Share Your Cup #204

My collection of white porcelain tea cups is growing.  I found 2 cups from Stokes at Goodwill for a $1 each.  They are a pure white color, have a bit of texture and present very elegantly.  I filled it with Jade Citrus Mint green tea.  I will be getting rid of my Mikasa ones which don't have saucers.
Check out this post for my last tea cup bargain.

This is a wonderful hand blown glass ball.  It has a wonderful glass hanger at the top.  The outside is iridescent, multi colored and textured.  Shining a light through it reveals wonderful colors.  It's a wonderful beautiful thing and I look forward to having the sun shining through it in the mornings.

This is a tea caddy spoon.  What is it?
A caddy spoon is a spoon used for measuring out the dried form of tea leaves, that are commonly called tea. Traditionally made of silver, they were in common use in the 19th century, when tea was a more expensive commodity. Tea was sometimes stored in elaborate boxes or containers called tea caddies, and these spoons were made to be used with such containers.  I think it's silver plate but with no marks it's impossible to tell. 
This was an extra in a bag of stuff from a second hand store so I'm thrilled that it is a tea related item.  It has Australia etched in the bowl and the Harbour Bridge Sydney on the emblem.

This mystery piece of glass showed up this week.  It was free and undamaged.  It has wonderful colors in it, such as teal and copper.  I have put a tea light on the inside to show of the colors. 
The mystery is what is it?  It has 2 holes on the side which have been drilled.  Why?
It could be a vase but then the hole don't make sense,










it could be a pot which may explain the holes if suspended by some sort of string,
it works as a tea light holder.  Do you have any suggestions or ideas as to it's purpose?  Leave me a comment.

I bought myself a nice bowl for salad.  I eat a lot of vegetable salads during the summer.  I have been eating it from plastic bowl from the dollar store.  Today that changes.  The old one heads out to the second hand store and this nice glass bowl takes it's place.  Eating should be a pleasure and a nice bowl will make it so.  It can also double as a serving bowl when entertaining.  It's just an elegant simple bowl which will wash up nicely after being used.
Love it.






Sharing with Carol at Art and Sand for Share Your Cup #204.

Christmas Tree Greeting

I started by selecting the green glitter card stock.  I cut it with the Memory Box Merry Christmas Tree die.  I found a piece of DSP from Basic Grey - Life of the Party - Shindig which is wood grain.
I felt the tree shape need to be more defined. Therefore, I cut a piece of clear plastic to create a stencil of the basic tree shape and adding a trunk.  I placed the stencil on the DSP and sponged brown ink inside the shape and brushed the edges of the DSP rectangle as well. I adhered the die cut over the stenciled area.
I cut an extra large star and one of the small star from bright green card stock.  I adhered the large one offset from the original one at the top of the tree and the tiny one was adhered right over the "i" in Christmas.
The designer paper was adhered to the warm taupe card.



Submitting to these challenges:
Christmas Card Challenges #30 Anything Goes
Less is More - Use a Stencil 

The second card features a tweeked stencil,a dark brown card, Early Espresso ink and a taupe snow bank.

Mosaic Monday 92 - Final One

My herb garden is growing. 

The cilantro has gotten big. 
The dill is doing nicely. 
The basil is smaller and being overshadowed by the others. 
The chives are just very thin and wispy and will be a while before they produce anything I can eat.

I'm looking forward to being able to harvest herbs from it soon.

I found this wonderful navy container recently.  It was the right color of navy so I brought it home.  I'm not sure what it will hold yet.

This fan has been running a lot recently.  It moves from the living room during the day to the bedroom at night.  It's been hot and humid. 


Joining Judith at Lavender Cottage who is hosting the final Mosaic Monday #92.  I will miss it and wish Judith all the best in her new opportunities.

Macro - Bubble

One of the challenges I had this week was on Flickr - Macro Bubble.
Of course, I took lots of shots many of which were not good but I had a few good ones.
I took a kid's bubble maker to the park and blew many of them.  This one was quite small attached to a stalk of grass.  It's great to spend time outside.  I really enjoyed myself.
I love the soft background colors.

Submitting to:
Macro Monday 2

Friday's Hunt 1.26

I'm joining Teresa at Eden Hills with her Friday's Hunt challenge this week.

Prompts are:
- Starts with Z
- Week's Favorite
- Today

Starts with Z:
I start with a photo I took of one of the zebras at the zoo.  He was eyeing me very carefully but he stayed still and I got a good shot.

Week's Favorite: 

This is a shot of the drapes on the windows at the wedding reception.  The color was a really nice blue which made me think of water.  The fabric was shiny which created wonderful highlights.  It will make a great background or texture picture on future projects.

Today:

Here's a shot of the wedding cake at the reception I attended. The bride's favorite color is purple.  I understand the gal who made the cake is just starting out.  The cake was delicious and she did a great job of decorating!

Wedding Gift Frame

I created this frame as a wedding gift.  I started with a 7" black matte metal frame of good quality.  I painted a gradient watercolor background with FW Acrylic Artist Ink in 437 Purple Lake.  I added some Dr. Ph. Martin's Irridescent Silver Calligraphy ink.  These were painted onto a piece of watercolor paper. While I was at it, I applied some of these inks to a piece of textured card stock as I anticipated hearts for this project.
Once dry, I laid out the words in coordinating colors & fonts and printed it onto the background.  It contains the bride & groom's names and the date of the wedding.  I punched a heart from the textured card stock with the Stampin Up Sweetheart punch.  I punched another heart from silver non shed glitter paper.  This was all designed to fit in the 3x3 inch square opening in the middle of the 7 inch white mat.   I mounted the purple heart with 3D foam tape and the glitter one behind it.  I placed credits on purple card stock and inserted it at the back of the frame.  The glass was cleaned on both sides, the pieces were layered and inserted into the frame.

Wedding - Thank You Cards

I made some thank you cards for the bride and groom.  It's always great to be able to get the those as soon as possible after the wedding.

I used the same punch - Stampin Up Sweetheart.  I chose designer paper in warm tones for the ivory cards pre printed cards.  I punched 2 of them and adhered them on the front of the note card above the sentiment.  When the paper was double sided I turned one of them over to provide some contrast to the first one.

Really happy how they turned out.

Wedding Card - Purple Hearts

I made this card for the wedding today. 

I used a piece of spatter ink background paper I made when working on the gift for this couple.  This was cut leaving a border and adhered to a coordinating purple card. 
I wrapped a piece of 7/8 inch white grosgrain ribbon across the bottom third of the card.  I pulled it through a slit in the fold and brought the other end to the inside of the card and tape down the ends. 
I cut the sentiment from the same purple card stock as the card with one of the Tattered Lace Vertical Sentiment thin dies.  I layered it onto a piece of non shed silver glitter card stock leaving a tiny edge.  I added 3 silver tiny brads to hold the purple to the silver.  This was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape aligned along the left hand side.
I punched textured card stock painted with the purple and iridescent inks with the Stampin Up Sweetheart punch.  These were adhered to the card front to the right side of the greeting.
I added silver bling rhinestones along the ribbon on the right hand side.

Graduation Gift - Art Feeds the Soul

I created this framed piece of art for my niece who is graduating from high school this year.  She is a very good artist and photographer.  I used 3 of my Alphabet Photography pics to spell ART in 4x6 photos. I matted them with black leaving a small border.  I then printed the white background which adds the words 'feeds the soul' onto a piece 8.5 x 16 inch piece of card stock.  I then adhered the matted letters above the words.  I added a black mat and selected a black metal frame.  It turned out really well and I hope she likes.  She is taking art in college so it will give her something to hang on her wall when she has a place of her own.  

Graduation Card - Sunburst

I made this card for my niece who is graduating from high school this year.

I started with a royal blue card. I then cut 2 pieces of card stock to 4.00 x 5.25 inches, one white and one yellow.  I cut the yellow one with the Stampin Up Sunburt Thin Die and layered it onto the white one.  Once adhered together this layer was adhered to the card front. I created a graduation cap by punching 2 squares 1.50 and 1.25 inches with my Creative Memories Double Square punch.  I layered the blue onto the larger black.  I created a tassel with yellow crochet cotton. I held in place on the hat with  a tiny white star brad.  I punched a SU decorative label the royal blue card color and added a SU Word Window greeting in yellow.  These were adhered together then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Share Your Cup #203

I've come up with a way to remember how many times I've steeped my loose tea.  Most teas you can steep at least 2 times, some more. 
I chose to re-purpose an item already in my house.  I made these glass markers years ago and sold many of them.  They were designed to sit on the stem of a glass and each guest would have their own color. and therefore able to remember which glass was theirs.
These were still in my stash so I decided to add one to the handle of the tea pot each time I made tea.  They are pretty and useful.  Works for me. 

Does anyone else have the problem of remembering the number of time tea leaves have been steeped?  How do you handle it?  Leave me a comment.

This is one of the books I read over the last three weeks.  The ideas are not new but a reminder is always good.  The three principles are:
1. What you resist persists and grows stronger.
2. You can only be exactly as you are in the moment.
3. Anything you allow to be exactly as it is completes itself.
The idea for number 3 is: If you are facing something difficult face it head on and let it be.  It will run it's course and disappear. Many times we avoid, procrastinate, deflect issues based on our fears which just make them last longer.

I celebrated a birthday last week.  You know one of those that end in a zero.  It was a big one.


A good friend took me out for supper, a trip to an antique mall and DQ for dessert on my actual birthday.
I received several phone calls and emails from family.
I was out for steak dinner last night thanks to a good friend.
Another birthday supper is planned with a friend in about 10 days.
I am truly blessed to have such great friends and family.

Of course, I always share my birthday with Father's Day!

I found these Tea Cup Silicone Cupcake baking cups this week.  I love them and they will make a great addition to my tea accessories collection.  I use silicone liners for my muffins all the time. The black ones from Pampered Chef have not discolored probably because of their color.  The ones from Steeped Tea Morning Glory Dessert Cups have discolored so I don't think I will be baking cupcakes in these.  I want to keep them pretty.  I think I will use them for jellied or frozen desserts.  I can see pudding topped with fresh fruit in them.

Here's a wonderful yellow!! casserole dish which I received as a gift recently.  I love it!

I was able to purge a couple of old Pyrex pieces put this one in their place in the cupboard.  One in one out is a good rule to live by.  One in two out is even better.

I'm serving lunch on Friday so I think I will make a rhubarb crisp for dessert. 

Submitting to Share Your Cup #203 hosted by Carol at Art & Sand. 

Coffee Card Challenge

I created this card to join the challenge at the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.

I started with a graphic of a coffee cup which I downloaded from the internet.  I used pencil crayons to color the cup.  I filled a circle from the stencil onto the front of the cup. I added the Coffee Co. words free hand with the dark brown Staedtler Karat watercolor pencil.  I sponged on some Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Antique Linen to warm it up as it appeared too white against the background.  I kept adding shading until I was happy with it.

I started the background on a piece of taupe skytone card stock cut to 4.0 x 5.25 inches.  I used the The Crafter's Workshop - Mini Coffee Splotch stencil to create the coffee rings.  I dabbed some Tim Holtz Distress Stains in Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Gathered Twigs, and Walnut Stain from lightest to darkest onto a palette.  I applied the 2 medium stains with a sponge through the stencil making marks on the card stock.  I sponged a bit between the rings. I rubbed the edges with the Walnut Stain.  I wrapped a piece of ivory seam binding around the background and tied it on the front to the left leaving room for my cup.

I glued the back ground to a deep brown almost Espresso card.  Adhered the coffee cup focal element to the card front with 3D foam tape. I trimmed the ends of my seam binding.   I then spattered the card front with a wet toothbrush dipped into the 2 medium colors which unified the elements.   I'm super happy with the results.

Card Club - June - Floral Metal Accent

I chose the metal accent first.
I then cut a white circle with Spellbinder smooth circles at 2 3/8" just a bit larger than the metal circle. I cut the coordinating scallop circle from pink card stock.  I chose pink ribbon which matched the pink scallop.  I embossed a piece of white card stock with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. I placed a piece of ribbon across the bottom third of the embossed layer and tape the ends to the back.  I then tied the shorter piece onto it.  This layer was then adhered to the card front.
I then assembled the scallop accent by adhering the white circle to the pink scallop.  I tacked this layer to the card front.  I then used a push pin to make holes for the 3 small brads.  These are blue which matched the card of the card. I pushed the prongs through the holes and spread them apart on the inside of the card.

Card Club - June - Polka Dots Birthday

I chose a kraft card.  I matched it with polka dot designer paper which was cut to leave a small border.  I cut an ivory greeting label with the Stampin Up Apothecary label.  I then stamped the greeting from the For a Friend stamp set with a warm green ink pad.  I pulled the caramel seam binding ribbon through the holes of the label and wrapped around the DSP layer.  I placed 3D foam tape behind the label and attached to the DSP layer leaving enough ribbon on the right to make a bow.  I adhered the DSP layer to the card front. I tied the bow and trimmed the ends with scissors.

Card Club - June - Star Birthday

I printed the greeting layer.  I wrapped the diecut open border around both ends and taped the ends to the back of the white layer.  I placed the black polka dots washi tape below the greeting.  I ripped the bottom edge of the greeting layer then adhered it to the card front. Decide on the placement of your star brads.  I used a push pin to create holes through the card front then placed the prongs of the red star brads through spreading them apart on the inside of the card. 

Card Club - June - Photo Frame

We are having card club today.

Left: Another photo frame card.  I chose a card that coordinated with the photo.  I added a piece of 7/8" grosgrain ribbon down the center of the card and taped the ends to the inside of the card.  Make sure your layout to ensure the photo will be in the orientation. I added 3D foam tape on the back of the frame and adhered it over the ribbon onto the card front. Ensure that the photo is still aligned then adhere the square inside the frame. 

Below:  I chose a card that coordinated with the photo.   The ribbon was taped to the inside of the card and pull across the card.  It was taped in place where the square would cover later. It was cut short and the end was flagged. 

Versatile design which easily allowed tall or wide orientations.

Baby Boy - Customized Frame

I made this frame for my nephew's baby boy who was born recently.  We are having a shower for him today.
I started with a good quality yellow metal frame.  I cut a 20 x 24 inch sheet of Mi-Tentes card stock in navy blue down to match an 11x14 inch mat I had, leaving a tiny border around the center opening.  These 2 layers were adhered together with quick dry adhesive.  The opening is 9.5 x 7.5 inches.
I cut the letters with the Cricut and the Storybook cartridge.  This alphabet is great because it is mono spaced so figuring how large the letters needed to be was very easy.  They were cut at 2.25 inches tall from the same card stock paper as the mat.  I added the the date of birth which was cut at 2.00 inches tall to get more elements into the space.
I added a central decorative element of owls on a limb.  The clipart is from CLKER. I colored the owls navy. I duplicated the image and reversed the one on the left.  I printed it onto vellum then clear embossed it.
I chose a sheet of Stampin Up Daffodil Delight which matched the frame perfectly.  To it, I adhered the letters of his name along the top, the date of birth along the bottom, the owl vellum and the red heart punchie between the large owls.  I adhered the yellow card stock to the mat.  I cleaned the glass and reassembled the frame.  Super happy with the finished product.  Photographing it was the biggest challenge.
I always get a book for new babies and their parents.  Reading is important. 

Wedding Anniversary - 40th

I made this card for my sister and brother-in-law who are celebrating 40 years of marriage at the end of the month.

I started with a Stampin Up Cherry Cobbler card.  I punched the 2 hearts from deep red glitter card stock.  I color printed the greeting onto a piece of Whisper White which was just under 3" wide.  I adhered the 2 hearts above the greeting with Zots. I ripped the bottom edge of the greeting layer. I layered it onto a piece of Basic Black and did the same to it's bottom edge. I placed 2 pieces of white twill ribbon on the diagonal to the upper right hand corner and adhered them to the card front.  The first one has a small fold in it.  I trimmed the ends with scissors. I then layered the heart layer onto the card front leaving a small border top and right hand side. 

Submitting the the following challenges:

Fab Friday #89 - Sketch

Share Your Cup #202

I bought these molds this week because they were yellow and I did not have any of them in my Tupperware collection.  As you can see by the second photo I have been duped.  These are not Tupperware!! But very good copies.  The color is great so they will stay.

I thought I would post an update to my herb garden in a pot.  They are growing. The dill in the centre and the cilantro are doing well.  The very skinny chives in the back are going to be a long while before I see something I can eat.  The other on the left is basil which is quite a bit behind as well.  I don't have the natural talent my mother and sister have.  I will be patient.

I recently came across a large collection of these glass ornaments in red, blue, white, silver and glitter.  They are the same size as others I  had to I decided to keep a few to supplement my photos in future particularly during the holidays.  I will be sending the rest to the second hand store for the next person to think they are cool!

Peeling paint on the side of a sea container parked at a construction site during my walk this week.  I like to have a variety of textures to use as backgrounds in my projects and the color was just right.

I'm working on owls for one of my calendar projects so I have researched a lot of patterns on-line to see what I would like to make.  This is the closest I have found but it needs some changes to fit my idea so I will get the pencil out and start redrawing it.  Keep an eye for the project later on this year. 

Linking with Sharing Your Cup #202 hosted by Carol at Art & Sand.

Congratulations Card

I made this card for a baby shower I am attending on the weekend.
I started with a Stampin Up Night of Navy card.  I created the white spatter layer with a Night of Navy reinker, a drop of water and a toothbrush onto white photo paper.  I cut the large scallop at the top from Old Olive card stock with the SU Sizzix Big Shot Large Scallop Edgelits Die.  I wrapped a piece of Grosgrain Stitched ribbon in the NofN color. This layer was adhered aligned along the top of the card. I've placed 2 tiny white brads on either end to keep them adhered to the card front. I placed 2 lengths of Old Olive Washi Tape from the Santa & Co. Designer Series across the bottom third of the card.  I stamped the greeting in NofN onto white with the congratulations one from the Perfect Punches set. It is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.  I adhered 3 buttons in Old Olive with Zot along the right edge of the white layer.


Submitting to the following challenges:

SU Retro Sketches # 218

SU ColorQ #346

Doily Birthday Card

This is a card for my sister for her birthday.  I have delivered her gift already.

I chose card stock from the collection that Paper Garden provided for the Mother's Day Challenge.  This one is Stardream Aquamarine because her favorite color is green.  I placed a 5.5" white paper doily on the front of the landscape wide card and folded the rest to the back. I tacked it down with dry adhesive tape runner.  I placed the scallop circle greeting in the center of the doily and added 2 handmade paper flowers in the center. They are held in place with an iridescent flower sequin and a pink tiny brad.  I added a piece of pink seam binding across the bottom third of the card to repeat the pink color.  I placed 3 iridescent flower sequins along the ribbon centered on the card.  They are held in place tiny pink brads.

I gave her clear acrylic napkin rings that look like cut glass crystal.  I have been looking for a long time for something that would work. I photographed them with my dishes which are very vibrant but hers are white, pale gray and a hint of blue so these will work very well with the set.  The napkins have a square offset shiny matte pattern, which again will go well for those times when she is having friends or family in for dinner.

Happy Birthday!!

I had supper with her and her husband on June 3 and we enjoyed great Korean food.

Nifty Notes Order

I had a friend order a set of Nifty Notes.  Some with scripture and others with Thinking of You. 

This background is from Pixabay where free graphics are provided for use in projects. I love this image of a chickadee on a set of pink bell flowers with a nice background.  I have placed the scripture in the top left hand corner.  They are printed onto white card stock and left inside for a personal message.

This card features one of my many flower photos. This one is of a pink lily.  The photo has been cropped square and is placed within a thin black frame.  The sentiment is placed below the photo in black. 

These were customized according to her wishes.