Tablescape Thursday - Botanical

I am blessed with so many wonderful table linens that just seem to be tucked away in the closet.  So today I have set a springtime table setting in our sunroom in a botanical theme.

These beautiful botanical fields placemats and napkins are from Longaberger.  You will notice they match the fabric on this rattan dining set.  I'm all about coordinating whether it be home decor or card making.

I have added some ivory napkin rings and the centerpiece is simply a pottery vase in butternut which I have filled with forsythia branches.

Well, the table is set so I hope you will join me for a piece of delicious apple pie!

Thank you for viewing my tablescape and be sure to check out all the beautiful tablescapes on Susan's blog.

Resources:

Placemats & Napkins:  Longaberger Botanical Fields

Luncheon Plates:  Longaberger Botanical Fields

Glassware:  Lenox Crystal

Flatware:  Longaberger Woven Traditions

Napkin Rings:  Longaberger Ivory Pottery

Vase:  Longaberger Butternut Pottery

Flowers:  Silk Forsythia Branches

One Year Blog Anniversary!

I almost forgot this month will mark the one year anniversary of my blog!  I really don’t know where the time has gone.  It has been an amazing journey and I want to thank my followers for being a part of it.

So to “celebrate” I am offering the following blog candy:

Spellbinders Ribbon Banners Die Set (S4-324)
Impression Obsession Autumn Leaves Clear Stamp Set
My Mind's Eye Green Finch Album
Chester Pink Flowers Chipboard
Crafty Secrets Words from the Heart Pack
Basic Grey Ribbon Doilies (2 sets)
Craft Essentials 3D Silver Inspirations Embellishments
Martha Stewart Flower Confetti (great for sprinkling inside of cards)

To enter to win you must sign up to be a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this post by Friday, April 8, 2011 sharing your favorite thing about springtime.  I’m hoping it will be here soon!
 
I will select a winner on Saturday, April 9, 2011 using random.org and will give the winner 48 hours to contact me via email.  If you prefer, include your email address with your comment and I'll contact you if you're the winner.
 
Thank you and good luck!

Rose Mini Book

Today I have a 4" x 4" book to share with you.  This beautiful Graphic 45 paper was begging me to be used and I thought it would be perfect for this keepsake.

I started with two pieces of craft chipboard to use as my cover base.  Then I adhered the paper to the front and back of both chipboards.  The edges were inked with Distressed Antique Linen and Tea Dye.

I then cut a piece of Very Vanilla paper using the Nesties Labels Twelve die.  The sentiment was stamped with Close to Cocoa and embossed with clear embossing powder.  The edges were inked with both distressed inks then I applied Antique Lace Shimmerz Paint.  The leaves were cut using the Sizzix set with Mellow Moss paper.  I added two rose leaves I had left over from another project and glued on my baby pink rose.  The butterfly was stamped in Close to Cocoa on Very Vanilla paper and sponged with Blush Blossom and Apricot Appeal.  I used a VersaMark pen around the edges and applied heat & stick powder with Dazzling Diamonds.  The hummingbird was stamped in Always Artichoke and the edges sponged in Distressed Antique Linen.  Both the sentiment and butterfly were popped up.

I used my Zutter Bind-it-All to bind my little book using a 1/2" antique silver owire.  All the pages are cream and I stamped the flourish from the Elements of Style set in Brilliance Pearlescent Beige. 

Here is a peek at the back view.  I didn't embellish it so the book would lay flat.

Book Recipe:

Stamps:  Elements of Style, A Rose Is A Rose, All A Flutter, Sentiment by I Brake for Stamps

Paper:  Craft Chipboard Covers, Graphic 45 Baby 2 Bride Collection (From This Moment) Designer Paper, Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss
Ink:  Close to Cocoa, Distressed Antique Linen, Distressed Tea Dye, Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Blush Blossom, Apricot Appeal
Accessories:  Antique Lace Shimmerz Paint, Prima Fairytale Baby Pink Roses, Nesties Labels Twelve, Sizzix Flowers, Branches & Leaves Set, Heat & Stick Powder, Dazzling Diamonds, Bind-it-All, 1/2" Antique Silver Owire
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Mosaic Monday Flower Collage

As I eagerly await for spring to arrive, I decided to create a mosaic photo collage using flower pictures taken from my perennial gardens.  These are just a few of the pretty flowers I have in my gardens.

If you would like to see more garden pictures, please refer to the "Gardens" category on my right sidebar listed under my cards.

I am also linking this to Mosaic Monday. 

Thank you Ariadna!

As my family and friends know I love Ocicats.  This exquisite Ocicat picture was hand sketched by my friend Jimmy's girlfriend.  Ariadna is a graphics designer and lives in Spain.

The sketch is amazing and is so detailed - a true representation of a chocolate Ocicat.  The frame is a gorgeous cherry wood with a silver border.

Receiving this was such a wonderful surprise and I am so touched she would create and send this to me in the U.S.

Ariadna you are so talented!  I can't thank you enough for thinking of me and for this beautiful present.  It is stunning!

Spring Thoughts & Blossoms

Today is the first day of spring and with that I look forward to brighter skies, blooming flowers and the emerging of green leaves.  Spring has always been a sense of renewal for me.  The tiny buds on the trees, delicate flowers as they bloom, the radiant sunrise and sunset all bring me a feeling of hope.

I find when life places such demands on our time I don’t always take time to enjoy the amazing wonders life has to offer.  It is only until tragedy befalls our doorstep do we awaken and realize how swiftly things can be taken away.

I vow to spend more time in my gardens this spring and enjoy summer days sitting in our gazebo or by the pond.  There is something so peaceful about the sound of moving water and watching the fish glide through the pond.  I anxiously await to see my first butterfly of the season and listen to the sounds of the wind chimes blowing in the breeze.

I wish for you a springtime of happiness, good health and hope you will see how magical and beautiful each day can be.

Now our card for today is about spring blossoms.  I bet you would have never guessed this card was created with the Stampscapes Spooky Branch stamp.  I stamped the branches on Whisper White paper in StazOn Timber Brown then used the blossoms stamp from Stampin’ Up’s Artfully Asian set also stamped in Stazon Timber Brown.

I colored the leaves with a Mellow Moss Marker then went over them and the blossoms with a VersaMark pen and heat embossed it using clear embossing powder and a heat gun. 

I punched a 1 3/8” circle from a post-it note and used it as a mask for the moon.

Rather than sponge the background I decided to use a stipple brush for a different effect.  The colors I used were Distressed Antique Linen, Crumb Cake and Close to Cocoa.

I cut a Spellbinders Label Three from Whisper White paper and stamped the sentiment in Chocolate Chip and embossed it with clear embossing powder and a heat gun then stippled it with the same colors as above.  I cut another Labels Three from Blushing Bride paper which was sponged with Chocolate Chip.

I found this pretty ¼” ivory and gold organdy ribbon in my stash and created a triple loop bow with my bow-easy.  Kaiser Pearls in Chocolate finish off the card.

I would just love to see what you create with your tree stamps.  Please feel free to email me with a link to your artwork.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Stampscapes Spooky Branch, Artfully Asian, Elements of Style
Paper:  Coco, Close to Cocoa, Blushing Bride, Whisper White                              
Ink: Branches - StazOn Timber Brown; Leaves - Mellow Moss Marker then VersaMark Pen with Clear EP; Blossoms - VersaMark Pen with Clear EP; Background - Stipple Brush with Distressed Antique Linen, Crumb Cake, Close to Cocoa; Sentiment - Chocolate Chip with Clear EP then stippled with the same colors                                   
Accessories:  1/4” Ivory/Gold Organdy Ribbon, Kaiser Pearls in Chocolate, Labels Three, 1 3/8” Circle Punch for moon, Bow Easy
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging
Card Size:  4 ½” x 6 ¼”

Hero Arts Bird Collage

I just love these collage stamps.  They are so easy to work with and I like the way the bird turned out on this card.  Have a great day! 

Here is a close up.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Hero Arts Bird Collage

Paper:  Thistle, Vintage Violet, Shimmery White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Creamy Caramel, Soft Suede, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Summer Sun, More Mustard, Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose, Purely Pomegranate, VersaMagic Pretty Petunia, Concord Crush, Adirondack Purple Twilight, Prismacolor Cool Grey 50% Marker, ColorBox Frost White, Distressed Antique Linen, Distressed Vintage Photo
Accessories:  Star Dust Stickles, Edge Distresser
Techniques:  Sponging

Cattail Bridge Anniversary

Today is my wedding anniversary so I am dedicating this post to my husband Michael. 

How do I begin to tell you how lucky I am

to have you in my life?

I'll start by saying what an honor it is

for me to be your wife.

You're my best friend in the good times

and my rock in times of sorrow.

You're the reason for sweet yesterdays

and my promise for tomorrow.

I never thought I could feel this loved

until I became your wife.

You made this year and every year

the best one of my life.

I know a card is not enough for all that you have done, but please know it comes from the bottom of my heart.   

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Stampscapes Loon with Reflection, Migrating Birds Lg., Reeds Lg., Cloud Cumulus, SU Lovely As a Tree, DRS Designs Cattail Bridge

Paper:  Desert Storm, Old Olive, Shimmery White
Ink:  StazOn Black, StazOn Timber Brown, Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Night of Navy, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Prismacolor Pencils
Accessories:  Gamsol, Sky Blue Shimmerz Paint
Techniques:  Sponging

Paris in Cappella

In keeping with my Victorian theme I have a Paris card also using the Basic Grey Cappella paper.  As you can see, I found the Paris stamp I was looking for a couple of posts back.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Inkadinkado Paris, Carte Postale (Inside)

Paper:  The Paper Company Glacial Blue, Soft Suede, Basic Grey Cappella Designer Paper, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Soft Suede, Bashful Blue, Distressed Antique Linen
Accessories:  1/2" Chantilly Crochet Ribbon, Waterfall Stickles, Gold Passport Charm, Basic Grey Opaline Pearls in Latte, Nesties Large Long Rectangles #3, Nesties Large Long Scalloped Rectangles #3, Linen Thread
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Victorian Fan Card

Today I have for you a Victorian fan card using the beautiful Basic Grey Cappella paper.  This was created by cutting two pieces of Sahara Sand paper and one sheet of Cappella using the Sizzix ornate fan die.  I placed the top piece of my card through the Big Shot using the Cuttlebug Textile Embossing Folder then sponged with Sahara Sand.  I used Spellbinders Tag Shape 3 for my tag and stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso then embossed using clear embossing powder.  I added a triple loop bow and a Prima flower.  Simple and elegant!

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Just Believe

Paper:  Sahara Sand, Basic Grey Cappella Designer Paper, Naturals Ivory
Ink:  Early Espresso, Sahara Sand
Accessories:  5/8" Victoria Crochet Ribbon, Prima Flower, Spellbinders Tag Shape 3, Sizzix Ornate Fan Die, Cuttlebug Textile Embossing Folder, Bow-Easy
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging