Sylvia's Simple Shots

I decided to visit a different park on Sunday for a change of scenery.  I had to dress for a bit of coolness but it was a good day out.  

As you can see though the sun did not cooperate very well.   It tried but did not succeed in getting very bright.

After 2 hours out and as I arrived back home it finally shone but that was too late for me.

I loved the silhouette of the tree branches against the bright spot, looking up in mid afternoon. 

 

 

 

I finished this book in a late night reading session on Friday night.  I just needed to know how it ended.  Who had done the deed?

A Bend in the Road by Nicholas Sparks was good and suspenseful.  Sarah as moved back to be near her family.  Miles Ryan is the local sheriff who lost his wife a couple of years ago and is raising his young son, Jonah.  Sarah is Jonah's teacher. 

With the son in common they spend time together over the schooling and a relationship grows.  Miles wants to know who killed his wife on a rainy night as she was jogging along the road.

The ending is very surprising and redemptive for all concerned.

Out of the 5 basil seeds I planted in this pot I have 1 tiny plant.  There was another but the seed casing was stuck on the top and it eventually just died.

I am watering, spritzing and provide light with a grow bulb in hopes of being able to harvest basil for my cooking sometime this summer.

It takes a lot of patience and attention to have plants thrive.

That little red mark is the only evidence of my first COVID Vaccine shot.

I had a sore arm for a couple of days but that was all.  I am very grateful as I hear some people have been ill following their shot.

Looking forward to the day we are all protected.

 

Here's a few more shots from the park I visited on Sunday.  A beautiful sculpture.

Vaulted Willow, a permanent aluminum sculpture by Mark Fornes, the pavillion is clad in mirrored triangles which is very cool, and there are several benches.  I loved the color of this yellow one.

Check out these thorns!  Wicked looking and very sharp.  These are on the Japanese Barberry bush.  It is helpful at this time of year to clearly see them.  During the summer when in full leaf they are harder to spot.

Still one of my favorite park bush always provides  great photos.

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #124 

and Mersad who hosts Through My Lens #282.

 

 

 

The challenge at Flickr Macro Mondays this week was awards. 

 

I was pretty stumped as what to photograph staying within the 3in limit.  After some rummaging in boxes I have not opened in a long while I found my high school grad ring. It needed a bit of polishing and the photo turned out alright.

You can check my Flickr Photostream (SMDPics) to see what other challenges I have been participating in.

Have a great week!

Allied Arts Council - Juried Member Show

It's that time again!  Our Juried Member Show is being hosted on-line and we hope to have the gallery open to patrons as well.  We will see.  It was reviewed on Wednesday and winners selected.

These are the pieces I have prepared and submitted for this show.  The Zoom reception is tonight where we will learn which pieces have placed.

 

 

Title: Streaming
Size: 14.00 x 14.00 inches
Mats: Double archival mats in white
Frame: Black wood
Print: 8x8 inches

This is a black and white abstract.  It has beautiful texture and layers in the image.  It was converted to B&W and had some textured filter applied in post production.

I chose the title Streaming because it applies be it water, traffic, on-line, conversations and much more.

What do you see?

 

Title: Fabulous Fungi
Size: 12.00 x 16.00 inches
Mats: Single archival white mat
Frame: Black wood
Print: 8x10 inches 

These are Ink Cap Mushrooms which I found in the park. 

I loved how the morning sun was highlighting their gills and black edges. 

Of course, our wonderful summer blue sky is showing through in places.

Taken at a very low angle.

Title: Follow Your Heart
Size: 16.00 x 16.00 inches
Mats: Double archival with grey and white mats
Frame: Black wood
Print: 16x16 inches 

I just love this heart stone.  I placed several stones in front getting bigger as they reach the heart.

It has a great bokeh background which makes the heart the focal point.

So many of us this year have and to re-evaluate our priorities and pare down our expectations.

I encourage you to follow your heart so the important wins out.

 

I will update the post should any of these be selected for prizes.

Card - Heart Tea Cup

Another card for the Coffee Loving Cardmaker Spring and Summer Blog Hop.

I chose a 4x4 photograph from my 2018 photo tea calendar.  I trimmed it to 3.75 inches square.  

I added a piece of gold metallic card stock behind the photo.

I chose a bright green card to match the tea cup in the photo. 

I wrapped a piece of deep pink seam binding around the front of the wide card and knotted and trimmed the ends. 

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

Card - Coffee To Go Cup

I was seeing so many of these wonderful cups on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Spring and Summer Blog Hop that I wanted to make one.

I tried several ideas but this one worked the best. I found a cup graphic on line and printed it several times on different papers.  I then fussy cut the cup, the wrapper and the lid into separate pieces.  I printed a circle coffee graphic.  I then chalked these pieces with deep blue.

I then assembled the cup pieces and adhered the circle onto the wrapper with 3D foam tape. 

I chose a pea green card base.  I found a piece of deep blue textured card stock and wrapped a piece of blue seam binding around it.  It was then adhered to the front of the card.  I adhered the cup focal point to the blue layer with 3D foam tape. 

I am really happy with this card. 

Card - Library Tea Break

Another card for the Coffee Loving Cardmaker Spring and Summer Blog Hop.
 

I printed the Tea and Book graphic on white card stock.  I trimmed it to 3.75x5.00 inches.

I chose a blue purple card base in the A2 size in the portrait orientation.

I chose a piece of warm caramel card stock to accent the main element.  I placed 2 pieces  - one in the top left and one in the bottom right corner leaving a small border. They were adhered with double sided tape.

The tea cup layer was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape leaving a small border.

I added a photo corner punchie in the top right hand corner made from the same warm caramel card stock.

I spattered the front with a bit of denim blue watercolor. 

Card - Japanese Tea

I made this card for the Coffee Loving Cardmakers Spring and Summer Blog Hop.

I started with the Japanese Tea Set graphic in gorgeous grey and deep red colors.

I trimmed it to 3.75" x 5".   I found a deep red A2 card base and a coordinating grey layer to go with the tea image.

I adhered the grey layer to the card front.

I added 3 red mini brads in the upper left hand corner and the kanji for TEA in the right hand upper corner.

This layer was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I am happy with this card.

This was a prize winner in the blog hop! #794
 

Card - Coffee Time

I made this card for the 2021 Spring and Summer Coffee Loving Card Makers Blog Hop.

I started with a digi of a hand drawn pastel image of a beautiful coffee pot and cup.

I just love the soft muted tones of this image.

 I printed the image on a quarter sheet of white card stock and trimmed it to 3.75 x 5 inches.

I added a warm caramel piece of card stock layered behind it and adhered these layers to the front of a pea green card base.

I added a greeting above the image with a ripped layer of the same caramel card stock and the greeting printed on a taupe card stock.

I added 3 mini brads to the left of the greeting.

This greeting layer was adhered with 3D foam tape. 

Card - Angled Rectangle

This was the second set of card supplies which lay in a box for a year after COVID cancelled my classes at Compassion House.

A warm Soft Suede A2 card base with a piece of designer paper adhered on an angle and then trimmed to the card edge with scissors.

I created the accent with 3 leaf die cuts made with Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves die.  I adhered them to each as an accent then mounted them to the card front with 3D foam tape.

 

 

 

 

 

A taupe card base with hexagonal pattern on the angled rectangle designer paper. 

I added a Tim Holtz Mover Shaper Vintage Alarm Clock die cut from gold glitter card stock.

I decided to send the rest of the unmade card kits to Compassion House with a couple of samples so the ladies can make them up during their free time.

I don't anticipate being able to teach classes for a long while yet but I will put together more kits and drop them off.

Cards - All Occasion for my box

From the kits prepared for Compassion House a year ago I made a few cards for my upcoming family birthdays.

This is beautiful deep teal card base with a half circle of decorative paper, caramel seam binding tied on the fold, with a butterfly accent.  

The butterfly cut from deep teal with the Sizzix Winged Beauties thinlit set mounted on a ivory circle to highlight it's shape.

 

 

On this card it is a true blue A2 card base with polka dot designer paper in the half circle with the navy seam binding tied on the fold. 

Same Sizzix Winged Beauties thinlits set diecut on a white circle. 

 

 

 

Same supplies of the first just arranged in the portrait orientation.

On this true blue card base I added a circle greeting above the butterfly accent.

 

 

 

A bright orange card base with a geometric patterned half circle with a Hampton Arts tree diecut and a circle greeting. 

 A couple of nice male themed birthday cards with the same supplies as those above. 

The greetings are color printed and punched with the Modern Label punch by Stampin Up.

 

Cards - 4x4 set 2 - Thanks

A few more 4x4 photograph cards.  More photos from my calendars.

Great Black Capped Chickadee on a purple card base.

I have added a Modern Label punchie greetings adhered with 3D foam tape.

 

 

A Yellow Warbler on a textured yellow card base. I added a circle greeting which I mounted under the 4x4 photograph.

 

 A Koy Fish in the pond at the Japanese Gardens.  

I selected a terra cotta card base.

I added a Word Window greeting mounted onto a Modern Label punchie.

These will be donated to Compassion House.

Cards - 4x4 Photos - Thanks

A few more thank you cards.

This Don Juan Cricut "thanks" die cut is perfect for my 4x4 inch photo cards made with recycling my calendar images.

A wonderful Black Capped Chickadee perched on a branch on navy card stock.  The greeting was cut from white pearl card stock and adhered with double sided tape.

A rain soaked pink rose at the park for this card on a magenta card base.  The greeting is diecut with the Cricut in white pearl card stock.

 

 

 

This owl is one of my paper piecing creations.  I designed 12 owls for my calendar in 2016. 

I mounted it to a navy card base. 

A Don Juan Cricut die cut as the greeting.  Adhered with Quick Dry adhesive.

Really like these.

Sylvia's Simple Shots

Spring is here. 

There are frozen puddles in the morning on my walk.  These have so much texture in the old leaves and the thin layer of ice with the water underneath.

Last year's aspen leaf awaits to provide energy to the soil to allow new growth to start.

I love the colors in this leaf - yellows, dark browns, even a hint of deep green.

The ice has crinkles, bubbles, and crackles.

            

 

 

Over the last few years I have learned with an east exposure I don't get enough hours of sunlight to grow what I would like.  I  have managed to keep my Dracaena Marginata and Devil's Ivy alive.  I have added an Asparagus Fern to the mix.

I am working on growing my own herbs, especially basil.  On my one visit to the green house last week there were no basil plants ready so I decided to try to start one from seed.  I have purchased a grow light in hopes of being able to supplement the natural light available.

I have put the bulb in this yellow lamp and have placed it about 4 inches from the pot.  I will adjust as the plants grow. I  put 5 seeds in the pot.  It is recommended 8 hours of light a day.

I really like dill as well so on my next trip to the greenhouse I will pick up one of those and I should know how my basil is doing by then.  The girl said the basil plants should be in by sometime in April.

I finished this book on Sunday, given to my by my sister.  

It is the first in a series of 14 by Jan Karon so will be on the hunt for the rest and I hope to read them in order.

The main character is Father Tim, an Episcopalian rector shepherding a parish in Mitford, NC.  Things are going well but he is feeling a little directionless after being there 12 years. He will be turning 60 in a few months.

What's next?  As they say don't ask the question if you don't want the answer.  A dog, a boy. diabetes and a female neighbour all come into play in the next few months of his life.

It was a great book.  A bit of parish life, scripture references, prayer requests, and wholesome values are all in this great story.

I would recommend this book. At Home in Mitford by Jan Karon.

I bought some tulips on my one day out last week.  I chose the red with orange edges because they were the nicest but not necessarily my favorite color.

I did enjoy them on my table for a week. This week most of the petals have made it to the the table top.  

Tulips are a sign of spring as well with Easter coming around the corner.

The challenge at Flickr Macro Monday was bells.  A few Christmas ornament were taken out of the closets for this one in order to stay within the 3 inch limit.  You can check out my Flicker Photostream (SMDPics) to see the one I submitted.

I am sharing with Angie who hosts Mosaic Monday #122 and

Mersad who hosts Through My Lens.

Cards - Acrylic Ink Backgrounds - Thanks

Another few cards with those acrylic ink backgrounds.  

This one is deep burgundy with yellow spots.

I printed the greeting from the Stampin Up You're Lovely Stamp set and cut with the Stampin up Sizzix Deco Labels Framelits Dies.  I colored with flowers with brush markers. 

This was mounted on a black card base with 3D foam tape behind the greeting.

 

 

A similar background with a flower accent.

I chose a magenta card base. 

I cut the greeting with the Cricut and the Don Juan cartridge from terracotta textured card stock.   

I punched a Stampin Up Five Petal flower from the same card stock.   I layered this with a salmon color handmade paper flower with an ivory silk flower.  It is held in place with a magenta brad layered with a flower sequin.

I chose a yellow card base for the green acrylic ink background. 

I punched 3 SU Five Petal flowers from pearl white card stock. I added pale yellow handmade paper flowers and small flower sequins.  The flowers are held in place with tiny green brads. 

The greeting is cut with the Don Juan Cricut cartridge at 1" Tall.  It is mounted with 3D foam tape.   All of these have a blank white insert.

St. Pats Birthday Card

My friend requested a St. Patrick's Birthday card for her aunt again this year. You can check the ones I have made in past year!

I found a vintage St. Patrick's image of this lovely lass with a gorgeous green dress and a fan in hand.

I added the sentiment in the top left hand corner and printed it in color.

It was trimmed leaving a white border then adhered to a layer of green with 4 tiny lavender brads in each corner.

This was mounted onto a layer of lavender card stock then onto a white card base. I ripped the right hand side of this layer to be highlighted against the white. 

This lady is celebrating her 90th birthday.

Cards - Thanks - Cricut

I wanted to use the rest of the acrylic ink backgrounds I made for these cards so I did not have leftovers hanging about. 

I searched my Cricut cartridges to see which had "thank you" greetings.   I found this one in the Don Juan cartridge. The size of the letters were wide enough for me to put 3D foam tape behind them so I went for it. 

This was cut at 1.5" tall and 4.75" wide. I trimmed the background to fit leaving an even border all the way around on a true blue A2 card base.

Adhered the background and added a bling heart in the top left hand corner.

I chose a yellow A2 (4.25" x 5.5") card base for this card.   

I chose five small handmade paper flowers held in place with green tiny brads. 

I adhered the greeting with 3D foam tape.

It was spattered with the Chartreuse Leaf green ink.

Again, a medium blue card base in A2 size. 

Trimmed the acrylic ink background and adhered it to the card front.

I placed a small silver butterfly in the top left hand corner with a Bling Zot.

Spattered with Prussian Blue ink.

I will have to find a place to donate these. Maybe Compassion House.  Done!