Iris Are Blooming

The Iris have begun to bloom. I have several species but do not know the name of any but refer to them by their colors.  All have come from other gardens mostly from my Mother's.  Some were growing here when we purchased the home 35 years ago.  I love them for their beautiful flowers and colors.


     

First Blooms of 2013

 

       

 

I am enjoying the beautiful warm days we are having in Ohio but cooler temperatures are expected for the weekend.  Looks like 50-60's are coming.
I  enjoy all your comments. Thank you. Theresa

Time in the Garden

Lately I have been spending more time outside in the yard working in my gardens than in my studio.  Today I am sharing some garden pictures that were made the first week of  May.

This area slopes down the side of the house and is filled with astilbes, a bleeding heart, wild violets, cowslips and nettle.

This is another shot of the same area showing more violets and ground covers.

Another area with a Hawthorne tree surrounded by primroses, ferns, lily of the valley, vinca vine, and more violets.

Another view of the above area showing the Hawthorne on the left and a maple on the right..  Also planted here are daisies and mums to the left of the planter with geraniums.  Iris not seen are to the right of the maple tree.

This fence area is showing clematis climbing on trellises against the fence. This garden is filled with daffodils earlier in the spring and is now filled with hosta, lilies, primroses, forget-me-nots, creeping jenny, and mums for later blooms.

I could not resist taking this photo of a chipmunk sunning on a rock in the garden.

 

This garden in the back of the house is by the back decks.  We left part of a pine tree that was cut down to showcase a hanging basket - this year it is a trailing begonia. 

Closeup of trailing begonia. This grows 3-4 feet over the summer reaching the ground.

This a shot of the back garden made May 19 looking down from the deck.  Two white tulips are still in bloom long after the other bulbs have faded. These tulips were planted over 30 years ago. The iris are just beginning to bloom.
 

More garden photos to come. Enjoy your day.
I enjoy all your comments. Thank you. Theresa

Enjoy Your Day

Welcome to my studio. I have been very busy gardening and working outside.  Maybe I will share some pictures later.  Today I am posting a card for Joan's Gardens weekly challenge.  We are to use Yellow and White as the color theme, use at least 2 butterflies, use some Polka Dots, include some type of swirl(s),  and use a product sold at Joan's Gardens.   I began by cutting a flourish from White CS with a Cheery Lynn Die, embossed this with Cuttlebug Swiss Dots, and layered this on a Yellow CS card base. I added 3 flowers made with Heartfelt Creations Daisy Patch die (smallest die) and polka dots fabric brads.  I found these cute  brads in my stash when looking for something else and they were just the right thing for my card. The 2 butterflies were made with Cheery Lynn's dies using the angel wing die for the larger one.The larger butterfly was folded and attached with foam tape. The sentiment from Creative Vision was stamped with Memento Peanut Brittle ink. I think I have covered all the requirements. Flower making tools, Cheery Lynn and Heartfelt Creations products are available at Joan's Gardens http://www.atjoansgardens.com/.

Other Challenges to enter:
Simon Says: Flower Power
Crafty Catz: 3-2-1 Challenge. I used 3 flowers, 2 butterflies, and 1 sentiment.

I enjoy all your comments. Thank you. Theresa

Fun Making Vellum Flower

Welcome to all who stop by. Today I am sharing  a card that I made for Joan's Garden Challenge. We are to make a flower using vellum, the colors Red, Black and White,a  die cut border,  a sentiment and also a product sold at Joan's Gardens.  The part that I like best on my card is the flower of vellum that I made with Heartfelt Creations Daisy Patch Diecuts and Cheery Lynn Build a Flower #1 that both came from Joan's Gardens.  I used the border in a non-traditional way on the diagonal (not on the edge) and actually used 2 borders. 

I used a sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches to create this card.

Supplies:
Stamp: Creative Visions Hip Hip Hooray
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Lady Bug
Papers: Black and White CS from Stash. Red Vellum found in my stash...forgot I had.
Spellbinders Label 4 Dies
Martha Stewart Borders-Double Loop and Scallop Dot
Red Brad from stash
Embossing Folder: Darice Floral Frenzy...inked raised areas to highlight

Challenges:
Joan's Garden Challenge: Details mentioned above. See www.atjoansgardens.com
Tuesday Morning Sketch: #198 see below
Craft Challenge: Birthday
Charisma Cardz: Black and White and One Color

I am hoping the warmer weather is back to stay.
I enjoy all your comments. Thank you. Theresa

Days Flutter By

Second Post today:
I am rushing to get this card posted and entered in to some challenges that end soon. I have used a Sketch from Repeat Impressions shown below.  I am not sure why I chose these colors but wanted something to pick up colors that are naturally in butterflies.

Challenges to enter:
What If? Wednesday : Repeat Impressions Sketch #M113
Simon Says: Thing with wings
Flutter By Wednesday: Open Challenge

Supplies:
Stamps: Repeat Butterfly and Sentiment
Papers all from Stash
Copics:Y11,17,E49
Inks: Memento Tangelo, Rich Cocoa
Nesties Circle, Lacy Circle, Scallop Dies
Darice EF Chevron
Martha Stewart Scallop Dot Border
Yellow and Brown Ribbon from Stash

I enjoy all your comments. Thank you. Theresa

Spring is Here!

Welcome to my studio! I have been missing entering some of my fave challenges so this morning I decided to make time to create a card combining 3 challenges...a color one from Flourishes, spring theme from Sweet Stamps, and a sketch from Sweet Sunday.  I selected a stamp and sentiment from Flourishes "Spring Has Sprung" which is perfect for using the colors green and blue and a spring theme. 

Challenges:

 Flourishes Timeless Tuesday: Use blue and greens.

Sweet Stamps: Challenge 117 Spring

Sweet Sunday: Sketch 184-shown below

 

Supplies: Flourishes Stamp set Spring Has Sprung; Papers-White and Blue CS from Stash, Basic Grey Pattern from Urban Prairie; Copics: B000,01, E25, G0000,21,40; White Satin Ribbon; Inks: Memento Summer Sky, Bamboo Leaves, Rich Cocoa, Espresso Truffle; Cuttlebug EF Swiss Dots; Nesties Circle Die; Glossy Accents

 

 

I enjoy all your comments. Thank you. Theresa

Flourishes Color Challenge

Today I am back with another entry for Colorful Creations Challenge which is May’s Release Challenge at Flourishes. We are to choose all of the colors in the illustration shown below – or pick three that work together and create! I hope to win Flourishes entire May Stamp Release! I made this card with stamps from Flourishes and a doily cut with a die. The dark brown mat  shows off the doily.

Supplies:
Stamps: Flourishes Zinnias and Taglines
Inks: Memento Espresso Truffle and Angel Pink, Versamark
Copics: YG 93,95, R01,11,81
Yellow Glaze Pen
White EP
Papers: White, Brown, Green CS from stash
Light Pink Dewdrops
Corner punch
Dies: Cheery Lynn Doily French Pastry, Spellbinders Label 4

 I enjoy all your comments. Thank you. Theresa

Colorful Creations

Today I am playing along with Colorful Creations Challenge that is May’s Release Challenge at Flourishes.  Choose all of the colors in the illustration on the left   –  or pick three that work together  and create!   If you play along, you could win Flourishes entire May Stamp Release!  I love these colors so they were easy to use.  I choose Flourishes Lenten Rose stamp set and Taglines to use in my card.  I stamped the image with Memento Espresso Truffle on Ivory CS and colored with Copics R01,11,20 , G21,82,YG03. I highlighted the centers with a glaze pen.   I used Nesties Scallop Oval die to cut the image and then inked the edges with Memento Bamboo Leaves.  I used Brown CS for the card base, added a mat of textured Green CS and then a layer of Graphics 45 Pattern Paper that I embossed with Darice EF  Flower Frenzy.  I adhered a Pink Ribbon  diagonally and attached the image with foam tape.  I finished with a sentiment stamped on a scallop oval with the same green ink.

I enjoy all your comments. Thank you. Theresa

Thank You with Heart

I cannot believe today is the first of May! I made this shaped card using a digi from Meljens Designs which was a freebie that I have had in my files for a long time and love using for thank you cards. I have used the sketch from Meljens challenge this week.  I used Nesties scallop circles and circles to cut the layers from Pink Cardstock (Stash) and MME pattern paper. The image was printed on white cardstock and colored with Copics-too many to list.  I inserted a strip of pink ribbon with white stitches from stash as I assembled the layers.  The pink heart brads were then added to finish the card.

Challenges:
Meljens Design Challenge: Sketch Challenge Shown
The House That Stamps Built: Challenge DCC424...Shaped Cards
Crafty Ribbons Challenge: Anything Goes with Ribbon
Fab n Funky: Lots of Pink
Crafts and Me: Foral Frenzy

I enjoy all your comments. Thank you. Theresa

Butterflies Are Free

One of my favorite images to use for cards are butterflies.  I purchased a new stamp set this weekend from Stacy Stamps Butterflies Are Free and had  to use for this card. I used the sketch from Flutter By Wednesday for my layout  but flipped the design to fit the stamp design.  I used Memento Potter's Clay ink and stamped on a yellow card stock and trimmed the image to fit on a card base of a lighter yellow. The single butterfly was stamped on a circle with the same ink and layered on a darker circle. Colored the wings with Memento markers.  Used a sentiment from Flourishes and added some Dewdrops to complete.
I am making this a quick post because the sun is shining and I am anxious to get outside.

Enjoy your day.
I enjoy all your comments. Thank you. Theresa