Masculine Retirement Gift

Hope no one thought I had melted in the awful heat, even though I have felt at times that I might! We spent four days over the past weekend attending a Regional Daylily Meeting. There were many fabulous gardens but we did have to contend with LOTS of heat and humidity.

Before we left for St. Louis, I was able to attend a retirement lunch for one of the doctors where I recently worked. Thought I would share what I made. Masculine cards are always difficult for me but with lots of inspiration I was able to come up with this card and accompanying notebooks. Even an idea for a gift was a challenge. He loves to read and mentioned wanting to do some travel so I purchased a book on travel. I love these little PTI notebooks and had some inserts on hand. I used what stamp sets I have plus the computer to make sentiments.

For the card I used a Waltzingmouse Stamps sketch--so easy to work with! The road was a variation of one by Diane Jaquay using the Up, Up and Away rainbow. Isn't she clever! Thanks Diane! Patterned papers were leftover from  recent cards I made (here and here). I made the sentiment on the computer.

I didn't have stamps to use so I created this notebook with patterned paper and KaiserCraft rub ons. I had never used rub ons before so this was kind of fun and supplied the look I wanted. Once again, I made the label on the computer and cut out with the PTI die that came with the teapot die set.

I even added a rub-on on the inside.

Notebook #2 uses all PTI stamps. I did make the 'Books to Read' on the computer. The cute little library cards are printed from a template by Heather Nichols (here). I just reduced them in size and cut them out.

I used On My Couch and Chair-ished here:

These notebooks are so much fun to make and I think were well received. Thanks to everyone that provided inspiration for my project.

Hope you are having a good week.  

Stay cool,

Sharron

Supplies:

Card: Kraft Cardstock (PTI), Core-dinations, Bazzill (grey), S-E-I En Route and My Mind's Eye Quite Contrary Patterned Papers, Karen Foster Designs License Plate, Spellbinders Labels 11, silver brads

Notebook #1: Kraft Cardstock (PTI), Core-dinations, Making Memories Panorama Patterned Paper, KaiserCraft Pack Your Bags Rub Ons, Fly Away Stamp Set (PTI), Notepad (PTI), Tea Dye Duo (PTI)

Notebook #2: Ocean Tides Cardstock (PTI), Bitty Boxes (PTI), Chocolate Remix (PTI), Pack Your Bags Patterned Paper (KaiserCraft), On My Couch, Chair-ished and Sign Language Stamp Sets (PTI), Notepad (PTI), Copics

A Dose of Daylilies!

Hi Peeps! Here are my promised daylily photos. This is our backyard:

It really is quite small so as you can see we have really crammed it full of daylilies with a sprinkling of companion plants. Sorry about the hose through the middle, Hubby has been working on the pond! We do have dogs so at least a little grass is necessary! Daylilies are around all four sides of the house but won't bore you with a lot of yard pictures. I thought I would just feature a few different varieties so people could see that daylilies are more than the orange roadside version. They come in all colors except blue (so guess what the current hybridizer's goal is!). Most anyone would be thrilled to come up with the first perfect blue!

One of my new favorite spidery unusual forms is Belladonna Starfish.                                              

Above is one with glowing color-Reason for Treason

While this glowing beauty, At Sunset, is one of my all-time favorites

Topguns Double Eyeful is a double form with a ruffly look.

And for those loving pink, All My Tomorrows is a soft

pink shade.

Shown below, Rainbow Radiance is a dreamy cream that holds up in all the current high heat. Hope you enjoy my sampling. This has been a wonderful year due to no late frost and lots of rain. Daylilies do love water!

Will get back to posting things made of paper soon!

Smiles,

Sharron

Summer Cupcake: Clean and Simple FTL 94

Another great CAS sketch! I don't often use glitter or sparkles so it was fun to incorporate some into today's cupcake! I started with this fun patterned paper by My Mind's Eye--perfect for a summer birthday card. Then I added a little trim with an EK Success punch. The cupcake image is from Basic Grey. It comes with the liner stamp and several tops plus additional elements like the cherry, sprinkles, a leaf topper and a strawberry. Great $6 purchase! Colors were added to the liner with Copics with a dose of Stampendous glitter (pink) for the top. Then I used Glossy Accents on the cherry. I only recently purchased this product and can see lots of future uses.

Additional Supplies:

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Spring Moss, Hawaiian Shores (PTI)

Sentiment: Up, Up and Away (PTI)

Corner Punches: 2 sizes

Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Versamagic Turquoise Gem

Hope you enjoy!

Smiles,

Sharron

A Birthday Card & Two Challenges

Hubby is taking the oldest grandson to Minnesota for an intergenerational Elder Hostel. Since this is his birthday present too I made this card to mail with some material about the trip. They will be going to the International Wolf Center--really sounds like fun! A friend of ours has taken her grandchildren on several of these and has always raved about what great experiences they have had. Have any of you attended any?

I only used one stamp on the card. I stamped the word 'explore' with a wood stamp that I received as a gift. Everything else was cut and glue! The top map is of the place they are going and was printed from the computer. Don't you just love the little license plate. I had gone to the LSS to find some paper and when I was checking out, they were on a display by the checkout counter!

The sketch is from this week's 2 Sketches 4 You Challenge--love those! And I thought this would also work great for the last Papertrey Peeps Challenge, #9 posted by Linda. The theme is travel and vacation!

Supplies:
Cardstock: PTI Vintage Cream; Bazzill (Blue & Silver)
Patterned Paper: October Afternoon Sunset Motel; SEI En Route highways and byways
License Plate: Karen Foster Design
Die: Spellbinders Labels 1

Thanks for visiting! I am still going to post those daylily pictures soon!!
Sharron

Clean and Simple FTL 93

A Hoppy Hello to all! I love trying new challenges and this is my first CAS post. A quick and easy card combining Pond Life and Life. I took this photo with my new camera! Since I worked the past three weeks, I finally was able to purchase a digital SLR. I had been researching cameras for a couple of years and decided on the Canon 50D. I think a lot of practice is in order since I took daylily photos this morning that were pretty disappointing. So many settings--I definitely need to spend more time with the manual. Ah, another project!

All supplies are Papertrey Ink except ink.

Stamps: Pond Life, Life

Cardstock: Vintage Cream, Kraft, Terracotta Tile and Rustic Cream

Additional: PTI Buttons, Versamark Ink, Copics

I have finally completed my fill in job and so back to retirement. I spent most of today in the garden--99 varieties of daylilies blooming! Do you think we might be addicted??

Have a relaxing weekend,

Sharron

Embellish Color Challenge with Labels

Guess who is sponsoring this Embellish challenge---Waltzingmouse Stamps--Yeah! This is my first Embellish challenge and what fun! I chose this Stampin ' Up punch and Spellbinders Labels 1 to create a focal point. I kept trying various other embellies and finally decided that simple is best. The top layer was stamped with a stamp from Waltzingmouse Very Vintage Labels 1.  Sentiment is from Daily Designs Sentiments. I did add a few score lines made on my Martha Stewart scoreboard. I like the 1/8" grooves and have found that if I use a bone folder it works better than the tool that comes with the board.

Supplies: Very Vintage Labels 1 (WMS), Daily Designs Sentiments (PTI)
Cardstock and Patterned Paper except for bird: (all PTI)
Additional: Rain Dots, MS Scoreboard, Stampin' Up Punch

Thanks for stopping by,
Sharron

Up, Up & Away

Wow, I am finally posting something! I have so wanted to make something with this new set. I had cut out and colored a bunch of balloons and then there they were just laying on my desk with nowhere to go!! I knew I loved it the first time Nicole showed a sample. I am still having a little problem getting the stamp lined up but know it will get better.

This is really a belated birthday card. I put a sun inside and printed a Happy Birthday sentiment on the computer. The sketch is from Waltzingmouse Stamps. I thought it would work perfectly for my balloons. There is a brand new Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge and I wanted to participate in the exciting event. Sorry no WM stamps but I just had to use the balloons!! Check out the new blog and adorable blinkie. Looks like another great place to go if you enjoy doing challenges.

I actually got 2 cards done over the weekend so will post another tomorrow. Happy week to everyone!!

Sharron


Supplies:
Stamps: Up, Up and Away, Scattered Showers (PTI)
Cardstock: PTI
Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye