Simply Sketched

Hello everyone,

Today I have a sympathy card to share with you.  I used the Stampin' Up Simply Sketched hostess set.  The card base is Smoky Slate layered with Orchid Opulence with another piece of Smoky Slate.  I decorated the background paper by stamping the Filigree background with Smoky Slate ink.

The flower image was stamped in StazOn Stone Gray onto a piece of Shimmery White paper cut from a Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Two #4 die.  It was colored with Prismacolor pencils with Gamsol.  I then mounted it to a piece of Orchid Opulence cut from a Decorative Labels Twenty-Two die.  I added Diamond Stickles and clear rhinestones as a finishing touch.  A strip of Orchid Opulence graces the bottom.  It was cut using the Scalloped Borders Two die and edged with a piece of seam binding.

The banner was created using the Framelits Bitty Banners and stamped With Sympathy in StazOn Stone Gray. A triple loop bow was made from Skies Over Versailles tea stained seam binding.  I purchased about 10 yards last year from a shop on Etsy.

The inside sentiment and image were stamped in StazOn Stone Gray.  Prismacolor Pencils were also used for the leaves and berries.

I don't usually have sympathy cards on hand and create them specifically for the individual.  Although sometimes I feel like the card is going to be late by the time I mail it.  You know how that goes!

Thank you for stopping by.  I hope you're enjoying the first days of summer.

Stamps:  SU Simply Sketched, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Filigree Background, Cathedral Sympathy by My Sentiments Exactly!
Paper:  Smoky Slate, Orchid Opulence, Shimmery White
Ink:  StazOn Stone Gray, Prismacolor Pencils, Smoky Slate
Accessories:  Skies Over Versailles Seam Binding, Kaiser Silver Rhinestones, Best Occasions Flourish Accent Rhinestones, Diamond Stickles, Spellbinders Labels Twenty-Two #4, Decorative Labels Twenty-Two #5, Spellbinders Scalloped Borders Two, SU Framelits Bitty Banners, Bow-Easy, Gamsol
Technique:  Coloring
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Renaissance Festival

Welcome, Lords and Ladies!

Yesterday was such a nice day Michael & I took a drive to the Renaissance Festival.  It was great to step back to a time when romance and chivalry abound.  It was a time to revel in the atmosphere of a 16th Century European Country ~ a magical world where Knights, Lords, Ladies, and Fairies play.

As you strolled the grounds there was traditional music ...

    and dancers dressed in their attire.

We sat back and enjoyed belly dancing and a snake charmer.

This little fella stopped by to visit with us.

Cheering took place at the Jousting tournament where we watched gallant Knights defend their honor until the last man was left standing!

After a few practice runs the Knights suited up in full armored Joust as they competed for his Ladies' honor!

Horse & carriage rides took place.

Juggling was a joy to watch ...

as well as the Circle of Fire act.

The air was filled with the smell of food from the Renaissance period.  After having some barbecue and cider donuts we watched the horses for a while.  

Vendors offered medieval accessories such as masks and hair garlands made from flowers.  It was a day to mingle with costumed characters and enjoy their merriment and mayhem!

Thank you for stopping by to share the festival with us.

Lilac Dreams

My charming old-fashioned lilac bush didn't produce many flowers this year so I'm enjoying the late variety of 'Donald Wyman'.  This French lilac blooms abundantly and the flowers are finer and more delicate.

Like Christmas, lilacs only come once a year and I look forward to it with great anticipation.

Pretty blooms nestled inside a whitewashed gathering basket.

ahhh ... the scent of sweet lilacs fill the air.

A few for the bedroom - there is nothing like waking up and smelling the lilacs.

Instant loveliness in a vintage Leuchtenburg creamer from Germany.

With Lilacs

I BEG the pardon of these flowers

For bringing them to one whose hair

Alone doth shame, beyond compare,

The sweetest blooms of richest bowers.

~ Charles Henry Crandall ~

The peony buds are starting to open so I will be savoring my two favorite flowers this week.

Thank you for stopping by to smell the lilacs with me.

Today I am joining ...

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Cottage Garden Party @ Fishtail Cottage

Vintage Vogue in Blue

Hi blogging friends,

I hope you are enjoying this nice weather.  Last week I was able to get all the gardens weeded and mulched.  So many flowers are blooming with lots of activity going on in the yard.  I took a break to make this birthday card.

I started with a Night of Navy card base layered with Buckaroo Blue & Bashful Blue.  The Shimmery White piece was embossed with a Textured Impressions Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder.  I then sponged the embossed design with Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue ink.  A strip of navy blue paper was cut using the Spellbinders Scalloped Borders Two die.  Bashful Blue taffeta ribbon finishes the edge.

A piece of Shimmery White paper was cut from a Spellbinders Large Standard Circles #5 die.  The script was stamped in Bashful Blue with some floral flourishes in Night of Navy.  The image was then adhered to a Buckaroo Blue Lacey Circle and popped up.  Flowers were stamped in Bashful Blue, embossed with Iridescent Ice embossing powder and cut out.  A pretty butterfly from SU's Strength & Hope set was stamped in Buckaroo Blue and embossed with clear embossing powder.  I've added some Basic Grey Opaline Pearls in sky.

The inside of the card was layered with Spellbinders Labels Eight dies.  Happy Birthday was stamped in Buckaroo Blue and embossed with clear embossing powder.  A coordinating flower was stamped in the lower right corner.

I hope you will stop back for another garden tour with my little chipmunk friend.  Don't forget you can also follow Donna's Designs on Facebook.

Until next time ...

Stamps:  SU En Francais, Vintage Vogue, Strength & Hope, Happiest Birthday Wishes
Paper:  Night of Navy, Buckaroo Blue, Bashful Blue, Shimmery White
Ink:  Script - Bashful Blue; Floral Flourishes - Night of Navy; Flowers - Bashful Blue with Iridescent Ice EP; Butterfly - Buckaroo Blue with Clear EP; Sentiment - Buckaroo Blue with Clear EP; Sponging - Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue
Accessories:  3/8" Bashful Blue Taffeta Ribbon, Basic Grey Opaline Pearls in Sky, SU Textured Impressions Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Spellbinders Scalloped Borders Two, Lacey Circles #4, Large Standard Circles #5, Labels Eight #4 & #5 (Inside), Bow-Easy
Technique:  Embossing, Sponging
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")