Crafty Butterfly in Yellow

Yellow is not a color I use very often for backgrounds even though it represents joy, sunshine and the tropics.  This particular card took no time at all to create.

The image from Crafty Individuals was stamped in StazOn Black onto Shimmery White paper then sponged with Summer Sun & Groovy Guava.  I added a gold brad to the center of the flower and Fruit Punch Stickles to the butterfly.

The background paper is Barely Banana which I ran through my Big Shot using the Cuttlebug Jamara Embossing Folder.  I then applied Folk Art Acrylic Paint in Metallic Pure Gold to highlight the embossing.

I distressed a piece of Groovy Guava paper and assembled my card.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Crafty Individuals C1-296

Paper:  Natural White Linen, Barely Banana, Groovy Guava, Shimmery White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Summer Sun, Groovy Guava
Accessories:  Folk Art Acrylic Paint in Metallic Pure Gold, Fruit Punch Stickles, Edge Distresser, Cuttlebug Jamara Embossing Folder, Gold Brad
Techniques:  Sponging

Tea in the Garden

On this wonderful sunny day I have prepared tea on the patio and hope you will join me.  The warmer weather draws me outdoors to enjoy the beauty of nature.  I am linking with Bernideen for Tea in the Garden on Saturday and with a few other friends.

(click photos to enlarge)

Today I am using Royal Albert Lavender Rose china, which I just love with the Montrose shaped handle.  It is so elegant with the small pink roses and gold trim.

The teapot is Skye McGhie in the "Cream Lace" pattern.

A cranberry glass pitcher is our creamer for today since it goes so well with the Lavender Rose.  Did you know antique cranberry glass dates back much farther than the Victorian era.

Our centerpiece is a potted Martha Washington geranium (Pelargonium).  These eye catching blooms are bi-color pink and sit above light green, pleated leaves.  I adore the Fleur-de-lis design on this cream pot.

While sipping tea we can relax and browse our Gardener magazine for some fresh new ideas.

Would you like me to light our jar candle?  This cherry blossom candle with notes of bergamot and sandalwood is highly fragrant and will scent the air for us.

Thank you for joining me for tea in the garden.  I am also linking with the following ladies:

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Table Top Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Martha's Favorites
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations
Tuesday Tea for Two @ The Plumed Pen

Butterfly Garden

Welcome to the Butterfly Garden ...

Nestled amongst this honeysuckle vine (Lonicera "Mandarin") is a lifelike fairy bird feeder just beckoning her winged friends to dine.  Clusters of 2-3" long tubular flowers are dark reddish-orange on the outside and paler yellow orange inside. 

Doesn't she just look precious ...

This vine is attractive to bees, butterflies and birds. It wasn't until I went to photograph it I discovered a Robin's nest high in the vine.

Beautiful blooms ...

I also have planted in this garden purple fountain grass (Pennisetum setaceum "Rubrum").  Gorgeous purple foliage tipped by dramatic purple plumes.  I like to have some formality in my gardens, but within that formality, I like to be casual too.

This is a Trophytaker Daylily "Chesapeake Crablegs" (Hemerocallis).  It has bright red/orange spider form flowers with light orange rays and a faint reddish chevron.

Thank you for touring my garden today.  

Nature's Beehive

I thought this beehive stamp by PSX would go nicely with Stampin’ Up’s Nature Walk.  I started with a piece of Naturals White paper and stamped the beehive in StazOn Black then colored it with markers and a Blender Pen.  The bee was stamped in StazOn Timber Brown and colored with Crumb Cake & So Saffron also with a Blender Pen.  I sponged all the edges with Crumb Cake.

The sentiment was inked up with VersaMark then Rich Razzleberry and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

I added Cotton Candy Stickles to the pink flowers and Distressed Scattered Straw to the bee.  The ribbon is 3/8” Taffeta in Kraft.  I really like the botanical look to this card.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Nature Walk, PSX Beehive, Sentiment by The Stamp Pad Co.

Paper:  Desert Storm, Naturals White, Perfect Plum
Ink:  StazOn Black, Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Crumb Cake, Perfect Plum; Sentiment - Rich Razzleberry with Clear EP; Bee - StazOn Timber Brown colored with Crumb Cake & So Saffron
Accessories:  3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Kraft, Cotton Candy Stickles, Distressed Scattered Straw Stickles, Nesties Large Classic Rectangles #2, Large Classic Scalloped Rectangles #2
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging, Blender Pen

Purple Hanging Basket

My hanging basket this year is purple.  Purple is the color of passion, romance and sensitivity.  It is also used to symbolize wisdom, magic and mystery.

I have mixed Supertunia (Petunia) "Royal Velvet" and Superbena (Verbena) "Large Lilac Blue".  These hybrids have a showy display of blooms.  The petunias are a striking purple-blue and the verbenas produce lilac-blue flowers.  I think these colors compliment each other.

Let's hope I can keep it looking this good all summer long!

Tea in the Garden

One of my favorite places to have tea is in our gazebo, so please come in and have a seat while we relax and rejuvenate.  I am linking with Bernideen for Tea in the Garden on Saturday and with a few other friends.  Today also happens to be National Iced Tea Day.

Surely, there are few things more inspiring than fresh peony blossoms.  Their sweet aroma alone can take one back to a simpler time.

Peonies (Paeonia) have been stalwarts of spring and summer gardens for decades.  Did you know they got their start in the wild, primarily growing from the mountains to the sea in regions stretching from the Mediterranean to east Asia.

Early in the spring, I always put on my grow through supports since their huge flowers sit on weak stems, which often bend at the first sign of rain.  I have three different varieties in my perennial garden.  My favorite is the double flowers which have numerous ruffled petals that fill the center of the bloom.  Their fragrance is that of a sweet rose and is most fragrant in the morning before their volatile oils dissipate with the heat of the day.

These old-fashioned flowers are one of my favorites, but what about those darn ants!  Clearly, the flower buds produce a sweet substance that they like; however, I don't want them in my house.  This year I will try soaking the buds in water before bringing them indoors.

I have set out a fruit basket for us to enjoy.  Please help yourself to some delicious grapes and sweet, juicy watermelon. 

It is rather warm today so I have a refreshing glass of green tea with lemon.  May I pour you a glass?

"For some would say flowers are nature's masterpieces, but a well-made basket is a priceless treasure."

This oval-shaped peony basket features a lovely sage trim with a scalloped liner bursting with colorful peony blossoms.

The peony fabric is beautiful and matches our basket liner.

Thank you for sharing a cool refreshment with me.  Have a wonderful weekend!  I am also linking with the following ladies:

Mosaic Monday @ Little Red House

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage

Table Top Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Martha's Favorites

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations

Tuesday Tea for Two @ The Plumed Pen

Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean

Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fishtail Cottage

Spring Violets

Well, after seeing so many beautiful cards created by everyone I decided to test my hand with Copic markers.  After numerous emails and phone calls I wasn’t able to find one Copic class in my area so I decided to teach myself.

I have had Copic markers for quite sometime, but never really did anything with them.  I guess I was waiting to purchase my Memento Tuxedo Black ink pad as Copics won’t work with StazOn.  Believe me I found this out the hard way!

So this is my very first card created with Copics.  Please be honest and tell me what you think and if I should continue down this path and purchase additional colors for my set.

The flowers were colored in V000, V04, and V09.  The leaves were done in G40, G82, G85 and G94.  I’m not sure if these are the correct colors to use and blend with, but they were the colors I had in my box.

I love how vibrant the violets turned out and tried to select an image that didn’t require shading.  I used the Copic sketch markers, but did find it a little difficult to color the small stems of the flowers.  Any suggestions?  Do you use Cio markers?

Thank you for coming to visit me! 

A close up of the violets.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  PSX Viola (K-037) 

Paper:  Thistle, Lovely Lilac, Whisper White 
Ink:  Image - Memento Tuxedo Black; Flowers -V000, V04, V09; Leaves - G40, G82, G85, G94; Root - E31   
Accessories:  Thistle Stickles, Kaiser Rhinestones in Lilac 

Techniques:  Copic Markers

Tea in the Garden

Welcome friends,

I thought it would be a perfect time to have tea in the garden so I am linking today with Bernideen for Tea in the Garden on Saturday.  It is a beautiful day with a slight breeze.  My weigela "Java Red" is blooming profusely in light pink flowers with crimson throats.  This shrub makes a perfect backdrop for my stone garden bench.

A garden path awaits your arrival with a friendly cat statue.  Once you reach the top, please do step on the thyme I have planted in front of the bench.  This perennial is meant to be underfoot and has a wonderful fragrance.

This plant seems to really love this spot and has blended well with my creeping phlox.  I allow it to spread and generally flaunt itself when in bloom.

Did you notice the adorable cat looking down at the pretty geraniums?  Go ahead and pet him - he would love the attention! 

A cup of relaxing honey vanilla tea is being served today in my Lenox Accoutrements set.  Designer Anna Griffin's passion for English garden florals is reflected in this elegant cup and saucer with an antiqued rim.  Lush flowers in varying shades of pink and cream are in bloom against the cup's ivory body.

I have picked a David Austin rose for you with gypsophila from my garden.

This is the right side of my gazebo.  Soon my peonies will be in bloom!

"Gardens allow us to be a part of nature rather than apart from it."

I'm so glad you came to relax and enjoy the garden with me.  I’m also linking with the following ladies:

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage

Table Top Tuesday @ A Stroll Thru Life

Tea Time Tuesday @ Lady Katherine’s Tea Parlor

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Martha’s Favorites
Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations
Tuesday Tea for Two @ The Plumed Pen

Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean
Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage
Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer
Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fishtail Cottage

Memory Box Orchid Branches

I think these Orchid Branches from Memory Box look so dainty and delicate.  I stamped both the branches and All a Flutter butterfly onto Shimmery White paper in Going Gray and colored them with Prismacolor Pencils and Gamsol.  I sponged the edge of the mini Baroque Die with Going Gray then added SU Basic Pearls and Star Dust Stickles.

The piece of Blushing Bride paper was sprayed with Tsukineko Sheer Frost Shimmer Spritz before running it through my Big Shot with the Cuttlebug Jamara Embossing Folder - great effect!  I added a Spellbinders flourish accent before gluing my 3/8” Taffeta Ribbon in Basic Gray.

I hope everyone is having a great week!   

A close up of the flowers and butterfly.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Memory Box Orchid Branch Print, All a Flutter

Paper:  Memory Box Dove Gray, Blushing Bride, Shimmery White   
Ink:  Branches & Butterfly - Going Gray colored with Prismacolor Pencils; Sponging - Going Gray
Accessories:  3/8" Taffeta Ribbon in Basic Gray, SU Basic Pearls, Star Dust Stickles, Tsukineko Sheer Frost Shimmer Spritz, Cuttlebug Jamara Embossing Folder, Tim Holtz Baroque Die & Mini Baroque Die, Spellbinders Flourish Accents, Corner Rounder, Bow-Easy, Gamsol  
Techniques:  Sponging