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?

A Miracle!

...to me, at least. The neat thing about this pic is what you don't see. Blackbirds, starlings, grackles, and cowbirds. Last weekend I told my husband I was thinking about stopping feeding birds. "All I'm doing anymore is feeding blackbirds." It had gotten to the point they were emptying the feeder at an astonishing rate and scaring away all the little birds. And all I was doing was making noise and chasing them away like a madwoman.
As a last resort, I got on the computer and googled "getting rid of blackbirds at feeders". I got three results: one- learn to appreciate blackbirds, grackles, etc. okay... no! two- buy or rig a feeder with a fencing cage around it (sold to protect against squirrels)...larger birds can't fit through. Okay...pretty good idea, a definite possibility. three- try safflower seeds. Most small and songbirds love it. Blackbirds, starlings, etc. don't have a taste for it. Hmm...interesting. So I bought some, put it out Sunday night. Monday morning, no black birds. Tuesday, no black birds. It's Friday and I've seen maybe three or four at the feeder all week. They check things out and take off...not interested. It's absolutely amazing to me. The cost per bag is a little more, but I'm not going through bird seed at the speed of light anymore so it will even out in the long run.
How cool is that?!

Charlene's Sketch

Another Monday CCEE challenge. This month, Charlene (LilLuvsStampin) is the hostess and provided us with a sketch to follow. The printed chipboard flowers I used were included with a tin of Prima flowers I found at Target.

Recipe: ink- pink passion (SU); paper- white, pink passion, gingham check dp (Me and My Big Ideas); stamps- Upsy Daisy (SU); accessories- Cuttlebug embossing folder, gingham ribbon (Offray), Creative Memories oval cutting system; flowers (Prima).

Springtime Magic

More garden progress. The photos are a week apart. Isn't it amazing how fast things grow? We've just had a full day of rain. When the sun comes out things are going to go nuts blooming.

Basic Grey, Of Course!

When it came to chosing supplies for the last challenge, you know I had to chose Basic Grey. I sent everyone three different designer papers, of which they had to use at least two, and a crystal brad. The rest was up to the individual. This is always my favorite challenge, because I am continually amazed at the vastly different designs, using the same supplies. If you're interested in seeing any of the challenges I've mentioned, just click on the 'CCEE gallery' on the left side of my blog.

Recipe: stamps- source unknown; paper- pink, ivory, Basic Grey dp (Bittersweet Collection); ink- black archival; accessories- brad, ribbon (Offray).

Specialty Papers

You know those gorgeous and unusual designer papers you come across that you just have to buy because they are so beautiful, and then you put them in a folder to use on some special project, but you never do because they're too pretty to use? Or is it just me who does that? Well, that was the challenge I issued to my fellow CCEE'ers for the third Monday. Make a project using some kind of specialty paper...flocked, metalic, embossed, vellum..to name a few possibilities. I chose a lavender tinted printed vellum. I stamped the pansy using white pigment ink and embossing powder. Photographing this card was difficult and the embossing ended up looking cream, but it truly is white on white.

Recipe: stamps- pansy (PSX), butterfly (Inkadinkado); iink- white pigment (Colorbox); paper- white, lavender Bazzil, printed translucent lavender crescent (The Paper Company); accessories- Cuttlebug embossing folder, white ep.