More garden pics

Just a few more pictures that didn't make it into the last post.  The first is a bouquet of Julia Child (yellow) and Sir Walter Raleigh (pink) roses, and some dark purple Siberian Iris.  Such brilliant colors!

Next the Rainbow knockout roses.  They are mostly pink, but have a little yellow in their centers, and the bush is as full as we've ever seen it!

And lastly, the pale pink peony in the bird garden.  We had a gully-washer this afternoon, and it's huge blossoms are now waterlogged and laying on the ground.  All 3 colors of our peonies came from our neighbor across the street.  They used to be all lined up like a hedge, but a pin oak tree planted from an acorn overgrew them and they weren't getting enough sun, so we got transplants of them. 

Welcome to my garden

This is the best time of year for our gardens, as I lean heavily (surprise, surprise!) into spring pastels.....so thought I'd share some pictures taken over the last few days. Our unusual heat recently has brought everything into bloom! These first few pictures are from our back gardens, the original ones we made when we bought the house, enlarged and changed many times over the years.  Blooming now are 2 kinds of Siberian Iris, a white and a dark pink peony (transplanted from our neighbor across the street), perennial salvia, pinks (perennial dianthus), some columbine that have mysteriously changed from pinks to white,  lots of lambs ears, a gorgeous apricot poppy, and not showing here, chives.  If you want to see any of these closer, click on the picture once, and then again, and you will get a full screen view.

Also around back is this gorgeous David Austin rose called "Sir Walter Raleigh.

And finally, our newest garden, about 3 or 4 years old now, our bird garden, made when we lost a big maple tree; it is our only garden that gets sun most of the day.

There's a pale pink peony, transplanted from my neighbor's garden across the street, irises transplanted from my sister's house when she lived in Indiana, and a rainbow knockout rose that has become huge this year.  The variegated white leafy bush is called "Hakuro Nishiki"; it has pink leaves at the very beginning of the season.  And you can just see the beginnings of our Julia Child yellow rose.  Here's a picture from last year.

I hope everyone has a great Memorial Day weekend.  This is the best one weatherwise in many years!  Thank you for all the lovely comments; but Denny does all the work.  In August, this will be a jungle!

Hydrangea Dream

Joy has come up with a fun technique, using a stamp dipped in watery ink.  See her original creation here, and then go on over to her blog to see her tutorial on how she did it.  I couldn't wait to try this technique, and decided to use my Hydrangea stamp to make my background, along with worn lipstick and mustard seed distress inks.  This was lots of fun, and I think I'll be trying it again using other stamps.  Joy used a sunburst lace stamp.  Anette used a different doily.  And here's another one by Sandi.  Beautiful, aren't they?

Supplies: Hero Arts stamps K5376 Hydrangea, S4878 Old Letter Writing, digital flutterbies, Impression Obsession clear set WP25 Spring for sentiment, worn lipstick and mustard seed distress inks, Versafine Onyx Black ink, Palette Burnt Umber ink for script, colored pencils for stem and leaves, and details on butterflies

The Color Room Palette #7

Here's another new challenge I just found, at the Color Room.  I love the inspiration apron, and this was a challenge to work the orange into the paler pastels.

I really like the checks/dots at the waist and hem, so I used my houndstooth stamp and spiced marmalade on cream to simulate that effect.  And I liked the big flowers.  Here is what I came up with.    

All the other papers I used were printed ones.

Supplies: Stampendous Ruffled Bloom, Hero Arts K5175 Houndstooth, CL173 Simple Messages, CG148 Blossoms (leaves), Martha Stewart doily punch, Hero Arts spring buttons, pink embroidery floss

Mojo Monday challenge #140

This is the sketch for the Mojo Monday challenge #140.  This was really a fun one to work on.  Here is my card:

I used a stamp I have not used enough, this lovely poppy from Crafty Individuals.   I stamped it several times, coloring the flower with worn lipstick distress ink, and layered it over the image stamped on cream cardstock.  Everything was distressed along the edges with brown ink, and I chose to use a digitally-reduced butterfly for the little image in the upper left corner of the sketch. 

Supplies: Crafty Individuals C95210L, Hero Arts stamps S5101 Raindrop Background, CL173 Simple Messages, CG119 Flourish Background, S4878 Old Letter Writing, F5158 Heart Winged Butterfly, cream, kraft, coral, unknown green dot cardstock 

Papertake challenge #41

Here is the current sketch from the Papertake weekly challenge; I love these kind of sketches, with lots of layers and panels!  I followed it exactly, using lots of texture and pattern:

                                       

Supplies: cream, pink, kraft cardstocks, Core'dination Chocolate Box "Berries Jubilee", embossed with Cuttlebug Textile folder and sanded, Hero Arts stamps K2399 Paris Rose,S5341 Lace Background, CG119 Flourish Background, S4878 Old Letter Writing, Palette Burnt Umber and soft blossom shadow inks, ivory velvet ribbon

Get Sketchy challenge #39

 Here is the sketch for this week's challenge at Get Sketchy:

And here is my take on it:

Supplies: Stampa Rosa Inc. postcard stamp #M59-804, Paper Inspirations #E7011 Forget me not, Hero stamps LP123 Artistic Windows, CL431 Watercolor Petals, Martha Stewart doily lace punch, cream, periwinkle cardstock, Ranger Archival ink sepia, periwinkle ribbon and button

Shabby Tea Room challenge #11

A new challenge for me at The Shabby Tea Room - to use a tea theme or dots or both!   In the early spring when the flowers are just starting to bloom, I often gather a bunch of tiny ones and put them in a teacup.

So that is what I tried to recreate.

 

                                          

Supplies:  Hero Arts stamps CL374 Big and Small Flowers, CL322 Artistic Borders, CG123 Flower Wallpaper, CL188 SparkleClear Tea, BoBunny and Bazill dotted cardstock, chintz print paper by Daisyd'spaper "Lullaby small flowers pink"

for Lucy's Digital Challenge

Lucy has challenged us to create a card that uses a digital element.  All of these papers are free digital ones from 2Peas.  I started with the big flowers from a kit by Mary Anne Wise called "Summer's Here" and then found papers and elements that would coordinate with it.  (Anne Langpap and Betsy Tuma).  The sentiment and flower are Hero Arts stamps, as are the buttons and gems. 

Supplies: digital paper, above, Hero Arts stamps E3346 Zinnia Bloom and CL301 Hugs 'n Hearts, teal gemstones

Embellish Magazine color challenge with butterflies

Here are the colors for the current Embellish Magazine challenge:

The additional challenge is to use butterflies.   These colors are way out of my comfort zone, but here's my take:

I was given this unknown stamp by my good friend Yvonne, and I thought now was the time to use it. I added some Hero butterflies and some Martha Stewart punched ones, a ribbon from Fika, and the label 8 shape embossed with D'vine swirls, to simulate butterfly trails.

Supplies: Hero Arts F5158 Heart Winged Butterfly, D2129 Vanessa Butterfly, Martha Stewart punch, lime, kraft, black cardstocks, VersaFine Onyx Black ink embossed with clear powder, Hero Arts green pearls, gold wire for antennae, glitter on the heart-winged butterfly.

Play Date Cafe Challenge #30

I am loving the colors chosen lately for Play Date Cafe's challenges! This one is more of my favorite pastels: pale yellow, light green, and pink. Here are the colors:

Here is my take on them:

                           

I used designer papers from 2 Brenda Walton mat pads; I thought the colors were right on.

Supplies: K&Company Brenda Walton Designer Mat Pads Small Wonders Girl and Small Wonders Boy, Hero Arts stamps CG130 Butterflies, CL380 Truly Appreciated

May card chain challenge cards to Tina

This month for Deborah's May Card Chain challenge, I got to send some cards to Tina in Slovenia! I used Deborah's colors for the first card, and both the colors and her sketch for the second one.

Fun with Fabric Challenge, take 2

At Moxie Fab World, the current challenge is creating with fabric.  My friend told me how nicely the Tim Holtz die cuts through fabric, and she is so right!  This was a piece of upholstery fabric, a kind of textured velvet, and I got a great cut first time!

That went so well that I tried all kinds of printed cotton quilting fabrics for the bird; they cut equally as well, but I couldn't seem to get a color combination I liked. Finally I tried this piece of pale yellow felt, and liked

that the best.

I just added a blue gem eye to the bird, and some flowering gems on the birdcage to mimic the similarly-shaped flowers on the leaves, then added the sentiment and a bow of twine at the top.

Supplies: Tim Holtz Birdcage and bird die, green upholstery fabric, yellow felt, Making Memories "Vine Flutter" designer paper for background, green cardstock for card, various Hero Arts gems, Danelle Johnso Art Warehouse clear stamp LE7813 Art Warehouse Borders (a gift from Kathy R) 

May Card Chain Challenge

Every month, Deborah organizes a card exchange.  We can make a card using her colors, a sketch, or a theme.  I received my cards today from Patty, and I wanted to share both these lovelies with you.  First the card using Deborah's colors.  There are so many sweet details on this, the ribbon used as the butterfly's body, her soft shading of the music paper, even the little antennae are sparkled at the very tips!

And look at this beauty she also sent me!  She knows how much I love lilacs, and especially this one she created earlier, so I am thrilled to have this masterpiece!

Isn't it gorgeous?   Even better in person, there are 3 layers of lilac petals, in beautiful shades of lavendars, purples, and blues.  Here is her Flickr post where she explains how she created this beauty.  While you're there, look through her photostream; she has made so many unique cards! 

Thank you, Patty, I will treasure both of these!

Tuesday Trigger

At Moxie Fab World, here is the current Tuesday Trigger:

And here is my entry:

                           

Supplies: Daisy stamp from Outlines Rubber Stamp Company, sentiment, Heidi Grace Greetings Clear set, white, peach and turquoise cardstock, worn lipstick distress ink,Whispers Azure Seas die ink, Versafine Onyx black ink, Martha Stewart doily lace punch

EBKS Challenge 15

The challenge at EBKS is to use this sketch:

Here is my entry.  I knew immediately I wanted to use my picket fence punch and have a garden theme.

I used a stamped tulip panel and lots of flowered printed papers in bright pink, bright yellow, and green, adding some ribbons and heart buttons, which I think mimic the shape of the tulips. 

Supplies: Hero Arts stampE3020 Sketch Tulips, Northwoods sentiment, scraps of printed papers, green and pink ribbon, gold and pink heart buttons, Martha Stewart picket fence punch, colored pencils

a la Jacqueline

Jenny at Wee Memories has challenged us to use her favorite color, pink.  You may have noticed that's one of my favorites, too, so this was fun.
I started with this unknown designer paper for my background, and since I love all of Jacqueline's cards using this Starburst Lace stamp, I tried to emulate her style.  Since the background was so busy, I added just a paper flower and leaves, my sentiment, and some punched butterflies. 

Supplies: Hero Arts stamps S5317 Starburst Lace, stamped in VersaMark and white embossed, CL129 Anytime Messages, also embossed in white, Martha Stewart punch, scalloped circle Nesties die-cut for flowers, unknown designer, rose, and green cardstocks

Play Date Cafe Challenge #29

The colors for the Play Date Cafe Challenge this week are lime green, leaf green, and pale blue.

Here is my entry.

                           

Fun with Fabric

The Moxie Fab World challenge is to use fabric in a project.  I jumped at this idea, because being a quilter, I have lots of fabric!  I started looking through my collection and stopped when I found this fabric by Susan Branch.  It is a border print, with this line of hydrangeas.  I love the colors, my pastels.  Then it occurred to me that I could somehow incoporate the Hero Arts Hydrangea stamp into my project.

I cut out enough of the panel so that I could use at least some of the words Susan has along the flowers: "Won't you come into our garden?  We would like our flowers to see you.". 

                            

Then I stamped and colored my hydrangea, and covered the flower with little fabric flower petals from a stem I found around the house, centering each one with a pale green pearl.  The flower was popped above the surface, and I added a gingham bow.

 I considered using my own stamped sentiment, but I like Susan's so much, that I decided to let it alone and just added a digital HeroArts butterfly, making it 3D also. 
This turned out to be way too large for a card, but I plan to prop it in my craft area, maybe even frame it. 

Supplies: Susan Branch border fabric, framed with Bazzill dotted cardstock and ivory cardstock, Hero Arts stamp K5376 Hydrangea, colored pencils, green pearls, blue gingham ribbon, Hero Arts digikit Flutterbies, blue cardstock, wire for antennae

One last note to this long post: if you are unfamiliar with Susan Branch and love gardens, quotes, beautiful art (she hand-draws all of her art), explore her website above.  It is like a little vacation!  Beautiful and uplifting.

Another paper rose

I can see where these might get addicting :). I'm entering this into two challenges.  I used the sketch from CPS 166 and the colors from Paper Play Challenges brown and ???? challenge, choosing to use brown and blue. 

Supplies: Cuttlebug embossing folder Victoria and Core'dinations Chocolate Box Cool Mint for the flower, kraft cardstock, Hero Arts CG119 Flourish Background, embossed in VersaMark ink and a la mode Sky Blue embossing powder, HeroArts CL272 All Occasion Messages and Palette Burnt Umber ink, lace, blue pearls

I'm in love.....

with these rolled paper roses!

 I used some K&Company softly colored cardstock and love the way they turned out.  Here are some tutorials so that you can try these, too: Paper Flower Tutorial and Vicky's video.   I'm entering this card into Caardvark's May Challenge using this sketch:

Supplies: Hero Arts stamps CG179 Rose Background, stamped in worn lipstick distress ink, AR130 Handwritten Sentiments stamped in Palette Burnt Umber ink, ivory parchment cardstock, papers from Brenda Walton Small Wonders Girl designer mat pad, pale pink and yellow pearls, ivory ribbon