July Supplies Challenge

Today's weekly CCEE challenge is the supplies challenge (my favorite). Dawn sent us this beautiful designer paper...I love the colors. I used the daisy from 'Looks Like Spring', embossing three of them in white on colored card stock and cutting them out.

Recipe: stamps- sentiment (Stampabilities), flower (Looks Like Spring, SU); ink- always artichoke (SU), Versamark; paper- white, marigold morning (SU), yellow marbled, designer paper (heidi grace designs); accessories- white ep, sheer ribbon (Offray), white gel pen, 1/2 inch circle punch (flower centers).

Ice Cream and Cake

Often when making a card, I'll make two with the same supplies. When I did the ice cream card, I made a second base card with the Basic Grey designer paper. Although it isn't visible in the photo, the cake stand is colored with crystal Stickles.

Recipe: stamps- cake (PSX), sentiment (Upsy Daisy, SU); ink- black archival; paper- barely banana (SU), white, pink marbled, Basic Grey DP; accessories- crystal Stickles, scallop border punch (SU), dotted swiss Cuttlebug embossing folder, SU markers.

For Love of Lilyturf

Another favorite of mine...Lirope muscari, common name 'lilyturf'. I love it because it's foolproof. It does sun and shade, wet and dry, and always looks good. (Would that I could do the same). It grows in mounds, has beautiful foliage on it's own and gets a pretty purple flower in late summer. These pics are from last year. In the spring, shear back the dead foliage before new growth begins and divide if needed. The only thing to watch out for, is that there are two types of liriope. 'Muscari' is clumping and 'spicata' sends out runners and is invasive. Make sure you "choose wisely". And Susie...I was right, it is pronounced lir-ee-oh-pee (I looked it up). :)

My Little Visitor

You're going to have to click on the picture and enlarge it to see her...a female ruby throated hummingbird. They're so funny. I've seen four at one time so I know I have at least that many. They are all females and they will not share the feeder. Whoever is drinking at the time will chase everyone else away. There are four feeding portals, but will they share? No.....

Ah, Summer!

This week's CCEE challenge was to make a fun summer card. What's more fun than ice cream? This beautiful Basic Grey paper made me think of ice cream colors. The stamp is one of the $1 stamps from Michael's. It's a two scooper and I just stamp it several times and cut and paste the scoops. You can't see very well in the photo, but I crimped a little of the white panel.

Recipe: stamps- ice cream cone (katie & co.), snap stamps (karen foster); paper- barely banana (SU), white, pink and white marbled, Basic Grey dp; ink- black archival, SU markers; accessories- Cuttlebug embossing folder, crimper, scallop border punch (SU).

Sorry, More Flowers...

Note to self. I love this trailing silver grey Dichondra (Silver Falls). A definite keeper for containers. The purple flower is Torenia 'Purple Moon'.

Don't you just love Gerbera daisies? They're such a happy flower.

I have a new favorite flower (this, of course, changes from moment to moment)... Diascia 'Genta Pink' (also called twinspur). All this is from 3 starter plants. It has a mounding habit and has been covered with flowers since I bought it in early May. I'm anxious to see how it does throughout the rest of the season. I did learn one disappointing fact online this morning. I purchased it as a perennial, but for my zone it's considered a tender perennial and treated as an annual. However, it's definitely worth buying each year.

Little Pleasures

"It isn't the great big pleasures that count the most; it's making a great deal out of the little ones."
Jean Webster, Daddy Long Legs


This bouquet contains rose of sharon, gooseneck loosestrife, coral bells, shasta daisies, queen anne's lace, liatris, and a yellow wildflower called linaria vulgaris (also goes by butter and eggs, yellow toadflax and wild snapdragon).

June Supplies Challenge

Charlene was the CCEE challenge hostess for June and sent us beautiful designer paper, ribbon, brads, and punched ovals. The butterfly is embossed.

Recipe: paper- chocolate chip (SU), white, pink designer paper (source unknown); stamps- butterfly (Anita's), Essential Sentiments (My Favorite Things); ink- chocolate chip (SU), pink (Mist Collection, Color Box Petal Points); accessories- brads, ribbon, clear ep, punches (SU).

Play Ball!

My cousin's son turned seven in April. When asked what he wanted for his birthday, he told his dad that he wanted a signed baseball from my son, Adam. How sweet is that? I contacted Adam, who sent me a baseball for him. This is the card I made to accompany the baseball and a couple signed cards. I was happy for the opportunity to use this adorable stamp set and color coordinated it to match the team colors. The form of the card is called Tri Shutter and actually pretty simple to do. You can find directions for how to make them on the Splitcoast Stampers website.

Recipe: stamps- Put Me In Coach (Storage Units, Ink and More); paper- black, white, dp (source unknown); ink- black archival, SU markers; accessories- chalks (for sky).

No Time To Blog

This is one of the reasons for being so behind in my blogging. The garden is starting to come in. This morning we finished up the last of 24 quarts of green beans from the first picking. I had a lot of help though. My husband, Erin and Jill all helped pick, snap and fill jars.

My Jenn Flower

...known to others as gaillardia or blanket flower. I like to name a plant after the person who gave it to me, or someone it reminds me of. My friend Jenn gave this to me when she moved to Texas. She's thriving, Jenn!

Blue Bayou

I wish I was talking about an exotic spot where I'm vacationing this summer, but (sigh...) it's only the name of the color of my card.

Recipe: stamps- Sanded (SU), Botanicals by Rhonna Farrer (Autumn Leaves); paper- blue bayou (SU, white, Old World Stack (DCWV); ink- blue bayou (SU), oasis green (VersaMagic chalk ink), Mist collection (Petal Points by Color Box); accessories- pewter brads, silver embroidery floss.

I Actually Do Have Readers!

...because a few of them have gotten after me for not posting for so long. Thank you, friends! And sorry I've been so lax.
Wow, has it been a busy month! But we've gotten a lot accomplished, too. Probably the most work has been done gardenwise...both vegetable and flower. We've planted corn, potatoes, sugar snap peas, green beans, squash (zucchini, spaghetti, and yellow straightneck), cucumbers, tomatoes (several varieties), asparagus, peppers (green and banana), onions, green striped pumpkins, swiss chard, eggplant, cantalopes, lettuce, and cabbage. I think that's everything. Thank you, Lord, for blessing us with a rainy spring and early summer. Everything has gotten off to such a good start. I've frozen peas and this morning we finished twelve pints of zucchini relish. If anyone wants the recipe for the best relish they will ever eat, contact me.
The flowers are so beautiful this year. The photo is from June 10th, so it's not quite up to date. I'm continuing to work on the beds, always a work in progress. No matter what, the weeds always thrive, don't they?