Monday Murals: Fishy

 

 It's once again time to join Sami at Sami's Colourful World and her Monday Murals.  Even though it's still Sunday in my world, please be aware that Sami's mural link goes live at 11:01 a.m. my time today. 

This is actually called Swimming Upstream.

It was painted in 2019

and is a part of Avenue Art Days murals.

It was painted by Delilah Reed and is located in the Clifford Square Shopping Center in Wichita, Kansas (USA).

Although I didn't plan it this way, I want to wish all fathers a happy Father's Day.  After all, lots of men love to fish, so it turned out to be appropriate for this holiday.

If you enjoy murals from around the world, please don't forget to visit Monday Murals at Sami's Colourful World.  Thanks for stopping to see Bleubeard and me today, too.

 

Index Card A Day: Days 13 through 19

 

It's Saturday, which means that until the end of July, it's time to show this week's ICADs.

Day 13: Circles of Hope. Foreign text, water-colored wonky circles.

Day 14: Flag Day in the USA. Paper flag, stickers.

 

Day 15: Growing UP is optional.  Watercolor and dye ink background, quote on vellum, sewing.

Day 16: Sicily. Tour guide image, stencil.

Day 17: Circular Reasoning.  Watercolors and dye ink background, stamped images, colored computer generated text. 

Day 18: Elephant under a starlit sky.  Watercolor background, magazine images, hand painted die cut.

Day 19: Desert Delights. Magazine image.  Blue felt marker.

 

Thanks for joining Bleubeard and me as we shared this week's ICADs.  As you may know, this is the only place you will find Bleubeard's and my ICADs.

Friday Smiles 426: look how they've grown

 

It's Friday and you will find me watering my herbs and admiring how much they have grown in a week.  Of course, I'm also joining Friday Smiles which is hosted by Annie (at A Stitch in Time).   Let's visit her and the other wonderful ladies who also share their smiles each Friday. 

It's been so hot and dry, I have to water my herbs twice a day.  Temperatures have reached record highs here, reaching 100 F. (37,78 C) on Thursday.  Feels like temp topped out at 108 F (42,22 C).  I am SO grateful for air conditioning.

The good news is I haven't killed anything yet and I've even had to stake my dill.

The bad news is something went wrong with my lawn mower and I had to take it in for repair. 

Now I wait to see how much this is going to set me back and if I want to save this lawn mower or purchase a new one.

Until then, I fear this back yard has truly gotten out of hand.

Only one tomato survived and two bell pepper plants after the transplant three weeks ago, but they seem to now be thriving.

I'm so glad I marked these plants, or I would be in real trouble knowing what is coming up.

And finally, a few signs everyone apparently love from the Indian Hills Community Center in Colorado.

Now let's join Annie (at A Stitch in Time) and the lovely ladies who join her for Friday Smiles.  Thanks again for visiting and spending a bit of time with Bleubeard and me this Friday.  We would love to have you join us, too.  Maybe we could even bring Squiggles out of his shell.

Black and White World

 

I'm once again joining Art Journal Journey and our host Mia, who many of you know as Craftartista who has chosen Butterflies as her theme this month.  

It's official.

 

Butterflies bring color to a black and white world.

I doubt you can tell, but this page started with me laying down

Versamark, that sticky glue-like ink used when you want to heat emboss, in three separate areas.

After the embossing had cooled sufficiently, I started stamping using one of my all time favorite stamps gifted me by Valerie.  The first stamped image was made completely with black ink.

I gradually added more 

and more colors until the butterflies were completely in color.  On a different note, you might be able to see where some of the embossing powder didn't cover the Versamark.

For this page, I started by laying down three areas of stamped and embossed words on 110 lb cardstock. Several years ago, I borrowed some red rubber stamps I believe were created by Claudine Hellmuth.  I stamped them on card stock.  I recently found them and decided to fussy cut them for this spread.  Once they had been glued in place, I added the stamped butterflies, beginning with black dye ink, then gradually adding more and more color using a multi-color stamp pad.  

 

As I was heat embossing, I allowed the heat tool (not a hair dryer) to stay in one area too long.  You can see how the paper scorched the upper left corner.

Thanks beyond belief for dropping by today.  Bleubeard and I are really grateful for your visit and also hope to see you at Art Journal Journey. 

 

WOYWW 628: My annual craft budget is SHOT (Big Shot)

 

Actually, what I was given by my crafting friend and shopaholic Kathy (who no longer has a blog) was a Big Kick die cutting machine, but it doesn't sound as good in the title.  Of course, I'm here to join Julia, Queen of Deskers, at Stamping Ground. 

I realize many of you have unlimited craft budgets, but my annual budget is $60.00 (USD), (42,40 pounds; 49,26 Euros).  Imagine how thrilled I was when my friend Scott ordered these dies and the Sizzix items on Amazon Prime I need to emboss these dies.  There are 16 dies in each package for a total of 32 dies.  The cost was $22.00 (USD) with tax (15,54 pounds; 18,01 Euros).  The Sizzix pieces, one hard plastic, one rubbery silicone mat were $11.00 (USD) with tax (7,77 pounds; 9,03 Euros).  That's a total of $33.00 (USD) (23,41 pounds; 27,21 Euros).  It's a good thing I still have nearly half my annual craft budget left to spend because I have less than half a year to go.

 

I love how the dies are flat and contained in such nice packaging/storage.

I know you came to see the rocking horse, though.  Note how Wendy is hanging out in the background.

I decided to move this stained glass beauty where the light can shine through it.  And Julia can see both my peacock chairs that sit on my front porch, too!

I thought I would also show my sewing, cutting table in all its non-glory today.

Tools, including my heat gun, and my TV and old VCR take up the rest of the space.

Please join me at Julia's and share your own desk, no matter how clean or messy it might be.  I suspect everyone knows by now to please leave your number if you are coming from Julia's.  Have a great WOYWW, too.

 

T Stands For Yet Another Gift

 

I received some very happy mail last Thursday

and I am thrilled to share it with you for T this Tuesday.

 I believe this is dated 14 May, 2021.  It was postmarked from Wichita, Kansas (USA).  Oh wait.  Don't I live in Wichita?  Yes.  It took nearly a MONTH to cross town from the east side of Wichita to the west central side of Wichita.

Some of you may have guessed it is from my dear friend Sharon, who we also know as Foxy Stamping Sharon.

These are the stamps.  One is a hamster first issued in 2016, and the other is an additional ounce stamp called Uncle Sam's Hat.  It was first issued in 2017.  As soon as I photographed it, I called Sharon to let her know I had received it.  I didn't want her thinking I was uncaring or insensitive by forgetting to thank her for everything she sent.

Inside was this stunning Thank You card.  It was elegant and beautiful.  Sharon was thanking me for some products I passed on to her that I thought she could use.  She also wished me a belated happy bEARTHday.

Also inside were some lovely TH paper dolls (obviously the newest set, because I've not seen these) and this lovely card you saw that covered my address above.

Here were a few more goodies I'll soon be putting to good use.

I am sure you will be seeing the butterfly soon, as well as some of the other incredible die cuts.  I am very grateful for these wonderful and thoughtful gifts, dear Sharon.  Thank you more than you will know.  Even though the card took forever to arrive, the timing of this wonderful gift was perfect.

Also on my kitchen table is a glass of cold lemon water.  Maybe you can see Sharon's card in the reflection.  I chose this glass because during a recent T Tuesday, Mae of Mae's Food Blog shared a post on juice glasses.  This is larger than the small juice glasses Mae shared.  This glass came from Aldi this last year.  It originally held jam or jelly.  Too good to throw in the recycle bin, but not something I would share with guests.  Friends and family yes, guests no.

I realize I've taken much of your time today, but it won't be long until our EIGHTH (8th) T Tuesday anniversary.  Please let me know in your comments if you want to join in by creating an ATC to send to a P.I.F. (PAY IT FORWARD) partner.  I'll include more information next week if you have questions or concerns.  Remember, it will NOT be mandatory, and no one will think less of anyone who doesn't want to join in.  It's just one way to share a bit of worldwide camaraderie and possibly remember Eileen in the process, since she loved making and sending ATCs to so many of us.

I'm fairly certain you know by now that it's now time to share your own drink inspired post this week.  It can be gifts you received, photos, a place you visited, movies, postcards, mail art, junk mail, catalogs, books, sketches, mixed media, drawings, paintings, tags, scrapbooking, or other art that is digital, hybrid, or traditional, as long as it in some way relates back to a drink, any drink.  Regardless, please share below and Bleubeard and I, along with the rest of the T gang will be by to visit.   Please link only your T post and not your blog in general.  Bleubeard would like to remind you that old photos are acceptable because they may be taken any time, not just on Tuesday and not just this year. 

 

Please don't forget to let me know if you would like to send an ATC to a P.I.F. partner this year.  Our anniversary is in four weeks, so I hope that gives you enough time to create a miniature work of art before the big event.