Shelly's Images TTT Challenge

Happy Thursday Everyone!

Well ... today is hubby's LAST DAY of work!

His official RETIREMENT DATE is July1st ... but he had vacation to use so has the entire month of June off on vacation ... this guy really knows how to set himself up!  LOL!  It should be interesting to see how his 'retirement' conflicts with my crafting time ... something we might have to work on!  LOL!

Anyways ... it's time for another fun challenge at SHELLY'S IMAGES and today we have a really cool FEATURED IMAGE ... it's called "High Heel Shoes".  Be sure to pop over and check out the fabulous creations by the design team using this image.

HIGH HEEL SHOES

Remember ... you can purchase this image TODAY ONLY at a reduced price!  So be sure to check that out at the store (click on the image name under the photo to go directly to it's location) ... and be sure to register at Shelly's new store ... you will find there are EXTRA PERKS for doing that!

Our CHALLENGE THEME for today is:

"U PICK 2"

Choose two from the following list to use on your project!

Ribbon ... Bling ... Color Blue ... Flowers ... 

Digi Image ... Markers ... Punched Borders ... Monochromatic

Okay ... here's what I came up with . . . and I've actually used more than TWO items from the list.  I've used ribbon, bling, digi image, markers (for coloring), a punched border and kept it monochromatic.  What can I say ... I was on a roll!!  LOL!!

WOW!  Now that's a pair of HIGH HEEL shoes!  I don't think I've EVER worn heels THAT high!!  I've used the sketch for the challenge over at Always Playing with Paper ... though I didn't actually follow the challenge which is to create a Christmas card.

Recipe for this card is:

Papers:  Paper Pizazz designer papers, white cs, black cs, lavendar cs

Accessories:  Prismacolor markers, Fiskars swivel craft knife, Stickles 'diamond', MS doily lace border punch, Michael's lilac satin ribbon, Liquid Pearls, Spellbinder classic oval dies, Signo pen for faux stitching, pop dots, SU Crystal Effects

Here is the inside of my card.  

At Shelly's store you will sometimes find suggestions for sentiments to go with the images, or suggested uses for the images.  This is the sentiment Shelly suggested for this image and it really caught my eye.  I've use the .png file (available with your purchase) of the high heel image to place behind my text.  I've done this in Word ... and since I used colored text I felt no need to color in the shoes.

I think this card will make a nice addition to my stash of 'Friendship' cards for the Fall Craft Show.  In fact, I just might have to make a few others similar to this one!

Well, that's it for me today!  I'm headed over to hubby's RETIREMENT LUNCHEON today at his office (he doesn't know I'm coming!).  What fun!

See you soon (I HOPE!)

HUGS,

Darlene

Three Fold Card + Photo Tutorial

Hello Everyone!

I hope you had a fabulous holiday weekend!  How about that gorgeous weather (at least for those of us in NE Ohio) ... unfortunately it was TOO hot for me (90s) so hubby & I stayed indoors most of the weekend, enjoyed the A/C and watched movies.  

I had a question about the dimensions for the Three Fold card I shared in my last posting so thought I'd work up a little card & tutorial for you.  Hope you like it.

Here is my finished A2 size card ...

And here are the steps I took to make it ...

You will need TWO pieces of card stock (or design paper) to make a Three Fold Card.  Your FIRST piece of paper will be cut 8 1/2" x 5 1/2" and scored to make the sides meet in the middle.  If you have a Scor-Pal there are score lines already marked for you (see next photo) to achieve equal sides.

See the DOTS next to the 2 and close to the 6 1/2?  

Those are the score lines you will follow to achieve this 'gate' fold. 

Your SECOND piece will be cut 4 1/4" x 9 1/8" and scored at 5 1/2".

This piece will be adhered to the back of your 'gate' folded card and the short flap will come down over the front.  I chose to BORDER PUNCH the front flap for extra character.

 Now you can decorate it anyway you choose!

For this card I used Paper Pizazz designer paper for my three panels.

 A strip of lavendar satin ribbon was wrapped around the front flap between the design paper and the border punch cardstock.

I've used the JustRite 'Botanical Butterflies' stamp set for my focus image.  It was stamped with Versafine Black ink and colored with Prismacolor markers.  The leaves are made from SU old olive paper and the Cheery Lynn Designs B147 'olive branches' dies.  A purple Prima flower with a gold Stampendous Diamond Dot for the center are the embellishments along with Kaiser baby lilac pearls along the MS doily lace punched border edge.

There are SO MANY things you can do with this fun fold.  As in my previous post, using embossed panels and a homemade flower makes a lovely creation (see below) or you can use coordinating designer papers for added interest (sorry, no sample ... have to work on that one).

Details on items used for this card can be found HERE.

A few qualifying challenges:

Celebrate the Occasion - Anything Goes

Crafty Sentiments Designs - Anything Goes

Creative Card Crew - Dimension (2nd entry)

Die Cuttin Divas - Anything Goes + Die Cut

Oldie But A Goodie - Anything Goes (designer paper at least 1 yr old - been hoarding it)

Party Time Tuesday - Anything Goes

Shopping Our Stash - May Flowers (anything floral related - image/designer paper)

Top Tip Tuesday - Dig Out Old (designer paper 1 yr old - been hoarding it)

Thanks so much for stopping by today and please feel free to ask me ANYTHING about my creations.  I will be glad to help you where ever I can and as quickly as I can!

Back to the crafting table ... oh wait ... guess I'd better make dinner first!  Oooops!

See you later!

HUGS,

Darlene

Happy Memorial Day

Good afternoon Blogger friends and HAPPY MEMORIAL DAY to you!

First I would like to pay tribute to all those amazing Americans who have given their lives that we might remain free!  And salute those men & women who continue to defending our freedom today!  God Be With Them and bring them home safely!

While going through some of my stamp drawers this morning I came across this Thomas Kinkade stamp called 'Home Town Pride' that I haven't stamped or colored in a very long time.  It has been stamped onto Glossy White paper with India Ink Black ... then colored with nibs and SU inks.  I thought it was appropriate for today and wanted to share it with you.

The background paper is called 'water color stars' by Paper Pizazz and I have matted the image onto red, white & black cardstock.  The flowers are primas with green Stickle centers and the leaves are created using the Marianne LR0156 leave die set.

A couple qualifying challenges for this card are:

Craft A Scene - May - Spring Flowers

Creative Inspiration - Inspired by Memorial Day

The Crafty Pad - Colors of your Flag

Craft Your Days Away - Red, White & Blue

Our Craft Lounge - You're a Grand Old Flag

Something else I was working on over this weekend was making homemade flowers with my new 'Build a Flower' die set that I purchased from Joan's Gardens and came in the mail on Friday.  This is an awesome set and I can guarantee you there will be more flowers made from this die set!

I'm working on several fancy fold cards for the upcoming Fall Craft Show and thought this clematis flower would work beautifully on this Three Fold card.  What do you think??

Products used are:

Build a Flower #1 B181 

Cuttlebug 'victoria' EF

Martha Stewart 'doily lace' border punch

Tim Holtz 'dusty concord' distress ink

Cheery Lynn B117S Fanciful Flourish

McGill Flower Making Kit & Black Foam Mat

All of the above items mentioned in making this card 

can be purchased through Joan's Gardens.

A few qualifying challenges for this creation are:

Bunny Zoe's Crafts #24 - Anything Goes

Crafty Boots - Anything Goes

Lawnscaping Challenge #34 - Embossing

Squigglefly #21 - CAS No Patterned Paper

Tammy's Scrapin Corner - Anything Goes

Well, I'm sure I could come up with more challenges for these creations but it is FREEZING in my crafting cave!@!!!!  It's 90 degrees outside and with the AC on ... it's VERY COLD 'below ground'!  So enough said ... I'm going UPSTAIRS and get warmed up then hopefully do a little more crafting later (if I thaw out that is ... lol)

Have a FABULOUS remainder of your holiday weekend and I'll catch you again tomorrow!

HUGS,

DARlene

T.G.I.F.

WOW!  Here it is Friday ... and the beginning of the Memorial Day Weekend!

Do you have a picnic, parade, family fun or maybe a graduation party in the works?

Well, what ever you are doing this holiday weekend please be careful, have a ton of FUN and don't forget to thank all those fabulous Men & Women of our Armed Forces who keep us safe on a daily basis !!!

Today there's a new challenge over at Joan's Gardens and I wanted to be sure and join in the fun before all the holiday festivities begin.  This week, were sticking to your basic Black & White ... here's what I'm talking about ... check out this theme

 Use a Wedding Theme
Use some kind of flourish
Pearls or Rhinestones for embellishments
Use only Black and White

Yep ... with June right around the corner, there will be wedding music in the air!

Here's what I came up with.

 Products used for this creation are:

Paper:  White & Black cardstock

Ink:  Versafine Black

Stamp:  Impression Obsession 'Bride'

Accessories:  Cuttlebug 'Textile' EF, Cheery Lynn Designs B117 Fanciful Flourish, Want2Scrap black gems, Memory Box 98267 Quinn Flourish, Stickles 'diamond', Spellbinder Scallop Hearts, White Signo pen

Items in red were purchased at Joan's Gardens.

A few qualifying challenges:

Charisma Card Challenge - No Flowers

 Little Miss Muffet Challenge - Anything Goes

Moving Along With The Times - Celebration but NO birthdays

Southern Girls Challenge - Die Cuts or Punches

Creative Belli Blog - Wedding

Divas by Design - Flourishes

Fab 'n Funky Challenge - New Beginning (marriage ... new life)

The House That Stamps Built - Three Elements (stamped image, embossing, punches/dies)

Thanks so much for stopping by today ... I can not express how much your comments mean to me!  I truly appreciate you taking the time out of your busy schedules!

Hubby only has THREE MORE WORKING DAYS before he retires!

WOW!  This should be a fun ride!!

Have a fabulous day!

HUGS

Darlene

Shelly's Images Challenge

Happy Thursday Everyone!  

Another week nearly over ... holiday weekend quickly approaching... AND, hubby only has FOUR more working days until he's RETIRED!  I am so thrilled for him!!

Anyways, time for another challenge at Shelly's Images and today's theme is:

IT'S IN THE NUMBERS

(Use a NUMBER somewhere on your project.)

KING'S PROCLAMATION

Today's FEATURED image is King's Proclamation and can be purchased TODAY ONLY at a reduced price.  Click on the image name to go directly to it's location in the *NEW* Shelly's Images Store.  (Don't forget to register at our new store ... there are PERKS available to those who are registered!)

Here is what I created for today's challenge!  I kept it pretty simple to showcase Shelly's image more and as you can see my 'number' comes in the form of my sentiment "4U" ... 

Items used on this card are:

Papers:  White cs, Lime green cs, Crafty Secrets 'Earthy' design paper

Stamps:  Crafty Secrets 'Artsy Banner'

Inks:  Versafine Black, Momento 'Bamboo Leaves'

Accessories:  Martha Stewart border punches, Creative Memories sticker numbers/letters, Red - Gold - Diamond Stickles, Pop Dots, Prismacolor Markers, White Liquid Applique

Here's a closeup of the details.

Be sure to pop over to SHELLY'S IMAGES and check out the new *TWIST* we've put on things!  And if YOU are a regular commenter on any of the design team members blogs ... YOU could be in for a SURPRISE!!    Go Ahead ... check it out ... you know you want to!!

See you at Shelly's!!

Hugs,

Darlene

We're going VINTAGE at . . .

 . . . The Sisterhood of Crafters!

Hello Everyone and WELCOME!

Today's challenge at The Sisterhood is

The Good 'Ole Days

(create a card or project that has a 'vintage' or 'retro' look)

We also have another fabulous sponsor this week ... MY HEART PIECES (formally Galliu's Gallery) and one lucky winner will win THREE digi stamps. 

As most of you know, vintage is my preferred style of card making so it's no surprise I went a bit crazy with samples to share for inspiration.  Here's what I'm talking about ...

I know ... call me crazy ... THREE cards for ONE challenge!  Hey I'm having fun and that's what it's all about ... RIGHT?!?

I'll not bore you with ALL the details but if you have any questions, please feel free to ask and I will get the info to you as quick as possible!

Other qualifying challenges:
Creative Belli Challenge #144 - Wedding (card #2)
The Paper Shelter Challenge - Bling It On
 Penny's Paper-Crafty Challenge - Anything Goes
Sweet Stamps - Anything Goes

Now don't forget to come on over and join in our challenge fun!  We LOVE seeing what you create and I'm really looking for more inspiration and ideas on this style.  ENJOY and HAVE FUN!

Hugs,

Darlene

Can You Digi It Challenge

Hello fellow bloggers ... it's time for another fun challenge over at Can You Dig It and I'm pleased to once again be a Guest Designer for them.  With the Memorial Day Weekend upon us, we are inspired by the "LOVE OF COUNTRY".  Michelle shared several Pinterest images to inspire us in our creating for this challenge and this is what I've come up with.  Hope you like it.  Michelle also created the background designer paper I have used on my card ... isn't it fabulous!  

The photo of the Capital Building is a sticker from my scrapbooking stash and the sentiment was computer generated and double matted.  Stars were punched with a Creative Memories star punch and that's about it!  Pretty easy peasy but I think makes a statement!

A few qualifying challenges:
Creative Card Crew - Dimension
 Papertake Weekly Challenge - True Colors
Sweet Stamps Challenge - Anything Goes
Stamps & Fun = Creativity - Anything Goes
Art With No Boundaries - Anything Goes
Bunny Zoe's Crafts - Anything Goes


Hope you'll come join in the fun and thanks so much for taking the time to stop by today. 
Hugs,
Darlene

P.S.  Just a reminder to please stop back tomorrow for a new SISTERHOOD challenge and again on Thursday for a new SHELLY'S IMAGES challenge!  THANKS!

Use Stamps Sale

held annually in Zoar, Ohio.

Hello everyone!  I just got back from the annual Used Stamp Sale held in Zoar, Ohio by June Knaack of the 1870's Shoppe.  Zoar is a 'historical' town with plenty of really cool gardens and old time businesses to check out ... but the hidden treasure in my mind is the stamping store called the 'The Stamp Pad'.  

My friend Lana (Blest With Stamps) has had a table at this sale over the past few years and this year she asked me if I'd like to share the table with her.  I don't usually sell ANY of my stamps but with hubby retiring I figure it's about time to 'thin things out' a bit ... so I said SURE!  Here is a picture of our table at the beginning of the day.  Needless to say Lana had more than I did (being my 1st time and all ... wasn't sure what to take) but I did manage to have FOUR 12x12 drawers filled with stamps, etc. to peddle!

Before the doors open to the public ... the vendors have a chance to go around and make their purchases first (nice perk for booking a table).  The above photo shows what it looked like at the beginning!

 THEN THEY OPENED THE DOORS

AND THEY ALL CAME FLOODING IN!

Mind you, we were set up in the fire department and there is also a historical school house where vendors are set up too!  I didn't make it over there this year but I guess it was elbow to elbow!

I'm happy to say that Lana & I did GREAT!  

Lana sold everything except four boxed sets ...

and I sold everything except four individual stamps!

YAHOO!  More cash to spend on NEW STUFF and I didn't even spend my earnings at the other tables ... well I did spend $4 so that wasn't too bad!  TeeHee!  

Seems like FOUR was our lucky number today!!

What a fabulous time I had (Thanks Lana) and to those ladies that I met today who actually FOLLOW MY BLOG ... just want to extend a big HELLO and THANKS ... it was nice to meet in person!!!

See you soon!

Dar

Springtime Babies

Hello blog friends!

Today I am attending the ZOAR Used Stamp Sale held at The 1870's Shoppe in Zoar, Ohio where my friend Lana has asked me to sit with her at her table and generously offered space for me to sell some of my stamps if I'd like.  I have NEVER sold ANY of my stamps but decided that maybe it was time!  I had several from years past that I don't use any longer and I figured it was time to let someone else show them some inking love!  I'll let you know how the sale goes!

 

Last week I shared some photo with you of my backyard, picnic area, squirrels and a bird's nest being built in the viburnum tree outside my laundry room.  I had mentioned on that post that I was afraid that we had scared away this 'family to be' with all the outside work we were doing around that area.  WELL .. I'm pleased to tell you that we didn't scare them away after all and MaMa Robin has been spending a lot of time in her nest this week.  I snapped these photos this morning.

 I got my camera all ready (flash OFF) before tip toeing to the window in hopes of getting a shot of her in the nest.  The photo's kind of blurry because it was taken through the window & screen.

I decided to open the window and walk away for a bit so as not to startle her too much.

When I came back she was out of the nest and obviously keeping an eye on ME!

One quick photo and I left her alone ... I'm sure she has eggs in the nest so I didn't want to bother her.

Hopefully we will hear the chirping of babies and I'll try to get a photo or two to share.

Isn't Mother Nature AMAZING!!!

Have a fabulous weekend!

HUGS

Darlene

Outside My Comfort Zone ...

I have a card to share with you today that is very UNLIKE my style.  

It is a ONE LAYER card and I've used the EMBOSS RESIST TECHNIQUE on the image.

I found TWO challenges that intrigued me 

so I combined the two and came up with this creation.

The two challenges I referred to are:

Heather Telford (Bits & Pieces) is hosting  for the One Layer Wednesday Challenge and I found the Technique Challenge at Blockheads Paper Arts through Anne Temple (Anne-Made).

For the One Layer Challenge, your image could not be larger than 2x2 so I used Eclipse Masking to make that size box on my card front ... stamped this beautiful butterfly/flower image by Inkadinkado with Versamark, embossed with clear embossing powder then sponged over the image with Tim Holtz 'Broken China' distress ink.  The sentiment is by The Stamp Pad and was also stamped in the Broken China ink.

I'm really pleased with the outcome of this card and just might have to make more of this CAS style to have in my stash for the Fall Craft Show!  

A few other qualifying challenges for this creation are:

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Clean and Simple

Truly Scrumptious - Anything Goes

Sundays With Crissy - Things with Wings
Oldie But A Goodie Challenge - Things with Wings (both stamps are at least 2 years old)
Top Tip Tuesday #7 - Clean and Simple
Cupcake Craft Challenge - Simply No Design Paper Birthdays

House of Gilli - Embossing
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge - Clean and Simple

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today!  I hope you find inspiration in my work and of course if you do, I'd love to hear about it!  Wishing you all a FABULOUS weekend ahead!  The weather here in N.E. Ohio, USA is going to be in the mid 80s ... sounds like grilling time to me!!
Hugs,
Darlene

Shelly's Images Challenge

HAPPY DAY ALL!

It's time for another fun challenge at Shelly's Images.

Today's challenge is:

ANYTHING GOES

Today's FEATURED IMAGE is called "Balancing Act" and it's offered to you TODAY ONLY at a reduced price.  You can find it HERE at the Shelly's Images Store.

You'll want to be sure and check out the amazing creations our design team has to inspire you today.  What a talented group of ladies!

I kept my card pretty simple today.  

Paper - BoBunny dp (I think), white, red & yellow cardstock

Stamp - Just For Fun

Ink - Versafine Black

Accessories - Spellbinder Labels Three, Michael's red satin ribbon, Creative Memories star punch

** EXCITING NEW CHANGES AT SHELLY'S IMAGES **

Starting today ... EACH WEEK ... the Design Team Lead who is posting the challenge on the SI Blog will be offering an SI PRIZE VOUCHER to one of the commenters on her own personal blog!    AND ... we are going to each be looking for Guest Designers picked from our list of followers/commenters that will be joining in the challenge (get that week's image free to use) and also will have an SI PRIZE VOUCHER to offer to THEIR followers/commenters!  HOW COOL IS THAT!!  You won't want to miss being a part of the fun so be sure to remember to leave a little love and YOU might be the next chosen guest designer!

Be watching my blog for more information as to when MY NEXT LEAD DATE is!  I would love to choose YOU as my guest designer!
* * * * *

Here are a few other qualifying challenges for this creation:

Crafty Creations Challenge - Male Birthday Card

Dude Time Doodles Challenge - Male Birthday

The Paper Shelter #64 - Birthday Card with a Sentiment

Stampavie and more #168 - For a Boy 

Hope to see you at Shelly's Images!  Have a FABULOUS day!

Hugs,

Darlene

Don't you just love this time of the year!!!

I'm so glad I live in an area that witnesses all FOUR seasons of the year, but I think my favorite is Spring/Early Summer.  I don't handle the heat very well so summertime can push me back into the house in the A/C.  BUT,  this time of the year is PERFECT for me!  Warm days (low 70s) and cool nights (50s) which means I will have my doors and windows open as much as possible.  There nothing better than FRESH air after having the house closed up all winter. 

This past weekend hubby & I worked outside getting a lot of the 'clean up' chores done.  The trees are all trimmed, yard was mowed & weed wacked, picnic area was cleaned up (brush was burned) and today I even got all my flowers planted in the front AND BACK of the house.

We seem to have several new BABY squirrels this year and they are so much fun to watch.  I feed them over in the picnic area but they like to come 'clean up' after the birds. (notice the Gold Finch on the feeder)

 I just love it up in our picnic area (I like to call it Pavlick's Park ... teehee).  In the heat of the summer, it can be at least 10 degrees cooler up there!  I still have some work to do.  I plant Hot Pink Impatience in the areas around the trees where it is kind of bear right now.  (Next thing on my todo list).

It looks like I'm needing to split out this Bleeding Heart plant again.  It's amazing how big they can get and I just LOVE that early pop of color that they provide.  Ooops ... looks like the bird bath is light on water too!

This is my beautiful Viburnum bush on the side of the deck ... right outside my laundryroom window.  We had talked about making sure we prune it back quite a bit this year since it is getting a bit out of control.  But it's going to have to wait on TWO things ... 1 is that we have to wait until it's done blooming and the 2nd thing is we have to wait for our 'tenants' to "fly the coop" ...

Yep, we have a new Robin couple building their 'love nest' in the center of our Viburnum.  I took this photo through the laundry room window while mama robin was out shopping.

The purple Columbine really started filling in this year!  I usually put my tomato plants under the windows (really not allowed to have a 'garden' in our subdivision) but I hide a few within my flowers.  But this year I had to move them around the side of the house ... hope they do okay there!

 

Another flower I totally enjoy seeing come up and multiple each year are my purple iris!  Aren't they beautiful!  Are you starting to see a color theme here??  LOL!!  I planted pink & purple wave petunias today in my front flower pots as well as on the back deck ... can't wait for them to start flowing!

Well I guess I've kept you long enough this evening.  It's nearly NCIS time so I'd better get finished up, clean up my crafting area and get back upstairs!  Hope you are having a wonderful week!  I know I sure am!  HUGS to you all!

Darlene

Double Zig-Zag Card Challenge

Hello friends!  

I'm so glad you stopped by today!  

I have a FUN creation to share with you!

Around Easter, my friend Shelly Parker, (Shelly's Images) told me about a video she had just watched on making a 'Double Zig Zag Card' and said she wanted to make one.  I told her it sounded interesting and then challenged her to create this FANCY CUT card and I would too!  May 1st was set as our deadline for completion and we could decorate it to our own personal liking.  Here's what I came up with . . .

and here are close ups of each section . . .

** TOP PORTION **

** MIDDLE SECTION **

** BOTTOM PORTION **

Here is a list of items I used on my Double Zig Zag Card:

Papers:  Pink 12x12 (80#) cardstock, White cardstock, Lavendar cardstock

Ink:  Colorbox 'Berrylicious' chalk ink

Accessories:  Wild Orchid flowers, Prima flowers, Spellbinder 'Anemone Flower Topper', Cuttlebug 'Textile' EF, MS 'Butterfly' punch, Cheery Lynn Designs DL112 'Exotic Butterfly Small' dies,  Cheery Lynn Designs B117 'Fanciful Flourish' dies, Cheery Lynn Designs B118 'Pair of Ferns' dies, Marianne LR0157 'Decorative Elegance' dies, MS 'Branch' punch, Prima 'Say It In Studs' self sticking embellishments, Wrights lace, Art Glitter glue, sponge applicators

I have so much fun with these 'personal challenges' between friends!  Why not give it a try ... it certainly makes you think outside the box and expand your creativity!! 

A few qualifying challenges:

Cheery Lynn Designs - Bling It Up

 Critter Sketch Challenge - Flowers

Hookedoncraft Challenge - May Flowers

 Paper Creations Ink - In the Garden

Wild Orchid Challenge - Anything Goes
By The Cute and Girly - May - Spring is in the Air
I Brake for Challenges - Flowers
Just Tracy's Crafts Challenge - Anything Goes
Lia Stampz Challenge - April Showers bring May Flowers
Scrap It Girl - April Showers bring May Flowers
Bearly Mine Challenge - Dies
Die Cuttin Divas - Flowers
Ladybug Crafts Ink TLT - Anything but Square
LEJ Designs - Lots of Layers
Papertake Weekly - In the Garden
Sassy Cheryl's - Anything but Square

 

Hugs

Darlene

I couldn't ask for more ...

With Mother's Day being this weekend ... and my daughter (who has way too many irons in the fire) having a totally booked up weekend with Drag Racing Saturday during the day ... hubby's band playing out Saturday night and hopefully awake enough to go to church on Sunday morning . . . we decided to spend the day TODAY walking around Amish Country in Sugar Creek, Ohio.  It was GREAT and the weather was PERFECT!  Here's a few pictures of our day . . .

 Here's Carolyn trying to find the Bing Cherry Jam for hubby Frank.  She ended up getting him the Black Cherry Jam instead ... he'll be thrilled!

I 'love' teapots ... check these out ... every color in the book!

 We just LOVED checking out all the displays.  We must have changed our minds on how to decorate our kitchens next about a dozen times!  I really liked this display of roosters though I don't think Mark would approve of a RED kitchen!  Maybe I'm wrong ... he went along with it being PURPLE!  LOL

Carolyn has found her next kitchen decorating idea!  She's getting new hardwood floors installed  ... LOVES COFFEE and I think has decided on this idea as her new kitchen theme.

 OH MY GOSH ... GET ME OUT OF THIS AISLE!

Every kind of candy you could ask for and there's MORE on the other side!!

 How's this for bulk chocolates, pie fillings, every type of 'sprinkles' you could ask for!

A baker's dream come true on these shelves!

Flour, Cornmeal, Brown Sugar, Wheat, etc., etc. 

you ask for it ... you can find it here!

SPICES you say!  YEP ... these are ALL different types of spices.

Don't these shelves look awesome!  I wish my card making products were this organized!

AND they even had a TEST KITCHEN!  Although Carolyn has recently lost 30 lbs. she just had to try a few of the goodies they were offering!  We also signed up for their FREE email recipes.

OKAY ... so I'm not so good at taking these photos where you stretch your arm out and try to get you both in the shot ... but I wanted a picture of the two of us so I did my best!  LOL!

  WHAT A FABULOUS MOTHER'S DAY GIFT! 

Thanks Carolyn ... hopefully we can do it again real soon!

Hope you enjoyed the little trip through Amish Country.

I could have taken so many more photos but you'll just have to go for yourself and check out the shops at Sugar Creek ... Walnut Creek ... Millerburg ...Berlin, OHIO.  It's worth the trip.

OH ... and the homemade quilts ... OMG ... they are amazingly GORGEOUS!!!

Thanks for taking the time to stop by!

Have a fabulous weekend!

HUGS,

DAR