Wishing Us All a Glorious Summer

Summer has officially arrived and I think this view of daylilies captures the feeling of sun and warmth. I do hope we will all have wonderful summers so this is also my wish illustrated. I will certainly miss Helen while she's off to the shore, but look forward to her return fully relaxed with lots of new photos. Cheers to summer!

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Designer Credits:
-papers, word art, flower spray from Revive by TaylorMade Designs
-color block, paint circle from Sketchbook Artistry No. 1 by Sue Cummings
font: Bradley Hand ITC

Another Close Up

The same day I photographed the fly on the white blooms I recorded the tight buds on the trumpet creeper. Even at that stage the ants were there as they will be all during the bloom season. Keeping various "creative techniques" in mind I got an interest result with one of the ants. Meanwhile it is heating back up, very nice today, even sunny. We both seem to be in better shape as well.

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I've used three "creative techniques" as named in Paint Shop Pro (PSP)
1. Artistic Filter on the large picture: Black Pencil which created a B&W image
2. Blending (darken) which eliminated the white part of the photo
3. Filter: Color > reduced the green in the RGB filter
Designer Credits:
-blue-green papers from Home Sweet Home by Maya de Groot
-stitching from All Stitched by Kitty Designs
-light circle paper from Stamp My Heart by Kitty Designs
-color block from Sketchbook Artistry No. 1 by Sue Cummings
fonts: iNked God, Kayleigh

Macro Photos

I have always loved using a macro lens so a close up of a small fly was a happy occurrence. I also like the page created with it. As I note, the knees don't want to get down and close but if the insects will perch higher up my little camera's macro setting can get me what I want.

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Designer Credits:
Magical Moments Freebie by Kitty Designs and Vera Lim
fonts: Hurry Up and Hans Hand

Another Iris, Lovely Days

I love summer days with highs in the 70s! We've gone from needing a fan in the bedroom to putting a comforter back on the bed. I love it. We've both been dealing with medical issues, seemingly inconsequential, but annoying. Always I have genealogy to keep me busy and doing things with my sister too. Her tall bearded iris are winding down, the Siberians blooming well and Japanese still to come. I still have lots of photos and today I got a free, simple and elegant template that appealed to me for one of them.

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Designer Credits:
-template: Template 110613 by Dumpty
-background from Rachel Papers by LydiaK Designs
-purple paper from Bohemian August by Miss Crow's Magickal Emporium
-heart string from Primavera by Maya de Groot
font: Corbel

Scorcher Yesterday, Better Today

Yesterday we hit 93 F. which doesn't sound that hot to those in the SW, but for our NON-air-conditioned house, it was warm. Overnight we had a storm that brought a much better day today. Somehow it also produced a wind that blew the hibiscus, pot and all, off its stand. It landed intact but the pot was broken. We're so glad Dick had delayed repotting it into the gorgeous blue pot his brother sent for Christmas. Well that is done now and the trimmed plant is looking great.

Earlier I mentioned a challenge to photograph feet. Yesterday I memorialized Dick's feet as he walked the front yard picking up small branches after an April storm. I like its feeling of movement.

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Designer Credits:
Fei-fei's Stuff
-background, green patterned paper: The Gift
-gray papers: Family Ties
-staples, line, flower: Sunrise, Sunset
and paint splash from Sketchbook Artistry No. 1 by Sue Cummings
fonts: Dali, Ahnberg

Celebrating Another Spring Bloom

Years ago we planted white azaleas beside our front steps and we enjoy them so much. This year I took more photos of them and thought some of them were just perfect for a "web inspiration" challenge. The picture selected for the challenge is interesting and different and I like what it led me to. This was May 24th and the flowers are now all gone. It is so very much summer now with another hot one forecast for tomorrow.

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Designer Credits:
-blue and gray papers, cloud, flower, alpha (recolored) from Home Sweet Home by Maya de Groot
-buff paper from Home Sweet Home Add On by Maya de Groot
-frames from Revive by TaylorMade Designs
-stitching from I remember you by Biograffiti
-string with bows from Corinthia by Kitty Designs
font: Staccato222 BT

More In the Iris Garden

My sister's iris provide wonderful opportunity for photography and I've combined two for a challenge to use at least three creative techniques that have been discussed previously. It was quite fun and the iris, Sierra Rim, is another of those introduced by her and her late husband. Meanwhile, my sister returned late Saturday from Victoria, British Columbia, where she attended the annual convention of the American Iris Society. Sounds like she had a great time, but it involved a lot of travel. A missed flight meant her checked bag didn't make it with her. Hope it was really delivered Sunday afternoon as promised. So, here it is.

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Designer Credits:
LO with 4 techniques:
1. blending (on large photo)
2. artistic filter (colored edges) on large photo also
3. title work
4. clipping mask using
     border from Family Ties by Fei-fei's Stuff
     swirl from First Street by Miss Crow's Magickal Emporium
-papers and flower from Corinthia by Kitty Designs
fonts: Kunstler Script, Hurry Up, Kidnap, Impress BT

Iris in My Sister's Garden

I took photos of iris in my sister's garden on May 25th. None of the tall-bearded varieties were in bloom yet, so they were mostly standard dwarf and intermediate bearded. They are always so beautiful. The June challenges have given my the opportunity to scrap a few of the pictures.

On the left is a scraplift of one of the members and the right is a color challenge. Don't forget to click on the images to see them in a larger size.
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Designer Credits:
[LEFT]-lift of "Enjoy the Smell" by ViVre
-background from Stamp My Heart by Kitty Designs
-tattered text sheet from Sketchbook Artistry No. 1 by Sue Cummings
-gray paper, frame from Life Collab by Merkeley Designs
-butterflies (with chrome effect) from Life Collab by MaryPop Designs
-circle stamp from Corinthia by Kitty Designs
-trail from Trail It by Merkeley Designs
-button from First Street by Miss Crow's Magickal Emporium
-pearl tree from Winter Escape, Creations by tinamarie 
fonts: Chicago House, Minya Nouvelle
[RIGHT]-gray paper, gold paper, bird, scalloped border: Primavera by Maya de Groot
-floral paper, leaves: Corinthia by Kitty Designs
-circle design paper: My Playlist by Biograffiti
-white paper: Stamp My Heart by Kitty Designs
-journaling stamp: Rachel Stamps by LydiaK Designs
fonts: Mufferaw, Pea Anderson

Remembering a Special Moment

There is currently a Designer Spotlight challenge with a freebie and a requirement to scrap and journal about a special moment. Some people think of when they were married and gave birth and on to less dramatic events. I remembered how it felt to encounter my first Ruby-crowned Kinglets in migration and have a close up male flashing the red in his crest. These are quite small birds dressed in variations of an olive hue and the red crest is only visible (on the male) when he flashes it in display. It really got my attention and I had to know what it was. We were getting interested in birding at that point, but having this experience all by myself and uncovering who it was by myself as well was a very big step. I've used a photo from the U.S. National Park Service to illustrate this long ago event.

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Designer Credits:
-photo from U.S. National Park Service
-brush (also used as photo mask), birds (blended) from Corinthia by Kitty Designs
-papers and other elements from Magical Moments Freebie by Kitty Designs and Vera Lim
fonts: Pea Aimee, Hurry Up, Hans Hand

Antidote to the Heat of Summer

Yesterday's official high temperature was 91 F. and that is much too warm for me! Especially since it was still May. Much nicer today with a good breeze and cooler temps. The new challenges are up for June and there is one to photograph FEET! I love it. It also reminded me of a page I did in March of 2008 of my feet in the snow of our driveway. It is quite a contrast to yesterday's heat.