Hope this finds you all having a happy summer day!! I HAD to get in on this CR84FN34 challenge...

Such pretty summer-y colors...and it's been so, SO long since I've been able to participate!!

A new blogging friend of mine sent me the link for a sweet little watering can, (Thanks, Jodie!!) and I couldn't wait to try it out!! I pulled out some paper and ink in the CR84FN Challenge colors and got busy...

This is the less dressy side...

This prettly little layered butterfly is resting on the handle, and a similar one adorns the top/front...

I cut the template out of solid cardstock and stitched the patterned paper onto it, leaving about 1/8" of the solid yellow showing all the way around. It does take longer, but I like that layered look, and it turned out pretty sturdy because of it. (It's a pretty large can...side pieces are between 4" and 5" tall. Original template is smaller.)

I also re-worked the front of the spout and was pleased with how it turned out. I'll be filling this up as a gift with a few of the small sizes of Bath and Body shower gels that are so refreshing after a hot summer day in Indiana. I think it would make a really nice back-to-school gift for my kids' teachers, too, and am hoping to find time to do a couple up using the "all things grow with love" sentiment. Many, many possiblities when it's so roomy inside.

Hope you like it! If you're interested, you can get your own template HERE. I would LOVE to see yours when you're done, too, so be sure to come back and let me know about it!!

Thanks so much for stopping in!!

Thanks again, Jodie, and thanks so much to Mona and her team for keeping us inspired through these busy summer months!!

Geri

Aahhh...there is a light at the end of the crazy summer tunnel!!! So I stole away a little time to create for (only my 3rd) Papertrey Blog Hop and this colorful inspiration photo...

The result was a much 'cleaner' look than what I usually crank out...but I still had to layer...




This first card used Papertrey's Beautiful Blooms dies and Turning a New Leaf...




It's pretty straight-forward. I nested and embossed some Spellbinder rectangles for some clean white lines, like the ones found on the window seat in the photo, under my focal point. Inked up some doilies for the pretty quilted motif. And thank goodness there was a floral pillow in the photo so that I could incorporate one of my favorite handmade blossoms.

I used one of Papertrey's Mat Stack (label) stamps to help simulate the detailed motif in the quilt for the next one...

...along with a paper doilie and one from Papertrey's Delightful Doilies Dies. The large butterfly and sentiment are from Butterfly Dreams, of course.

It felt good to dig into my stamps and ink again...it's been awhile...don't know when the next opportunity will arise, but I will grab up it when it does!!
Thanks for stopping!

Geri

...these are a few of my favorite things!

I had pulled a few of those things together this last weekend to start working on these...

...not for any particular challenge...just wanted to pull together some things I find especially pretty. I just recently bought some chipboard from Maya Road. I have been admiring it for quite some time on everyone else's projects and finally got some of my own as part of my Mother's Day from our oldest son. It's definitly a new favorite and I was anxious to get creating with it. Check out this tiny little crown...fancied up with a little button, bling and glitter...

...and this sweet little Crafty Secrets bird...I have had him cut out and smudged up, sittin' on top of a pile of stuff, for months now...wanting a pretty piece of chipboard to put him in. Couldn't wait to pair him up with one of my pretty new crowns...

I fell in love with the pretty vintage journaling notes a LONG time ago and pulled together some pretty, fresh colors and patterns to layer with them...

...and there you have birdie card #1!

For birdie card #2...more buttons...more bows and some bits of some beautiful trim...

I just love these K & Co. birds and blossoms...

This pretty little creature is sitting on top of another journaling note and more of my favorite (soft) colors...

I like the way he turned out!

My second card wasn't quite done when I discovered The Shabby Tea Room's challenge theme for this week: "My Favorite Things". The best thing about this challenge is...it's all up to you...your favorite images and embellishments...your favorite style!! I thought these little creations, with all MY favorite things, fit perfectly with it!

Hope you enjoyed them half as much as I enjoyed creating them!!

Thank you so much for stopping by!!

Geri

The kids and I had a wonderful afternoon making cards at a local nursing home today, and some of the residents had a great time, too!! Like this young lady (and her even younger niece, I think it was, who was and employee and joined in to help)...



We couldn't take many pictures of residents to be shared outside the nursing home, but this great gal was up for it!! She really seemed to enjoy making the card, and was pleased with her results. She did a lovely job, didn't she?! And she had all the empty space inside filled up with a note. For residents like her, I think it turned out to be a very worthwhile experience, and I'm so, SO glad we had the opportunity to go and share. It was certainly a day-brightener for me to be able to share this craft I love with others who really seemed to appreciated it. And I really believe the recipients of the cards will appreciate them...they turned out so very pretty...and each one was a little different!!

Had to share my excitement, so thanks for visiting!! Can't wait 'til next month!!

Geri

Hello, dear blogging friends! No big challenges I'm entering today...just a simple 'hello' to share, along with a few things I have been working on in a few spare minutes here and there. This first one is the card I'll be making with some ladies at a local nursing home this Thursday. Very clean and VERY simple...

...kind of pretty, I hope! I've added several different colors to some creme K&Co flowers, so the ladies will do the simple stamping, and choose what color of flower they would like to add. A letter writing activity was already planned for them on Thursday, so we'll make this card, and they will add their note/letter to the card, instead of just writing a letter. I was hoping I could go once a week to make a card with them, but after talking with the Activities Director, it sounds like the residents are easily overwhelmed with planned activities like these. I'll have to admit, I was very surprised at that, and somewhat disappointed. But we will enjoy this activity...my kids are excited, and a little neighbor friend has already asked if she can go, too...and we'll see what the future brings. There is another nursing home in town I haven't talked to yet.

I have a few peeks at another project I'm working on that I will post when it is completed (which will have to be soon, because it's already late!!)...



It's a girl thing, as you can see...




I just love pink and yellow together...




And lastly, a card I did quite some time ago but hadn't posted yet...



Nothing super special...just messing around with lace and Papertrey dies. Wasn't happy with this flower, though...too neat and tidy. I'll be folding the layers of the next one for a little shabbier look. Soft colors...


I know...I really need to take a break with the doilies, huh! Oh, well...can't make any promises!!!

Hope you are enjoying your day!
Thanks so much for visiting!

Geri

Oh my...it is so good to be sharing a creation with you today! It has been too, too long! Busy, busy month! And if you are reading this on Monday, I am probably on my way home with my family from a busy 8 days in Disney (Florida). I am so honored, though, to be Guest Designing with the lovely ladies from The Shabby Tea Room this week. It is "Technique Week" there, with the featured technique being embossing. I have done some heat embossing with white powder on my project. I love the way soft water-y colors look with it.

So many people have been dealing with such nasty weather...I had to create something sunny...



I have used two of my all time favorite papers (they're both about gone!) from My Mind's Eye and Papertrey. I also used some Papertrey stamps (butterfly and sentiment) and the stamps and dies I won from The Shabby Tea Room with Just Rite as the sponsor...

After I embossed the frame, I used some TH Distress Inks to give it some soft color. I really love those inks with all colors of embossing powders...they just pair up so nicely!! And the foam applicator gives the best results, by far!! Anyway...here is the finished project...


Hope it gives you a sunny, warm feelin'!!

Be sure to visit the girls in the Tea Room...they always have some lovely designs there for you!! I must thank them again for the opportunity to design with them! It's always a pleasure!

I would like to quickly say...My main computer has not been the same when dealing with Blogger since the couple days of maintenance awhile back. Up until recently, I could view my blog and visit others, but could not sign in to leave comments. Recently I have found that, while I can get to the sign in page, and I can type a comment, I get repeatedly taken back to the sign-in page and cannot get the comment to go through. In other words, I have visited and seen a lot of my favorite blogs but have not been able to comment. I'm hoping when I get home, it will finally be straightened out. I also hope to have a little more time overall to visit and create now that vacation is almost over. However, summer-time is 'critter-time' for me...and neighbor time, sleepover time, pool time, VBS time, Daddy being gone time... I'm also hoping for a chance to take the kids with me to create cards in a local nursing home on a weekly basis for those residents who are able. So it's just hard to say how all of it, and blogging, will work out! I'm really looking forward to fun times and memories with my kids, and am hoping for a way to balance it all!! I hope you'll stay tuned, and be patient with me!!

Thanks so much for visiting today!!

Geri

Super quick post today. I had another idea for a card for the Polka Dot Door Blog Hop Challenge that I didn't have time for 'til now...

This was the inspiration...(LOVED it!)

Still hooked on those pinwheels in pots...

Used some My Mind's Eye and Papertrey Paper, along with some Fiskars stamps to come up with this...

Hope you like it, and hope you'll consider linking your own project up to The Polka Dot Door!!

If you didn't see my previous post and have any interest in more pinwheels, potted plants, crocheted flowers, or teacher gifts...click HERE!

Thanks so much for stopping!

I'm racing off again!!

Geri