Iris Springs Continues

As my bed of purple irises began to die out, my white irises, old-fashioned bronzes, and yellows began to bloom and really put on a colorful show.

In the background behind the white irises, my day lilies were shooting up buds on long stems.  These are dark yellow trumpets.......small but beautiful.

The white irises have a small showing of yellow beards sticking out from the centers and down onto the falls.

These old-fashioned bronzes were planted here by my mother-in-law over twenty years ago.   Some years they make no showing at all, but with all the rain they really came out for a great display.

This is another iris I inherited from a friend.  They really brighten up the corner of the yard where they are planted.   They always seem to be the last to bloom.  They usually take me by surprise!   I nearly forget them and then, voile! there they are!  It's almost as if a light has been turned on in that corner of the yard.  I have truly enjoyed this Iris Spring! 

Iris Spring

My irises went crazy this Spring!   Very little care goes into this marvelous bed of irises.  I inherited these lovely flowers from a friend who had become allergic to grass and leaves (almost anything outdoors) due to some medication she was on.   She had about 300 irises.  I didn't bring that many to my yard, but at least 100.  Over the years they have died out, or the hybrid ones have reverted back to white.   But the irises in this bed continue to  hold their colors.   It is such a great array of purples and violets.

The close-up here shows the various placements of the color in centers and the "falls" (the petals hanging down).   Two of my favorites:  1) lavendar centers with purple falls; 2) purple/white centers with white falls outlined in purple.

The irises above that have not unfurled are white with lavender outlines in the centers and on the falls.  Below is a close-up of one that has purple outlines and has unfurled.

Below is a photo of one of the lavendar ones as it begins to unfurl.

Stampington's Letter Writing Contest

If you love handwriting as I do, you will want to join in this contest and have the chance to win a $74 set from Expessionery - 20 stationery and a custom stamp!
Check out their new spring designs here:  www.expressionery.com/estore/?expblg.   Wish I had seen this earlier, but, alas, I have been neglecting my blog and emails this week.   "She who sleeps, later weeps!"  (my own saying....often said to myself!  LOL).
     My grandmother and I corresponded by letter for many years before her death during my second year of marriage.   I started writing letters to her as soon as I could print words.   She (and most of her sons) had beautiful handwriting.  I am so glad I have letters from her in that gorgeous script.   I also have writings of my father and uncle who inherited this gift from her.
     I am going to make this letter-journal to send.  I have several friends that I have corresponded with for many years.  I really believe this is a dying art and I truly enjoy writing.  Handwritten notes/letters are so special to me.
     Join in!   Leave a comment if you're going to join.  I'd love to know!  DEADLINE  4/20/2016.   See all the details here:  

stampington.com/blog/2016/04/05/mad-celebrating-national-letter-writing-month-crazy-friends-expressionery-giveaway/?utm_source=Stampington+%26+Company&utm_campaign=3aff30935d-Creative_Impulse_2016_04_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_916c207796-3aff30935d-7697705&mc_cid=3aff30935d&mc_eid=57e99b647a

Published in The Stampers' Sampler

 I was shocked to see these little guys appear in the Spring 2016 issue of the Stampers' Sampler.  I nearly threw these away!  The rubber stamp is made by All Night Media and I love using him for almost any celebration.  He usually appears on birthday cards but I decided on Happy New Year cards for this submission.  There was really a mad party going on!   Such excited little guys!   I guess staying up until midnight makes some people go crazy!   I utilized one of my corner punches on the white panel for this card and backed it with a gold metallic panel.
(I really enjoyed making the little banner for their party.  :)

 This trio looks like they're heading down the street in a samba line!   Each little horn has a rhinestone in honor of the New Year coming in.   Once again I used the gold metallic paper for backing the front panel.

This lonesome little guy isn't letting being along damper his spirits for New Years' Eve!   He even has the countdown going on!   I topped his hat with a rhinestone an gave him some shiny eyes.   I also used the corner punch on the top layer of this card.  The gold metallic paper was layered under his countdown strip. My, he is celebrating!
     Okay all you shy, hesitant closet stampers.............start submitting those little creations of yours!  I know Devon and the gang are anxious to see what you've been up to!   Thanks again, Devon to you and your staff for working so hard to keep these magazines going.
     Happy creating!  sharon  aka  inkybru

Published in Take Ten

I usually photograph my submissions before I send them in.   Forgot to do so with this one.  Therefore, the shadow on the left side of this photo is from the roll of the magazine as the card was next to it.   I could not get it to lie any flatter, so please excuse my horrible photography.  :(
     This card was sent in for the design challenge that Take Ten always has in their isssues.   I love doing them as I like a challenge!   But, alas, I don't always have time to get them in by the deadline.  
     So, I was very glad to see that this one not only made it, but was published!
These are some of my favorite colors:  the turquoise, lime green (or chartreuse, if you prefer :) and orange.   The paper I used contained all these colors!   How exciting is that?!   The reverse side had the lime green design and was perfect to show off the orange dragonflies I stamped and cut out to add to the circles.   I love the tiny blue bird washi tape that I used at the top.   I thought this made a delightful card.
     Thank you, Devin Warren and all your staff at Take Ten for the great work you do!
     Happy creating!   sharon  aka  inkybru

Published in RSM

I've been a little slow at posting some of my latest published cards.  This one was published RubberStampeMadness' Spring 2016 issue.  My very first publication was in RSM in 2003!   WOW!  Thirteen years ago!  Goodness time does fly when you're having fun.  LOL   The theme for this submission was filmstrips.   We were given some templates to use if we desired.  I have this wonderful rubber stamp of this man.   Well, I say man, some say "men".   Sorta of like, tomayto, tomahto?  LOL  I have always thought the man on this stamp could have been a 30's or 40's movie star.   I knew immediately that I was going to put him into the filmstrip.   The stamp also is called "One man show" (the reason I think it's man instead of men.....hehe).   

     I had some decorative paper that had filmstrips on them, so I cut a strip to go on the left side of the card.   I copied the template on card stock, stamped the images, cut them to fit the filmstrip and attached them.   I also cut a piece in a different color to layer with the filmstrip to make it stand out.   I hand cut stars from the same piece and glued them around the card as shown.   I used embossing powder to make the "Congratulations!" really pop.    I was very pleased when Roberta notified me that my card was being published.   Thank you, Roberta, and all your staff for continuing with RSM!

     Happy creating!   sharon  aka  inkybru

A Bird in the Hand

I have become enamored with wall hangings.  I had received some from my art sisters in the past and had tried my hand a few times.  So, I awoke one morning and had this great desire to make a few.
     Anyone who knows me is aware that I love birds and aqua: pale aqua extending to turquoise.  I have quite a collection of chipboard, ribbons and washi tape.  I really wanted to use some of stash and thought this would be a great way to utilize it.
     I also have a die for cutting birds (Sizzix).   This particular die has two birds.   I love to cut these birds on double-sided papers, and that way I can choose whether to have them facing each other, or wings to be different, etc.
     To start, I painted the large piece of chipboard with a thick acrylic paint ( Dina Wakely).   I chose the turquoise for the panel to allow it to be my sentiment background.

 After the paint dried, I used my parallel calligraphy pen (Pilot) to write the sentiment onto the panel.   I also cut out a butterfly to add to the left corner of the panel.  I adorned the butterfly with an aqua rhinestone.  Lastly, I added a faux postage sticker to the panel.

 I have used one my favorite butterfly stamps on this panel.  The rubber stamp is made by: savvy stamps.  The ink I used for this butterfly is Kaliedacolor's
Caribbean.  I also adorned this butterfly with a rhinestone.

 I die-cut this bird from a text paper and sewed him to the decorative paper I had cut for this large tag.   The paper had a hand on it and I sewed the bird to the hand.  First I had given him a washi tape bandanna.   Next he received a rhinestone eye.

At the bottom of the tag I sewed on a strip of ribbon lace and then a ribbon over the top of the lace.   I attached the organza flower to left side of the ribbon.  The  little bird at the bottom was also part of the decorative paper.

I have always said (to ANYONE who would listen....LOL), "Let your paper do half the work for you".   Here is a prime example of how the paper fit into my theme for this tag.   Keep your eyes open to all the possibilities!   Thanks for dropping by.    Happy creating!   Sharon aka inkybru

Valentine pockets............

 I joined a Valentine pocket trade on Red Lead this year and here are the ones I made to send in to them.  Red Lead is fast becoming one of my favorite places to buy stamps and collage sheets.  I love this bird!  I used my Brushos (water color crystals) to color a piece of water color paper and stamped the birds on it.   I also used them on a piece to get this beautiful pink tint and covered the tag and tiny card with it.  I cut out the hearts from one of Red Lead's collage sheets and glued one each to the tag, tiny card and pocket.  I then cut out the birds and attached them to the tiny card and the tag.  I stapled the ribbon along the bottom of the  tag and the pocked and across the top of the pocket.  I spritzed the pocked with white linen by Dylusions.  I also had these words on another little collage sheet from Red Lead.   The strip in the middle of the tag is part of a candy wrapper that I just could not throw away!  ")  The "air mail" and "parcel post" are pieces I had let over from another project.  I used the same ribbon to tie the top of the tag.

 Here is the tag in its little red pocket.  Red Lead had all these pieces cut and the heart brads in a packet they sent when I joined the swap.  Great little project for $5.

 This is the second set of the Valentine swap that Red Lead sent.  I love that it was a pink pocket to contrast with the red of the first pocket.   For this pocket, I used a tiny stencil and white stencil paste for the tiny hearts on the pocket.  I used a lighter piece from the paper made with the Brushos and cover this tag and tiny card.  I stamped the tiny musical circles and punched them out.   I glued two to the tiny card and three to the tag.  I stamped the bird, cut it out and glued it to the tiny card.   I also cut out the musical heart from the collage sheet and added it to the tiny card and the floral one to the pocket.  I added a piece of torn music to the tag, stamped the image of the boy and girl and cut them out.  I glued the boy and girl to stand on the torn music piece.  I glued dark pink ric-rac onto the tag.  Then I wrote the words on the tiny card and on the tag.  Lastly I tied the ribbon to the tag.
      This was such fun and very relaxing.   I had not felt well most of January and it was refreshing to be sitting at my art table creating something that I hoped would bring pleasure to another.   If you are not familiar with Red Lead, go visit Chris and Sharon at:  www.redleadpaperworks.com.  

Canadian geese.......

Several years ago I was able to photograph these Canadian geese that landed on the property next to us as they grazed for about two hours.   I think they are one of the most beautiful birds and could not resist the temptation to go out and photograph them.   They actually paid no attention to me.

A more recent photograph back at the beginning of their Autumnal migration, I was able to get close to the river bank (which is very high due the Corp of Engineers dredging out the river several years ago) and photograph these Canadian geese getting ready to settle on the river over night.  

Evening on the river....

This is a view to the west of our property on the river.  The water was as still as could be the evening I took this photo.  As you can see, a tree has fallen off the side of the bank due to river having been high for a while.  I love being there in the evening when the sun sets and the Canadian geese are coming in to rest on the river over night.  Their honking gives such an echo up and down the river.   It is always a sign in the Autumn of their southward migration and, then, in the coming of the Spring their flights back to Canada.

Cards to Frame

 A friend of mine asked me to make some cards for her to frame and give as gifts.  I used Brushos water color crystals to make backgrounds for these cards.  The background for the angel is made using Alizarin Crimson, Turquoise and Yellow.   I liberally sprayed water on water color paper and sprinkled the crystals around.  I let the paper set for a few minutes and then I picked it up by opposite corners and manipulated the colors around on the paper.  I blotted the original sheet with another of water color paper, creating a second colorful sheet.   After the paper was dry, I cut a piece a little larger than the angel image and stamped the image (A Stamp in the Hand) onto the water color paper.  I used a gold gel pen by Uniball to outline the stamped image and also to color in some of the stars.  I stamped the image again on pale pink paper and cut out the fact and hands and adhered them directly over the first image.  I layered this piece with black card stock and layered it on top of a white piece, which I also layered with black card stock before adding it to the card.  Finally I added the gold mica flakes to the corners of the piece as shown.

 For this card, I sprinkled Light Brown Brushos crystals along the bottom half of the paper and Terra Cotta Brushos crystals along the top half.  I did not spritz the paper as heavy at the edges of this piece, and I sprinkled the Terra Cotta crystals very lightly  at the edges.   The effect I wanted here was of an autumn sunset.  After the paper was dry, I cut a piece for the card and stamped the trees (Embossing Arts Co.) onto it.  I adhered frosted mica chips and gold mica chips to the base of the trees to mimic fallen leaves.  I layered this piece with black card stock and then onto a piece that had been spritzed with orange dye ink and white ink (to mimic snow).  I also spritzed the white onto a kraft card and adhered the image piece to the card when dry.  Finally I added the gold medallions to the sides of the card.

The paper that I stamped the arched window (Stampington & Co.) onto is actually from the same paper that I used in the angel card.  The crystals were not heavily sprinkled at this end.  I really liked the white showing through in this piece as it reminded me of light shining through.  After I stamped the image, I tore around the image in the shape of the window.  I layered it on a sheet of gold paper that I had attached to a blue card.  I stamped sentiment, cut out around it, and layered it onto blue card stock.  I attached it to the card with dimensional tape.  I added a gold star to the upper left corner and added a few micro rhinestones to give a "shine" to the window.
My friend was over-joyed with the finished results.  I was so happy and relieved!
(This was my 3rd custom order before Christmas.)

Christmas Angels 14-13=1

I am so sad!!!!!!   I made 14 different angels, one for each lady in my Sunday school class and did not photograph any of them except this one!   Wah!!!!!

I used so many papers:  red, green, gold, purple, and many different decorative patterns.  Some had wings decorated, some did not.   Some had decorative brads in the centers, some had beautiful flowers.   Some had burlap poinsettias and others had stars.
(Is this starting to sound like a Dr. Suess story?  Must be slipping back into my Pre-K4 teacher mode!  LOL)  Maybe next year my brain will be working better.........maybe not.  That's all there is folks!

Busy December

 I had three custom orders to get done before Christmas.  One lady ordered 40 cards......4 boxes of 10.   And then she ordered a box of 10.  She asked for simple basic cards with Thinking Of You, Get Well, Happy Birthday, With Sympathy and Congratulations.  I loved the challenge and tried to use as many different papers, images and embellishments as possible.  I really enjoyed this challenge and pushed myself to use up all the paper that I had already cut.  It is amazing what one can create with bits and pieces!

I had so many drawers from my supply closet out.   There were trays, boxes and folders of every kind of ribbons, brads, rhinestones, and stickers.

 I used this field of flowers stamp 2X.   The first time I used a Kaleidacolor ink pad to stamp several times to get this layered effect.   Then on the next card, I used black ink for a silhouette look.

 The striped background paper on this card really made a beautiful card for the blue panel with the white embossed "Congratulations".   The little gold butterflies adorning the corners was a great finishing touch.  My customer was very pleased with all 50 of her cards.  

Little works of Art

 I make so many of these little works of art known as Artists' Trading Cards - ATCs.  I'm always forgetting to photograph them and upload them to my blog.  I've been trying various techniques with these and it is such fun!
     I first cut a large unfinished water color from my daughter's destashing efforts.  It was such great paper and I knew I'd be able to use it for dozens of ATCs.  The archway in the background was part of that unfinished work.  I used stencil paste to add the stars to the background.  After they dried, I added the red marker (Copic Real Red) to the arch.  I copied the photo of this soldier from a clip art site.  I cut him out and glued him in front of the arch.  I stamped the sentiment (Stampin' Up!) on a scrap of white paper and trimmed around it and attached it to the soldier.  Then I brushed Glossy Accents over the whole ATC to seal it.

          For the Autumn ATC I first punched the leaves from colorful papers and glued them to the unfinished water color ATC.  I brushed a coat of Glossy Accents' crackle finish over the leaves.  I stamped the little bird girl from Catherine Moore's Mad Tea Party (Character Constructions) rubber stamp collection onto white paper and used a colored pencil to color in the her dress.  I cut out the stamped image and glued it to a page from an old novel.  I love the discolored vintage pages.  I cut around the image leaving lots of text around her.  I cut a partial sentence from the page and glued it above the image.  Next I tore a 1/4" strip from a piece of white material and sprayed it  with Dylusions Tangerine Dream.  I have shallow cardboard boxes that I lay my items in when wanting to die them with my sprays.  I cut tiny pieces from the strip and tied them into bows and attached the bow to the image as shown.  These were the ATCs I shared with my art sisters this month.  

Round Robin 2015 completed:

 These beautiful pages are by my dear friend and cohort in many, many activities........not only art!  LOL   Judi chose the letter "L" and gave me a two-page spread of laces!  I love this!  What a great variety of laces to adorn any art work, whether cards, journals or books.  I am thrilled that she added the little "price tags".  This really gives it a catalogue look.  I'm so glad she added the buttons.  This reminds me of book that Pat did one year.  Great idea!  Thank you, Judi!

The next two spread were done by another dear friend, Sara, who was born under the sign "Pisces" , and, therefore has done the letter "P".  I love Sara's fish and sea pages.   These are themes that appear often in her work.  I really admire the skill and patience it takes to lace the sides of the pages.  What a lot of work to put into someone else's book.  So many images on these pages:  fabric, rubber stamped, ribbon, bathing beauties and even embossed writing on the Pisces definition.  

This second two-page spread that Sara did features seashells and more fish.  Just below the seashells Sara has added a fish image that she cut into three pieces before adding the image to the page.  I really like the waves she has added on the mulberry paper.  The various blues, epoxy dots, and 3-D pieces at the bottom of the second page shown here really give great depth to her pages.  Sara has sewn tabs on all the pages from some muslin that she had dyed.  At the top of each lacing, she added a sea-themed charm.  Very nice touch.  Thank you, Sara!

 This two-page spread is by another dear friend and art sister that I finally got to meet in Paris!  I love Pat's "tea-themed" works that she creates.  The Catherine Moore images she has stamped on these pages are some my very favorite.  I really like the "Tea for Two" she has stamped on the page.  I often refer to the two of us "having tea" when I email her.  Pat stamped, then cut out the ladies and adhered them to the pages.  Her addition of the hats, umbrellas and clothing added a dimension to her page.  Wonderful "T" she has used for her "T" (Tea) page.  ")  Thank you, Pat!

These pages were created by another dear friend and art sister, Minori.  She lives in Japan and I have not been privileged to meet her in person.  But, I do know she loves Christmas and flowers!  This two-page spread shows her love of roses.  She has chosen the letter "R" to create a page dedicated to the Rose.  Minori has laid down a coating of gesso and added color and sparkle under her images.  I had never seen the angel image she used on these pages.  They are adorable!  She has used many a different color for each one.  Minori has added die-cut roses from decorative papers and text pages.........a very nice addition.  She has also die-cut a lattice work and added randomly around the page.  I'm imaging the lady in the image on the left is looking out her window and admiring her rose garden.  Thank you, Minori!

TO ALL MY FRIENDS AND ART SISTERS that worked in this book.  Thank you so much for sharing your creativity with me!  I do appreciate all the work you have done to decorate my life.  I know how hard it is to meet deadline when life is throwing so many things in your way.  Again, thank you so much.  I cherish each of you and your work.

Stamp Diva Round Robin 2015 completed....

 For my Alphabet round-robin book ,
Jan used the "B" page for "Bicycle".  I was so pleased because I have a great fondness for bicycles.  I thought she used some wonderful bicycle images for these pages.  The children in the bottom image on the second page are so reminiscent of my days with my brother and my cousins as we rode our bicycles down our street carrying a "hitch-hiker" on the back.  Thank you my friend and art sister, Jan.

                                    Marsha's   pages:

 These pages featuring those sweet little "House Mouse" critters are perfect for her "F" pages she has entitled "friends".  The quote on the second page says:  "Friendship isn't a big things......it's a million little things."  These pages are full of such friends engaged in numerous activities.  I love all the action here.

Marsha chose the letter "M" for a second set of pages.  Wonderful movie images!

Love the camera on the tripod.  I can almost hear:  "lights, camera, action!"  The gold letters and star and such a great touch to bring out the theme of this page.

I'm so glad Marsha used her own handwriting to make the "Movies" word marquee on the second page.  She wrote all around "Movies" words that are associated with this "scene", so to speak.  :)   Thank you, Marsha!  What a great friend and art sister for doing two wonderful two-page layouts for me!

This is the day the Lord has made.................

 let us rejoice and be glad in it!"  Psalm 118:24   My oldest and best friend used to wake her children quoting this Scripture to them.  They weren't always appreciative of it, but they know this verse by heart!  :)
   
It was such a beautiful fall morning, gorgeous blue sky, slight breeze ruffling the American flag and sunshine hitting the tops of the trees, I could not but quote this verse myself.

 Two of our neighbors have the American flag displayed outside the homes every day.  This one is across the street from our home.  The other is down the road a bit but when the leaves have all fallen from the trees, I can see it blowing in the stronger fall and winter winds.  There's just something about the American flag waving in the breeze that reminds me what a great country we live in.  Oh, there are many things that we complain about, but we have so many more freedoms and advantages here than anywhere else in the world.  How glad I am that I have been privileged to be born here.

My husband spotted this leaf newly fallen from my crepe myrtle into a spider web.  I had to use my Mr. Mister to get some water on the delicate web because I wanted it to show in the photograph too.  This beautiful creation caught in midair by the works of another created creation of wonder was so awe-inspiring.  I just had to write about it.  I pray each of you is enjoying some sunshine in your life today.  God's blessings on you all!