our balcony. At night we left the bedroom windows open and we could hear the waves lapping on the shore all night. What a view to wake up to each morning. After zip-lining in the morning, we made some lunch and took it down to the beach for an afternoon of sun and floating in the water. I have to say it was one of the most relaxing short vacations we have done in a long time and I can now cross zip-lining off my bucket list.

Today's card is all SU. The card stock is Pistachio Pudding and Mellon Mambo. The designer paper is All Abloom. Such a nice color combo for summer. I used the Deco Labels die for the sentiment which is from the stamp set Let Your Hair Down. Of course you know me, it has to have some bling and I layered that over some lime green ruffled gingham ribbon. Check out the little yellow birds, aren't they the cutest. They are expoxy clear stickers from Heidi Grace called Tweet Memories.



Still can't believe summer is over. Here in Michigan we didn't know it even started. I think I can count on one hand the number of hot steamy days we had. Hoping for some good thunderstorms today. I plan on spending the afternoon in my studio cleaning and organizing. Hopefully I will get some time to also make a few cards once I can see my desk. I always enjoy seeing the lightening and rain through the skylights and as always I will have a scented candle burning.
 
~have fun and enjoy!