I Love Sunflowers!

I planted a huge row of sunflowers in our garden this year! They were so pretty and now the goldfinches are enjoying them! I love hearing all their chatter as they feast on the seeds!!

If you’re near the Springfield/Yellow Springs area, stop by Young’s Dairy where a farmer plants a huge field of sunflowers! They’re in full bloom right now!

Here is a card I made for a friend’s birthday who also enjoys sunflowers!

I think it turned out so cute! It’s a side step from the Fun and Fancy Folds. The quote and front image are from the new set, Seasons Change and the new Wheelbarrow die. The rows of sunflowers are Sunflowers Single with matching Sunflowers die. Also used, Shabby Rose Collection, Pierced Ovals, Fence, Grass Hill, Grass Lawn.

Thanks for stopping by!!

Dawn

Side Step Fold Fun and Fancy Folds	Shabby Rose Collection	ODBD Seasons Change	Sunflowers Single	ODBD Wheelbarrow Die
ODBD Grass Hill Die	ODBD Grass Lawn Die	Pierced Ovals	Fence Die	Sunflowers Die

Summer Gardens and Friends

My Purple Coneflowers are just beautiful right now and attracting so many bees and butterflies, one of my favorite summer flowers!

Here is a card that looks like it could have come right from my garden! 

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This is ODBD Forever Friends, colored with Copics and done “out of box” (tutorial here). The bee is from Butterfly and Bugs. Dies used are Vintage Borders, Layered Lacey Ovals, Vintage Labels, Pierced Rectangles, and Butterfly and Bugs die.

I even finished the inside for a change!

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

Geese and Butterflies and Ducks….oh my!

Late yesterday afternoon we took the kayaks out to the lake. What a gorgeous time on the water, the Redbuds peeking out as the rest of the woods unfolds its greenery!

I tried a little fishing…. which is just what it was, fishing… NOT catching!! So I turned my energy toward taking some pictures!

Before I get to the pictures, let me share the ‘butterfly’ part of this post!

The sketch today on Splitcoast.

For some reason it was really hard to get a picture that showed the true pink color, this is about the best I could do!

I just love Fancy Fritillary, here colored with a Copic and Shell Pink ink. The verse from Belles Vignes is with the same ink as are the butterflies from Trois Jolies Papillons. The circles are from Matting Circles and Circle Ornaments dies.  

Ah, but what about the embossing folder you ask!

That, I made! I had this idea in the middle of the night…you know the times when your mind just won’t settle and let you fall asleep!!

I used some thin cardboard to start, like from a cereal box, gluing 2 of each together onto the base. I added another layer from thick cardstock. I think I need maybe one or two more layers as I needed to shim this as it went through for a deeper impression. But I love the end result!

Too fun, right?!

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Now, back to geese and ducks!

Thank you to the lone goose that swam by, just about the only wildlife I saw while out. There are swans on the lake but we were at the wrong area to see them, maybe next time!

The Redbuds are full and beautiful now, I love the purple hues with the greens just starting to fill in the landscape!

{remember, right clicking on a picture can bring it up larger in another window for easier viewing}

This next one I added a Dry Brush filter through PSE13.

Who knew I could paint!! Lol!

I also took a pic with my phone…just because I could! I did a little editing with an app and although not as clear, still kinda cool.

And, as we were getting out boat out of the water, these two came by.

Ahhh…. so relaxing to get out! The season is just starting and the adventures are limitless!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

A Get Well and a Hike!

Wind advisory yesterday, frost in the forecast this week… we must be in Ohio!!! Ugh!

I enjoyed a 1.5 hour massage yesterday at Harmony Farms which just happens to be minutes from Charleston Falls. I thought the Redbuds would be in full bloom and hoped to get some good pictures. So, along with a friend who was also getting a massage, we hiked down to the Redbud valley. Somewhat of a disappointment! Although blooming, there weren’t very many….not one picture!

The falls were roaring again after all the rain we’ve had, so I stopped for another shot…………..I could stay there for hours (on a nice, warm day! and no appointment in minutes!)

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I needed a masculine get well card and the sketch challenge on Splitcoast was perfect for it.

I used Our Daily Bread designs The Waves on the Sea, colored with Copics and sponged the sky with Distress inks and used Layered Lacey Squares. The background is Fishing Net stamped in Old Paper on Kraft. The sentiment is from April Showers, leaving off inking up the umbrella, clouds from Clouds and Raindrops dies.

I love doing a fisherman knot with this type of card.

Enjoy YOUR day, friends!

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

Quiet Moments…and a Card!

Sunday afternoon we took a little drive to Charleston Falls. The trees were still naked after their long winter nap, not many signs of leafing out yet, wildflowers were scattered here and there….but the falls were flowing after all the rain we’ve had and it was a beautiful sight! Can’t wait to go back and catch the Redbuds in bloom!

I found this anonymous quote, how perfect for this picture!

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Here’s a card I made for the sketch challenge on Splitcoast and also the color challenge this week.

I used Our Daily Bread designs Shower of Blessings, Layered Lacey Squares, Umbrellas, and Shabby Rose Paper Collection. I added glitter to the cut away. I cut another umbrella top and popped it up with foam pieces.

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This picture was taken with my phone, all I had at the moment out in the yard.

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

Squirrels, Wildflowers and Sketches

Meet Stumpy, one of the resident squirrels. I call him that because (for reasons unknown) he has only part of his tail!

He and several of his friends like to raid the bird feeders even though they have corn on several trees. I guess it’s like comparing hamburger to filet mignon, corn to sunflower seeds!

I’m glad we live in the country because city neighbors would wonder when they heard me open the dining room window and holler “Stumpy! Get OUT of the bird feeder…..go eat your corn!!!”

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Now, wildflowers and sketches

Here is the card I did for the Sketch Challenge on Splitcoast today.

I needed a birthday card for a friend today, always happy when I can “kill two birds with one stone”.

Here is the sketch…

I flipped it for the balloons.

I colored Queen Anne’s Lace Background with Marvy embossable markers, used clear embossing powder and heat set. I love the look!
Each balloon from the Happy Birthday die is dry embossed with different folders, and happy birthday from the same die is on the inside. The greeting is from Life is a Gift.

I also used Flourished Star Pattern die (love that dotted edge!) and Beautiful Borders die, cutting off the ‘fringe’ so I just have the large scallops.

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Well…it’s that time of morning when the feeders are starting to get busy. I’d better go check on Stumpy!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

On a Snowy Day….What’s Your Comfort?

Winter has finally come to Ohio! Snow on the ground and temps well below ZERO with the windchill! Brrrrrr!

I have several bird feeders out my dining room window and love watching the variety that come to eat, all fluffed up, trying to stay warm!

I have several pairs of Mr & Mrs Cardinal, Blue Jays, various wood peckers, the darling little Chickadees, Junkos, Nuthatches, House Finches, Mourning Doves….and I love to try to get some good pics!

Mrs. Cardinal with a snowflake on her back and melting snow on her beak and feathers!

Back in the summer my phlox just went crazy! I had plans of cleaning up the dead stems, yeah right! That never happened! And now I’m glad I didn’t! It gives lots of cover for the birds around the feeders!

Need more comfort? Snowy days call for stamping too! I was asked to be a part of the sketch team again on Splitcoast, always my favorite challenge!

So, here’s my card! I decided to make a pocket on the front for one of the layers.

A nice simple sketch, perfect for ODBD Grunge Piano Background and Just a Note. I ran the pocket through the Cuttlebug with a music embossing folder. This could be a ‘get well’, ‘thinking of you’, or I think it could even be ‘birthday’. I have a friend that teaches piano with a birthday soon… I think this will be perfect for her!

I hope you’re staying warm wherever you are. Now I better go feed those birds before they start knocking on the window!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn

Just Relax….a Variety Post!

A week of county fair, working a two day stamp show and now at mid-week I’m getting back into the old grind!

I thought for today I’d just post a medley rather than all separate posts. So… if you’re only into stamping, you’ll have to endure some fair pics and vice-versa!

Today’s technique spotlight on Splitcoast was a Quarter Fold Card. Here is what I did.

I used a variety from the Our Daily Bread designs August release… Flip Flop Fun, Ocean Treasures, Anchor the Soul, My Lifeguard, and Life is Better. All of them colored with Copics with a little white gel pen accents.

Then, it unfolds to this…

Fun!

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The day after we’re done at fair is always Stampaway, a 2 day show just north of Cincinnati. I love working that show! The pre-show on Friday night is always fun because it’s a silly theme. This year it was Crazy Hats!
Last minute throw together…. I used my visor, had a Wisteria garland, a bird and bird nest. Amber and Josh helped wrap my head and I was set! LOL!!

Since Amber makes lots of cupcakes, she made this adorable hat!

Rick’s glasses even had the flag on them!

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I caught this cute little Goldfinch out my dining room window the other day, feasting on a volunteer from the winter birdseed!

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Fair week! Always exhausting…but fun! We had great weather and a great show! The llamas and alpacas, as always, a hit with everyone!

Wednesday is “Kid’s Day”, fun activities and freebies. One vendor had sunglasses, so all the kids had to go get a pair. Of course there had to be some clowning around! And, then of course, I had to play around with the picture!

Leah with Argento (Little Man), the alpaca.

One of our obstacles was to stop and the kids were to wave a bubble wand while the animal had to stand still. Some of the kids had great bubbles, some none and some a few…..Leah, I think would have stood there ALL DAY making bubbles!! LOL!

Gabriel and Lady, 1st place Showmanship!

Trevor and Little Man, 1st place Obstacle!

The End!

Thanks for stopping by!

Dawn