Sympathy Cards

I made a few sympathy cards to include in a set of cards for my Mom's birthday.

I chose Whisper White layer trimmed to leave a small border. I stamped the Berry Branch from the Simply Sketched stamp set with black permanent ink so I could watercolor the images.

The greeting is from the same set. 

I chose Old Olive and a bit of Always Artichoke for the leaves and Marina Mist for the berries.  My sister shared from her stash of Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons a set of the bright colors.  Thanks so much. 

I adhered the layer to the front of an Old Olive card base.  

Spattered a bit of green watercolor by flicking my brush just to soften the wide open white space.

For this card I switched up the orientation to landscape and used 2 stamps from the Simply Sketched set. The Poppy and the sentiment.

I used Real Red and some Regal Rose for the poppy.

Again, a bit of spattering with a flick of my brush.  Trimmed to 4.00 x 5.25 inches to leave a small border.

The card base is Pink Pirouette.

These have had white inserts with appropriate sentiments added to the inside of the card.

The Perched Bird from the Simply Sketched set with the sympathy sentiment.

I chose to make a brown with red and green and added a breast of More Mustard.  The reeds are Always Artichoke.  I added some water below with Marina Mist.

This was cut to 2.75 x 4.25 inches.  I layered it onto a piece of brown card stock and then onto a textured card base in Ballet Blue.

Again, a bit of spattering with my brush.

I am adding these to a variety of others cards to make a set of 10 cards.  Mom who is in her eighties still makes cards but it's nice to a stash ready when she is not up to making a card.

I am looking forward to seeing her.

Balloon Cards

I painted some balloons with watercolor.  I chose my Watercolor Wonder Crayons from Stampin Up to match the card stock I am using. 

I did draw a slight image to follow in pencil on heavy white card stock.  

I chose Always Artichoke green, More Mustard yellow and Bravo Burgundy with Cherry Cobbler red for the balloons.  

I added strings with a black permanent marker once the piece was completely dry and pressed flat.  I signed the art as well. 

I added a length of Bravo Burgundy grosgrain ribbon across the bottom o the card with ends taped to the back.  

I added a Modern Label punchie color printed greeting with a More Mustard offset to match the card base in the same color.  This was adhered with 3D foam tape.

Another balloon card.  I chose Old Olive, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy and Real Red card stock for the balloons.  

I cut them out of scraps of cardstock with my Create Cricut electronic cutting machine using the Create a Critter cartridge.   I cut them at 3", 2.75" and 2.5" inches.  I tied black thread onto them for strings.  I added white highlight spots on each of them with a white opaque marker.

Added a piece of sky designer paper which I warmed up with some warm yellow chalk pastel applied with a stipple brush and adhered to the front of an Old Olive 5x7 card base.  I then assembled the balloon bouquet with the ones farther back adhered to the sky paper, then the next ones with 1 layer of 3D foam tape then the small red one in front with 2 layers of 3D foam tape.   This adds depth to the composition.

I taped all the string to a central spot.

I added a ripped color printed greeting over the strings with 3D foam tape.

Card Box - HB and Thank You

 Another couple of cards for the box.

I started with designer paper from Echo Park called Hello Spring.  I paired it with a purplish Rich Razzleberry card base.

I added a length of Island Indigo 1/4" satin ribbon along the right hand side.  Taped the ends to the back. I added three deep teal and yellow handmade paper flowers on the left side adhered with tiny yellow brads.

This layer was adhered to the front of the card with double sided tape.  This ensures nothing showing on inside of the card. 

The greeting is a Stampin Up Modern Label punchie color printed.  I added the deep purple punch split in half and adhered to the back offset a bit for it to show up.  This layer was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Ready for an August birthday.

The same paper was paired with a Rose Red card base this time.

I added a white grosgrain ribbon across the bottom third of a landscape oriented card.  Then ends taped to the back and then adhered to the card front.

I added an oval color printed greeting in Rose Red and chalked with the same color around the edges.  It was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Is resting in the Compassion House box for delivery a little later.

Cards - Birthday and All Occasion

I chose a piece of Stampin Up Designer Paper from the Tea for Two series and cut it into 6 - 4.00 x 5.25" pieces.

The paper was designed with Island Indigo as the deep blue I don't have that color so I substituted Midnight Muse which works well.  Love the quilting pattern.  This is my Angle Rectangle design where the decorative paper is titled on the card front and adhered. Then it is trimmed to the card edges with scissors. 

I added a length of Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon and knotted it on the front aligning it on the left near the fold.

I punched an Artisan Label from a scrap of the same DSP and turned it over to reveal the Calypso Coral polka dot side. I layered a Modern Label blue greeting over that. It was adhered in the bottom right hand corner with 3D foam tape.

This will be a card for one of my quilting sisters.

For this card I have paired it with a Lucky Limeade card base.

I cut the layer at 3.5" and turned the smaller piece over and taped them back together.  I placed a length of Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon along the join and taped the ends to the back.  The layer was then adhered to the card front.

I created the greeting with a SU Scallop Circle punchie in a coordinating orange card stock with a color printed circle greeting.  The blue and green greeting was punched with the 1 3/8 inch circle punch then adhered to the scallop.  This accent was then adhered to the card front over the ribbon with 3D foam tape.

This card is for a friend who celebrates her birthday in early August.

I made a couple of all occasion cards for my card box.

Here I have paired the reverse side which is the Calypso Coral Polka Dots with a coordinating card base. 

I assembled the flower accent with a couple handmade paper flowers (turquoise and yellow) and a couple silk flowers (white and orange).  All held in place on the designer paper with a tiny blue brad. 

The layer was then adhered to the card front with double sided tape.

I used another Midnight Muse card base with the quilting side of the Tea for Two DSP facing out. I made a slit in the designer paper and folded back the triangles to reveal the orange polka dots.  Like the way it repeats the triangles in the paper.

I wrapped a length of narrow organza ribbon in the Lucky Limeade color around the narrowest point of the front layer and tied a bow.  Trimmed the ribbon ends.

The layer was then adhered to the card front.

I added some three warm white Sugar Dots in the triangle space across from the ribbon bow.

Each of these has a white blank insert and has been paired with an white envelope.

Birthday Cards

I made a few cards for my upcoming family birthdays.

I started with a card base in Not Quite Navy. 

I printed the sail boat from the Sail Away stamp set on Whisper White in black.  I used the Stampin Up Watercolor Wonder Crayons to color the image.  Night of Navy for the water, Not Quite Navy for the sky and Cherry Cobbler for the sails.  It was trimmed to 4.00 x 5.25 inches.

I printed the greetings in black on white card stock.

I flagged the right hand end of the greeting and mounted on the card front with 3D foam tape.

I chose a Soft Sky card base. I added a layer of Old Olive at 4.00 x 5.25 inches.  

I printed the grove from the Lovely as a Tree stamp set in black on white. 

I watercolored the image with Not Quite Navy for the sky.   A mixture of Always Artichoke and Garden Green for the grass and the trees. 

The image was trimmed to 3.5 x 5.00 inches and adhered to the green layer.

I printed the greetings in black on white card stock.

I trimmed the greeting and mounted on the card front with 3D foam tape.

I chose a Stampin Up Kraft card base.

I printed the Canada Goose from the Wetlands Stamp set in black on white card stock.

I mixed a color to match the Kraft card base which I used for the body of the bird, a lighter version for the breast and some greener version for the grass.

I printed the greetings in black on white card stock.

I chose the same color mixed earlier to shade the edges of the flagged greeting.  It was mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape. 

A couple of these off to those who are celebrating in July.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

This is a most beautiful flower.  It's the Astrantia Major Alba and to me is just says "wedding".  Soft muted colors with a hint of pink in the center.  Wonderful star shaped lower petals. 

This was my first nice photography trip following the break of the Heat Dome which covered my area for days! More about that below. 

I visited the St. Albert Botanic Park where the flowers were plentiful and it was the perfect temperature for a 2 hour stroll in the garden.

I just loved it so much!

Let me start with the most recent challenge in my life. Never have I experienced this!  Seven days of over 30C temperatures was very challenging especially when the low over night was in the 20C so really no cooling off.  This is record breaking for us here on the prairies of Canada.  

It was as isolating as the pandemic with temperatures in my home of 32C which was in my opinion dangerous. I walked outside very early in the morning. I drank lots of cold herbal tea, soaked my head once every hour, and the fan ran 24-7.  Thank goodness I had good books to read.   Typically, not too many households have air conditioning but I expect that it will become much more popular!
 

I did buy this book myself but I was not ready for the story I found within it's pages.

There are three women characters - Rachel the woman on the train, Anna her ex-husband's current wife and Megan who is the neighbour of Anna. 

These three women live a lot of their lives in their heads and the book leaves me wondering how much is real and imagined in their lives. 

I did consider putting it down and not finishing it several times but I finished the book.  

Did I enjoy the book?  Somewhat but it often was chaotic and unsettling.  I much prefer strong characters and these were pretty much all over the place.

A few more images from my photo trip out on Saturday morning.  The heat broke last Friday night and I was able to open the windows and let the cool air in. 

At the Botanic Park the roses were in full bloom and there are rows and rows of them.

Earlier this year I was concerned for the bee population but there was no lack of them at the park.  There were a couple of places where they could get water. 

The Song Sparrow was just belting out its song which was so good to hear.

I had a visit from a dragonfly and now I know why the are called dragon as they have quite fierce faces.

Every Breath by Nicholas Sparks is a book I totally enjoyed.  He is one of my favorite authors when I want a nice love story with strong characters.

Set in North Carolina inspired by 2 very different places. One is the "Kindred Spirit" which is a mail box on an isolated beach.  People leave letters and other written words in the box.  When you visit you can read the letters and other material and return them to the mail box for others to share.  The other is the country of Zimbabwe.  

Hope Anderson is a nurse spending time at the family cottage. Tru Wall, a 42-year-old safari guide from Zimbabwe is next door due to meet his biological father for the first time.  They meet on the beach, get to know each other, and in a few days make life changing decisions.  

I really enjoyed this book and would recommend it.  

There are several colors of Yarrow.  I have seen White, Pink and the park had this Yellow one.

I grew up with it being harvested for medicinal purposes so it has not been high on my flower radar but it is really nice.

I finished this book yesterday which was the third this week. 

What a terrific book - The Light Between Oceans by M.L. Stedman.  The story about love, isolation, and right and wrong.  Tom Sherbourne takes a job as the lighthouse keeper on Janus Rock, nearly half a day's journey from the Australian coast. Later, he marries Isabel and he brings her to the island. She has suffered miscarriages and a still birth so when she hears the cries of a baby from a washed up boat she feels it is a divine intervention.

They choose to keep the child as present her as their own rather than report the death of the man and the surviving child. Two years later, they learn the consequences of their decision for other families on the mainland.



This love story is touching, heart wrenching and ultimately love triumphs.

I just loved this story. It made a mess of my emotions with a few tears shed at times. This wonderful story is recommended.

The Flickr Macro Mondays challenge this week is "Letters and Numbers".  This provides a lot of subject matter.  This is a metal tag put on infrastructure by the city.  You can check my Flickr Photostream (SMDPics) to see the image I submitted.

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #138 and

Mersad who hosts Through My Lens #296.

Have a great week and be safe.

Cards - Exchange - July

A blue and yellow theme for my July exchange cards.

I chose a golden yellow card stock and ran it through the Big Shot with the Cuttlebug Script Texture folder.

I adhered it to the a white card base.

I wrapped and knotted the blue organza ribbon around the card front and placed it along the fold on the left.

I added a focal element created from punchie flowers made with the Stampin Up Five Petal punchie from yellow and blue card stock.  I managed to find scraps of blue that matched the ribbon really well.  I added a half inch circle and a yellow mini brad in the center to hold these all together. 

The accent was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

For this card all the same elements but switched orientation to a wide card.  

On hind sight maybe I should have selected a different folder for this one because the script is sideways.  It's mostly texture so I think its still works.

For the focal element I used a white flower brad for the center which brings in the white of the card base.

These will be off to my exchange partners shortly.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

All creatures are seeking shade as we endure time under a heat dome here on the prairies.

I found this wasp resting in the shade this morning as I was seeking shade myself.  I managed about 40 minutes outside this morning before heading inside.

 

We are expecting almost another week of over 30C highs which is very unusual for this part of the country.  

It's cold herbal tea with ice cubes this week instead of hot tea.  This Chai Green tea is pretty good.

I finished this book recently. Nice light romance about a girl following her dreams to run a tea shop instead of working in an insurance office.  Of course, when she gets the opportunity it's in a castle with a handsome manager. 

With a few bumps along the way, she wins on all fronts - family, love and work life. 

I have been making decisions about what needs to be cleared out so that I can store the things I want.  One of the things that needed a home was camping equipment.  

The shelf in the storage room has been cleared of paper. Rolls of gift wrap, pads of card stock, and freebies from years ago that I never used.

I have been consulting my Stampin Up color samples to see which card stock is going to be stored in the card making area and which is going.  This green was a great match and stayed.  Trimmed to letter sized sheets and added next to the other Always Artichoke card stock.  I have added an aluminum table and a lantern to the mix.  I am working on getting a fry pan for cooking on a butane stove.  This latest recipe includes tortillas on the top and bottom and cheese to hold the middle together.  The experimentation continues.

I picked Haskap berries when I visited my aunt last week.  I am a berry picker from way back and could not leave them on the bush.  The berries remind me of gooseberries.  

I found a recipe on line for HASKAP Chutney.   I replaced the raisins with cranberries.  Changed the flavors to ginger, garlic and curry.  Check out that color and it tastes great. Three small jars were processed and are waiting to be enjoyed.

I finished this book today!  It was really too hot to do much work so I sat near the fan and read instead.

Love Nicholas Sparks books and this one was full of mystery and suspense and a few scary bits. The Guardian involves a Great Dane dog which comes to live with Julie after her husband dies. 

Once she starts dating, she meets a man and goes on a few dates. Then things go a little strange and he will not let her be. She moves onto to another relationship but is plagued by problems with Richard.  The police get involved when a crime is committed then the chase begins. 

It was a good love story with some tense moments.

Flickr Macro Monday`s theme this week was `Pins`.  There is a good variety of them - straight pins, clothes pins, cotter pins, garment pins, head pins, safety pins, jewelry pins, and many more. 

Here I have put Love Macro Monday on punchies held onto a cord with tiny clothes pins.  Check out my Flickr Photostream (SMDPics) for the one I submitted.

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #137 and 

Mersad at Through My Lens #295.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

I met my Aunt at the University of Alberta Botanic Gardens this week for a photo trip.  We had to book online due to COVID restrictions and limit our time at the garden.

It is a huge place but we managed to get most of the places within the garden we wanted to visit.

I spent some time in the Japanese Garden.

The White Anemones were blooming and quietly swaying in the gentle breeze. 

We had perfect weather for our visit.  Being in shirt sleeves at 10:00 am.  I did put my sunscreen on as I missed earlier in the week and caught some color.

This was a great book - Woman of a Thousand Secrets by Barbara Wood.

A story of a young girl found in a basket on the ocean.  Adopted and raised on the Caribbean Islands before Europe discovered them.  To help save her father she journeys to the mainland in search of a red flower.  She finds people who look like her - fair and tall. She finds fellow travelers some of which are friends and some are foes. I thoroughly enjoyed this book.

It was a week with a special birthday for me.

I shared the day with my sister.  We had a bubble wand, hotdogs and ice cream cake. The best!
 

I received this art for my walls this week.  It is a digital drawing done by my aunt. 

Corvus Brachyrhynchos is  a digital drawing which I thought was wonderful.  It almost looks like a photograph.

I found a frame to put it in and placed it on the shelf in my bedroom.

Since I missed my post last week I finished this book as well.  In the Midst of Winter by Isabel Allende.  I have read another book of hers in this post.   This one takes place in New York City during a big snow storm.  A gentleman of a certain age has an adventure with a lady from Chile and young woman from Guatemala.  Each of them have to venture out of their comfort zones to address the crisis in which they find themselves. 

They grow as people, become closer almost family and stay true to their values in difficult circumstances.

I enjoyed the book.

The challenge for Flickr Macro Monday this week was matchstick.  Not a very broad subject matter.

You can check out my Flickr Photostream (SMDPics) to see the image I submitted.

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #136 and Mersad who hosts Through My Lens #294.

Have a great week!

Father's Day Card

These supplies are from an old card kit.

The card base is Soft Suede with a rectangular piece of teal designer paper.  It was adhered on an angle and then it was trimmed to the card edge.

I added some leaves cut with the Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die.  Two in Soft Suede and one gold one.

I added a Stampin Up Decorative Label greeting with color printed words.  I used SU chalks to softly color the greeting in the right colors.  I punched a Soft Suede label which I cut in half and off set behind the greeting.

A card to let my Dad know how much I appreciate him.  I am so glad he is still here with us.

 

Special Birthday Card

My first card made with Stampin Up supplies since the major clear out of card making supplies in my craft space.

The card stock is Certainly Celery topped with a piece of Porcelain Prints DSP. 

I added twill ribbon in the same shade.  I added a short piece of Not Quite Navy tied in a knot.

I punched a couple of Five Petals punchies in those 2 colors. I added a small So Saffron flower in the center all held in place with a mini brad.  I adhered the flower to card front with 3D foam tape.  

The greeting is a color printed circle punchie with a NQN backer.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

I think of June as lilac month. 

I brought some into my place for the beautiful scent and wonderful color.

This hand painted vase works well with these blooms with similar coloring.

I finished this book this week. It holds 4 modern romance stories.

Gift of Love by 4 different authors. 

The short stories vary from young love to romance with older folks.  City and country settings are featured.  I enjoyed the stories despite that they were pretty predictable.  They were tastefully written with Christian values which I appreciated.

 

 

I came across this cool idea this week.

To add a nice scent to your bathroom by just placing a few drops of your favorite essential oil on the inside of the roll.  Every time you pull the roll the scent will be released.

I used my Bergamot & Grapefruit oil which I am enjoying everyday instead of having it sit on a shelf.

Great idea.

I found these Mikasa Crystal Tea Bag Holders this week at the thrift store.  I could not resist as they were on half price. 

I have several tea bag holders so I will have to do some culling. I have too much tea related stuff such as cups, mugs, tea pots, etc. There will be a culling soon.  

 

I went for a photo shoot with my aunt this week.  We tried a new wetland in hopes of it being a little less busy than the big ones.

We met at 8:00 am which was late for me and early for her. 

It took us about 45 minutes to walk around the 2 ponds.  There were many types of ducks and water fowl.  There are places where it was difficult to get close to the water.  Also, the early morning light was not great because it was in our faces when we were close to the water so an early evening visit may be better.

The number of people was low but I'm not sure that would be the case later in the day. 

This is a female Redhead Duck.  It was a very pleasant hour with social distancing and masks. 

I found a few pink flowers this week for my mosaic.  Gerber daisies and geraniums.  I am so grateful to those who plant flowers in their from gardens for others to enjoy!
 

 

The challenge at Flickr Macro Monday this week was Board Game Pieces.  Of course that leads to a great variety of options.  I was surprised at how many themed Monopoly Games have been produced. 

One of the shots I took for this challenge is chess pieces - you can check my Flickr Photostream (SMDPics) for the shot I submitted.

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #134 and

Mersad who hosts Through My Lens #292