Inspirational Blog Hoppin' - the Unity Way~

I don't really have a favorite quote, but I saw this and it rang true with me today:

"True happiness is... to enjoy the present, without anxious dependence upon the future."
Lucius Annaeus Seneca

Stamps:
Mix Up of Cuteness and Sentiments O' Simple
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa and Tangelo by Tsukineko
Paper: Classic Crest Natural White by Neenah, Tango Tangerine by SU!
Patterned Paper: Snorkel and Girl Friday by Cosmo Cricket
Copic Markers: 0, BG000, BG01, BG05
Other: Striped Grosgrain by May Arts, Orange Mini Brads from StarlitStudio, Large Dauber by Tsukineko, Corner Rounder by SU!, Dimensionals by SU!



Start your Inspirational Blog Hop here:
Unity Stamp Company


View this inspirational blog next:
Paperville


V.~

Manhatten Floral~

Modified CASE from the SU! demonstrator magazine, Stampin' Success, for an upcoming after work class at the District Office.

All SU!
Stamps: Fifth Avenue Floral, Thank you Kindly
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss
Paper: Kraft, Kiwi Kiss, Baja Breeze
Patterned Paper: Parisian Breeze
Other: Jumbo brads, Paper Snips, SAMJ, Color Spritzer, Chocolate Marker, Dimensionals
Staple is up to the maker - some like them, some not so much.

V.~

For Juanita~

A Meyer lemon, just perfect for picking!
Below, a few flowers from our garden.

Enjoy!

Valerie~

Belated wishes and Anticipation~

I'm not a shabby chic kind of card maker, but I have a friend who is and I missed her birthday. I wanted to incorporate the crocheted flower with the vintage button
as the focal point of her card. That little morsel of goodness was made by one of the gals, Diane, who works at Paper Tales. They've got little vintage glass bowls full of them. I bought just a few the other day after my class. I think I'll be purchasing some more, or learning how to make them (I have no idea how to crochet, one of those talents I never got around to learning from my grandmother), they are wonderful little embellishments!

Initially I was going to layer the image over the Cosmo paper (Girl Friday collection), but decided to make a funky, rolled up and sanded frame instead. I just cut a random "X" in the middle of the patterned paper, not terribly concerned if it was exactly centered (those that know me, know that is HUGE for me, to let it be random like that!). I stamped the stem and bee with Memento inks (New Sprout and Tangelo) and spritzed pink spatters with a Memento marker (Angel Pink) and quickly daubered a bit of Memento Desert Sand around the image to shabby it a bit. A bit of wonky stitching and May Arts ribbon and it was ready to attach to the Pink Pirouette base.
So it's kinda shabby and kinda me, perfect for her card.
Happy Belated Birthday, Lisa~

Anticipation.


Ahh, it doesn't take long after we whack our roses back for the new season to begin to sprout. I've been watching this bud for a couple of days and meant to take pics of each stage before it opened up, but well, best intentions....

This particular rose is our most abundant flowerer (not a word, but it gets the point across) it blooms and blooms and blooms. Currently there are at least 20 or more buds waiting to explode.

Have a terrific Tuesday!

V.~

A Small Group.....

is coming over on Friday evening for Stamp Nite. These are the three
projects I came up with today; I hope they like them.
Above is a card made using Cheep Talk and Good Morning Sunshine Designer Series Paper,
the spiral punch, piercing and a corduroy button. Cardstock colors are Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, Pacific Point, So Saffron and Whisper White.

Below, Fifth Avenue Floral and Parisian Breeze combined with a bit of watercoloring with an Aquapainter using Baja Breeze and Not Quite Navy lid ink. A few microbeads decorate the
flower center and a brown taffeta ribbon emulates the leaves. A few spatters of Creamy Caramel and a saying from Beautiful Borders finish things off.
Cardstock used is Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Baja Breeze and Watercolor paper.

Finally a scalloped treat basket using Cheep Talk, Delicate Dots Designer Series Paper,
So Saffron ribbon and a jumbo brad. So Saffron, Certainly Celery, and Whisper White are the cardstocks used for this project.

V.~

Hello there....

Do you like my hat?


Off in the mail for a friend who is celebrating her birthday very soon.

Pretty simple stuff, nothing elaborate or complex to explain. Finished card is 3.25" x 6.5".

Stamps:
SU! Cheep Talk and Small Sayings (retired)
Ink: SU! Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Tango Tangerine, Summer Sun, Chocolate Chip
Paper: Base: Neenah Solar White; SU! Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss, Whisper White
Patterned Paper: SU! Good Morning Sunshine
Other: SU! Felt Flowers, Yellow and Blue mini brads from StarlitStudio, Distressing tool, Dimensionals

Have a fabulous weekend!
V.~

I've been tagged.....

by Anna to post the 6th picture in the 6th folder in my picture files. Now, I am not versed in picture taking like some ( ahem, Anna Ü ) and this day I was shooting with our little Sony point and shoot camera instead of the digi Canon Rebel I generally use.

I organize our pictures right away upon downloading, into appropriate folders and the 6th folder in my files is Day Trips, the 6th folder within that folder is from our trip to the tide pools, and the 6th photo in that file is this one. The erosion on the cliffs creates such a wonderful texture.

The second picture is the 7th photo in the file, it shows the erosion close up....so cool!


Now these tagging games have rules and here they are:

•Open your photo folder on your computer
•Open the 6th folder of photos
•Select the 6th picture
•Post the picture on your blog with a description
•Invite six friends to join the challenge
•Link your six friends to your blog post

I'll tag:
Amy
Lori
Jenn
pine
Carole
AJ

What's the 6th photo in your 6th folder?

V.~

Lavender and more.....

I took some time for myself this morning and visited a lavender (and more) farm that is just a short trip east of where we live. I've wanted to visit there for years and with a birthday gift to purchase for Jay's sister, decided today was the day.

I could have spent much more time there, it is so peaceful and beautiful. It's hard to believe it's so freeway close! But with a modified day for Brett and a 12:45 dismissal, I needed to get back home. I will be returning some other day and bringing someone to share in the experience.

If you live in east county or any part of San Diego, I encourage a visit:
Summers Past Farm

The barn they built that houses a warm and inviting gift shop. This picture was taken from inside a maze - sweet peas are there right now, but sunflowers are emerging everywhere. I can't wait to see the sunflower maze when it's all in bloom, it will be amazing!

Mass lavender plantings at the front of the property.

Gorgeous field of flowers at the rear of the farm.

Fairy Gardens! They have classes where you can create your own!

Lavender, one of my very favorite plants and scents.
They grow so well in our climate!

A fun Easter egg tree on a LiquidAmber tree this is awaiting its spring growth.

Old lanterns, they remind of several friends who love to junk shop.

I thought of Anna when I encountered this guy on my way out; he was just cruisin' around. I had to take his picture (in no way close to the beauties Anna creates with her camera!) so Anna could identify what kind of rooster he is. He sure is beautiful!

Did you take some time for yourself today?

V.~

Scor-Pal and Cosmo pair up~

At Paper Tales for a spring box class on March 22nd.
Class info here:

Paper Tales

Click on the class calendar link for all the details.

V.~

I wrangled Mo and Jo....

and under protest they came back home. I needed them for 2 cards that I had to make. I don't know about you, but I just can't bring myself to purchase cards,
so need becomes an big reason to create. If we do need to purchase cards, I send Jay out to do the deed, but I can honestly say, it's a rarity that even happens. After all, we have all
the supplies, right? Certainly don't want to eye roll! LOL

My niece's 12th birthday party was yesterday, and I was so close to buying a card at the store when I was there - but one look at the prices and selection, and I just couldn't do it. Add to the fact she is my stamping niece so if I were to bring her a store bought card, well, I just don't know what she would think! So I came home and with 30 minutes to spare before the party, I made this card. Truth be told, I had parts of it hanging around, the result of my attempts since Tuesday. I salvaged the stamped strip from a failed SCS challenge and repurposed it for this card. The base was hanging out also. It was just a matter of coming up with a focal area - Kim's bees, a scallop or two, and button bellie to the rescue.

This second card I made this morning after learning that the mother of a dear friend's husband passed away. I wanted a small bird silouette as part of the composition and found the perfect image in Kim's Pretty Birds set, it looks like it was made to go with this SU! image.

Both cards are 3.25" x 6.5" and fit in SU!'s Small Open End Envelopes.

Supplies:
Happy Birthday card
Stamps: Spring Trees and The Birds and the Bees (Kim Hughes) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! Tango Tangerine, Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss
Paper: Neenah Solar White, SU! Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Tango Tangerine
Other: Copic Markers, Scallop punch, Circle punches, Scallop blade (Fiskars trimmer), Kiwi Cordoroy button, InkWorx Air Tool and Tempting Turquoise Marker, Distressing tool, Dimensionals

With Sympathy
Stamps: SU! Pocket Silhouettes, Beautiful Borders, Pretty Birds (Kim Hughes) by CHF
Ink: SU! Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel
Paper: SU! Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, base: Solar White
Patterned Paper: SU! Parisian Breeze Speciality
Other: Jumbo Brad (ordered by mistake, but loving them), InkWorx Air Tool and Creamy Caramel marker, 5/8" Chocolate Grosgrain, Distressing tool, Dimensionals

Well, the Monday to do list is calling, so I best go and tackle it.

V.~

They've been spotted~

In a warm and beachy place.

It's not looking good for their return today.

Happy Sunday!

V.~

In search of ~

Mo and Jo......

They disappeared on Tuesday and have not been seen since.
If you see them wandering, please send them back home!

Thanks!
V.~

TLC211 Hello Bunny~

For this challenge over at SCS:

TLC211 Treat Purse

Be back later to fill in the deets, Riley has been a very patient pooch and needs her walk NOW! :)

Okay, we're back, the details of how to make this box may be found here: Valentine Treat Purse. I'm not quite sure what the flap open part is for, but I put another image and greeting there. This little version is a take-off of another version that opened to reveal boxes of cards, you can find the link within her post, so I understand the whys on the bigger version. Anyway, I used a color I rarely touch, purple, to create a hello spring treat box of goodies.

The bunny is stamped in black and colored with Copics, a bit of dots in a couple shades of yellow for variety. The sky was feathered out with dots of blue as well. The bunny tail has a bit of white flock for texture. The grass was snipped first and then sewn on and a gingham embellished oval sentiment tag added to complete the image panel. An off centered purple mat was added to the box before attaching the image with dimensional foam. Buttons with paper thread finish off where the strips meet the scallop.

Time to start the Monday chores.

Have a great day!

V.~

Stamps:
Sweet Spring (Kim Hughes) by CHF
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: SU! Almost Amethyst, Lovely Lilac, Kiwi Kiss, Neenah Solar White
Patterned Paper: SU! Paper Pack (name is long gone from my brain)
Other: Copic markers, buttons, Corner Rounder (for scallops), Oval punch, 1/8th circle punch, Gingham ribbon, Binding ribbon, Sewing machine, Cello bag, candy, White flock, Dimensionals

Puddle Jumping~

Jay, Brett and I spent a few hours today rock hopping and puddle jumping down at the tide pools of Point Loma. It was a spectacular day (and made me forget I have a cold; my first one in so long. I've managed to escape getting the ones the family has gotten in recent years. I think I can blame it on an urgent care visit last weekend. ) and the tide was a negative tide so the tide pools stretched for what seemed like miles. We saw crabs, all sorts of barnacles, limpets, muscles, little fish, grasses and more.

And to give you an idea how far inland we live, in the bottom picture, see those mountains in the background on the left? They're about 30 miles away. It's called Cowles Mountain (part of Mission Trails Regional Park and the highest point in San Diego) and we live about 5 miles from the base on the backside. It was my playground as a child, and we hike it a couple times a year with the kids. The congestion of buildings on the right is downtown San Diego, and the naval base is all the open space in the foreground.


Hope you had a spectacular Saturday!
V.~

You're Fintastic~

Brett loves this shark image from Ocean Friends (Kim Hughes by CHF) so I thought it would be fun to make him a diminutive card ( 3-3/8 x 4-7/8) to either mail to him or put in his lunch/notebook sometime next week. He loves to get mail, so I may opt for that route....but he loves cards at school too, hmmm, decisions, decisions!

A simple layout and color scheme brings out the cute shark (can I say that, a cute shark? *grin*) that I colored with a couple shades of blue Copic markers, using dots of color to give him a textured kind of look. After coloring, he's cut out and popped up on dimensional foam. The scallop waves were a leftover strip I had from a project I had going on and I thought they would be a fun way to imply the water. Seaweed and a lobster complete the image panel. The card base is Kiwi Kiss, the strip, Tango Tangerine plus four black brads round out the card.

Happy Friday!
V.~

Stamps:
Ocean Friends (Kim Hughes) by Cornish Heritage Farms
Ink:
SU! Kiwi Kiss, Tsukineko Memento Tangelo, Tuxedo Black and Versafine Onyx Black
Paper: SU! Kiwi Kiss, Tango Tangerine, Prism Nautical Blue Medium
Other:
Copic Markers (you'll have to forgive me, I put them away before jotting down the numbers), Black mini brads, Fiskar's Scallop Blade, Dimensional foam

Gratitude in Pink~

SCS Color Challenge: Pink Passion (boy, forgot how BRIGHT it is!), Kiwi Kiss, and Chocolate Chip.

When I chose to color these images, I wanted a sketchy look to tie into the sketchy line of the stamped image. For that reason I used Prismacolor colored pencils, but I did not blend them or try to discourage the pencil lines from showing. I stamped the flowers once more on a scrap, colored them in, cut them out, and popped them up with dimensional foam.

A strip of gingham paper and a tied button complete the modern country (due to that POPPIN Pink!) feel.

Trivia of the day:
Today is Square Root Day, 3-3-09. Square root day only happens 9 times in a thousand years, the next occurrence will be 4-4-16, then after that 5-5-25, 6-6-36, etc.

Morgan and I are off to see the Broadway production of Grease tonight, I am SO EXCITED! I love Grease, and I love Broadway performances!

V.~

Stamps:
Our Craft Lounge:Growing Gratitude
CHF: Distressed Scrapblock™
Ink:
Memento Rich Cocoa, Desert Sand, SU! Pink Passion
Paper: SU! Pink Passion, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip, Natural White by Neenah
Patterned Paper:
Cozy Home from the Weathervane Collection by October Afternoon
Other:
Prismacolor Pencils, Pink Button, Linen Thread, Distressing tool, Dauber, Dimensionals

Best Fishes BIAB~

BIAB to go with the Happy Birthday Fishes card down below, inspired by the
SCS Featured Stamper Challenge
Used Kelly's Thoughtful Bubbles as a jumping point:
Changed: stamp set, colors, and papers
Kept: Fishy theme, Round tab top, scalloped layer for the image
and the scalloped bottom strip

Be back later with the deets, we are off to the party now (and I don't want to be the reason we are late!)

V.~