Mother Nature And All Things Pretty

I LOVE this time of year.  The sun is stronger, the days are longer and the gardens are bursting to life.  What more could you ask for?  I am an avid gardener.  I love to play in the dirt, and sometimes it actually pays off.  I can out wait Mother Nature too.....sometimes she is a tricky lady.  I bought some peonies 3 years ago, all in bloom.  Planted them in a perfect sunny spot, and for 3 years I never saw them bloom again.  I waited......I fed them.....I pleaded and begged them......insert the sounds of crickets chirping......and then this Spring I began to see signs of buds.....I checked on them daily and sure enough Mother Nature was pulling through!  They are in bloom, glorious delightful bloom!  I am a patient gardener......I am a happy gardener.   




Peonies

I plant a lot of flowers from seed, collecting them each fall, just hoping and praying that one day these too shall grow tall and strong and bloom.  This year, the third year, again, my Baptisia is well in bloom, with more healthy plants popping up all over.  3 years in the making.   I truly believe in the adage:  Sleep....Creep....Leap!  Be patient....it will payoff!

Baptisia

 

A few of my other favorites in bloom!

 

Foxglove

 

Painted Daisy

 

Wall of Cranesbill & Snow In Summer

 

I love the wild and crazy look of my Snow In Summer......the only snow I enjoy after March, by the way!  lol

Red Rose

 

Yellow Rose (so fragrant!)

 

 

And for your patience here are a couple of cards I made last night.  They are quite simple, colored with Copic Markers and Sakura Glitter Pens.  I finally bought both stamps a week or so ago (on sale!).  I have always coveted them, and now I own them.  JOY!  :)

 

I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE the look of this row of bottles.  I feel as though they should be sitting on a windowsill in a cottage by the sea!  I added some eyelets to the 4 corners and some Seam Binding Ribbon.  Gives it a shabby chic feel to it.  The yellow flowers have Liquid Pearl centers and the small squat bottle has a clear Sakura pen colored over it.  I also used some more Sakura pens to highlight the pink flowers and that 'brass' bottle top.

 

 

Inkadinkado # 60-00513 Bottle Row

 

 

This next card just makes me think Spring!  I have several birdhouses throughout my yard, mainly for ornamental reasons.....BUT the birds don't know that!  Right now I do have a little nest in one and if i can get closer, the Mama is a real squawker, I will see how many eggs/babies there are.

 

This card also has Liquid Pearls, Sakura Pens, some paper piercing and Baker's Twine, my favorite is from The Twinery, they have the prettiest colors and the best quality!  And a little more Seam Binding Ribbon.

 

Inkadinkado # 97148 New Nest With Flowers

 

 

Want to know a simple little trick when using Seam Binding Ribbon?   I bought a large roll, 100 yards of Hug Snug, Chalk White, Seam Binding Ribbon from  Zipper Stop.  Quite inexpensive and fast shipping.   I purchased the Chalk White as you can do anything to this product to change it's color.  You can swipe ink pads over it, ink daubers, Glimmer Mist, color it with Copic or other markers, etc.  What did I use for the 2 cards above?  Any guesses?  I used plain old everyday food coloring.  Just added a bit of blue and red to separate containers, a splash of water and dunked the ribbon right in, swished it around for a few seconds and then dried it with my heat gun.  The longer you dry it the more, curlier it becomes.  You probably have seen beautifully designed cards with long flowing trails of seam binding ribbon, right?  They are gorgeous!  I just wanted to add a simple little touch of soft color to my cards and I think this worked perfectly!  Try it, you'll be happy you did!  VERY inexpensive!

 

 

Thanks for stopping by and walking through my yard......next time come at the Cocktail Hour!

 

Enjoy this gorgeous Father's Day!

 

*****  oh and if any of you would like to do a *seed swap*, this fall I should have, Columbine, Purple Cone Flower, Shasta Daisy, Foxglove, Marigold......to name a few.  :) *****