Shae's Summer

Actually Scrapbooking from THIS Year...

I found a version of this layout in the book Time to Scrap by Kathy Fesmire.

This book is from 2009, and it just shows that you can update older layouts for newer pages. The paperclips and the small photos drew me to the design. Except for the picture in the upper right, I used 2x3 sticky backed photos from my HP sprocket printer--how easy! I'll definitely be looking for more ways to use these small photos to make layouts.

The close-up photo shows the journaling. I used premade Tim Holtz ideology sayings on strips of paper and added Nuvo drops to make the strips match the paper in the layout. "SUMMER" is made with CTMH "Posterboard Alphabet," to which I added Nuvo drops as well. 

Poor little Shae's book is far behind her older brother's, so I'm trying to catch her up. Thanks for looking, and leave a comment if you like it!

"The Tiki Bar is Open" -- Summer 2013

It's always a great feeling to finally have all the summer plants in the ground and in pots.  This year, Iowa's weather was pretty uncooperative, but it's finally done! 

Above is the most tropical area and the top portion of our back deck under the pergola.  Fronds and palms, lots of pink flowers, and a couple flamingos in the corner.

 

This pic shows more of the back yard (and the neighbors' back yards).  Of course we have to have a little Margaritaville sign.

 

This one shows the lower portion of the deck and bar-height patio table and chairs.

 

A shot of our back yard landscaping, shed, and hammock.  The neighbors' huge oak tree shades most of it in the afternoons.

 

From ground level looking toward the deck.  My friend Dorrie made the bottle tree for me a few years ago, and my friend Dan drank all the wine.  Those are solar "rocks" on the steps to light the way in the dark.

 

This view is from the steps looking east toward the front of our home.  The pots are a mixture of flowers and tomatoes.  We found some bright red tomato cages at Lowe's this year.  We haven't put out any new mulch yet this season.  It always looks better after that.

 

Same shot from front to back.  The lilies are just starting to bloom.

 

This little flower garden at the front corner of our garage probably needs thinned out, but I'm not quite ready to move anything.  Those are little blue electric insulators along the edge.  I like the way the sun catches the colored glass.

 

And the front bed and deck.  The vinca vines are perennials.  By the end of the summer, the bed will be covered with it.

 

 

 

Of course the fairy garden is back!  It sits on top of the old white ladder by the front door.  The table and chairs are hard to see in this photo, but it turned out cute.  I may put some mulch in it too.

It's a snow day here in Iowa, but spring is on its way, and no one is more anxious for it than I am.   Fortunately, the new Close to My Heart Spring/Summer Idea Book goes live February 1 (Friday)!  Here's a sneak peak at the cover art--it screams spring, right?  Contact me for your copy or click on the link on the right column of this blog to shop online.  

Summer Birthday Cards

For this sailboat little boy birthday card, I used the stamp set Birthday Boy and Caboodle B&T papers with Sorbet and Buttercup CS.  The Tiny Tab at the top says "happy."  I added glitter in some of the circles of the Caboodle paper and the lettering, but it doesn't show up in the picture.

The duck on this card is from one of my favorite sets, Makin' Waves.  The fish are from Hook, Line, & Sinker, and the sentiment is from Fringed Phrases.  The Crystal Blue background CS was embossed in my cuttlebug, then sanded to show the CTMH white core.  Colors are Orange, Crystal Blue, Sweet Leaf, and Buttercup.  The fishes' eyes are tiny sparkles.

Beach Birthday Card

This card is done with the colors Outdoor Denim, Hollyhock, and Desert Sand. I used the stamp sets Surf's Up, Fringed Phrases, and August Word Puzzle.