A Bit of This and That

This is a bit picture heavy and NO cards today

just a post of some of my flowers and the crazy weather we have had since Friday.

I haven't been online much as the storms have been horrific with lightning and

torrential downpours.

Here is a picture of our nasty weather.

Now on to more pleasant things.

I was able to grab these photos last week before all the rains.

Below is our crab apple tree coming into bloom.

Next is a Redbud tree I planted as just a tiny stick.

It grew like wildfire.

Next is a Sand Cherry bush next to the house.

Growing beside the Sand Cherry is an Oregon Gold Bush.

This came as a tiny plant from a garage sale.

These mini (and early bloomers) Iris are planted on 

my beloved Nellie dog's grave.

The last picture is of Mr and Mr's Mallard's eggs,

deposited right in the middle of my flower (weed) garden.

I was working weeding one day and had no idea they were there 

until the Mrs. flew up into my face and scared the 'bejebbers' out of me!!

But on a sad note, I peeked at them on Mother's Day and only one egg remains

and it was covered in ants...no remains of shells or anything,

so whatever got them, it carried the eggs off...sigh!

I will be back next week with more flowers to share, as they bloom...

hope I haven't bored you too much, but I LOVE my flower gardens!

A Good Day To Sparkle

Hello friends!
Today is a new challenge theme at
Double D Challenges
and being hosted by Team Darlene.
The theme is a super easy one
'Bling It Up'.
There is a fabulous mood board below to inspire you!

There are all kinds of ways to use 'bling'...
I chose gems as I have had this Want 2 Scrap 'Nestabling' forever.
It matches the SB circle dies...so a perfect time to use it,
though there are 4 more in the package lol.

The elephant stamp is one I bought at Michael's last month.
I have been trying not to buy those as it seems I purchase them,
bring them home and never use them.
But I have a soft spot for little 'ellies'.

I paper pieced her umbrella, colored her with Copics,
added glitter pens here and there but you can't see that but IRL.
The sentiment and sparkle die cut are from Essentials by Ellen.
The sparkle die cut I applied Nuvo Deluxe adhesive and SNS Bubblegum glitter.
I actually purchased 2 sets of these and a few challenges back
one set was our DD prize giveaway.
The pink doily die cut is from CLD and the EB folder is from SU.

Make sure and pop on over to the Double D challenge blog
and show us your bling....
there is a fun prize to be won and the Design Team
has outdone themselves once again as always!!

Entering the following challenges:
2 Crafty Critters Crazies .... ATG with a critter (m)
The Cafters Cafe .... All Creatures Great and Small (m)

Birds

Today on the  Dies R Us challenge blog is a new theme and it is
'BIRDS'

I have lots of bird dies but just kind of wanted to show this cutie
 Cheapo Dies Flamingo.
I coated him with Neon Flamingo Stickles, perfect don't you think?

The background paper is from  Echo Park Summer Fun 6 x 6 Paper Pad,

so tropical and so fun!

I stacked Tutti Designs Nesting Scalloped Squares

and a smaller die from Tutti Designs Stitched Nesting Squares

on top of each other.

I die cut a palm tree from Frantic Stamper Tall Palm Tree With Fronds.

Dies R Us carries LOTS of different Palm Trees, just put that in the search

and see all that are available.

This one happens to be one of 'my' favorites as it comes with extra fronds

so you can get a '3D' look.

I added a few sequins to give even more 'bling!

Take a peek over at the
Dies R Us challenge blog and see all the other 'birds' my teammates have,
you won't be disappointed , plus just by entering YOUR bird card
you have a chance to win a gift certificate to the store!

Entering the following challenges:
Dream Valley .... Summer Colors
Make My Monday .... Hint of Summer To Come
Crafty Calendar .... Things With Wings (m)

Dies R Us supplies used:

Cheapo Dies Flamingo

Frantic Stamper Tall Palm Tree With Fronds

Tutti Designs Stitched Nesting Squares

Tutti Designs Nesting Scalloped Squares

Echo Park Summer Fun 6 x 6 Paper Pad

Father's Day

This is my post today on the Tutti Designs blog.

Hey all, Diane with you today and I thought with

Father's Day a month away

it would be a good time to show you an amazing die

just perfect for the occasion.

I am using the 'Father  & Son' die today. 

I have three cards, with the 3rd being another way to use the die

besides for Father's Day!

Up first is a simple and easy card to create,

a background of designer paper,

the Father & Son die

and I used 2 of the Nesting Stitched Square dies for the sentiment..

Added a little heart to finish.

The second card was this time cut in a brown card stock,

just to be different I guess.

I also added the sentiment on Nesting Stitched Circle dies

and the Father & Son die cut on a Nesting Stitched Rectangle die,

I added a few little 'candi's'  to finish.

The third card was created for a birthday.

Designer paper for the background and a

Nesting Stitched Star for the sentiment and the Father & Son die.

Can't get any easier then that.

List of dies used on my cards:

 Father & Son

Nesting Stitched Square

Nesting Stitched Rectangle

Nesting Stitched Circle

Nesting Stitched Star

Here are all the Tutti Designs links for your convenience.

Tutti Designs Store

Tutti Designs Pinterest

Tutti Designs Facebook

Tutti Designs Blog

Thank you for visiting with me today.

Water Colored Asters

Happy Sunday Morning!
This is my card today on the Sparkle N Sprinkle blog  using the fabulous new stamp set
Aster Garden.

For this card I decided to do a little water coloring on water color paper

and a bit of masking.

I first die cut a panel from  Sue Wilson Frames & Tags Hannah

I stamped my first image from the   Aster Garden stamp set on the water color paper

then stamped again on a piece of scrap paper, then cut it out to use as a mask.

All images were stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.

I placed the mask over the first stamped image, then proceeded to stamp the next two images, 
moving the mask as needed for each flower. 

Then came the fun part, water coloring with Aqua Flow water color pens
Summer Holiday,  Winter Skies, and  Spring Meadow for the flowers.
An Aqua Flow Water Brush was used to apply all the colors.
I applied a bit of Sakura Glue Pen to each yellow part of the flowers,
then sprinkled with  Daisy glitter....so pretty!
  

The flower panel was then adhered on a piece of pink gingham paper
using Tear-ific Tape ½”.
Butterflies were die cut using Precious Marieke Butterflies,
then coated with Nuvo Glue Pen Large and glittered with Orchid glitter.

The sentiment was stamped with Versamark ink and
embossed with Berry Bliss embossing powder on a die cut using Find It Trading Floral Labels
and adhered down with Tear-ific Tape ¼ .
The finishing touch was adding small pretty 'dots' using Glitter Drops Pink Champagne.

Thanks for taking a look today and be sure to leave a comment both here and on my post on the SNS Blog for a chance to go shopping at Sparkle N Sprinkle.  No one knows who the Mystery Designer is this month (and it might just be me).  There will be new projects on the SNS Blog every day for your inspiration and for increasing your chances of winning.  Good luck!

Products used in the creating of this card:

Stamps:  Aster Garden 893

Glitter:  Daisy GM2019,

Orchid G1097

Embossing Powder:  Berry Bliss EP313

Nuvo:  Glitter Drops Pink Champagne 766N

Aqua Flow Watercolors:  Spring Meadow 893N,

Summer Holiday 892N,

Winter Skies 891N

Aqua Flow Water Brush 899N

Glue Pen Large 204N

Other:  Versamark VM001 ,

Sakura Glue Pen (QUICKY)

Tear-ific Tape ¼” SAT01

Tear-ific Tape ½” SAT04

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink ME-900

Dies:  Find It Trading Floral Labels

Sue Wilson Frames & Tags Hannah

Precious Marieke Butterflies

Magical Fairy Garden

Hello All!
I am the hostess at The Sisterhood of Crafters today
and I chose the theme of Magical Fairy Garden.
It means you can create anything to do with a fairy garden
or a bit whimsical and magical...just have fun!

For my card I started with a base of sponged on Oxide inks,

using wilted violet, worn lipstick,and broken china.

I spritzed water on, then when dry I added even more shimmer using 

Tattered Angels Iridescent Gold and Cosmos Glimmer Mist.

If you could see this IRL you would see how much shimmer it really has!

I think the photo below shows it a bit better.

For the stamps I treated myself during the winter to several new stamps
from companies that I normally wouldn't purchase from,
reason being is that I am a 'bargain' shopper and usually only buy
what's on sale...pathetic I know!
The unicorn is from PinkFresh Unicorn Dreams.
I stamped it with Dew Drops Rose Bud.
Then I went over the image with Nuvo Glitter Gloss.
This stuff is fabulous, lets you get in tiny places and has a 
sparkle-y glitter sheen!

Though the set came with nice sentiments,
I purchased a Woodware sentiment set called Fantasy Land.
I embossed it in Sparkle N Sprinkle Morning Glory EB powder.
this is one of those EB powders that has glitter added to it...love that!
Both these stamp companies are a first for me.
You will be seeing a few more new stamps from more 
'new to me' companies down the road!

The clouds (IO) I cut from a scrap of glitter paper
and the rainbow (Lawn Fawn) from pastel scraps.

So head on over to The Sisterhood
to see all the wonderful inspiration my  DT 'sistahs'
have to inspire YOU!

Entering the following challenges:
Addicted To Stamps and More .... ATG
Word Art Wednesday .... ATG
Try It On Tuesday .... Stencils, Die Cuts or Both

Dancing Couple

This is my post on the Tutti Designs blog today.

Hi Diane with you today to share with you

three very different wedding cards,

after all it is that time of year when most weddings occur

and these Tutti Design wedding dies make for

not only an easy card, but elegant as well!

For all three cards I have used the Dancing Couple die.

First card has a music embossed background.

I used the Tutti Designs Stitched Rectangle to 'display' my couple on.

I die cut three times, once in ivory, (the die base)

 once in a cream floral print for the bride's dress,

and once in black for the groom's tux

then paper pieced it all together.

Silver leaves, a cream Rose and a sentiment were added.

The second card was created by first using a pretty wedding designer paper.

I then die cut a Tutti Designs Stitched Heart, which I then embossed with hearts.

Once again I die cut the Dancing Couple three times,

white base, cream designer paper for the bride

and black for the groom's tux.

Flowers and leaves and a computer generated  sentiment were added.

My third and last card was much simpler.

The Dancing Couple were cut in plain white

and in plain black card stock.

The sentiment was computer generated.

Perfect and beautiful die for all your wedding needs.

Here are some Tutti Designs quick links:

Tutti Designs Store

Tutti Designs Pinterest

Tutti Designs Facebook

Tutti Designs Blog

Thank you for visiting with me today!