Pretty Little Works of Art

I really love easel cards!  This card was created for a friend who has been very ill.  I do hope it will cheer her and help her to recover quickly.  It also gave me the opportunity to use some new toys that I had not used before, i.e. Heartfelt Creation's "Decorative Chateau Gate" die and "Outside My Window" stamp set.  There are lots and lots of layers.  The image of a mill is hand colored using SU Markers and and Aquapainter.  It turned out pretty wonderful even if I do say so myself!  I will definitely be using this die and stamp set again.

Since I love the easel card so much, I made another 6X6 using only Stampin' Up! paper, ink and accessories (except for the brown ribbon and lace which were in my sewing stash!)  This Elegant Bird die is to die for!!!  The color combination is pretty cool as well.  Pool Party is my all time favorite blue (I describe it as a warm aqua blue - reminds me of the Caribbean).

This is waytoo much fun to be legal!!!!!

Father's Day

I thought today was Father's Day so I worked feverishly yesterday to get this card finished.  That was on top of having had NO sleep on Friday night.  When I say no sleep, I mean no sleep.  My butt was totally dragging the ground all day Saturday.  Oh well, enough of poor me!

This card has all the elements of Richard's passion - gardening.   Plus it has his big red truck!  Unfortunately, we have both been very upset about our rose garden which is nine years old now.  It has been infected with a horrible virus called Rose Rosette Disease.  It is spread by microscopic mites.  All of the infected bushes must be destroyed.  Richard has been cutting them out and burning the canes.  It is very sad.  Not to mention a lot of money going up in smoke!

I hope the card will let him know how much I appreciate all the work he does to make our home stunningly beautiful!  (That's when I give it to him NEXT Sunday!!!)

Here are some pictures of the gardens that I took a couple of weeks ago.  Richard has such an amazing green thumb!!!