Donna's Designs: February 2013

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Waiting for Spring

Hi everyone,

Are you going through garden withdrawal? Back in the fall I had a wonderful package arrive from White Flower Farm.

I wasn't sure if I was going to plant any bulbs after the critters dug up my pink tulips, but after swooning over the catalog I just couldn't resist.

My darling husband helped me dig several areas and we put in cages for some of them. We dug a hole approx. 12" square by 10" deep.

The cage was set at the bottom and filled with a bed of soil for the proper planting depth.

I placed the bulbs on top of the soil (pushing them in slightly) and spaced them according to their label.

The bulbs were covered with soil to the top of the cage.

We then lowered the top panel and attached the side panels with twist ties.

The remaining soil covered the rest of the cage and finally we mulched.

Here are some of the flowers I hope to enjoy come springtime.

I also purchased squirrel proof crocus bulbs. I'm assuming these bulbs contain lycorine, a bitter tasting substance that repels animals.

(Photos courtesy of White Flower Farm)

I know it will be a few months away, but I look forward to seeing what sprouts! Did you plant any spring bulbs in the fall? Have you been fighting the burrowing critters too?

Today I am joining ...

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer
Home Party @ Rose Chintz Cottage
Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a daily cup from Mrs. Olson
Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner
Open House Party @ Bernideen's Tea Time
Show and Tell Friday @ My Romantic Home

Friday, February 22, 2013

La Rue Valentine Cards

I'm quite late posting some of my Valentine's Day cards, but hope you will still enjoy seeing them. Both of my cards use the Memory Box La Rue Heart die with the matching Grand Heart.

The background on the first card was created by running a piece of Shimmery White paper through the Big Shot using a Sizzix Scrollmark embossing folder. I then lightly sponged over the scrolls with VersaMagic Pretty Petunia ink. It was then mounted to a piece of Elegant Eggplant. Light orchid satin ribbon was wrapped around the paper with a bow.

The La Rue Heart was cut from Shimmery White paper and glued to a shimmer purple heart. A Prima Marketing Angelica Rose graces the center. The heart was popped up off the background paper and everything was mounted to an orchid card.

Happy Valentine's Day was stamped in Distress Dusty Concord and embossed with clear embossing powder. A cute skeleton key image was stamped in Stone Gray.

On the pink card I used a music score background stamp with Brilliance Pearlescent Beige ink. The edges were distressed and then mounted to a piece of Blushing Bride.

Using the Memory Box Grand Heart die I cut a piece of Shimmery White paper and sponged it with ColorBox Frost White, Distress Spun Sugar, Victorian Velvet and Tattered Rose. I suppose I could have used a piece of Blushing Bride, but I enjoy sponging and creating my own colors. I then glued the delicate La Rue Heart to the pink grand heart. In my stash I found a beautiful off-white crochet pearl blossom for the center.

Happy Valentine's Day was stamped in Close to Cocoa and embossed with clear embossing powder. The scrolls were stamped in Distress Victorian Velvet (stamped off once on scrap paper).

I find that no matter how much designer paper I have, I tend to keep making my own backgrounds. Sometimes it seems like I can't get the colors to match the way I want so I just start sponging.

Have a wonderful and relaxing weekend! I hope you get to enjoy what makes you happy.

Purple Card Recipe:

Stamps: SU Key to My Heart, PSX Valentine's Day Sentiment

Paper: Orchid, DCWV The Shimmer Matstack Purple, Elegant Eggplant, Shimmery White

Ink: VersaMagic Pretty Petunia, Distress Dusty Concord, StazOn Stone Gray

Accessories: Offray 5/8" Light Orchid Satin Ribbon, Prima Marketing Darling Angelica Rose, Memory Box La Rue Heart & Grand Heart Dies, Memory Box Debutante Frame Die (Inside), Bow-Easy

Techniques: Embossing, Sponging

Card Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Pink Card Recipe:

Stamps: Stampendous Music Score Background, PSX Valentine's Day Sentiment, Stampington & Company Wrought Scroll

Paper: Desert Storm, Blushing Bride, Shimmery White, Very Vanilla

Ink: Music Score - Brilliance Pearlescent Beige; Heart - ColorBox Frost White, Distress Spun Sugar, Distress Victorian Velvet & Distress Tattered Rose; Sentiment - Close to Cocoa with Clear EP; Scrolls - Distress Victorian Velvet

Accessories: Crochet Pearl Blossom, Memory Box La Rue Heart & Grand Heart Dies

Techniques: Embossing, Sponging

Card Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Monday, February 18, 2013

Winter White Tea

Shortly before the holidays I received an amaryllis bulb, which has been sitting by the window in my sunroom. A few weeks ago it started to bloom. The ruffled white blossoms sparkle above the antique white metal cachepot embossed with a gold fleur-de-lis pattern.

Pretty moss covers the soil.

A wonderful blend of gold and white!

It is a friendly reminder that warmer days will soon be ahead.

I'm dreaming of spring as I prepare some tea.

Pure white china from Germany by Schumann in the 'White Elegance' pattern.

Embossed with beautiful scrolls and scalloped edges.

As they reach for the sky these Grand Trumpets are 15" tall.

Greek mythology tells the story of a very sensitive girl called Amaryllis. One day when she was on a mountainside picking flowers, she met the shepherd Alteo and fell in love on the spot, but Alteo was not interested in girls, he only loved flowers. He had often said that: "Only the girl who can bring me a new flower will receive my love."

Amaryllis despaired and turned to the Oracle at Delphi for advice. There she was told to take an arrow from the temple and to wound herself with it in front of Alteo's house, whereby she must declare her love for him. If necessary she should repeat this action on the subsequent evenings. Amaryllis did what oracle had told her and when the clock struck midnight on the first evening, she resolutely stabbed her breast and her heart. It was as if her life was streaming out of her as she stood in front of Alteo's hut calling his name loudly and declaring that their lives were tied together. Unfortunately her actions had no effect.

She repeated the scene the next evening and again the evening after that. For thirty nights blood dripped before Alteo's door, until a miracle happened. On the spot where the blood had fallen, there was a large red flower with a wide open calyx. "Alteo, Alteo, here is the flower," called Amaryllis excitedly. Alteo saw the fragile girl with the thick and heavy stem in her hands, bearing the unfamiliar bright red flower of love. The rugged shepherd knelt before her and wept, and as they kissed for the first time, the larks sung high in the air.

Thank you for sipping tea with me!

Today I am joining ...

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Martha's Favorites

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations

Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques and Teacups

Friends Sharing Tea @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Blissful Whites Wednesday @ Timewashed

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Valentine's Day Soiree

Hi everyone,

I thought it was about time I did a tablescape design so this is my Valentine's Day soiree. I gathered up my vintage Homer Laughlin 'Queen Esther' china for the occasion. These pieces are from the Lady Liberty Line (circa 1950).