Wednesday, July 30, 2014

Gingham Memories

HI All, this is my post going live today at 
I love this gingham stamp I used....
Want to join in the challenge?
Hop on over to the blog, all the details are there
and ALL our challenges on listed on the sidebar
giving you a head start!!!

Hello Classy Friends, Diane here with you on the blog today.
This week is starting off with our "Gingham" challenge
 using the photo below for inspiration, 
you need to have "gingham" somewhere on your project!


I remember as a child how popular gingham was..
I even had my bedroom decorated with gingham....
we had to make a "gingham" apron in Home Economics" at school...
so you might say I have always been a "gingham" girl~~

Impression Obsession has a nice line of "cover a card" stamps.... 
just think with this stamp you can have any color of gingham you want...
these stamps are wonderful as they stamp big and you can choose
to use the entire image or just a fraction of it.....
I chose to use the entire stamp with a red ink....
Don't you just love red gingham??


I used Mega Mount to mount my Cover A Card stamp on...
this is a very large acrylic block that fits the stamps perfectly!


and positioned them around my card to make a "frame"
A little tip in using the intricate dies is to place a piece of wax paper
over your die, then your paper on top of that before cutting, it makes for a much easier release....
To help get all those little pieces out of your cut piece, there is a wonderful new tool
by Spellbinders called Tool 'n One


For the center of my frame, I stamped JustRite Hello Daisy with Versamark,


first running the Anti-Static Bag over my card stock

Using Spellbinders Floral Ovals, I positioned it over my stamped image and die cut it.
To finish my card, I added Red Pearls to each corner, a gingham bow and button.

Join our challenge with us, there is always a nice prize to win with 7 or more entrants....
Tell your friends to join in too, the more the merrier!!

Entering the following challenges:
Addicted To Stamps .... Anything Goes
and
Inky Impressions .... Anything Goes
and
Scrapper's Delights .... Anything Goes/Buttons,Bows,Ribbon
and
Wonderful Wednesday .... Anything Goes
and
Loves Rubber Stamps .... Buttons and Bows
and
Craft-DeeBowZ .... Anything Goes With A Bow

Happy Days

Hi Friends,

I am heading outside to work on my "weeds" flowers but managed
to get a card done for a fun challenge at "City Crafters"
which is "Animal Magic"


I have a ton of "animal" stamps and decided on this very OLD
1987 stamp from "Marks of Distinction" ....
now I didn't buy it new, it came from Ebay "eons" ago!

I stamped my image with SU "Creamy Carmel" as we have
had a cat abut this color hanging around the last few days!
And there is a small kitten that showed up a few weeks ago
and is residing in the wood shed....
somehow I think that sign is on the roof of the barn that says
"drop your unwanted cats" here.....
as we sure seem to get a bunch of them every year!!!

My paper I used are Prima "Sun Kiss"...
I think this will make a cute card for one of the grandkiddos!!

Okay, gotta run outside before it gets too hot!!
Entering in the following challenges:

City Crafters .... Animal Magic

Monday, July 28, 2014

Ring Around The Rosie At The Shabby Tea Room

Here we are at another Monday...
and can you believe it is the last one for July...wow!!
But Monday also brings us to another new challenge at "The Shabby Tea Room"
"Yours Truly" is the hostess this week and I have chosen the theme
"Ring Around The Rosie"
using the photo for inspiration and make a "round" card or project
and adding "Roses", pink, green and a flourish!


Our sponsor this week is Digital Papers by Janet


I made a round card using a Spellbinders plain circle die...
by overlapping the die on the scoreline I was able to cut a card
that left the crease to fold...


I had just purchased a new Prima Roses die from CCNS
and loved the lacey look of it, plus it has Roses on it (which I covered up..sigh)
I cut the die from some lovely Metallic paper






I used the Circle Stamps Digital Papers by Janet
which I add a bit of glitter to the image, lace and pearls...
these circle stamps are 2 1/2" each and you get 12 on a sheet!!

The flourish is a Marianne die and my flower was  made using a Cheery Lynn Designs die

I love how girlie and vintage looking this little card is!!

Take a peek at "The Shabby Tea Room" and see what the other "shabby girls"
have for you...join us in this weeks challenge...see "you" there!!

Entering in the following challenges:
Crafting From The Heart ....Anything Goes
and
Craft Your Passion .... Flower Power
and
Whoopsidaisy Challenge .... 2 or more dies
and
Alphabet Challenge ...."L" is for Lace

Saturday, July 26, 2014

Good Food ~Some Flowers ~ And A Butterfly

Whew...did my title get your attention...lol...??
I will be offline until Monday, so wanted to share with you
first a wonderfully, yummy recipe!!
It has to be the best macaroni salad I have ever tried!!
Even  hubby that doesn't like this kind of thing, loved it.
It makes quite a bit, so you could cut it in half...I didn't though!!


Sweet Amish Macaroni Salad
1# salad macaroni  I am using those little shell macaroni's
4 hard boiled eggs (chopped)
1 small onion finely diced
3 celery ribs diced small
1 small sweet pepper seeded and diced small red or yellow

Dressing
2 cups light mayo (do not use miracle whip
1/2 cup sugar
2TB yellow mustard
2 TB Dill Pickle relish
1 TB white vinegar or 1 TB apple cider vinegar
3/4 tsp celery seed
1/4 tsp salt
and paprika to taste
Mix salad, mix dressing...combine...let sit overnight in fridge...YUMMY!!

Yesterday while I was out picking my veggies I saw this gorgeous
butterfly on my Bee Balm....I have gotten into the habit of taking my
camera out with me...good thing, or I would miss  a lot!!



I also wanted to show you my "Annabelle" Hydrangea....
this thing is a monster...as big as my car...the heads are dinner plate size...
they make the most gorgeous bouquets!!!




Next up is another picture of the "wild" side of my garden...
it's so wild that the hubby said, "You need to move that flower as
it is in the way of the sprinkler ( he set me up a wonderful watering system
last year)...but that "flower" is a BIG weed taller then me...lol!!


And last are a couple pictures of my kitty Tessie
and her sweet sister "Chloe" the crafter kitty "aka PEST".....
they are full grown now, about 7 years old, 
and they are strictly inside kitties now.... 
I saw these pictures of
them and just had to share as they make me laugh....
I hope they will you, too...



have a nice weekend ad see you on Monday
when my "The Shabby Tea Room" card posts....
I am the hostess there next week!!



Friday, July 25, 2014

Little Moments

Hello All this is  my post going "live today" at the
Classy Cards 'n Such blog...I hope you will take a
peek over there, we have some new awesome DT members
and  am sure you will be inspired by all the creativeness!!

Hello Classy Friends.....
Our new challenge this week is "Buttons and Bows"....
using the pretty inspiration photo below I decided last minute
to make a "pop" up" card....

But here I am getting ahead of myself.....
Lets start with the front cover of my card....


My card base is the gorgeous Stardream Rose Quartz 105# Metallic paper
On top of that I added the beautiful paper from Graphic 45 Botanical Tea 6 x 6
you will see I used another label from this same set on the inside!
I added 2 flower buttons and a pink bow and finished off my card with a
Rose made from using 2 of the flower dies from Spellbinders Bitty Blossoms

Okay...are you ready to take a peek on the inside??


Voila.....so what do you think???
I love how when this card is opened it will be a beautiful surprise to the receiver!!


I cut the Garden Bench by Elizabeth Crafts and designed by  Karen Burniston


The background paper I used is one of my favorites.....
KaiserCrafts Key To My Heart 12 x 12 paper pad
this paper was perfect for the larger size card I needed for my design!


To finish my scene I added Puffy Clouds by Memory Box
Birdhouses by Impression Obsession (you get all 3 designs in one set!)

and Cat Set by Impression Obsession


As mentioned above I used a label from the Spellbinders set Radiant Rectangles
and stamped a sentiment from B Line Designs

Isn't this a fun card???  I would love to see YOUR entry in our challenge....
tell your friends to join in, there is  a lovely prize awarded to the winning entry!!

Entering the following challenges:

Crafty Catz .... Anything Goes
and
Fussy and Fancy ....Words
and
Delightful Challenges ....Add Ribbon
and
Word Art Wednesday .... Anything Goes
and
Paper Pretties .... Pink and Green



Thursday, July 24, 2014

Stardust Christmas

Hello my friends,
I have been seeing so many challenges lately to do with Christmas
I decided to join in after seeing the challenge at City Crafters this week
using the photo below for inspiration.
I used to never, ever miss one of their challenges, but I haven't had the time
to join in for quite sometime now, but today decided to jump back in...lol!!


I have been quite addicted the the stenciling trend....
I have several NEW stencils, but I keep pulling out my little "Star Dust" stencil.
I used a beautiful Dreamweaver Metallic Gold embossing paste.
I actually stenciled two different panels while I had it out, so I could use another one later.


I wanted to keep my card a clean and simple look, letting the stenciling take center stage
So then I was in a dilemma as to what to do next....
So instead I ate 2 pieces of pizza, at 10 0'clock in the morning...lol
After washing my pizza sauce fingers off it came to me to pull out my Memory Box 
"Precious Stars" dies which I cut from Spellbinders Precious Metals

The card base is Champaign Neenah Pearlized Metallic paper....
I have all the links for you if any of this makes  you "just gotta have it"!!!!

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
City Crafters .... Christmas In July
and
Southern Girls .... Christmas Is A Coming
and
Creative Knockouts .... Christmas In July
and
A Song In Your Heart .... When you wish upon a star
and
 Crafting For All Seasons .... Christmas In July
and
Little Red Wagon .... Christmas In July

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

You're The Best

Greetings from "The Sisterhood"...
sounds like something from outer space doesn't it...lol
Hard to believe it is already almost the end of July...
the summer is going so fast, I don't even want to think of what's to come
so guess what...we won't...hah!

Anywho, it is time again for another new challenge at "The Sisterhood"
This time "Lisa" is our hostess and the theme is die cuts/punches....
I used a little of both on my card.


I love the owl punch from Stampin Up and haven't used it in well over a year
so out it came...aren't they just the cutest??

My background is a stamp I purchased at Michael's around Valentines day....
I stamped it side by side to make it the width of my card....
and hey, it matched up pretty good with only one try...yah!!

I also used another SU punch, the heart and punched out a place for one of the
owls to "reside"....
The branch is an Impression Obsession die "Bird on a Branch.....
shhh...don't tell, but I snipped that poor bird right off and my owl took it's place!!

Any "WHO" (pun intended..lol)  head on over to "The Sisterhood" and see 
what my "sisters"
on the DT have to inspire you...better yet...join in the challenge with us!!

Entering the following challenges:

Through The Craft Room Door .... Anything Goes
and
The Sisters of Craft ....Anything Goes July
and 
Melonheadz Friends .... Things With Wings and/or tail
and 
The Crazy Challenge .... Dies Cuts/Punches
and
Crafting When You Can .... Make Your Own Background

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Flowers and a Blueberry Cobbler

I was up at 4am this morning...rather late for me, yesterday it was 2am....
My first thought was to pick a challenge and do a card .....
but somehow I got on Pinterest and the next thing I knew it was after 6...
I am headed outside early, as soon as it gets a bit lighter to work in my
gardens...so I decided to instead share a very good recipe I made...
not only yummy good, but so FAST to make...
and I think I will share a bit more of my Day Lilies ....
they make me "happy"....
I hope they will you, too!!



Easy Blueberry Cobbler

2/3 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2/3 cups skim milk (I used 2%)
2 TB butter melted
2 cups (1 pint) blueberries
Directions:
1. preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt
3. Stir in milk and mix well into a smooth batter
4. Melt butter in 1 1/2 quart baking dish in the microwave on high for 1 minute
5. Pour batter into melted butter...do not stir
6 .add blueberries...do not stir
7. Bake at 350 for 40 to 45 minutes (I put mine in a 2 quart glass baking dish and cooked for 40 minutes...perfect)
 You can add up to 1 cup of sugar, I kept mine to the 1/2 cup and it was very good!!

Do you know why they are called Day Lilies??
Because each bloom only lasts for one day.
Kind of sad isn't it???  However, there is always one to replace it,
so it seems you don't even notice










This is my Lucifer...it has bloomed so beautifully this year



Monday, July 21, 2014

Sweet Shabby Flowers At The Shabby Tea Room




Happy Monday my friends.....This week at "The Shabby Tea Room"
our hostess is Lenet and she has chosen the theme 

"Sweet Shabby Flowers" as our challenge and asking us to use the inspiration
photo above and use lace, pink, cream and flowers


Our sponsor this week is "Bugaboo Stamps" and I chose this pretty




My image was colored with Copics and then entirely outlined with a
Gelly Roll Clear Star pen, giving it a lot of "sparkle"...
I found the perfect background paper from Prima Zepher paper stack
I added a bit of vintage lace (though I seem to have covered most of it up)
an embossed scalloped circle and a few flowers I had in my stash for awhile
I finished off with a polka dot bow and a gingham button!!


Head on over to "The Shabby Tea Room" and see all the lovely inspiration
the other "Shabby Girls" have for you.....
Have some fun and join in our challenge with us!!

Entering in the following challenges:

The Ribbon Girls .... Aqua/Turquoise and Ribbon
and
The Squirrel and The Fox .... Ribbon and Lace
and
Cupcake Inspiration .... Rose Lime Pool
and
Alphabet Challenge ...."L" for Lace

Sunday, July 20, 2014

A Small Walk Through My Garden

Happy Sunday Everyone!!

I wanted to take today off a bit and share with you a few of my garden photos...
mostly day lilies as they have come into bloom...I think I took photos of 30 different varieties
and have more yet that haven't even bloomed yet.....
yes I do have a huge amount of gardens....
Don't worry...I am NOT going to post them all today...lol
though each one is stunning if you ask me.....
please forgive the bugs my camera captured on some of them....
just all part of gardening I guess!!


These are my Susan B Anthony lilies I bought as a portion of the purchase
of these went to the Breast Cancer Awareness Foundation...
these are either called Heaven Sent or Lake Carey...
sorry I can't remember which ones these are!


This is just one of my gorgeous "regular" lilies.


This is part of my "wild" side of my garden with
purple and white swan coneflowers.


All the rest of the photos are of my various 40 something varieties
of the Day Lilies I have...enjoy!!