The lilly in bloom. It's called Indiana. Behind it is variegated water celery.

Some of the fish coming to feed, mouths open, waiting for the food. They will eat right from your fingers. The big fat yellow one is a koi!

Tomatoes and cukes growing up an old rusted section of iron fence. We've already harvested some cukes....crunchy and delicious!

Looks Good Enough to Eat....or rather Lick!

Had to try my hand at the popsickle card craze. This was so much fun to do and so easy. Great for summer invitations or birthday cards. Low calories too!

Criss Cross Box

This is a criss cross box and half a dozen cards I made over the weekend. Used the SU Fall Flowers Designer Paper and the scallop punch along with the Brocade Basics and Boho Backgrounds stamp for the front medallion. I really love all the Boho sets. I turn to them again and again for my cards. I added a little stickles in the centers of the flowers for a touch of glitz. LOVE stickles!

Thanks for stopping by! Have a great week.

BLOG CANDY WINNER!!!

Here's my super scientific method of picking a blog candy winner at this point. I call out to the kitchen to my DH and say "pick a number from 1-14 honey. " And he says, DRUMROLL PLEASE......................#7!!!!!! So STAMPINC would you please email me with your information so I can get this box of goodies right out to you. Congratulations!

I was so surprised at how fast I reached this and I'm sorry more folks couldn't get on board. I'll give you a lot more warning the next time. Thanks everyone for entering!

I've Been Tagged!!!

Well I've been tagged by Renee over at

http://stampinwithrenee.blogspot.com/. We met a few months ago during the spring when I won some great blog candy from her and she left kind comments on my garden. She also entreated me to come and do her garden!! Anyway, let's see if I can conjure up some random and/or weird facts about myself:

1. In another life, I was a medical secretary/transcriptionist. Always loved the work and had two great bosses: doctors who were also twins!

2. I dream all the time that I can fly! My kids think it's weird but boy it sure would make life interesting.

3. I am the second youngest of 8 children. My mom had the first six very close together. Then there were 7 years and I came along, then another 7 and the baby of the family was born. I always felt like an only child!

4. I would kill to live on very rural property. A house in a secluded location with nearby woods and a nice view. Not a lot of acreage but maybe 1/2 to 1 acre. No neighbors, just peace and quiet. Doesn't have to be far from civilization just away from the modern world. I'm just a country girl at heart.

5. I'm not afraid to die.

6. I would give an arm or a leg to have my parents back for just one day. I miss them terribly, along with a brother and sister who have also passed on.

7. My son dragged me kicking and screaming into the world of computers in the year 2000. It's one of the greatest things he's ever done for me. I love the people I've met and the things I've learned. It's a wonderful world!

NOW: Here is the list of the people I've tagged. If you can't pass it on ladies, the world won't end!

1. Diane at http://www.nelliesnest.blogspot.com/

2. Dawn at http://the-feathered-nest.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html

3. Mel at http://melstampz.blogspot.com/2008_07_01_archive.html

4. Angie at http://www.chicnscratch.typepad.com/

5. Paula at http://craftystorage.blogspot.com/

6. Ree at http://thepioneerwoman.com/category/pioneer_woman/about_pioneer_woman

7. Karen at http://graphicsfairy.blogspot.com/

Take a look at these blogs. They are very creative. I really would like to name about 100 people because there are so many talented people to check out. Have fun and thanks for stopping by. Don't forget to sign up for blog candy.

Blog Candy for 3000 Hits! WOW

I am offering some blog candy to my readers when I hit 3000! I can't believe in the few short months I've been blogging that so many of you come and visit and leave such kind words. So here's the candy:

some SU designer paper 6 x 6"

SU Love Notes 3

2 clear stamp sets Inkadinkadoo

a great package of glittery garden theme stickers

a Mary Engelbreit mini box

note pad and pen to alter if you wish

round coasters

assortment of embellishments from K&Co and halloween sticker sheet

mini foam telephone stamp

Last but not least, 5 handmade cards from me

As soon as I hit 3000, I will randomly draw a name from those who leave a comment on this post. Please enter just once and at this time I can only accomodate readers in US and Canada. Have fun!

Stationery Box - Again!

I had so much fun doing that stationery holder that I decided to do another and this time I changed a few things. I covered the heavy cardstock with designer paper (K&Co. I think) and used several co-ordinating papers for the cards and accessories. I also made the little address/notebook different and this way was much easier. This holds full size cards, love notes, tags, notebook, stamp holder and pen holder. I think there will be a few people getting these for Christmas gifts. Have a great day whereever you are! Thanks for stopping by!

50th Wedding Anniversary

Today we are celebrating the 50th anniversary of my brother John and his wife Betty with a dinner at 4, a surprise given by their children and grandchildren. This is the card I came up with using some very heavy DP for the background, white cuttlebugged layers with Swarovski pearls and I embossed the numbers in gold. It's actually "whiter" than it looks. Not a good day for photos as it's very overcast and rainy here. For the verse inside I printed on vellum which I had never done before and it turned out just gorgeous. It was a fun card to do but took forever because I was trying to make it special for them.

Thanks for stopping by!

An Award for Me? So exciting!!!

What a surprise, truly! The wonderful and creative Mel from http://www.melstampz.blogspot.com/ gave me this blogging award and I am truly humbled. Mel is one creative lady and for her to think my blog is worthy of an award is an honor. Thank you dear friend!

This is a kind of PAY IT FORWARD award and I am going to nominate 7 others. Here's my list (and this was so hard because as you well know there are so many other creative people out there in blogland. It was HARD!)

1. The Creative Closet http://www.onehappystamper.typepad.com/

2. Nellie's Nest http://www.nelliesnest.blogspot.com/

3. Lillybean's Paperie http://lilybeanpaperie.typepad.com/lilybeans_paperie/2008/06/index.html

4. LW Designs http://lwdesigns.blogspot.com/

5. Stampin Pretty http://www.stampinpretty.com/

6. Stamping Links to Love http://stampinglinkstolove.blogspot.com/

7. Stamps, Paper Scissors http://stampspaperscissors.typepad.com/stamps_paper_scissors/

Congratulations ladies! You all are an inspiration to me in this creative journey. Have a happy Fourth and remember to pray for all those in far off places defending the wonderful life we enjoy and the freedoms we too often take for granted.

BLOG AWARD RULES:

1. The winner can put the logo on her blog.

2. Link the person you received your award from.

3. Nominate at least 7 other blogs.

4. Put links of those blogs on yours.

5. Leave a message on the blogs you've nominated.

An Award! For Me? Thank you!!!!

First July Project-A Winner!

July??? Can't be.....impossible. Time flys as they say........I used my time yesterday to make this super stationery holder complete with all the trimmings. Credit for this goes to Jackie Topa

on her blog for the great instructions. http://jackietopa.typepad.com/addicted_to_stamping/2008/05/stationary-box.html The box goes together very quickly, even though it looks complicated. Inside are full size cards, love notes, tags, address/note book, stamp holder and a pen. If you are making more than one, you want to keep your cards quick and simple. Don't you think this would be a SUPER gift item? Enjoy everyone and have a wonderful day!

Flowers in My Garden

Okay here are a few things going on in the garden, or I should say in bloom in the garden. The little yellow thing is malampodium. These are annuals and I only bought three but I really like them. They stay nice and neat and bushy. The yellow daylilly is Happy Returns. Most folks go for the Stella D'Oro yellow lilly but Happy Returns blooms longer. The peach lilly is Double Siloam. Then there's my huge old common garden variety hydrangea and my all time favorite, the lace cap hydrangea which this year is really all blue and purple. Such a delicate thing she is. My red High Society rose which knocks you down with it's smell and my old galvanized herb bucket. The mini bush basil is going to town. Enjoy!

Redemption

Okay I had to redeem myself today but I'm feeling lazy for some reason. So I put these two together from scraps and bits from last Halloween. The card on the bottom just has ribbon and yellow stickles for embellishment which you can see closeup if you click on it. The other one just uses a vintage image and a few embellishments but don't you love those corners!!!

Do as I say, not as I do!!!

Two things about making cards:
1. Know when to stop with the embellishments
2. Always test anything sprayed on scrap first

This card was on it's way to being semi-cute. I had embossed the sentiment and added black stickles for little sparkly eyes. THAT"S when I should have said "Enough!" Instead I decided to spritz with Glimmer Mist Autumn Leaves. Shook the bottle real good. Sprayed.....big blobs of spray! I was able to wipe some off but that last extra step sort of ruined it. Soooooooooo, do as I say not as I do!!!
PS This isn't even a good picture! Should have cleaned today instead!

Wonderful Blog Candy

http://krishubick.blogspot.com/2008/06/art-giveaway-and-thank-you.html

Be sure to check out the above blog for a chance to win a beautiful piece of collaged art. Leave a comment and link to your blog and maybe YOU will be the lucky winner.

Black Magic (and I don't mean voo doo)

I have been itching to try my hand at the black magic technique. It was easy, really! I stamped the large stamp from SU Fabulous Flowers on black cardstock with Brilliance Moonlight White ink 3 times. Then I used two colors of Prismacolor pencils and a blender pencil to color in the petals. After that was done, I outlined all the petals with my trusty Signo white pen, then cut out all three layers carefully. I was testing a new glue for UHU called Twist and Glue and it worked wonderful with the paper layers. It's especially good if you use an embossing folder like I did with the Swiss Dots. Don't know if you ever noticed but using snail adhesive flattens the embossing. The Twist and Glue didn't do this. So I recommend this for paper work. It didn't glue the bow down as well because this ribbon is sheer. I used the snail adhesive for that. Try this technique. It takes awhile to do the coloring but it's worth the effort.

Stampin' Up! Retired List

Just wanted to let my readers know that I have a special on retired stamps. First of all to see the retired list go to http://www.stampinup.com/ and click on Fond Farewell. Follow the prompts and it will take you to the retired list. These stamps are only going to be available for a short time. If you order your retired stamps from me before July 1, you get 10% off any retired stamps you order. Great savings! We are all anticipating the new catalogue in early August but now is the time to get those stamps you still want from the old one! Click on Email Me below to order. Thanks!

Funny Cheap Stamps!!!

While standing in line at JoAnn's they have all their dollar bins set up next to the check out aisle. I mean who can resist stamps for $1? And a lot of other stuff! Anyway, I made this quick little one up today and added a Sizzix cupcake die. This is SU Berry Bliss paper and the image was colored with Prismacolor pencils.