Projects From Joan's Gardens Sunday Workshop

Sunday was my second workshop at Joan's Gardens...not only was it fun, but I was able to walk thru her more then beautiful gardens..that's worth the trip itself!!  We made the most beautiful projects...first  a notepad.....I love everything about it......am loving making those flowers using the Punch Bunch punches, and seem to be getting quite a collection of them.......and look at the lillies from my own garden...they look just like the one I made!!!

The second project was so fun also...we used a new product "Judikins" mica ink.......I already ordered more...sigh......and the last pictures are of a purchase (one of many) I made from Joan...the Cheery Lynn Doily Die...oh my...I couldn't stop cutting these...I cut 6 from plain cardstock and 6 from Designer Paper....now I have to do a few creations with them.....Joan carries this die......it cuts beautifully...I didn't even have to shim it!!!

You can see a few more of my new purchases on the post below!!

What's On My Work Desk Wednesday??

Okay...I am going to "embarrass" myself today.....I am showing you "MY" workdesk (or one of them)....it's messy....real messy ......loaded with stuff I have bought and just piled on......but I won a $50 gift certificate to Ellen Hutson...and if you order $150, you get FREE shipping...so what's a girl to do right???  And then on Sunday I went to Joan's gardens...and when I left I taped a note to the fridge to my hubby...saying..."I took the checkbook...but don't freak out...I won't buy much....gulp...if I were Catholic I would have to go to confession.......so here it is...in all its glory...please note..."NOT FOR THE FAINT AT HEART"!!

Just wanted to add, this is my first WOYWW   "nice" comments are appreciated!!

I do have another post for today with my projects we made a the workshop at Joan's gardens on Sunday...take a peek!

Creating From The Heart Blog Give Away

Melissa at Creating From The Heart is having a 3rd blog~aversary giveaway...and she has some fantastic goodies...go and take a visit to see what she has for you...you will be glad you did...I have her in my favorites in my sidebar, as she is one creative girlie!!

Tag Tuesday Challenge "7"

I am finally able to participate in the Tag Tuesday challenge again this week :>)

The challenge is to use a "7"....

either the number 7 or 7 items on you tag....

I used a heavily coffee stained tag......

a bit of trim.....

a stamp I just purchased in clearance.....

a bit of my Tim Holtz paper stash (bingo card)

a birdie embellishment....

and a rub on from Stampin UP!

Hope you enjoy it....PS...it smells wonderful too!!

The Shabby Tea Room Challenge

The Shabby Tea Rooms Challenge this week is "Classic Patterns"......

I LOVE the challenge this week as it not only has these yummy colors, but two of my favorites....

 polka dots and/or gingham!!

If you read my blog often, you know I am a gingham fanatic...lol!!

I think this week I will entering more then one entry...

after all, it's my chance to use "gingham"!!

Now on to my card...

I spent  2 hours one afternoon making about 18 tiny "rolled" roses.....

each rose was "painted" with Frosted Lace Stickles...

My chipboard bird is coated with MS fine red glitter...

actually my entire creative room seems to be coated with it!!

I used my 2 new MS punches Double Arches.....how I am loving those punches!

I took some close ups so you can see the "crystal" spray that is tucked under the roses...

added my gingham ribbon with just a touch of a lace bow underneath......

wish you could see it IRL...as it is GOR-G-EOUS!!

I encourage you to visit the link above....there are some "fab" entries and the Design Team has

outdone themselves as well!!

Monogram at Less Is More

This week at "Less Is More"...it's "MONOGRAM"......

I used a purse I have had forever as my inspiration piece....

I cut the purse on my Cricut.......

for the base of the card I tried red, black, shimmery white and glossy before I finally settled on the black....

I also tried several placements on the card stock....

 finally settling for towards the bottom as the straight edge on the bottom of the purse just didn't look right anywhere else.....

I still haven't found my
"mojo"

maybe it's because I haven't felt too great all week...

maybe I need to "buy" something...lol

You Are My Sunshine ~ CAS-ual Fridays Color Blocking

I was in the middle of ironing my "summer" curtains for my bedroom when I decided to take a break....

and look at my computer for a bit.......

I came across CAS-ual Friday's challenge.....

This week we are Color Blocking: place blocks, or areas of color, next to each other to form a cohesive design on your Clean And Simple creation.

so...I took the challenge literally and did a technique I have been seeing on other blogs recently....

you color with your markers on a clear acrylic block....

mist with water and then stamp onto your card stock.....

I used 3 different SU markers for my background....

the stamps I used are both Unity from a July kit of the month......

I added the butterfly for a tiny bit of dimension.....

Fourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC122)

This week at Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge we are to use  circles and a squares.....

I have been trying to use my much neglected "have had forever" stamps.....

I found this little bear and thought it would make a sweet baby card......

why don't you give it a try.....

the link is above!!

I am still looking for my "mojo" to return....

it's just not "there"....

Also have to share a picture of my "ham"...

well  its "Nellie" in disguise..

well that's it for today.......

Wedding Card Inspiration

Where oh where has my Mojo gone???

If you find it...please send it "home"

I subscribe to Capadia Designs  and she has a "bit of an inspiration" challenge...

to make a black and white wedding card....

I have had this stamp for quite awhile.....

and what a surprise to me that there was a face in the heart...

I guess I overlooked that, being this is the first time I have stamped it!

I added some Smooch Top Coat here and there......

it shows well up close.......

Heart Shaped Basket

This is my lavender and lace heart shaped basket for the challenge at Joan's Garden's......

I had to "print" mine on some rather flimsie cardstock, as my printer (that I really do love).....

will not accept my better quality cardstock.....

but what's a girl to do??

I added some lace to the edge...used my small Hydrangea punch for flowers.....

and added "bling" centers...

the leaves were cut with a Sizzix die......

I also opted to use gingham ribbon (my favorite) for my handle.....

I made one of these heart baskets about a year ago for Valentines Day.....

if I didn't have it nicely packed away, I would show you that one, too!

I added some shredded paper to help the cardstock "behave"...

I have 2 more of these printed.....

if I have time I will finish then for the challenge as well!

"Framed" at Less Is More Challenge

During my bad non-sleep habits.....

I decided to enter the challenge at "Less Is More"...

this weeks challenge is to do a one layer card with some type of a frame!

While I was out shopping yesterday at one of the "crafty" stores.....

I came across this "frame" stamp on clearance for $1...

now I have to say I have lots of stamps in this category...

but how could one pass up a bargain like this??

I used Ranger Black embossing powder for the frame...

the "picture" within the frame is another $1 stamp I had purchased another time.....

I used my SU markers with the marker to stamp approach....

the little sentiment is also a SU stamp......

I will try to visit you all this week.....

I fell short last week as we took a mini trip North to the lake......

Edited to add:.....the card is off center as well as I have some messy embossing powder on it.....but I decided to post it as it was my 3rd try (that's what happens at 3:30 in the morning)
but to "fix" it....after its "photo shoot"
I added the dreaded ribbon.....but it did fix it up quite nicely
and I will be sending it to my 86 year old Aunt
whom's eyesight isn't great......sigh!!

Rock & Roll

After having been gone on a "North" trip...it feels good to be able to create again......

I am entering this in the Papertrey Ink Make It Monday...

this week it's the "rock and roll" technique......

I choose the Papertrey Ink stamp set Bitty Background Blocks....

I use this set over and over...

for my ink choices I used Pale Plum and Grape Jelly.....

the paper is from SU

the green satin ribbon is from Papertrey...

that's it...hope you enjoy todays creation!

Masculine Trend Challenge In The Classroom

Ellen Hutson over at the classroom is having a challenge to create a "masculine" card....

now I have to admit I struggle really bad to create a "man" card.

I am all about girlie...bows~ribbons~bling~etc.....

but decided to give this one a "whirl"

The challenge was to make a "pocket" of some sort...

now all kinds came to mind....

but I remembered I had this Unity Stamp of a pocket and went with it.

My hubby is alwaysl making these little "notes" and "lists".....

and everytime I do laundry I find one.....

so I decided to do a pocket with a "to do" list...

I also added a "handkerchief" in his pocket...

as once he was outside painting on a sceond story and had a red rag

in his pocket.....

 and this hummingbird just would not leave him alone....

kept dive bombing his "ah" backside...too funny!!!

I added a length of "zipper" for the ribbon.....

I stamped the pocket with TH Distress Faded Jeans and the pocket rag with TH Barn Door.

A Work In Progress

After seeing several blogs with the wonderful "art quilts"

I decided to get these hanky wall hangings out to finish....

they have been packed away for more then 5 years

when I finished one for a friend!

I know they don't look like much right now

but, wait until they are finished...they will be beautiful!

You start out by deciding a a focal hanky and just work your design and colors around that

filling in as you go

The problem with these is that they "were" all pressed and pristine

but from being packed, they are wrinkled and will all have to be unpinned and re-ironed...ugh!

Each hanky is sewn to the other by hand with silk thread...the outer edges were all basted by machine.

To finish, they have bits and bobbles of lace, trim and charms...a fabric edge is sewn on...much like a quilt binding and a backing...I plan to put these in my Etsy shop when completed...

hopefully!!

Actually these are nothing like the art quilts...but it just made me think of these....

getting them out and finishing them!!

Scrap With Stacey Giveaway

Want a chance at some yummy goodies???  Go here and sign up at Scrap With Stacey.....so generous of her.....but check out all her lovely goodness on her blog, too...after all that's what it's all about.....right??

Eye Spy Challenge

Look closely and you shall see....an eye staring back at thee.....

lol....no I'm not nuts....

it's just a new challenge I am doing at the "Just For Fun" blog...

it's my first time to do a challenge there..

and this week it was to use an eye......

this is the first stamp that came to mind when I "eyed" it.....

I didn't color much of the butterfly.....

I wanted the "focus" to stay on the "eye

a card..."just for fun"!!

Fun give Away At Prims By The Water

If you would like to win these darling July 4th peppermint sticks..just go to

 "Prims by The Water"....

please become a follower...

leave a comment that Diane from Nellies Nest sent you

...and you will have an entry in...its that simple...good luck!!

Altered Box & What's Blooming In Your Garden 3

I was up at 3 am.......so as not to waste my time

I decided to do a project!

This summer Joan's Gardens is having weekly guest tutorials

This week it is Glenda from Magpies Corner......

Her tutorial was to make an altered box...you can go to Joan's Gardens for all the information

I chose to use one of my many paper mache boxes I have......

I used a mixture of Tim Holtz & Tattered Angels mists......

my flowers were cut on my Cricut in 3 various sizes......

but I used my flower kit I purchased from Joan to shape them...

the center of the flowers were embossed with TH tea die embossing powder

I did add lace on the rim under the butterflies...its just hard to see..... 

it took me about 3 hours to complete........

I love how my box turned out!!

The flowers are this weeks pictures of what's blooming right now...enjoy!
for a better view, just click on the photos

Less Is More Challenge #18 ~ Monochrome

Hello everyone......the new challenge is up at "Less Is More"...and it's "MONOCHROME" this week

.....I chose my Stampin Up set Greenhouse Garden...

I remember when I ordered this set, I couldn't wait for it to get here...

and this is the first I have used it and I have had it for over a year.......

but its going to get a work out this weekend.....

the ink I used is one of the little Dew Drop inks "Grape Jelly"...

I find myself buying "stuff" just for the name...lol.... 

I inked the image and then stamped off on paper before I applied it to my card,

 then stamped the center with the full color of ink...

I also masked each flower before stamping

the stamp set is a 2 step set and perfect for this challenge......

I decided to make it a "thank you" card as I don't seem to any of those left.....
the background paper of the sentiment is purple, it looks black, but its not.....

well, I am off to buy flowers for my "pots".....

have a nice day, it's gorgeous here "right now"!!

Shabby Tea Room Challenge 2*4*6 ~ My Shabby Goodness

This week at the Shabby Tea Room the challenge is 2-4-6...2 designer papers~4 Buttons~6 layers....a real challenge...not as easy as one would think......I actually made 2 cards for this challenge.....my first (and favorite) was made with some newly purchased Webster paper for my background...the rose ds paper is some I have had in my stash for quite awhile....I love both of those papers!   I added a shabby flower I made from hand dyed seam binding.....my fourth button is the flower center......added leaves and for my 6th layer I popped up the butterfly...the doily was colored with 3 blended colors of chalk ink. 

The second card I used a ton of detail......the "butterflies" were made by using a MS punch I added buttons to each and cloth covered wire which I inked.....I used an old 5 cent postage stamp that is the general federation of women's clubs..the center of the stamp reads "75 years of service for Freedom and Growth"...the little phrase under the stamp reads "Flowers and butterflies drift in color"...I added frosted lace stickles to the fairy wings and to the ds paper on the flowers.......love to hear your thoughts...thanks!!