How does your garden grow...

How does your garden grow?  My husband's garden is beautiful!  La Nina has been very good to us in the midwest....with the exception of the humid days...and weeks!  Check out his garden; I have one more posting for today...I have green beans to can up!

chili peppers

grapes

eggplant

my hubby

red cabbage

yellow onion

green pepper

banana peppers

roma tomatoes

(some) variety of red tomato

bee on the cat nip

zucchini flower

bee on in the another zucchini flower

summer squash

I wasn't kidding...

I wasn't kidding when I said, "there are about 50-75 blooms out there."  And I think every honey bee in town is visiting the flower patch.  Check out the pictures:

Some time ago, I got a 7 Gypsies Rolodex as a gift from my BFF...the Oregonian peep.


I really want to make an effort to work on the "dex"...I didn't want it to sit there waiting and waiting to be worked on as soooo many of my craft projects do.  The "dex" has been patiently sitting on my craft table...for its' turn to get worked on.  Well, I'm happy to report, the "dex" didn't have to wait any longer than this morning.

oh, see the sparkle

Yep, it's hot...

Yep, it's hot in Minnesota....the land of 10,000 temperatures!  I'm not sure if I'm completely sane to be up in my craft room with a (HOT) light on...I think by the time I finished the card it was a bazillion degrees in the room.  Seriously...am I SANE?


Anyho, I wanted to create a card so I toughed it out...I think (with slightly less brain cells)!?


I participated in the Splitcoaststampers.com Wednesday Sketch Challenge (SC342).  I thought it was a great sketch to utilize my new stamp.  Love, love, love the coke bottle with a flower.  My creative juices were working overtime when I saw it yesterday...so I purchased it...quickly!


Here's what I created:  It's not my best...but it really was a bazillion degrees.

Pretty flowers...

Here's a couple pictures of coneflowers which are growing on the side of the house: these are only a couple of pictures...there are about 50-75 blooms out there...seriously!

Roadshow or bust...

Yesterday, my mom and I went to Antique Roadshow which was taping in Minneapolis...

and I will say that although we didn't have any million dollar items...we sure did have 
F-U-N!! I would have liked to take pictures, however, we weren't allowed once we were in the "arena."  We met the following appraisers:

J. Michael Flanigan (Furniture)

Kathleen Guzman (Collectibles)

John Travolta otherwise known as Scott Tagliapietra (Dolls) and he thought he was a doll, not so much!
Dude, button up your shirt...it isn't cool anymore, really!

From what I hear 35,000 people "applied" for tickets which was picked by lottery...I can't win at bingo, so I was really surprised when I received tickets for the show.  Also, please note...I did see Mark Walberg, but he was across the room...so I didn't get any photo opps!  The taping will be airing in the 16th season...so look for my mom and I!

Thanks mom...I had a blast!!

I've been on a hot streak...

I've been on a hot streak...in creating cards.  My creative juices are flowing...and I haven't created anything for the PaperPlayers in a long time. So I thought I would put something together for their challenge.  For their challenge I needed to use the following colors:

Okay, so I had the colors...now all I needed was to find a sketch, since I'm not the best at pulling a rabbit out of my hat.  I picked something from the Splitcoaststampers.com sketch library; here's what I created:

It's happy hour...

It's happy hour...and I mean Happy Hour embroidery from the iron-on gal herself, Aunt Martha.  There a bunch of different "mixers" which I'm doing for a girlfriend of mine...inside joke!  I know she will love them!

A little Christmas in the month of July...

Yep, a little Christmas in the month of July; I'm hoping to sell Christmas cards this year on my Etsy account.  I have a 4 day break from work this weekend, so I'm planning on retreating to my craft room for a majority of the time off.  Please check back...I'll have some other holiday cards, too.   Who knows, maybe you'll love my cards enough to purchase them?! 


Before I retreat to my craft room, my mom and I are gearing up for the Antique Roadshow taping this weekend; I'm hoping to take a lot of pictures of my mom with host, Mark Walberg!  He's soooo handsome.  I'm really hoping to make a great experience for my mom...she loves the show!  Check back for my Roadshow posting on Sunday!!


However...getting back to my card I've made for the Splitcoaststampers.com Sketch Challenge.  Here it is:

OMG, look what I found...

OMG, look what I found at the local Goodwill store with my hubby (again); he's fun to hang out with.  But seriously, this is one of my best finds ever!! 
I purchased all of these patterns for .49 cents!  They are all newer patterns...how much fun am I going to have...now I just need to find the time!

An evening of Thrift Shopping with hubby...

An evening of Thrift store shopping with hubby conjured up the items in the following picture:

1. Wool Yarn for felting purses...as well as some miscellaneous tidbit yarns
2. Embossing Heat thingie
3. Vintage Sewing Tracing tool...I'll use on cards
4. Paper Doily Placemat pack...I'll use on cards, also
5. Retired Stampin' Up! Bitty Bouquets...with a couple stamps from another set

Another excellent adventure...

Strawberries...anyone?

Strawberry Jam...anyone?!  Hubby and I went strawberry picking the other day...at the local Costco.  I know not very original or fresh, but I had to do something.  I didn't think we could eat them fast enough...you know?!  Besides after taking a peek at the pantry, I thought we needed some jams this year anyway.  I think it's been three or four years since I did jams last.  Don't the jars look Y-U-M-M-Y!! And the lids are popping as we speak!!

Playing with the queen of hearts...

Yep, I've been playing, otherwise known as stitching, with the queen of hearts.  Well, actually it's just hearts, but it's what I thought of when I was getting ready to post this little project.  Guess what...it's another project off my 2011 Project List...can I hear a woop! woop!?!?!
I haven't sewn on the buttons, but it's close enough to call it done! I think it will cute for Valentine's Day! Don't you think?!  Check it out:

It's soooo sad....

It's sooo sad, check out this pic...and I still need to add another row of stitches...poop!

I can either a) start over on a different linen or b) modify the pattern. 

Honestly, why can't I win at Bingo...

I don't even win at Bingo...

I don't even win at Bingo, so when I opened the mail this morning, I was really, really surprised and happy!!


Somehow with a random drawing, I managed to get tickets to the Antique Roadshow taping in Minneapolis, MN!!!


I have two tickets...I think my mom is going to go with me...unless hubby wants to go...well have to wait to see what he determines!!


I'm an SOOOOOO excited!!! I can't wait!!

Black Bear Sighting...

I'm a born and raised Minnesota farm girl; I've seen a lot of things, right?  But there is one thing which has alluded me until Tuesday morning.  The infamous Black Bear...and I'm not talking the TC...the Minnesota Twins mascot.  The real thing....let me start from the beginning.  Monday morning, I walked out to the barn to get the dogs.  I see that one of my bird feeders is on the ground and it's crushed.  Then I noticed another feeder has been emptied and the shepherds hook is bend.  I just assumed it was a raccoon, which is more plausible, right?  I told my mom about the incident...she didn't hesitate...it's a black bear!  I thought...sure, mom...whatever!?


The next morning, I hear the wind chimes ring; I immediately jumped out of bed to see a bear running to the side of the house.  Well, in my quest to see if it really was a bear...I tripped over the cat and stubbed my toe.  As I approached the window on the side of the house...I was able to confirm...it, indeed, was a black bear.  He sat under the big red oak tree and probably finished his morning snack...my bird seed.  :-(


The next morning, I looked out the window...and noticed my suet feeder is gone...literally gone...the dam bear took my suet feeder!  That fIUY#J$#&*$Y#*!!  I'm mad!!


I haven't seen him since....and here's a proof of the black bear sighting...what you can't see the bear...I don't blame you for questioning  my superb photo skills...in my defense...I was really nervous!!  Oh well, have a great day!

Ode to the Retired Stamp Sets (Eastern Blooms)

Here's another card from the Ode to the Retired Stamp Set; Eastern Blooms will be missed;  typically, I won't pick out a flower stamps, but I did like this set.  Here's what I created:

Ode to the Retired Stamp Sets Series (Big On Christmas)

This stamp set is probably one of my all time favorites!  So yes, I'm sad to see it go...but all good things must come to an end!


I created this card using the Splitcoaststampers.com's sketch challenge.  The colors I chose to work with are Baja Breeze, Blushing Bride and Garden Green.  The last couple of years, I've been hooked on non-traditional Christmas colors.  So I'm glad that SU! came out with this designer paper pack, Candy Cane Christmas in last years Mini Occasions catalog.  I cut the striped paper on the diagonal, which gave me this cool look. 

Here's the card that I created: (I apologize for the "darker" pics; my beautiful morning has turned cloudy)

Good Morning...

I walked out to get the Sunday paper; boy, what a beautiful morning.  Hubby went fishing this morning; so that leaves me sipping on coffee and reading the paper while hanging out with the dogs on a beautiful morning. Lucky me...

I needed something different to work on so I've started this cute pincushion by Blackbird Designs. This pic doesn't do the linen justice...it has little specs of gold weaved into it.  Here's my progress:

Bird In Hand by Blackbird Designs

At some point, I'm going to run away to my craft room; hopefully, I'll have another posting for later...until then.

Ode to the Retired Stamp Sets Series (A Flower for All Seasons)

Good Afternoon,


Today's posting will be short and sweet since my allergies are driving me crazy!  Here's the latest installation of the Ode to the Retired Stamp Set Series.  

Well look what we have here...

A couple of weeks ago, I noticed there were a lot of buds on my clematis.  It's one of those things that you just put to the back of your head...to remember...guess I didn't really think all those buds would develop into flowers...but they did...check it out:

I counted 10 flowers and two more buds...for a total of 12 flowers....Isn't that C-R-A-Z-Y!!

Ode to the Retired Stamp Sets Series (Fun Pun)

Here's another posting of the Ode to the Retired Stamp Set Series; I chose the Fun Pun stamp set.  This set was one of the first stamp sets I ordered through my Oregonian peep several years ago; it has remained one of my favorites. 


Get this set before it's gone, gone, gone.

Ode to the Retired Stamp Sets (Puns from the Past)

Good Evening...
So by now, most of you (Stampin Up! lovers), have reviewed the soon-to-be retired list.
This retired list is what prompts all of this MONTH's postings; every stamp used during the month of June will feature a retired set...I thought it would be fun...then title each posting...Ode to the Retired Stamp Sets.
I've used the Pals Paper Arts Color Challenge to incorporate the use of Puns from the Past stamp set which after July 1 will be gone, gone, gone.
Here's the colors used:

Recipe

Stamp Set: Puns from the Past

Ink: Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard and Night of Navy

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, More Mustard and Night of Navy, and Very Vanilla

That Little Something: Baker's Twine (Cherry Cobbler and white), Watercolor Wonder Crayons (Regal Selection- Night of Navy), Night of Navy buttons (retired), and Smooch Spritz (log cabin) 

That Little Helper: Sponging and Dimensionals

Just in case you are interested in ordering: