Pretty Lilacs

The heavenly scent of lilacs ...

They are the most delicate, old fashioned and romantic of flowers ...

Pale lavender with star shaped blossoms ...

There is something unabashedly romantic about them and they have the sweetest scent.

The story of lilac, according to Greek mythology, begins with a beautiful nymph named Syringa (lilac's botanical name).  Captivated by her beauty, Pan, the god of the forests and fields, chased Syringa through the forest.  Frightened by Pan's affections, Syringa escaped him by turning herself into an aromatic bush ~ the flower we now refer to as lilac.

Springtime lilacs to brighten your day!  Today I am joining the following parties:

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer
Wow us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style
French Inspiration Thursday @ The French Cupboard
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Flaunt it Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Siberian Irises

After an evening rain, I took some pictures of my Siberian Irises.  These slightly ruffled, white petals are heavily streaked in purple.  To me, this type of flower looks like a jewel to the eye.

The grace and beauty of Siberian Irises ...

Their undulating falls flutter in the softest breeze ...

Thank you for stopping to see what is blooming in my garden this week.  I am linking with the following parties:

Macro Monday @ Lisa's Chaos
Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean
Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage
Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes
Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time
Floral Friday Fotos @ Floral Friday
Flowers on Saturday @ Blueberry Craft & Hobby

Seaside for Michael

I hope you will join me today in wishing my husband a very, very happy birthday.  When I asked him what he wanted he just shrugged his shoulders and said "I don't know".  So without any suggestions I decided to give him an Amazon gift card.  I think we are at the point in our lives where we have everything we need.  Tonight we will enjoy a romantic dinner for two followed by cake.  Here's to another year of good health and happiness!

This is the Stampscapes card I created for him.  On a piece of glossy white paper, I stamped the images in StazOn Black and then masked off the sky with a Post-It note.  The water was sponged in Ballet Blue, Brocade Blue and Night of Navy.  Sand was created using Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake and Close to Cocoa.  The rocks were colored with Going Gray and Basic Gray.

Next, I removed the Post-It and sponged the sky in Bordering Blue and Brilliance Pearlescent Ice.  I wanted the sky to have a little bit of a gray hue to it.

Happy Birthday was stamped inside with Early Espresso ink and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.

I adhered the image to a piece of Buckaroo Blue and mounted it onto a Desert Storm card.  Antique Lace Shimmerz Paint was applied to the sand and miniature seashells were added.  I am joining Craft a Scene for their Beach Scenes - a bit of sand and water. 

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Seaside Stampin' Ink Beach Stories & Beach Stories Too, Stampscapes Rocks & Grass, Sand Pattern & Tonal Applicator, Happy Birthday Sentiment by PSX
Paper:  Desert Storm, Buckaroo Blue, Glossy White, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Images - StazOn Black; Water - Ballet Blue, Brocade Blue, Night of Navy; Sand - Sahara Sand, Crumb Cake, Close to Cocoa; Rocks - Going Gray, Basic Gray; Sky - Bordering Blue, Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue; Sentiment - Early Espresso with Clear EP
Accessories:  Antique Lace Shimmerz Paint, Miniature Seashells, Post-It Note, Spellbinders Labels Eight #5
Techniques:  Sponging, Masking
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley are in bloom ...

Dainty bell shaped flowers sweetly scented ...

The Lily of the Valley gently

makes her presence known

with wisps of fragrant whispers

from wherever she is grown.

She lives within my garden

just beyond Sweet Violets' Place.

Miss Lily quietly conducts

her life with gentell grace.

She can't forget the reason she

reclusively resides ~

in God's own Garden she once grew

and now in mine abides,

for she arrived upon this earth

as Eve's most bitter tears,

and Lily of the Valley kept

that secret all these years.

Her pristine bells of purest white

are silent, save for scent.

She hides within a cloak of green ~

that's how her days are spent.

With modesty this gentle soul

has captured countless hearts.

Her fragrance lingers in the breeze.

~ Poem by Linda Lowther ~

A little photo editing with Photoshop and the Florabella Collection using Textures III.  Thank you for taking the time to stop and visit.  I hope your week is off to a fantastic start!  I am linking with the following parties:

Macro Monday @ Lisa's Chaos
Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms. Green Thumb Jean
Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage
Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes
Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage
Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time
Floral Friday Fotos @ Floral Friday
Flowers on Saturday @ Blueberry Craft & Hobby

Etsy Finds

A couple of weeks ago I was browsing around Etsy and I am amazed at how many talented artists are on this site.  I thought I would share with you some of my favorite finds!

I fell in love with this Shabby Chic Paris tote.  It is so romantic with its hand-ruffled rose pin and ruffled edging. 

MyStylishNest

This Paris script pillow cover caught my eye too!  Chocolate brown script on natural linen - perfect for the master bedroom.  Beautifully hand sewn (something I've never been able to do). 

(FestiveHomeDecor)

As soon as it arrived in the mail, I jetted off to Jo-Ann's for a pillow form and found them on sale at 50% off.  I even stopped for an ice cream on the way home.  They had my favorite flavor ... cotton candy - so yummy!

The antique chair was refinished by my parents and passed down to me.  A few years ago I re-upholstered the seat.  To this day it still sits next to my bedside table.

So you see it was a great day on Etsy!  Have you found anything wonderful lately?  I'm linking with the following parties:

French Inspiration Thursday @ The French Cupboard
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Feathered Nest Friday @ French Country Cottage
Flaunt It Friday @ Chic on a Shoestring Decorating
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Basket of Flowers

How about a basket of flowers for Mother's Day?  This card was created for a co-worker to give to his "sweet" mom yesterday.

I paired a Marianne Design Flower Basket (CR1208) with the Memory Box Primula Blooms die.  After assembling layers of flowers and strips for the basket my fingers started to get a little gluey!  Since her favorite color is purple I decided to use Lovely Lilac. 

Happy Mother's Day was stamped in Lovely Lilac and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  Sponging around the edges was done in Certainly Celery.  Three flowers were punched and rhinestones were added to the centers for a little accent.

I hope all you amazing mothers out there had a wonderful day as family is so precious.  Mothers are the most important person and everything we learn starts with them.  Mother's Day is always a difficult time for me.  I spent the day in my gardens thinking about my mom and how I wish we had more time together.  She will always be in my heart.

Wishing you a bright and sunny week!  I'm linking with the following parties:

Make It Monday @ Make It Monday
Inspire Me Monday @ Create with Joy
Hoo's Got Talent @ Night Owl Crafting
Beautify It Monday @ Bringing Beauty 

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  SU All Holidays, The Stamp Pad Co. Flourish
Paper:  Solar White Linen, Kaisercraft Chanteuse Collection, Lovely Lilac, Certainly Celery, Shimmery White
Ink:  Lovely Lilac with Clear EP, Sponging - Certainly Celery
Accessories:  Orchid Seam Binding, Kaiser Rhinestones in Lilac, Marianne Design Flower Basket Die (CR1208), Memory Box Primula Blooms Die (98149), Spellbinders Lattice Rectangles #4, Labels Four Small #2 & Labels Four #2, Sizzix Flowers, Branches & Leaves Die, Textured Impressions Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Paper Studio 1/4" Flower Punch, Bow-Easy 
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging
Card Size:  4 1/2" x 6 1/4"

Spring Flowers

I hope you are having a great week!  Things are really starting to come alive in the garden.  The recent rain has just made everything pop.  I have benn trying to keep up with taking photos of what is blooming.

In my front garden I have some Bleeding Hearts.  The heart-shaped pendants are so dainty.

This is Brunnera 'Jack Frost'.  I don't know which I like better the silvery heart-shaped leaves or the precious blue flowers. 

A Honeysuckle 'Arnolds Red' through dabbled light.  This shrub was planted for the birds.  Once the flowers fade they are followed by vibrant red berries that make a wonderful treat for our feathered friends to enjoy.

Pretty bluebells ...

The last of the soft pink tulips ...

Dark purple violets have taken over a little nook near my back door ...

Thank you for stopping to visit my garden this week.  I always enjoy having you!  I am linking with the following parties:

Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms.Green Thumb Jean

Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage

Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage

Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life

Fertilizer Friday @ Tootsie Time
Floral Friday Photos @ Floral Friday 
Flowers on Saturday @ Blueberry Craft & Hobby

Birthday Card for Ariadna

I have a project today using the Spellbinders Labels Twenty dies with the JustRite Stampers Kindness set.  This card was made for a co-worker's girlfriend who just adores green.

The frames and sentiment were all stamped in Handsome Hunter and sponging was done in Sage Shadow.  Leaves were cut from Sage Shadow paper using the Sizzix Flowers, Branches & Leaves die.  A Sizzix Scrollmark embossing folder was used on the Handsome Hunter background paper.  The butterfly was created with the exotic butterfly die from Cheery Lynn Designs and sponged with Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue & Sage Shadow.

A fairytale teal rose, sheer aqua ribbon, and rhinestones add a bit of elegance.

The inside sentiment by PSX was stamped in Handsome Hunter and embossed with clear embossing powder.  The flourish was stamped in Sage Shadow.

I'm very late posting this card as Ariadna's birthday was back in April.  I hope she had a wonderful day.  I am linking with Make It Monday and Stampin' for the Weekend.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  JustRite Kindness & Greetings from Paris, PSX Sentiment
Paper:  White Linen, Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow, Shimmery White
Ink:  Handsome Hunter, Sage Shadow, Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue
Accessories:  Aqua Sheer Shimmer Ribbon, Kaiser Silver Rhinestones, Prima Marketing Fairytale Teal Rose, Spellbinders Labels Twenty #3 & #4, Sizzix Scrollmark Embossing Folder, Sizzix Flowers, Branches & Leaves Die, Cheery Lynn Designs Exotic Small Butterfly     
Techniques:  Sponging
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Pansies

Hi everyone!  It is a beautiful day today and perfect for a bike ride.  I would like to share with you my antique inspired tricycle full of posies.

Pastel pink, blue and purple pansies are nestled together.

A favorite combo of mine ...

 

Grab the handle bars and let's go for a ride ...

It's nice to be able to move my tricycle wherever I please ...

Their blooms have such cheerful faces.

Thank you for stopping to visit me today.  I'm happy to be linking with the following garden parties:

Bloomin' Tuesday @ Ms.Green Thumb Jean
Tuesday Garden Party @ An Oregon Cottage
This Week In My Garden @ The Little Round Table
Garden Tuesday @ Sidewalk Shoes
Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer
Cottage Flora Thursday @ Fishtail Cottage
Home and Garden Thursday @ A Delightsome Life
Flowers on Saturday @ Blueberry Craft & Hobby