Some Gardening Fun for this Morning

Well it's been a few days since I've blogged. We are continually building and staining here in our garage and yard but I took some time out to smell the roses or petunias in this case. I purchased these boy and girl planters a few years ago and had decorated them as a bride and groom for my daughters wedding. We had the rehersal dinner in the back yard and I wanted a fun little garden accent for everyone to enjoy. This year I planted the boy with a corkscrew plant. It has a very unusal growth habit and it looks like crazy spikey hair! Sometimes I plant the girl with a light color dried grass and when it gets long it looks like flowing blonde hair.



I am getting excited for my UPS delivery today. My husband and I purchased some beautiful room size rugs ..... one large for the livingroom and 2 long runners. It should add some color and design to my off white carpet. The carpets look like art work for the floor in my opinion.....can't wait!!!!

I'll be working on a gourd birdhouse this afternoon and hope to post a pic of that soon. I decided to add a thatched roof on this one and it's looking pretty cute so far. I'm using my new gourd ink dye in Berry....looks so rich and cozy for those birdies :-)

Everyone take care and I'll be back shortly...
Darlene

A New Card for Today

Hi again everyone....

I sat down this afternoon and created this card. I wanted something soft but still with a feminine flair. I really like the blue!



I stamped the front sentiment with black archival ink and used my turquoise embroidery floss through the holes of my mini green buttons for the dots of the "i's". I used 3D glue dots to make the sentiment pop off the card front. I layered 3 papers and then added a nice turquoise grosgrain ribbon.




For the floral accent I used a pretty iridescent sequin flower layered under a bright green (looks a bit drab in this shot) felt flower, a silver metal embellishment and another green button with turquoise embroidery floss.



The inside sentiment is nice and simple for a birthday wish. It's also stamped in black archival ink as well as the little "handmade" image on the back of the card.

TFL all and enjoy your evening!

Darlene

YMBD Contest for this Summer

Hi all you scrappers and stampers!

I thought I'd take a break from my fence construction to post the 2 layouta I have completed for YMBD's 92 Days of Summer Contest.

This is the sketch inspiration for Week 2 (June 8-14). I just love this design.

This is the two page layout that I completed. It's about our need for PRIVACY hence the fence theme :-) I used lots of goodies on this layout. I made my own chipboard flowers with my Big Kick, stamped a design with Rangers Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. I added small twine bows with a small button for the center. A few photo mat corner details and embellishing with ink and a nice simple title that I also used my Big Kick alpa die cuts for. I used the YMBD inspiration suggestion to paint on my picture and I just love how it looks. The center pic is of one of our dogs who fell asleep on the top of the wood pile while we were making a panel in the garage. Awwwww.... she was soooo tired.

A closeup of my chipboard flower creations....

I used my stash for this great metal embellishment. It's all about summer you know!

Another closer view of the title and ivory acrylic paint edging for the center photo.

I added some journaling complimenting the shape of the paper border.

All my small pics across the layout are pictures of our building permit, my hubby loading wood in the parking lot at Lowe's, stained 4x4's drying on saw horses, a wet stained panel, the corner template design on the fence panel and finally my hubby leveling and installing the first panel at the back corner of our yard.


This is the sketch inspiration for Week 1 (June 1-7).

I decided to make this layout about all my June blooming flowers in my gardens and containers.
I just love all the pretty colors.

I tore and distressed some of the paper edges and then used a few inks to add some color. I just love that turquoise grosgrain ribbon accent.

I journaled at the bottom of the circle.

I used a 3D glue dot to add dimension to my Bloom with Abandon circle here.

TFL everyone. I'll be back soon for more layouts and interesting events.

Enjoy !!!!

Darlene

A Week in Review.......My Thoughts

Well our wonderful Red Wings didn't win last night but I honestly think they weren't hungry enough. They always play wonderful but they didn't seem to have their hearts in it. Maybe that's just what I saw though. I believe the Penguins played an incredibly awesome game and they truly deserve the Stanley Cup. If we had won of course I would have been proud but I must say that I would have felt true sadness for the Penguins since they seems to care so much more. Maybe the Wings need to take a rest for a few years in the playoffs and then when they earn the honor of playing in the Finals again they will again be the Red Wings I've come to know and love and be enthusiastic and focused. They are great guys and I hate to see anyone ever loose. Congratulations Penguins!!!! Job well done.

I wanted to share a sweet picture of the little yearling we had visit our salt lick this past weekend at our house in Kalkaska, Michigan. This little one was just precious to watch.....so innocent but then also so observant and smart. We love our vacation home in the woods. Nature is everywhere and who could ask for more!

I have alot to accomplish today and tomorrow. Cleaning and all those usual chores plus a light bit of gardening, fertilizing and the ongoing privacy fence construction. We went to the store to buy the 4"x4" post and then began the construction. We already have the other lumber for the fence. We have to make the 8' panels in one piece because we are installing the fence right inside the lot line on one of our neighbors sides. They aren't the best folks to talk with about installing a fence and expecting them to be positive and supportive so we need to do the best we can to solve the situation....that's by putting it inside the already existing chain link fence that is there now. Those panels are quite heavy but after we make and install 11 of them we can construct the rest of the fence the usual way. I am staining the neighbors side of the panels before we install and then I can stain our inside all at once.

This is a picture of a partially made panel. We are going to round the corners slightly (hence the white templates in the corner) and then attach them to the 4" x 4" posts. It should look very neat and clean and give us the privacy we so badly need. I've decided 6 foot privacy fences make awesome neighbors!

Enjoy your weekend.... I'm off the make more fence panels with Tom.

Darlene

A Great Blog to Visit

Wow I found some awesome blog candy available for everyone worldwide. Hop onto this site http://martinescrafts.wordpress.com/ and enjoy all the wonderful ideas Martine has to share with you. Don't forget to make a comment. I think we all want these goodies to play with.

I plan on posting more tomorrow. My hubby and I just started constructing out privacy fence in the yard so I'll get back on with some updates and of course some scrappin!

Keep crafting everyone....
and GO WINGS!!!!!!

Darlene :-)

A Fun Packed Weekend

Hi everyone!

I hope you are all enjoying your family and this weekend. My hubby and I were upnorth this weekend taking care of our home up there. We had grass a foot long!!! YIKES We usually get up there (after a long harsh winter) in the first week of April. I like to start feeding our little hummingbirds but we didn't make it up that early this year. There was way too much going on this spring. Everything is all back to normal and wow was it wonderful to have peace and quiet and birds chirping. We just love it there.

Now that I'm home I'm catching up on everything here now. I have two new wooden stamps I purchased that I am looking forward to playing with asap. First I need to do a scrapbook layout for YMBD. They are having an awesome 92 Days of Summer contest. The concept is to take 1 picture a day for the next 13 weeks. Each week they give you tips and a great sketch to use all 7 pics for each week. Wow it will be great to get pics printed and scrapped. I'm lovin' this idea and I don't even care about the great prizes that are being given away.

Isn't this little guy adorable?

See you later stampers and scrappers!

Darlene

A Father's Day Creation

Today's been a bit busy with grocery shopping, laundry etc. but I managed to finish this fun Father's Day card. I am really happy with the color combination. It looks very masculine but in a classy way. A great card for a corporate Dad!

I just love the patterned paper from DCWV Glitter Stack with the touch of silver glitter. I had to find a way to add some zip to this "guy" card without making it girlie so this is what I designed.


I added the silver metallic wax to the edge of the inner text circle to keep with the masculine look.

This is on the inside. Just simple but I just LOVE the mirror paper here!

Here's a closer look at the shimmer I was referring to.

TFL................Happy creating everyone!

Darlene