Christmas Bird House

I'm adding to my Christmas Card Count.

I started with a kraft card in the portrait tall orientation.  I added a strip of off white striped vellum and mounted it offset from the center. I selected the bird house die cut from the vintage K&Company Cardstock and Acetate die cut set.  I used Tombow Acetate Adhesive on the acetate greetings and adhered them below the bird house.

Choo Choo Train Christmas Card

I started with a die cut from a set of Vintage Cardstock & Acetates from K&Company.  I chose a black card to match the color of the engine which I laid in the landscape/wide orientation. I used a piece of off white vellum which worked with the vintage image.  I held it in place with 4 tiny black brads in the four corners. I then adhered the train die cut to the vellum.  I used Tombow Vellum Adhesive on the clear acetate greeting (it's red but scanned black) and adhered it below the train.  I used a thin black marker and added smoke from the chimney by hand.

Submitting to 52 Christmas Card Throwdown - May Stash Challenge - Dies or Punches.

Vintage Snowman

I started with the Vintage Snowman die cut from K&Company Cardstock & Acetate set.  I chose a green card which worked with the bow in the gift he is holding.  I searched my stash for a off white vellum which happened to have stripes.  I attached it to the card front with 4 tiny red brads in all four corners.  I adhered the snowman die cut to the vellum layer.  I used vellum adhesive by Tombow to adhered the acetate greetings placed below the gift.  I added an acetate snowflake in the top right hand corner held in place with a tiny red brad.

These die cut sets really facilitate the making of cards because all the elements coordinate nicely.

Submitting to the challenge at Holly Jolly - Traditional Colors.

Thank Yous - Trip

These are the cards I included with my thank you gift to those ladies who helped me out last week. One took me to the airport and the other kept an eye on my place while I was away.  I am giving them tea as gift.
The left card features handmade marbled paper with a leaf cut with a Cuttlebug double die.  It cuts the outline and the solid background.  The pink one is the Stampin Up scallop circle punch in pink pearl paper.  Then layered 1 3/8" white and 1.25" pink circles.  I placed a pearl confetti daisy on top of those with a rhinestone in the centre. The envelopes were cut from 80lb text weight paper with the SU Petal Card die.  The envelope is held closed with a small white circle sticker.

Mosaic Monday - May

I have visited the Community Garden several times.  Here's a nice group of tulips which arrived early in the month.

Today, the strawberries were turning red, there was plenty of chives, and there were a few rows with markers indicating seeds had been planted and soon green sprouts will be sticking their heads from the soil.

I took this photo at the Morrison House Cafe.  My sister and I had lunch there together on the May long weekend.  We talked about our craft projects and a bunch of other things.

This was taken at the Heritage Hill Wetlands.  A very attentive Canada Goose on the beautiful water. 
No Pelicans on this visit.  I will have to try again.

This is a barn in Ontario on my quick trip across the country last week.  The barns in Alberta just don't look that same.  Love the Canada Maple Leaf flag painted on the addition.














This was an unusual sight so I took a picture so I could investigate later.

Here and there across the Canadian countryside you’ll see these bright blue shelters placed in patterns in pastures. Their openings all face the same direction and their presence has a rather otherworldy feeling about it. What are these things?

They are plastic shelters for alfalfa leaf-cutter bees, a native North American bee that has been domesticated. The blue dome is used in western Canada, variations in other parts of the continent. The shelters, usually found in alfalfa pastures, are needed for their warming ability and as a place for the bees to build their nests out of alfalfa leaves. One shelter for every 4 to 5 acres contains about a dozen nests.

Sharing with Mosaic Monday hosted by Judith at Lavender Cottage.

Friday's Hunt 1.22

These photos are for Friday's Hunt challenge.

The prompts this week are:
Starts with V
Favorite
Sunshine

This is Vintage Linen.  This is one of a set of three Vintage Doilies I found recently at a sale.  I loved the embroidery of a blue basket filled with pink flowers. It has a wonderful crocheted edge.

This is captured Sunshine.  I have several prisms in my living room window.  When I open the curtains in the morning the sunshine highlights bouncing around the room as the crystals move and swing.  I captured one of these on the cushion of the chair.  The colors are all there!! Love it.

This is a photo of a lake in Northern Ontario.  There are just a million of them.  There seems to be one on every corner.  This is my favorite for this week. 

Joining Friday's Hunt hosted by Teresa at Eden Hills.

Share Your Cup #199

Pot of Herbs  I was with my sister on the long weekend. I had decided that I would like to have a few herbs for cooking.

We transplanted the Cilantro to this large shallow pot. We added Chives, Basil, and Dill.  She had a turquoise plate to go under the pot, how nice was that!
This second picture shows the few green sprouts that are starting to poke their heads from the soil.

Quick Trip  
I spent most of the week traveling across the country to help my aunt Fran move from Ontario to Alberta.  She is coming to be closer to her family.  Isn't retirement grand!
We drove for 4 days with averaging 10-12 hours on the road per day.  We got along well as we were both morning risers as our days usually started around 5:30 am. I did manage to get a walk in every morning so my body is not complaining too much. We got to know each other and we have quite a few things in common. Family, photography, fiber crafts and love of Butter Chicken and Chai Tea.
I need a snooze today.

Deck Chair
I purchased a white plastic deck chair on the long weekend.  This morning I washed it all up and put it on my balcony.  I had tea outside of the first time.  It's a bit noisy but the morning sun feels great.
My To Do book to work on what needs to be caught up now that I am home, Masala Chai tea,  muffins, and fruit.

I'm ready for a bit of a rest.

Sharing My Cup with Carol at Art & Sand.

Banner & Squares

I started with a navy card. 
I added the greeting layer from this card club card.  I punched four large 1.5" squares from the decorative card stock.  I adhered them inside the printed square.  I cut a banner hole with one of the framelits from the Bitty Banner set just below the greeting.  I placed a scrap of decorative paper behind the greeting layer allowing it the show through the banner shape. 
I adhered the banner cut out over the junction of the four corners in the center of the printed square.

Trio of Circles and Banners

I started with an Stampin Up Always Artichoke card base.
I cut a piece of the coordinating blue green card stock and corner rounded the corners. I cut a couple of strips of the decorative card stock.
For the greeting I cut a piece of Tangerine Tango and adhered it to one strip of decorative card stock. Then I stamped the greeting in Always Artichoke on warm white with the Sweet Essentials Stamp set. Finished the ends with the Banner Triple Punch.
Using the Stampin Up circle punches, I punched a 1 1/4" circle from decorative card stock, the 1 3/8" from Tangerine Tango and layered them.  I created a banner with the second strip of decorative card stock. The circles and banner were added to the corner rounded panel then it was added to the card front.

Share Your Cup #198

We are finally getting some clouds in the sky which I hope will lead to some much needed rain.  I caught the moon just behind some clouds.  We had some rain over night.

A friend mentioned this book a few weeks ago and I asked to borrow it.  This is a good read.  Marie presents a method for tidying up through decluttering and organizing your space.  She presents a quite extreme but effective method.  I quickly was able to clear some clothes from my closet.  The question to ask is "Does this object bring me joy?"  I wholehearted support the idea to surround yourself with objects that bring you joy.  I find I have less trouble keeping on top of my kitchen now that it has many things I love.






 

These were taken during my first trip to the wetlands this year.  

Mrs. Robin came to check me out and I got a good shot. 

This is a Ruddy Duck with that distinctive blue bill.

Canada Geese were feeding.










The Red Wing Blackbird has been very difficult to photograph. This shot turned out really well especially with his wings just opening.

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

Four Squares on Tangerine Tango

I started with a Stampin Up Always Artichoke card base. I placed some leaves from the Blossoms Abound digital set in Always Artichoke to create a subtle layer on the card above and below the accent square. I used this decorative card stock which is non SU but matches perfectly. 
I created a central accent with 4 squares. I punched the 1.25" squares from the decorative c/s aligning the tangerine element in the center.  I punched the 1.5" squares from the coordinating solid card stock which matches Pool Party.  I adhered these squares onto a piece of SU Tangerine Tango and trimmed it leaving an even border.
I stamped the greeting from the Sweet Essentials stamp set in Always Artichoke onto a strip of Tango Tangerine. I flagged both ends with the SU Banner Triple Punch. It was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Submitting to the challenge at SU TGIF - 55 - Sketch

Rounded Squares with Banner

I made this card to meet a challenge which closed before I finished my card.  Missed the deadline.

I started with a deep warm green card.  I added a strip of the decorative card stock down the center of the card.  I created the square accent with 4 rounded squares made up of 1.25" decorative ones adhered to the 1.5" solid blue green ones.  These were then adhered to a piece of deep orange card stock 3.25" square. I created the banner from the same orange card stock and flagged the ends with the Stampin Up Banner Triple Punch.  I added a SU Word Window greeting in the middle of the banner. The greeting was adhered to the middle of the square accent with 3D foam tape.

A non traditional colored Christmas card.

Submitting to Christmas Card Challenge - Anything Goes

Gate Fold Card - Rounded Squares

I just love this decorative card stock I used for Card Club here.

I punched squares 1.5" and 1.25". The smaller from the patterned and larger from the blue green solid and corner rounded 2 opposite corners.  I created a gate fold card which brings the 2 side flaps to meet in the middle of the card.  I adhered the decorative one over the solid one for each of the four with it aligned to one corner.  I placed  close corners all to the center of the element on either side of the split. I created the greeting accent with a strip of decorative card stock with the corners rounded then a banner from the solid and a Stampin Up Word Window greeting adhered onto the banner.  The banner is adhered with 3D foam tape.  The greeting was then adhered to the left hand side flap which goes across the card nicely when it is folded flat.  You can see in the smaller picture the card opened.  This will be headed out to one of my card exchange friends.

I'm submitting it to the Cute Card Thursday Challenge - More than one fold.

Macro Monday 2 - Beech Leaf

This is an American Beech tree leaf.  I took the picture when the leaf is back lit by the sun.  It helps to show the structure of the leaf.  It has saw tooth edges.

I'm submitting it to
Macro Monday2

Card Club - May - Nautical Father's Day

I trimmed the cards to 3.75 x 5.00 inches.  I chose a blue card which coordinated with one of the colors in the decorative card stock.  I color printed the greetings in navy on white and punched them out with the Stampin Up Decorative Label punch. I then punched another label from navy card stock.  It was cut in half cross wise.  I trimmed the points from the center cut then adhered the navy halves to the back of the greeting offsetting them on the right and left hand sides.  This greeting accent is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape aligned on the line of chain on the decorative layer.

The alternative is to cut your label lengthwise and offsetting them top and bottom instead.

I could have placed my label horizontally  across the navy stripes and make the orientation landscape wide instead of portrait tall.

Card Club - May - Daisy

I cut my decorative card stock to 3.75" x 5" and punched the corners with a corner rounder.  I chose several colors of card stock for these card kits.  This one is a warm dark green.  I placed a piece of orange grosgrain ribbon across the bottom 1/3 of the decorative piece.  I taped the ends to the back. This layer was then adhered to the card front. I punched the daisies with a large punch from coordinating aqua card stock. The white is just the back side of the aqua card stock. The daisy accent is adhered over the ribbon.  The white pearl button is adhered to the flower with a Zot. The colors of card in the kits are aqua and orange along with this dark green.

This card has the orange card base with a coordinating orange button in the middle of the flower.  I've decided to use in the tall portrait orientation as well.  Great versatility.

Card Club - May - Layered Squares

This card features layered squares.  I punched the squares with a Creative Memories 1 1/4 & 1 1/2 inch Double Square Paper Punch, which makes even borders really easy.  The smaller one is cut from the decorative card stock and the larger one from coordinating red paper. The patterned square was adhered onto the larger solid red square leaving an even border.  I created the taupe parchment layer with the square and greeting printed in navy.  This layer is adhered to the kraft card front.  I adhered four squares into the printed square.  I adhered a fifth square place on the diagonal in the center of the 4 squares. This one is adhered with 3D foam tape.  I flagged both ends of a half inch strip of the decorative card stock and adhered it below the greeting.  This makes a cool masculine card.

Card Club - May - Prima Flowers

Another card club class today.

This card features 2 Prima handmade paper flowers along with 2 silk flowers in the main element.  The card color matches the largest flower's color.  In this case, pink and the other aqua.  The white card stock layer was cut to 4" x 5.25" and embossed with the Craft Concepts Whisper folder.  I placed the flower embossed border in the bottom 1/3 of the layer. This was then adhered to the card front.  Placing the largest flower onto the top part of the embossed layer I used a push pin to create a hole for the brad in the center of the flower cluster.  Placing the smallest to the largest flowers onto the white brad I then placed the prongs through the hole I just made and spread the prong apart on the inside of the card.  Blue and purple cards are included in the class kits.

Friday's Hunt 1.20

I took these shots for the challenge of Friday's Hunt.

The prompts are:
Starts with T
Favorite
Evening

This is a plate of Three potato pancakes for lunch.  I added a dab of sour cream on each pancake topped with a bit of cilantro.  A side of kimchi for a bit of great flavor.

My favorite is a blue iris blooming in one of the flower beds on my walk this morning.  Love the yellow in the centre and the fuzzy on the petal on the right.

The lamp post outside whose lights are on once the sun has set.   I guess there is a trio of lights in this photo as well.

Submitting to Friday's Hunt 1.20 hosted by Teresa at Eden Hills.

Share Your Cup #197

These are the Gerber Daisies I gave my Mom for Mother's Day.  We had a good weekend with a good visit with one of my sisters and her kids. 


I usually give her tulips but they were not very nice this year.  I chose these Gerber Daisies instead.  With Mom clearing things out she only had a large vase in which these flowers look a little lost.  I'm sure she will enjoy them. 

This is a grape hyacinth blooming in one of the plots at the Community Garden.  There were very nice tulips there. 

This is a vintage clock which was in our house as we grew up.  It has a few chips on the roof and the birds have lost their rhinestone eyes.  It has some great color with a red roof and white side boards. It's a nice size. 

I've started making Chocolate Bran Muffins again.  I need a healthy snack that can replace some of the sweet things I've been eating.

This was a plant at the community garden.  It has this central whitish cluster.  I'm not sure if it will become flowers.  Maybe.


Linking with Sharing Your Cup #197 hosted by Carol at Art and Sand.

Macro Photo Challenge - Pencil Crayons

I took this photo of pencil crayons against a coloring book page.  I chose sunflowers of course.  I placed the focus on the yellow pencil.  I'm happy with how it turned out.  With the craze of adult coloring books many people are trying to recapture the calm of focusing your attention.

Submitted to

Macro Monday 2

Flicker - Macro Mondays - "When I was a Child"  I spent hours putting crayon pencil to coloring book pages. Time with peace and quiet.

Wedding Anniversary

I made this card for my Mom & Dad who will celebrate their 62nd wedding anniversary this week. 

I chose a Stampin Up Pool Party card.  I printed the greeting from Teeny Tiny Wishes onto the card front in Lost Lagoon.  I cut the largest of the Spellbinder Heart Circles Nestabilities from a piece of shiny card stock in a similar color as Pool Party.  I pulled a piece of narrow white satin ribbon through the holes around the circle.  I cut a smooth circle with a Spellbinders Smooth Circles Nestabilities which measured 3" in diameter from no shed silver glitter.  This was adhered in the centre of the heart circle.  I punched two SU Sweetheart punchies from the same card stock. These were adhered offset from each other in the centre of the silver circle.  The whole accent was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Friday's Hunt 1.19

I'm submitting photo's to Friday's Hunt which is a challenge hosted by Teresa at Eden Hills.  The prompts this week are:
1. Starts with S
2. Week's Favorite
3. smile

I've brought out the sewing machine.  I am working on a project which I will post once it's complete.  I have fabric, twill tape, and thread in the assorted colors.  The plan is has not come together yet.

My favorite shot this week are this pair of geese swimming and toddling in the pool at the park.  The water is just a few inches deep so every once in a while they would stand and were in water only half way up their legs.  With the warm temperatures here and the severe lack of rain it's been a blessing to the animals that the city filled this pool.

Here's the pot of herbs I received at the Welcome to my Kitchen hosted at my house in April.  It is cilantro and I'm not sure what it's supposed to look like but it has grown some since I received it.  It has new different looking leaves which I take as a good sign. Here's a photo of the mature plant. That makes me smile because I don't really have much of a green thumb so to have be still green is great.

You can check out what it looked like a month ago in this posting.