Have A Safe Memorial Day Everyone!

I am taking a blog break until Tuesday June 1st...spending time with family and friends...I will visit all of  you after the break...be safe and honor all that have served our country and thank those that still do...because of them we are a free country today...God Bless!!!

American Flag Courtesy of http://www.ace-clipart.com/american-flag-photos-01.html

Garden Inspiration #3...well sort of!!

You might call this more of a "nature" inspiration...but just look at this big guy...he is a good 15 to 16" long...I don't know what made me look outside across the creek when  I did, but sure am glad I did, as I saw our cat Soot, crossing the bridge in her "hunt mode"...stalking~tail straight up...so I called her and she ignored me as cats do, so I ran out and across the bridge and snapped her up before "she" had her foot or face bit off...geez....in the many years we have lived here on the creek I have never ever seen one turtle.....so that is where this crazy card came from........the stamp set used is SU Natures Nest......the sentiment is a rub on.....remember the group "The Turtles"?....they had a song called "Happy Together"...so that is where all the craziness comes in...sorry couldn't resist!!

I do have lots more garden (real ones) inspiration to share later!

Challenge Time From City Crafters.....Second Post Today....Yeah!!

A wonderful challenge from City Crafters Challenge Blog....using 1 ribbon, 2 papers and 3 flowers...just could not resist doing more of those butterfly pansies......you can find the challenge HERE ...... I didn't use the pink colors (it was an option) as I saw the most beautiful orange pansies and just had to make my own!!!

Ready For A Little Travel?

Anyone traveling this Memorial weekend??  I have the perfect "wee~little" travel suitcase for you....I made this with a template from HERE ......isn't it just the cutest???  I used Stampin' Up!' To The Nines Specialty paper...love~love this paper, it is a heavier, textured paper....and this polka dot pattern was perfect for my little vintage suitcase.....the ribbon is SU Chocolate Chip, and those "clasps"...they are from SU Hodgepodge hardware........
The new SU catalog will be out July 1st....are you excited??  I am, I can hardly wait to see all the new........16 more pages...new colors....new Designer Paper....and~and~and!!!

Garden Inspiration #2

Lilys...who doesn't love lilys???  There are so many varieties....I have lots and lots.....while I was out of town, my sister attended the area Garden Clubs plant sales...she bought  6 new day lilies for us to share....I planted mine yesterday...yummy names like Ocean Rain~Brocaded Gown~Southern Sunset~Scarlet Orbit~Pardon Me~and Designer Gown.....how fun...I in turn gave her two starts of a double white lilac~3 starts of my Pee Gee Hydranga~a new Iris I had just purchased and not yet planted called Edith Wolford...I have a habit of buying plants for names that mean something to me...my grandmother was Edith...I have a rose named "Bess" after my other grandmother "Bessie".....I also shared two Hosta's~ Blue Cadet and Christmas...and a start of Lobelia........

My card inspiration today is one of the Oriental Lilies newly planted this year...I saw these"paper" lilies on another blog.....made with the SU 5 Petal Flower Punch....are these fantastic or what.....love them!!!   Back tomorrow with another "inspiration from the garden!!!

Garden Inspiration #1

I am blooming...well my garden is anyway.......I decided this week to use my "blooms" as inspiration for my projects!  My first card is featuring my "PINK" Lily of the Valley......I purchased this unique color several years ago...one little plant for $7.99...I got my money's worth as I have dozens now and share them with  others!

The other pictures I took yesterday morning...already since then it has popped out even more...a deep~dark Iris bud yesterday is a full in bloom flower today...will have to get a picture of it later. I was gone for 4 days, plus we had rain and cold temps prior to leaving for several days, so now am waaaaaaaaaaay behind in what I thought was "keeping up"......while I was gone the racoons came and ate all my Yarrows and my newly purchased last year "Pink Poodle" cone flower....and they drank a can of Raspberry Lipton iced tea, that was set down by the garden and forgotten (Lori was that you?)...no kidding, they partied hearty while I was gone........the yellow cat (Pumpkin as we call him) in the garden is a "drop off" from last year.....he is rough, won't even go into the details, but this guy has way more then 9 lives.....we are amazed he is still around, he is living in my garden...wish he would scare the racoons away!!

From The Vintage Workshop...Yummy Goodies~Blog Candy

The vintage workshop (go HERE) is giving away a couple of great prizes......just leave a comment on THEIR blog for an entry...post about it, win another prize and another entry for the prize packages...love their vintage images!!!!   Ends May 16th!