Farewell to August

As we bid farewell to August I hope you will join me for a late garden tour.  The pond is the show stopper this time of year.

The Black-Eyed Susans have never looked better ...

their warm color will take us into autumn.

Japanese Blood Grass in blades of striking red.

Monarda is blooming behind the pond.  A plant which was given to me years ago.

Both the waterlilies and hyacinths filled the pond.

I'm partial to the pretty purple  :-)

Ornamental Oregano 'Rotkugel' will bloom through October.  The dark purple calyces and pink flowers attract the white skipper butterflies. 

Silver-gray spikes of Russian Sage.

Roses are holding their own; however, I did lose a David Austin this year.

The 'Ruby Spice' Summersweet bush is getting bigger.

A new addition to the garden was Malva alcea Fastigiata.  I'm going to let the plants reseed and intertwine with the Feverfew.

Monarda 'Grand Marshall' is my favorite.  The flowers look like little fireworks!

As I go through some transitions in my life I know there will be some bumps along the way.   I will continue to blog and want to thank each of you for continuing to visit me and for your wonderful comments and support.

When one door closes another opens and I don't want to miss what could be waiting for me.  Blessings to you! 

 

Fragrant Hosta Bloom

Hi everyone,

 

I'm still here!  I have been busy with some painting projects and working in the gardens.  As we approach late summer the hostas have been blooming.  I enjoy their fragrant funnel white flowers and picked a few to have indoors.

 

Many years ago I planted a row of 'Royal Standard' along the side of the house.  The large mounds are at least two feet high now.  It has only been over the past few years I have grown to appreciate the flowers.

 

Do you have a favorite hosta?  I think 'June' is very striking with its variegated leaves and soft lavender flowers.

 

Wishing you a wonderful week and I will be by to visit.

A Cute Downy

In the spring when I was doing garden clean up I would hear woodpeckers in the empty lot behind us just drumming away on the trees.  I have never seen one come to our bird feeder so I decided to purchase a woodpecker suet feeder just for them.  I filled it with a blend of beef, cracked corn, peanut & nut pieces and black-oil sunflower.

 

 

A couple of weeks ago my husband hung it from the larch tree outside our living room window.  A great place for me to keep an eye on things and see who comes to visit!  After about a week I saw a black-capped chickadee enjoying a snack.  I told myself just be patient and let them find it.  Well, this past Saturday I looked out the window and to my surprise there was a cute Downy Woodpecker.  I knew right away it was  male by the small red patch on the back of his head.  I yelled to Michael "Get the camera we have a woodpecker at the feeder!"

 

 

He is quite small with a black and white checkered pattern.  Soon a friend came to join him.

I don't think hubby was totally convinced the woodpeckers would use a feeder so I'm glad I proved him wrong ... lol.

 

Thanks for stopping to visit me.  Happy bird watching!

Summer at the Babbling Brook

Hi everyone,

 

I hope you enjoyed your weekend.  It really went by way too fast!  My creation today brings you the soothing sound of running water.  I just love the tranquillity of a babbling brook. 

 

On a piece of glossy paper I first stamped the Babbling Brook and Rock images in StazOn Stone Gray.  I then masked off the rocks with a Post-it note and stamped the Tree Cluster in StazOn Olive Green.  Using a cotton swab I colored the rocks in Going Gray and Basic Gray then dabbed some Olive Green on the trees for a little color variation.

 

The sky was sponged in Bashful Blue and the water was done in a combination of Bordering Blue, Ballet Blue and Brocade Blue.  ColorBox Frost White was added to the water in certain areas and the final touch was Angel Wings Shimmerz Paint.

The inside sentiment was stamped in StazOn Black and embossed with clear embossing powder.  The tree cluster was done in StazOn Olive Green.  

 

I recently switched the type of paper I had been using for my scenes to Kromekote.  I really like it much better and the paper absorbs the ink much better. 

 

Today I am joining ...

 

Make It Monday @ Make It Monday

Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy

Anything Goes @ Crafts and Me

 

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Stampscapes Babbling Brook, Tree Cluster Small, Rock 1, DRS Designs Sending You a Smile

Paper:  Fresh Leaf Bark, Garden Green, Kromekote Glossy White, Whisper White

Ink:  Babbling Brook & Rocks - StazOn Stone Gray; Trees - StazOn Olive Green; Rocks colored in Going Gray & Basic Gray; Sky - Bashful Blue; Water - Bordering Blue, Ballet Blue & Brocade Blue

Accessories:  Post-it Note, Angel Wings Shimmerz Paint, Spellbinders Labels Eight #5 (Inside) 

Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5") 

Softness of Pink

Once again it is time for tea. Please join me as I have a few new things to share with you.

 

A vintage teacup and saucer marked Made in Japan.  Blue luster glaze on porcelain decorated with gold trim and pink roses.

 

This was a wonderful find for a mere 50 cents  :-)

 

 

Paper crafting continues in my house - actually when does it ever really stop ... lol!

 

These adorable tea bag holders were created using a digital download by Vectoria Designs. 

 I added bows, pearls and cute little spoons for some pizazz.  What do you think? 

 

 

My hydrangea bush bloomed her heart out for me!  'Endless Summer' has done very well in my garden.

 

 

A beautiful soft pink color with touches of blue.  A color dictated by the pH levels of my soil.

 

Thank you for sipping tea with me. 

 

Today I am joining ...

 

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmation

Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques and Teacups

Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage

Sunrise at the Cove

Hi blogging friends,

Finally, a Stampscapes scene to share with you!  I know it has been a while so the other day before heading outside to work in the gardens my creative juices were flowing. 

All the images were stamped in StazOn Black with the exception of the mountains.  The rest was done with sponging.  I had so many ink pads out it was unreal!  After blending the colors together I added ColorBox Frost White to the water followed with Angel Wings Shimmerz Paint.

 

The inside quote was stamped in Perfect Plum and embossed with clear embossing powder.  It is a new stamp I recently picked up from Impression Obsession.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  If you ever have any questions about my cards, please feel free to email me.  Happy Crafting!

 

Today I am joining ...

 

Make It Monday @ Make It Monday

Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy

Anything Goes @ Simon Says Stamp!

Anything Goes @ Crafts and Me

 

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Stampscapes Lakeside Cove Large, Brookside Boulders, Reeds Large, Water Pattern, Oak Branch, Migrating Birds Large by A Stamp in the Hand Co., Infinite Beauty by Impression Obsession

Paper:  Thistle, Recollections Purple Passion, Glossy White, Whisper White

Ink:  Images - StazOn Black; Mountains - Going Gray; Boulders - Basic Gray; Sky - Adirondack Pink Sherbet, Pretty in Pink, Pixie Pink, Lavender Lace, Adirondack Purple Twilight, Adirondack Eggplant, Night of Navy; Water - same colors as sky but added Barely Banana & ColorBox Frost White; Water Pattern - Brocade Blue; Sun - Barely Banana, Yoyo Yellow, Pixie Pink; Sentiment - Perfect Plum with Clear EP  

Accessories:  1" Circle Punch, Post It Notes, Angel Wings Shimmerz Paint, Spellbinders Labels Eight #5 (Inside)

Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")