I told you so!!

When I told you I get wild animals in my yard, I wasn't joking! You can read about my gardening woes HERE. 

Wednesday, I sat down at our kitchen table, looked out the window facing our back yard and I saw 2 bears! As I recovered from my shock, another bear scooted down our big oak tree, then another bear scooted down! Four bears in all. In my back yard, 100 feet away from the house. I ran for my camera and here are some of the pictures.

The bears turned out to be a Mama and 3 cubs. This is Mama with one cub. The other 2 were over by my shed which is off to the left and out of view. 

Mama bear looking kind of shaggy. See the fence in the background? It is just a simple wire fence - maybe about 3 feet high. She, and the 3 cubs plowed right over it. Monster trucks. Lol.

The 4 bears were interested in something by my shed and I couldn't figure out what in the world it could be. Why were they in my yard?? I don't keep bird food in my feeders during spring and summer because of bears and I am careful about what I throw in my compost pile. It wasn't till later that I figured out what they were eating.

Here are 2 of them drinking out of my bird bath. 

They knocked my bird bath over and fortunately it didn't break. The 4th bear didn't venture up to the bird bath. He/she was the shyest of the four. Any loud noise or sudden movements sent him toward the oak tree. 

The bird bath is about 40 feet from the house, if that. I took this picture from the kitchen window by the way :)

Fortunately, they stayed away from my garden - probably because there was nothing of interest in it! Yet.

After they left I realized what drew them to my yard in the first place. And I cannot believe I didn't realize what I was doing when I did it. Earlier that week I was cleaning some stuff out of the garage and noticed my plastic container where I keep my bird food (no shell sunflower seed) was full of those little moths. Yuck. So I took the container out to the back yard and dumped it. It was only about a gallon of seed. I was thinking that I don't want those moths near the house or in the garage. Never thinking about bears!! And sure enough that is what drew them into the yard. They must have a tremendous sense of smell is all I can say.

It isn't like I live in the country either. We have a fairly busy street in the front and in the back, our yard borders a wooded area but there are still houses all around. 

I don't have a card to show you today. I hope I get some time tomorrow to stamp. 

Have a great weekend. 

CCMC253 Summer Silhouettes

Hello stamper friends!

It is a Sketch Challenge this week at Create with Connie and Mary. I had to think about what I wanted to do with this sketch. 

I decided I wanted to use the 1-1/4" Two -Toned Ribbon behind my focal point. Love this ribbon! (it's in the Spring Catalog) It is so rich and classy looking.

The focal point is a combination of En Francais Background and Summer Silhouettes stamp set. To make the background I used Basic Gray ink but I stamped off first. That way it was light enough I could just stamp the leaves and stem directly on the card stock. I decided to cut out the flower and pop it up with a dimensional. But first I inked the flower with Pink Pirouette and added some Rose Red ink with a marker.

I rarely sew on cards. Not because I don't like to, I just never think to do that. For this card I sewed across the top of the stamped banner and then down the left side of the card base. 

All supplies are Stampin' Up!

Stamps: En Francais background, Summer Silhouettes, Made for You

Ink: Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette, Rose Red, Lucky Limeade

Card stock: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Pink Pirouette

Other: 1 1/4" Two Toned Ribbon (Spring Catalog), dimensional, Basic Pearl, Scallop Trim Border Punch

Thanks for stopping by. If you have a chance and feel inspired, create your own card with the sketch! Be sure to link it up at Create with Connie and Mary. Need more inspiration? Click here to see what the other design team members created.

Cherish Friendship on Scraps

This is one of those cards made from some "scraps". Anytime I punch, die cut, emboss, some card stock and don't use it, I toss it into my scrap box. Sometimes I use them, sometimes I just end up tossing them. 

Almost everything on this card was from the scrap box. The main image is from the retiring stamp set, Cherish Friendship. I bought it because I wanted the goose image. The bowl of cherries is nice too!

Some other retiring items used: Bashful Blue card stock and marker; Certainly Celery card stock and marker, Scallop Square Bigz die, Neutral Brad, Lace Brocade embossing folder

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here for my Online Store.

Stamps: Cherish Friendship (retiring), A Round Array
Paper: Water Color paper
Card Stock: Cherry cobbler, Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery (retiring), Bashful Blue(retiring)
Ink: Black Stazon, SU markers, Cherry Cobbler
Other: Very Vanilla Seam Binding Ribbon, Neutral Brad, Scallop circle punch, circle punch, decorative label punch, Big Shot, Framed tulips folder, Delicate Doilies sizzlit, Scallop Square big z die (retiring), Lace Brocade folder (retiring), Finishing Touches edgelit

Thanks for stopping by. 

Super Easy Elements of Style

First - I just want to say thanks for the helpful tips to keep the wild critters away from my garden. You guys are great!  I will let you know how it goes.

I was feeling very nostalgic when making today's card. Elements of Style has been such a faithful stamp set for me. The flourish works with so many stamps and in so many designs. The flowers are so fun to watercolor and the hummingbird is a favorite. But alas, it is being retired.

I love black and white and a pop of color which is what I used with my card. Super easy. No coloring. I did cut out the hummingbird but depending where you place your flowers, the hummingbird could be stamped directly on the card stock. I even stamped and punched the sentiment so I didn't have to worry about messing it up!

Other retiring items on the card: Melon Mambo ribbon - it is polka dotted on the other side; Scallop Squares Duo Big die

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here for my Online Store.

Stamps: Elements of Style (retiring)
Card Stock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo
Ink: Black Stazon, Melon Mambo
Other: Circle punch, Big Shot, Scallop Squares Duo bigz die (retiring), Melon Mambo Polka Dot ribbon (retiring)

Have a great day!

Countryside Chicken

I got so much done outside today. I weeded my perennials and finally planted my vegetables. I am way behind on some of them, and according to my mother, too early on others. Last year we made a small (8 x 8) raised bed to grow the flowers for my daughter's wedding. This year, even though we have another wedding, I am not growing the flowers because she wants hydrangeas. So I planted vegetables in the raised bed. I haven't planted veggies in a long time because the wild animals eat them. So I added a fence around the raised bed. Hopefully that will deter the rabbits and ground hog at least. The chipmunks and squirrels will just crawl up the fence I suppose. But wouldn't you know it - I saw a ground hog this evening scoping out the garden!! The nerve! Any gardening or animal control advice would be greatly appreciated. 

On another note, today was one of those days that I wished I had chickens. When I came in and took a shower, I found a tick imbedded - or is it embedded - in my leg! Yuck! I always worry about Lyme disease - living in New England and all. I got it out eventually and couldn't help but think how useful some chickens would be to keep down the ticks in the yard. Plus they produce good fertilizer. 

But, as much as I would love some chickens, they just wouldn't be practical for us.      My neighbor doesn't mind checking in on Gideon, our cat when we go away, but chickens? I don't think so! lol. 

Speaking of chickens, here is a card I made with the retiring Countryside stamp set. 

I used this card as an opportunity to use some other retiring items: Made for You stamp set, the Calypso Coral brad, Neutrals button, Calypso coral Ribbon, Lace Brocade embossing folder, and the Elegant Lines Embossing folder. All of these are some of my absolute favorites! 

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here for my Online Store. 

Stamps: Countryside (retiring), Made for You (retiring), En Francais background
Paper: Water Color Paper
Card Stock: Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral, Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Ink: Crumb Cake, Black Stazon, SU markers
Other: Blender pen, Calypso Coral Brad (retiring), Calypso Coral ribbon (retiring), Neutrals button (retiring), linen thread, Scallop border punch, Big Shot, Framed Tulips folder, Elegant Lines Folder (retiring), Lace Brocade folder (retiring), Delicate Doilies sizzlit

Thanks for checking in with me!

Another Clutch of Cards

Today's project is similar to This project only I used different paper, color scheme and stamp set.

Some of the products used are retired or about to retire. Some are still current.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here for my Online Store.

Stamps: Summer Silhouettes, Made for You (retiring), Just Believe (retiring), Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Tea for Two dsp, Neutrals Collection dsp, Brights collection dsp, retired specialty dsp

Card Stock: Very Vanilla

Ink: Crumb Cake, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party, Strawberry Slush, Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Rich Razzleberry

Other: Big Shot, Stripes folder, Needlepoint Border folder, Framed Tulips folder, Elegant Bouquet folder, SAB folder, Oval Accent Bigz die, Antique Brad

Thanks for stopping by!

CCMC252 Western Style

Hello my stamper friends! 

It is a Color Challenge this week at Create with Connie and Mary. I saw the colors and immediately thought masculine. 

Masculine and Western, that's my card today.

You may not know it but I love to watercolor on cards. It is what got me hooked on Stampin' Up! many years ago. I love that I can stamp the outline (I don't have to draw it) and just color it in which is what I did with the cowboy boot from Bootiful Occasions. Just make sure you always use Water Color Paper. It is so much easier!

The stars on the boot were stamped and cut out from a scrap piece of watercolor paper. And speaking of scraps - I used a scrap piece of Tea for Two dsp and hand cut the star. It is off kilter but that is what I was going for - the Primitive look. 

All Supplies are Stampin' Up!

Stamps: Bootiful Occasions

Paper: Tea for Two dsp, Water Color Paper

Card Stock: Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, Very Vanilla

Ink: Soft Suede, Sahara Sand, So Saffron

Other: Big Shot, Stripes embossing folder, Argyle embossing folder, sponge, brads, Natural Trim, Linen Thread

Thanks for stopping. I hope you will join us this week at Create with Connie and Mary! We love seeing everyone's creativity. If nothing else, head over there to see what the rest of the Design Team made!

Clutch of Cards

Today's project is one I made as a prize for my daughter's bridal shower. The box is supposed to be a clutch purse. It held 5 cards (pictured) and 5 envelopes.

I don't have the dimensions - I just made up the pattern myself. 

I drew my pattern by using the largest Label Collection Framelit as my starting point. I enlarged it enough to fit note cards.  The closing flap is cut with the Oval Accent Bigz die. And the designer paper is retired. I have no idea what it is but I know I loved that pack of dsp!

The cards were super easy to make and difficult to photograph for some reason. I used different embossing folders for the base card and added paper that coordinated with the color of ink.

All supplies are Stampin' Up! Click here for my Online Store.

Stamps: Papillon Potpourri, Made for You, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Silver Glimmer PaperRegals collection, Polka Dot Parade, Brights Collection, Tea for Two, Retired Sale-a-bration paper, and the unknown SU retired paper

Card Stock: Whisper White, Basic Black

Ink: Elegant Eggplant, Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Baja Breeze, Rich Razzleberry
Other: Circle Punch, Scallop Circle punch, Big Shot, Oval Accent Bigz Die, Perfect Polka Dots folder, Flower Garden folder, Elegant Bouquet folder (retiring)

Thanks for stopping by. I hope you will come back tomorrow. It is going to be a color challenge from Create with Connie and Mary.