random reflections

CASology Challenge: Fly, Take 2

As promised, I'm back again with another card for the CASology Fly challenge. And it's another feather card, this time a very quick and easy one created with one of the patterned papers from the "What the Doodle Feather" set by Papertrey Ink. The feather was already printed on the paper, and just needed to be colored with Copic markers. I die cut the sentiment from Raspberry Fizz with one of the "Scripted" sentiments also by Papertrey Ink. All it took then, was to mount it to a True Black card.

The sentiment was die cut and layered three times to add a little dimension to the card.

 

You can check out the other entries to the challenge right here.

Summer Scavenger Hunt 2017: June Report

Thanks to Mary-Lou at Patio Postcards we have a list for a Summer Photography Scavenger Hunt. I've managed to tick off 11 of the 25 items this month, and should be able to find a few more on our trip.

Number 1: Something fuzzy-a catapillar. 

Number 2: Bubbles.

Number 3: Web. I have two, one from the zoo playground and one very dirty web I found on the dock's ladder at Honeoye Lake. I'll still be looking for a cleaner web.

Number 8: Rust. I have two for this one as well. The first on a wooden barrel at Caroline Vineyards in Niagara-on-the-Lake, and the second on a railing going down to the lake at the cottage on Honeoye.

Number 10: Something Yellow.

Number 11: Summer toy-a bubble maker.

Number 13: A Dome-the inside of the dome at the Lyric Opera House where I was a House Host during the Landmark Tour.

Number 16: A baby--this one was easy! Here's Hannah at almost six months.

Number 17: Circles or crosses in architecture--from Fort Mississauga in Niagara-on-the-Lake.

Number 19: Feet of man or beast; hope feet of a woman counts. I couldn't help but notice the variety of colors on my niece's toes.

And finally, Number 21, a plaque:

You have until September 30th to find the items on the list, which you can access it right here, so if you'd like a photographic challenge, please join in. It's become a topic of conversation with my friends and family over the years. Everyone wants to know what's on the list, and is eager to contribute ideas. It's thanks to Jade and Sarah that I have the web photos. I might have seen them, but they noticed them before I did. 

 

 

CASology Challenge: Fly

This week's challenge at CASology is "FLY," and I have a card to share that fits right in the challenge.

I'm not sure why I fell in love with this Papertrey Ink set when it was released over three years ago, but I did. I typically go for sets that have multiple images for different kinds of cards, or florals.  "Feather Finery" is nearly all feathers but I loved the feathers and the overlay that can be applied to the top. It also has a set of beautiful sentiments although I didn't use them here. I have to admit, however, that I don't often think of this set when I need to create a card.

 I double stamped the feather with Ocean Tides, first with full ink, then slightly offset without reinking. Then I embossed the dotted layer with Platinum Embossing Powder. The sentiment is die cut from silver Paper Source cardstock with Wplus9's "Hand Lettered Thanks." I love the font of this die cut. The stamped sentiment comes from the same set. After adhering the white panel on an Ocean Tides card, I added a few clear sequins for embellishment.

I have another idea for this challenge that's pretty quick and easy, so hope to be back in another day or two with another "feather" card.

 

Papertrey June Blog Hop Challenge

A quick post to join in with Papertrey Ink's June Blog Hop. Here's the inspiration photo:

When I first saw it, I immediately thought of an older Papertrey Ink set called "Gracious Vases." Then life got really busy, and I couldn't get to my desk to create a blog hop card until late this afternoon. I stamped my favorite flower and then two vases from the set on watercolor paper, and watercolored them. Then I used a new My Favorite Things die cut for the frame and mounted the image behind the frame. I stamped the sentiment from Papertrey's "Round & Round" and mounted it all on a Tropical Teal card.

Off to check out the other cards created with this inspiration piece.

Time Out Challenge: Celebrations

The new Time Out Challenge is "Celebrations." There's an optional twist to make a one-layer card, but as usual, I wanted to use my dies for a little dimension. A good friend recently retired, and I wanted to get a card (and gift card) to her.

In addition to wanting to create a card, I wanted to use two new sets that I ordered from Papertrey Ink in April, but still hadn't used. The first was "Gran's Garden." I passed it up when it was first introduced, but saw so many cards on blogs that I liked, that I broke down and purchased it. No regrets. The second was this year's Anniversary Set, "Grand Finale." It can only be acquired with reward points. I don't always opt to use mine for the anniversary set, but I thought this one had quite a few possibilities. It made a perfect frame for the flowers. The sentiment came from a Simon Says "Banner Sayings" set that I've had for a long time. The card really didn't come together, though, until I found the patterned paper from the "Lovely Lace" mini-kit by Papertrey Ink. I didn't order the kit, but I loved enough of the papers to order them. 

I hope my friend enjoys retirement as much as I do!

Take Three Thursday: Lioness on the Bus

I'm joining in with Mary Lou at Patio Postcards, posting three "photos that are linked somehow: by theme, by color, by date, by moment, or by points of view." We spent yesterday at the Seneca Park Zoo. The photos I'm posting today aren't the best I took by any means, but they are probably the most interesting. We were quite surprised to see an old bus sitting in the lion's enclosure, and even more surprised to see a lioness laying on the hood.

And then we were even more surprised to discover we could enter the bus and take a look at the lioness from the inside the bus.

The last two weeks have been filled with wonderful family time. Sarah, Adam, Caleb and Hannah will be heading back to Chicago tomorrow, and I will really miss them. But we have just one week before we'll be leaving on a combined trip to a family wedding in Vermont followed by a long weekend with Matt, Betsy, and the girls on Nantucket. I have to admit, it's pretty awesome to have so much family time in just a month and a half!

Happy Father's Day

A very Happy Father's Day to those celebrating today. I have a friend for whom today is very difficult, so I know that it's not always a joyous occasion, and there can be a variety of reasons for that.

Luckily for us, it was a day to celebrate. Three of my favorite dads spent the day together; it might be a first. And later, we enjoyed dinner with yet another great dad--my daughter-in-law's father.

It was a hot, humid day and the weather forecast was for thunderstorms. Fortunately, they held off until late afternoon. Earlier all five of my grandchildren were together for the very first time.

Playing in the pool . . . 

Having fun with water balloons . . .

Swinging . . .

Just "hanging out" . . .

And having lunch . . .

Thanks to Betsy's niece, we got our annual family photo.

Just as Matt finished grilling the hot dogs and hamburgers, it started to rain, so dinner was inside. We had a lovely day. 

Here are the cards I made for the three dads in our family.

All variations on the same theme: bright colors, my favorite "Stitched Rectangles" by Simon Says, stacked letters die cut with Neat and Tangled "Journaling Alphas" and Altenew's "Label Love."

Betsy's dad is a cyclist. He rode nearly 150 miles this weekend, and I was lucky to find the perfect embellishment for his card in my stash.

More bright colors (all Papertrey Ink cardstock), die cut with the PTI "Stripes Horizontal Cover Plate" and stamped with a sentiment from Kelly Perky's "Dude" by Simon Says.

 

 

Take Three Thursday: Adventures in Seeing

I'm joining Mary Lou at Patio Postcards where "the idea is to take 3 photos that are linked some how; by theme, by colour, by date, by moment, by points of view." I spent last weekend in Niagara-on-the-Lake at a wonderful workshop, "Adventures in Seeing" led by Kim Manley Ort. Kim's book, Adventures in Seeing: How the Camera Teaches You to Pause, Focus and Connect with Life, focuses (like the workshop) on contemplative photography. The group that gathered for the workshop was diverse and inspiring, and I'll have a lot more to say about it later. But for now, here are three photographs:

Heartstring

Stairway to Heaven

Survivor

Blogging is likely to be intermittent at best for the next several weeks. I'll pop in when I can, but family and travel are going to be taking up most of my time. It's a blessing I don't take for granted, and in the spirit of mindfulness I'll be focusing on the experiences (with a camera nearby, no doubt!)

 

Five in Five: June Edition

These photos were all taken on June 6th when we returned from trips to two garden centers. By the time the weekend is done, most of them will surely be planted. These don't include all the annual packs we bought for the cutting garden:  asters, dahlias, snapdragons, zinnias, stock, and gazanias. There are also astilbe, shasta daisies and some other perennials that have returned to the cutting garden.

Royal Candles Veronica

A beautiful lily that came home without a tag

Asiatic Lily: Pink 

One of four lupines I purchased to replace those that didn't come back this year. This is the only one with a bloom. The others are red, and a wonderful mix of colors.

Two different colors of geraniums for the bed along the patio.

When this post goes live, I'll be in Niagara-on-the-Lake with a friend for a weekend contemplative photography workshop with Kim Manley Ort. I'm really looking forward to it, and the weather looks like it will be very cooperative. 

Waving to Sandie and others participating in the June 5 in 5 at Itchifingers.

A Card Set

I was invited to a lovely luncheon this week, and wanted to take a hostess gift. The hostess is someone who regularly sends cards and notes to friends and family so I knew a card set would be appreciated. I decided on a neutral color scheme, and made five of the same card, varying only the sentiments.

The white card was made from Papertrey Ink's Fresh Snow Linen, one of my favorite cardstocks. The layering pieces are both Simon Says cardstock:  "Fog" and "Smoke." They are among my favorite shades of gray. I die cut both with stitched dies, and then embossed the main image from Papertrey's "Fancy Folk Art" set in white on the darker gray. The sentiments all came from an older Papertrey set "Round and Round" which I rely on regularly for sentiments. Each card has a different sentiment.

Here's a look at two of the other sentiments:

And a look at the packaging---I'm not sure where I purchased these clear boxes, but they are perfectly sized. A Soft Stone dotted ribbon from Papertrey was almost a perfect match.

Some day, if my schedule ever gets less hectic, I should make up a few of these card sets to have ready to go in advance. Not happening any time soon. The calendar from now until the middle of July is jam-packed!