It's Memorial Day in the U.S. and time to pause and be grateful to the many, many service men and women who gave their lives for the cause of freedom and democracy. Let us hope that their sacrifice was not in vain. The world news as well as the national news points to more and more governments that are leaning away from equal rights for all. It is concerning to say the least.
On a happier note, it's a bright, sunny, warm day and after lunch we're headed to the Finger Lakes with three stops in mind: an Amish greenhouse in Penn Yan, our favorite Seneca Lake winery (we're members and need to pick up our spring case of wine), and finally to a Mennonite market in Seneca Falls. I have lists for the first and last stops.
We spent most of yesterday planting in our perennial/cutting garden, our raised beds (tomatoes and lettuce), and filling the pots for the front yard and patio. We still need a few plants to fill in spots in the flower garden and a couple of bright flowers for smaller pots on the patio. We're not traveling again until the fall with the exception of one weekend away for our anniversary, so we'll be home to enjoy the fruits of our labor.
Last night I had time to put together two cards for a few challenges. When I was in Racine, I had time to watercolor some images from a Simon Says stamp, "Mandy's Flowers" that came as part of a monthly card kit so I had some focal points already to go. The first card is for the current CAS on Friday challenge: use polka dots.
Since it's a birthday card, I'll be entering it in two other CAS challenges: AAA Cards Birthday Bash, and the new AAA Birthday challenge.
Loving polka dots, it wasn't hard to find a piece of patterned paper perfect for the border. This one is from My Favorite Things "Black and White Dots." I watercolored the image from "Mandy's Flowers" with the 36 pan watercolors from Altenew which has turned out to be my favorite set to take with me when I travel to Sarah's.
The sentiment is from an older Papertrey Ink set, " Birthday Style." I used dimensional tape to adhere the flower to the card.
The second card is for the Inspired By . . . Challenge:
The wreath on this card is also from "Mandy's Flowers." The set has one after another of beautiful floral images.
When I pulled this one out last night, the flower was in need of some more contrast, so I got out my Prisma colored pencils and added some depth to the flower and some green to the thin leaves which I had not watercolored. Finally I added some black gel pen to the center and some Wink of Stella glitter to the flower. The sentiment is from a much older Simon Says card kit set, "Flower Friend." Before attaching the watercolored piece to the Orange Zest card, I die cut it with the largest of Simon Says "Stitched Rectangles."
The sentiment is universal enough to send as a "thinking of you" or a birthday card.
Hope you have a great week! I'll be back soon with a couple of photo walks I did while we were away.