Kimono Pip

This precious image is Kimono Pip and you can find her HERE.  I just love the sweet images that Sally Ann creates.  Her talent is never ending.  This image was debuted in April of this year and I knew right away I needed it to create a birthday card for my grand daughter. So here it is!  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do!  I paper pieced the kimono which gave the look I was wanting.

Digi Stamp Boutique is our sponsor this week at 

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. 

 I hope you will play along.  

The sketch for the week is posted below and the rules are on SSW2! 

If you are the lucky Grand Prize Winner, 

you will receive a £10 voucher to use at Digi Stamp Boutique.

All images/designs are created and copyright owned by Sally-Ann Hancock.  My work means the world to me - it allows my passion to draw and create, to fit with my family life too, often the inspiration for my designs.  Hope you enjoy my images as much as I enjoy creating them.

My Recipe:

Image:  Digi Stamp Boutique Kimono Pip

Papers:  From my stash DP and SU Peach Parfait and ColorMates Light Racy Raspberry

Inks:  Copics, SU Melon Mambo and Blush Blossom

Tools:  Spellbinders Classic Squares Small, SU Texturz Plate Perfect Details, Flower Punches

Assessories:  Baker's Twine, Jewels 

You Are My Sunshine

I made this card for Dragonfly Journeys "You are my Sunshine" Challenge.  Surprisingly I had this "You Are My Sunshine" sentiment.
Glad I could play along this week.  Jeannie has some very fun challenges and it provides an opportunity for me to use stamps and images that I haven't had a chance to use yet.  I hope you will stop by and play along too.

My Recipe:

Image:  Kaiser Stamp Serene, Stampendous Sunshine
Papers; SU Dusty Durango, Pool Party, Teresa Collins Fabrications Canvas, K & Company
Ink:  SU Pumpkin Pie, Baja Breeze
Tools:  SU Framelits 125598,SU  Banner Punch, EK Label Punch
Assessories:  Twine, Sugar Dots, Enamel Dots

Have a Happy Day!

 I just adore this new image at Bugaboo Stamps!  It is called "Pretty Flower Girl" and you can find it here!  My favorite part of making the card was using my new Wink of Stella pen!!! I used it on her lips, dress, necklace, hair band, earring, center of flower, butterflies and a touch on her eyelid! The sparkle is amazing in real life.  Hopefully you can see some of it too!

My  Recipe

Stamps:  Bugaboo Stamps Pretty Little Girl, Hero Arts Singing Birds

Papers:  SEI Vanilla Sunshine, SU Peach Parfait, Color Mates Light Racy Raspberry

Inks:  Copics, SU Rose Red and Wink of Stella

Tools:  Spellbinders Picot Edge Circles and Standard Circles Large, SU Modern Label, 

SU Embosslits Beautiful Wings

Accessories:  Ribbon and Jewels from stash 

                                                       

This week our sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps and they are offering a sweet prize of 7 free digis if you are the lucky grand prize winner at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2! I have also included the sketch for this week's challenge....Sweet Sketch 2-59.  

Below is a little bio about Bugaboo Stamps!  

Everything that you ever wanted to know about Bugaboo Stamps:  As if raising 5 children in the frozen land of the North was not enough of a challenge, Jodie Mackrell decided to dip her cold little Canadian toes into the work of papercrafting by opening an online store full of her illustrations. Bugaboo Stamps has become one of the leading companies in digital images. From seiously snarky to sugar sweet to sublimely soulful all the way over to the other side of the super sexy spectrum, you're bound to find all that you need and more to create your paper projects.  Jodie works very hard to provide New Releases and Freebies every week!!  If your taste runs to rubber (and you know who you are), you can find Bugaboo Stamps at Totally Stampilicious.  And finally, join the Bugaboo Stamps DT for the weekly Challenges at Catch the Bug.

Store:  www.bugaboostamps.com

Challenge Blog:  http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com

Orchid Cactus Bloom

 June 1, 2015

I am so excited.  My Red Orchid Cactus is preparing to bloom.  I noticed one bud on May 31.  The next day I spent the entire day cleaning my garden window and turning this plant around so that I can enjoy it's bloom.

June 2, 2015

When I turned it around, I saw two buds, then three, then four, then five.

This is the first time I have had more than one bud. Sad to say, I knocked off one of the tiny buds while I was cleaning. This plant has bloomed three other times but with only one flower each time.  But even with one flower, it is well worth patiently waiting.

I am still learning the right mix of fertilizer and water to stimulate the setting of buds.

June 3, 2015

The first three photos were taken in the morning and the next photo was taken in the evening.  I will plan to taken the rest each evening as the indoor lighting without the back light of the outdoors gives a better photo. You can see the blossom are starting to grow.  The bud on the left is already 3 inches.

June 4, 2015

The Orchid Cactus is called an Epiphyllum.

The flower on this plant is a gorgeous red and has a span of 8 inches.  Yes, this is not a typo.

So I will be enjoying 4 flowers unless there are other buds that are just setting but are not yet visible.  Now this plant is a night bloomer!  When it bloomed last time, I was close by to watch the 90 minute transformation!  If you want a sneak peek of what it will look like, click here.

Now before I get too excited, I noticed that there are little white spots on the flower buds. You can see them on the right flower.  Something told me that I might have an infestation of aphids or a mealy bug..not sure which it is.  So I am trying to do some research to decide what to do.  I just moved my Christmas Cactus below.  I feel this may dash my hopes for seeing these buds come to full bloom! Not sure what kind of damage they will do!!!!

If you can help, please leave me a message!

June 4, 2015
Aphid Infestation!  Yikes!

June 5, 2015

I was able to physically remove most of the aphids by using a soft tissue underneath the bud to catch the aphids and one on top to gently wipe and tap to remove them.  I know I removed at least 100 or more from both of the larger buds.  My fear is that there are many more inside the flower and I believe my guess is correct as I was able to remove a few more this evening.  The petals are very delicate so I didn't want to touch them with my hand but I won't be surprised if their petals are bruised.  I also learned that the aphids love to suck the moisture out of the petals causing them to wilt.  At this point it will be a wait a see moment!  Also it only takes two aphids to reproduce over a 100 new babies each day!  That doesn't sound promising for me! At this point I do not want to spray the petals with anything for fear of destroying the flower. But I will definitely treat this plant once it has finished blooming!

June 6, 2015

Well, I am still removing a few aphids.  The coming week is a very warm week..high 70's to mid 80's.  Hopefully that will not increase the likelihood of these aphids to reproduce even faster and more abundantly!

June 6, 2015

I realized that I hadn't taken a photo of the entire plant so here it is below! There are actually 5 buds: Viewed best from the photo above this one.  Number 1 is on the left, Number 2 is right above it, Number 3 is to the right of Number 2 (it is still a bud with no color), Number 4 on the right and Number 5 is a bud directly below 

Number 4, again a very small bud.

 June 7, 2015
8 p.m.
The first bud is going to bloom tonight.

 June 7, 2015
9 p.m.
This is an hour later.

June 7, 2015
11 p.m.
Before going to bed I tried turning my plant to see if I could get a better view.  This is the first time my cactus has bloomed away from me.  It is definitely wanting to show its beauty to the rest of the world and to the many birds that come to my feeders hanging next to this garden window.

 June 8, 2015
7 a.m.
Well, this morning my flower is in full bloom.  

June 8, 2015
7 a.m.
I had the help of my husband to gently turn it around so that I could take a photo.  It measures a little over 7 inches in width.
By the way, this flower wasn't harmed an any way by the aphids.  I managed to remove all of them from this flower.  I was fearful that that center of the flower would be filled with aphids....thankfully not even one aphid can be found!

June 8, 2015
7 a.m.
It really is a beauty!

June 15, 2015 
This is Number 4 bud.  It is actually the one that had the most aphids on it.  I believe it is a little stunted.  It half opened as you see below as I managed to turn the plant to see into the flower.  It is also considerably smaller in size....about 5 inches.

June 15, 2015
Number 5 bud is coming along...to the right of this bloom and I also noticed I have two other buds.  Number 2 and 3 have nearly dried up...possibly affected by aphids or too little water during a hot week.

This photo is of Number 2 and 3 which look like straw buds!  They have dried up!

June 28, 2015

This photo is of Number 5, 6 and 7 from left to right.

Looks like bud Number 7 is about to bloom tonight.  It is 9:50 pm and I am headed to bed.  I will miss this one.

June 29, 2015

Number 7 was in full bloom this morning.  It is a little smaller...6 inches in diameter.  This blossom is the far right bloom.  It also had about 5 aphids on it in the past two weeks.  I have tried to be diligent in removing them.  It looks like I succeeded.

June 29. 2015  

This is Number 5.  It has developed very well and looks like it will bloom by morning.  

June 29, 2015

 Number 5 is going to be 8 inches in diameter when it opens.

June 30. 2015

7:15 a.m.

This is Number 5 in full bloom!  Another beauty!

Jun 30, 2015

As you can see I have one more bud to bloom!

I'll be back with another photo!

June 2, 2012
Well, this is my last bloom!  The color is a little off on my camera or from the sunlight as this red is so vibrant!  I hope you have enjoyed watching!

Hopefully I will not have to wait another three years before it blooms again!

Birthday Wishes for the Star!

I wanted to make a quick and easy male birthday card and remembered that I had pinned a lovely card on Pinterest.  You can see Cindee's card Here.  Thank you, Cindee, for the great idea.  I used the tools I had on hand and added the banners and a different sentiment.

My Recipe:

Stamps:  SU Banner Blast and Boho Backgrounds, All Night Media Splatter Pattern, Dollar Birthday Stamp

Papers:  BoBunny Safari Corrugated, SU Creamy Caramel, Cream from Stash

Ink:  SU Creamy Caramel and Chocolate Chip

Tools:  SU Stars, Fiskars Star, McGill Vintage Label, SU Designer Label, SU Banner, EK Banner,

Accessories:  Baker's Twine

Have a Happy Day!

I'm not sure what has gotten into me this week to make three cards!  I'm guess I'm just having fun in my organized craft room.  Yesterday I was doing some more detailed organization on my stamps and then when I was trying to go to sleep last night I remembered I have this stamp but didn't remember seeing it, however, this afternoon when I went to look....there it was!  Well, I had to stamp it up as I had just found this embossing folder at Joann's and wanted to play with it.

This stamp has a little bird on the side of it so I will enter another card into Dragonfly Journeys' What's the Word, Bird? Challenge.  Hope you will play along,

My Recipe:

Stamp:  Rubber Soul Bicycle with Flowers; SU Lots of Thoughts

Papers:  SU Creamy Caramel, Baja Breeze; Memory Keepers Hippity Hoppity Easter Tree, Blue Cloud Paper from my stash.  

Ink:  Tim Holtz Rusty Hinge, Tea Dye, Vintage Photo, Tumbled Glass, Peeled Paint  Copics

Tools:  Darice Square Border Embossing Foler, SU Curly Label, SU Distressing Tool

Accessories: Ribbon, Jewels

You're the Best

Since I just organized my craft room and I know right where my bird stamps are, I decided I wanted to play with my SU Autumn Days set and see what I could create.  I have always loved this pheasant.  This was just my first try at coloring him and I didn't want to discard him even though it isn't my favorite. I'll have to play a little more. But all in all I had a fun time putting this card together and using more of my tools!

Since Dragonfly Journeys still has the bird challenge going on this week, I will enter my card there. You can enter up to three different cards at Dragonfly Journeys.  I hope you will want to play along.

Have a wonderful week!

Recipe:

Stamp:  SU Autumn Days and Banner Banter

Papers:  SU Soft Suede, Peach Parfait, KLM Turquoise, and scraps

Tools:  SU Scalloped Tag Punch, Banner Punch, Corner Punch

Accessories:  Ribbon, Wright's Twine, Copper Brads

Ink:  SU Close to Cocoa, Tim Holtz Rusty Hinge, Brushed Corduroy, Gathered Twigs, and Copics for Pheasant

Cheep Talk

I have just done a complete reorganization of my craft room and I was amazing at what I have in my craft room that I didn't know I had or I should say I didn't remember that I had.  I also have so many stamp sets that have never even been used so I decided that I would try to start using them on occasion.

The challenge this week at Dragonfly Journeys is to create something with Birds!  So I found my

SU Cheep Talk Stamp Set and decided to use it.

I should have come up with a cheep sentiment but it came with this sentiment and I am always in need of Thank You notes.

I have to say that after using digis for 6 years I feel a little out of sorts using stamps and trying to place them where they need to be.  That is why the red cardinal is almost landing!  LOL!!!

Recipe:

Stamp:  SU Cheep Talk

Papers:  Making Memories Vintage Small Rose Crackle and Vintage Antiqued Stripes, Vellum, Bazzil cardstock  and SU Pear Pizzazz, 

Accessories and Tools:  On A Cord Red Twine, Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large and Classic Scalloped Ovals Large, Die Namics Stitiched Scallop Edge

Ink: SU Lucky Limeade, Brocade Blue, Riding Hood Red, Only Orange, Chocolate Chip

 Summer Breeze

This Summer Breeze image from ADFD has always been one of my favorites!  A Day for Daisies is our sponsor this week at Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2.  I hope you will play along and have a chance to win a $12 Gift Certificate from ADFD if you are the SSW2 Grand Prize Winner!  Who knows, it may be you!  Get Sketchy and play along!  All the rules are on SSW2 under Challenge Rules.

I've included the sketch for this week below.  You can use a circle or a pentagon.

Now a little bit about ADFD

A Day For Daisies began as a small token to a constant need to create. Pairing a love of whimsical illustration, with a tidy graphic design background, Tammy S Thompson, produced her first stamp designs, introducing irresistibly sweet stamps to crafters around the globe. Drawing inspiration from the beautiful world around us, she strives to express the happiness and gratitude she feels in each stamp design she creates.

Presently, A Day For Daisies has grown to over 3,000 Digital Stamps with a quickly expanding line of Best Loved Clear Polymer. A Day For Daisies has been published and awarded over the years for innovative and unique designs created to inspire the crafting community. With a whole team behind her now, she remains passionate about illustration, obsessed with quality, and dedicated to her customers. A Day For Daisies thanks you for your ideas, comments, and creativity!

Prize:  $12 Gift Certificate

Image:  A Day for Daisies Summer Breeze
Papers:  Cardstock, Frances Meyer Rosy Stripes, K &Company Brenda Walton
Accessories and Tools:  Spellbinders Lacey Circles, Dollar Bin Roses, Celebrate It Ribbon from Michael's, Copics

Heat Wave!

This is my card for this week's challenge at Dragonfly Journey's.  The challenge is anything beachy!  I had this image from Dearie Dolls!   Isn't he cute?  I thought with the crab pinch it was definitely a Heat Wave!  Thanks Mary Ellen for your sweet images!

Image:  Dearie Dolls Ouch!
Papers: Avery and Color Mates Cardstock, Echo Park Splash
Ink: SU Baja Breeze and Summer Sun
Tools:  SU Circle Scallop, Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Ovals Large, Darice Clouds

Today I was needing a sympathy card and remembered I had pinned a card I loved from Pinterest a few weeks back.  This is my version...very, very similar to Karen's.  I knew I had the stamp set and that it would come together very quickly.  Thanks, Karen, for the wonderful idea and beautiful card!

Stamp set: SU Thoughts and Prayers
Papers:  Recollections Black Cardstock,  Off White Cardstock
Accessories:  MS Butterfly Punch, Pearls, Cuttlebug Musical Flourish Embossing Folder

I'd Rather Be Dancing!

What cowgirl wouldn't want to be dancing!

I created this card for Dragonfly Journey's Cowgirl Challenge!  I used a modified version of an old Mojo Monday Sketch #125.  I thought it was perfect as it reminded me of a saddle and took me back to my horse riding days with my sister, Nancy!

What a fun challenge!  Thanks, Jeannie!

Be sure to check out Dragonfly Journey's Cowgirl Challenge this week!

My Recipe:

Dearie Dolls Image:  no name on file

Papers:  Recollections Canyons Cardstock, 

My Mind's Eye Stella & Rose Mabel Little Lady Fine Flowers 

Accessories: Spellbinders Classic Ovals Large

Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Circles

SU Curly Label

Wright Jute

Star Brad

Copics

Computer Generated Sentiment 

Bradley Hand ITC and Times New Roman

It's Your Day!

I made this card for Dragonfly Journey's  Daisy Challenge.  Check out Jeannie's challenge over at Dragonfly Journey's. It's fun and easy to play along.   I love daisies so the hardest part was trying to decide which image I wanted to use!  As you can see I ended up with one of Mary Ellen's images.  I adore her images and her talent to share her images with all of us.  

Free Dearie Dolls Digital Stamps

I also decided to use the Mojo Monday sketch for this week and will play along with them too!

A fun sketch to use!

My Recipe:

Dearie Dolls Daisy Girl Image

DP:  My Mind's Eye 29th Street Market Pretty Petals

DP:  Penny Lane Purple Flowers

Color Mates Dark Perfect Plum Cardstock and SU Crushed Curry

Large and Small Deckled Rectangle Spellbinder

Fiskars Flower Punch

Brad

1 1/4" and 1 3/8" circle punch

Computer Generated Sentiment

Pupyrus Font

Copics

Have a Happy Mother's Day Week!

You're My Hero

Two of my grandson's have birthdays in May.  

The youngest loves fire trucks so right away I knew which image 

I wanted to use for his birthday card! 

This is definitely an oldie but goodie!!!!!  

You can find this image at Bugaboo Stamps.  

It is called AKVtoo Fireman-Firetruck

I decided to use my molding pad and give the fire truck 

some dimension along with his hat.  

Then I decided the ribbon on the sketch needed to be the fire hose.  

I was hoping I had something in my stash that would work 

and sure enough this twill tape was the perfect addition.  

Then I needed an fire hose nozzle 

so I google images for fire hose nozzle and 

came up with this nozzle, printed it off and cut it out!  Wha la!!!! 

 It's so fun when things come together the way you think them up in your head!

Anyway, my grandson is only three and this card will probably be destroyed in two minutes 

but I know he will like it while it lasts!

This is the inside of his birthday card!

My Recipe:

Bugaboo Image:   AKVtoo Fireman - fire truck

Studio G Janet Dunn Stars and Dots DP

Colorbok Beach House DP

SU Poppy Parade Cardstock

Spellbinders Standard Circles Large and Petite Scalloped Circles Large

Wrights Creative Classic Twill Tape Ribbon

Fire Hose Nozzle photo from Internet Search of Fire Hose Nozzle.

Teresa Collins Signature Essentials Enamel Shapes Red

Copics

McGills Molding Pad and Stylist

"You're My Hero" computer generated

AR Kristy Font

SU 1 3/8" Circle Punch

SU 1 3/4" Scallop Punch
SSW2-53 Sketch

This is the sketch we are using this week at 

Sweet Sketch Wednesday 2. 

 I hope you will play along and have the opportunity

 to win 7 free digis from Bugaboo Stamps!

Who knows you may be the lucky winner!

Everything that you ever wanted to know about Bugaboo Stamps:  As if raising 5 children in the frozen land of the North was not enough of a challenge, Jodie Mackrell decided to dip her cold little Canadian toes into the work of papercrafting by opening an online store full of her illustrations. Bugaboo Stamps has become one of the leading companies in digital images. From seriously snarky to sugar sweet to sublimely soulful all the way over to the other side of the super sexy spectrum, you're bound to find all that you need and more to create your paper projects.  Jodie works very hard to provide New Releases and Freebies every week!!  If your taste runs to rubber (and you know who you are), you can find Bugaboo Stamps at Totally Stampilicious.  And finally, join the Bugaboo Stamps DT for the weekly Challenges at Catch the Bug.

Store www.bugaboostamps.com

Challenge Blog:  http://catchthebugblog.blogspot.com

Prize:  7 Free Images

Get Sketchy!