Monochromatic Wall Decoration with Butterflies in Shades of Browns

Hello and welcome! 

It's time for a  new theme at Allsorts challenge. This one will run for two weeks to cover the Easter holiday so you'll have some extra time to play along and we have two wonderful prizes to give away!

It's Mervi's turn to host and she chose the theme of "Monochromatic" with an option of Anything Goes, so do feel free to link up all your new crafty makes for a chance to win one of the prizes.

I love monochromatic pieces but don't do them often, so really enjoyed the challenge! I had this sketch in mind but with the size of the butterflies it's a little too big for a traditional card so instead I decided to layer the finished piece onto a 8.5x11 inches piece of card stock and it's ready to be framed and used as a wall hanging. I just need to purchase a picture frame.

Most products I used here are by Tim Holtz. The butterflies, stencil and script I used over the butterflies are from the same set - Butterflies and Stencil combo, and I used a variety of light and brown Distress inks to stamp the butterflies and stenciling. You can see the stamp/stencil combo below and if you click the image it should take you to Amazon. 

Each butterfly image panel was adhered onto dark brown card stock after inking and distressing the edges. As mentioned, the stencil designs are both part of the same set and I used Stampin Up's french script once again (I've used this stamp a lot recently!!) to add some more interest to the background. This background stamp is long retired but always available on eBay. 

The sticky sentiment words are from Tim Holtz's sticker set Quotations available at Scrapbook.com as well as Amazon (currently higher priced). 

I inked and distressed the edges once again, adhered to dark brown card stock and then to a white 8.5x11 inch card stock. To finish off this wall hanging, I added some sticky pearls. 

Find more butterfly stamps here:

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Recent posts you may have missed:

• Olive Utility Jacket Outfit for Spring 
• I Spy Photo Challenge No. 11
• Daffodils and Stenciling for a Get Well Card

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Linking up with these blogs:

As You Like It Challenge - Favorite Springtime Critters (butterflies, because most of the other critters are out in my backyard all year round but it's always an exciting time when butterflies emerge. Last summer I planted a butterfly bush and I am even more excited to see them back again this year!) 

Stamping Sensations - Monochromatic // We Love Chocolate Baroque Challenge - I love (Butterflies & Stencils) // Ike's World - Monochromatic // Unicorn Challenge - Feminine // Path of Positivity - Something Positive // Bastel-Traum - Butterfly // Happy Little Stampers - Stencils // 

Anything Goes:

Inspire Me Monday // Tuesday Turn About //  Wonderful Wednesday // Thursday Favorite Things //  Encouraging Hearts and Home // Creative Fingers // Pattie's Creations // Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // House That Stamps Built * // Crafty Sentiment Designs // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // Crafting Happiness Challenges // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges // Dare 2B Artzy Challenges * // Dragonfly Dreams // The Corrosive Challenges // Classic Design  Challenge // Crafts Galore Encore  // 

Olive Utility Jacket Outfit for Spring with Light Wash Blue Jeans and a White Sweatshirt

Hello and happy Friday! 

It's hard to believe this is the last weekend in March! On Monday my daughter is going back to school in person and full time 5 days a week! It has been more than one full year since she stepped foot into a school. My son has already been back full time for over a month, but at that time we were given a choice and my daughter chose to continue virtual learning. Her grades didn't suffer at all and with her already busy ballet schedule 4 times a week, this virtual learning actually worked well for her, but I'm sure it'll be good for her to be back in class too!

Last weekend we had another wonderful weekend (although I thought it was supposed to rain), so we took the opportunity for an easy nature hike around a local lake. I brought my camera along so I could photograph a path for last week's "I Spy Photo challenge" and at the same time my husband snapped a few photos of me so I thought I might as well use them for another casual spring outfit post.

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

One item I reach for often each spring is my utility jacket. Do you own one? It's not an item I always had in my closet, but since adding one a few years ago it's become one of my "go-to' jackets for both fall and spring. I especially love throwing it on when I'm taking a casual hike/walk in a forested area. 

Utility jackets are available in a variety of colors and styles, I prefer a traditional green hooded utility jacket. My particular jacket was purchased years ago from Rue 21 (a junior's clothing store so I had to go up a size, in fact this is a size M as I usually purchase coats and jackets in S).

My exact jacket is no longer available but did find this fabulous water resistant utility jacket at Old Navy for those of you interested, and it's marked down to $36. Also available in navy as well as camo.

 Another option is this utility anorak from Target which reminds me a lot of my own jacket. This one by Target is not water resistant (just like mine) but makes a great spring or fall layering piece.

 

Old Navy Utility Jacket // Target Utility Anorak

My daughter recently decided that she wanted to donate this cute cropped sweatshirt and I decided it was a perfect casual top for myself so I added it to my closet as my type of "loungewear" (meaning I'm not counting it towards my Project 333 wardrobe challenge pieces). I've mentioned before that I don't own typical loungewear but a sweatshirt like this one serves that purpose for me and it's perfect for not only staying at home but for  some outdoor activities as well. 

I like how the heart print and writing are blending in well with the color of the sweatshirt since I'm not a  huge fan of any graphic shirts. The wording reads "weekend forever" 😀 but it's really hard to see in these photos.

 

Like the jacket, it's no longer available. I had picked this up from the Kohl's clearance rack a few years ago for my daughter. She's a few inches taller than I am now and it's definitely cropped on her while it fits me in a more traditional way. 

You may like this one below as an alternative from Old Navy.

Zebra Print Loose Crew Neck Sweatshirt

My light wash skinny jeans from Old Navy are super comfortable and are perfect for an easy hike. These were purchased a few years ago as well, but Old Navy always has some sort of light wash skinny jeans available if you're looking to add a pair to your closet. In fact the label on mine reads "super skinny" and these jeans do look exactly like mine - maybe a slightly different wash. They are available in regular, petite and tall sizes, and (as I type this) only $18. I'm pretty sure that's similar to what I had paid for mine as well. 

Old Navy Super Skinny Jeans

In my last outfit post I've worn my new light beige Taos canvas sneakers I had found discounted at Nordstrom Rack, in today's photos I'm wearing my suede Khaki "Taos Retro Star" sneakers I've purchased over 3 years ago when looking for a travel sneaker. This darker color is more practical for a walk in the woods than my light beige sneakers are, although I wouldn't recommend them on anything but easy trails as, while extremely comfortable for long walks, they are not meant for hiking on rough terrains. I'm not sure that the "retro" style is still in production, but did find the exact pair in select sizes on Amazon. 

By the way, Nordstrom Rack has a few more options available in the Taos Sneakers at reduced prices. If ordering do note, the "star" incl. "retro star" styles run about a half a size too small (I went up a half a size) but different styles may vary and always be sure to read reviews when purchasing shoes (or anything really) online. So helpful!! I also own the Taos Rubber Soul and those run true to size.

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Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by my blog today! Hope you're having a good weekend! 

You May Also Like:

Casual Outfit for the Apple Orchard // Straight Cut Jeans and Utility Jacket // A Trench Coat Outfit

Friday: Fancy Friday hosted by Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style // Lizzie in Lace //  Friday Favorites at Penny's Passion // A Little Bit of Everything // Friday Favorites // A Fireman’s Wife // Shelbee on the Edge //  Fabulous Friday Link Up with Lucy  // A Morning Cup of Joe

Saturday: Dare to Share

Sunday: Style Splash linkup // Sunday Showcase (first Sunday) //  You're the Star Blog Hop Link Up @ Stonecottage Adventures

Monday: Away From Blue // Glass of Glam // Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Beauty by Miss L 

Tuesday: The Fashion Canvas // Shelbee On the Edge Spread the Kindness // I Do deClaire // Elegantly Dressed and Stylish // Myriad Musings // Jenerally Informed Happy Now Blog Link // Style Splash linkup // Tuesday with a Twist @Stonecottage Adventures // I Will Wear What I Like Linkup  // Randomosity - Good Random - Fun 

Wednesday: What's Up Wednesday? (last wed. of month) // The Queen in Between Style Six // Straight A Style // Jersey Girl, Texan Heart // Fashion Frenzy at Seeking Sunshine and Rosy Outlook // Is This Mutton? Wow on Wednesday // Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday //  Welcome Wednesdays //  Classy Flamingos 

Thursday: Fashion Files at Doused in Pink and Curly Crafty Mom // Elegance and Mommyhood // High Latitude Style // A Labour of Life // Mummabstylish // Thirty Minus One // Mutton Style // Thursday Favorite Things //  Little Things Thursday // Traffic Jam Weekend @Being a Wordsmith // Encouraging Hearts and Home // Little Things Thursday // Thursday Favorite Things // Traffic Jam Weekend //@Being a Wordsmith // Slices of Life (Encouraging Hearts and Home) 

"I Spy" Photography Challenge No. 11

Hello and welcome!

I'm joining in with Lysha's "I Spy Photography" challenge again this week and sharing my photos for each prompt below. By the way anyone is invited to join in. Lysha posts the details about the upcoming prompts a week ahead so you can take photos throughout the week. It's what I *try* to do but these were all taken this Friday and Saturday when our weather finally warmed up again! The rest of last week was just cold, wet and windy! 

This week's prompts:

• Puzzle(d)
• Journal
• Abstract
• Path
• Your Choice

I Spy: Puzzled

Wonder what he's puzzled about...

I Spy: Journal

I don't currently keep a journal but remembered this pretty one from many years ago with its silky cover I brought over with me (along with a few others I had written) when I moved to the States, so I decided to get it out and photographed. Maybe I'll make some time to read it too :)

I Spy: Abstract

Thomas studying my abstract art 😎. I learned of this fun technique last year from Joanne's blog and we had so much fun doing it! The kids and I each made one of these, this is the one I made. We're just keeping them in the garage so I took it outside for a photo. 

A closeup below - I love how a heart was formed unintentionally. And I can also make out a strange looking face. Funny that I didn't notice it before photographing it. Can you see it?

[By the way, these are so fun to do on a warm and sunny day outside, all you need to do is select a few colors of  paint (we used acrylic craft paint), squirt some onto onto a canvas in no particular way, then for the fun part, use water balloons (I had purchased these from Target after Joanne's recommendation, also available on Amazon) to throw at the canvas. You can see detailed photos on Joanne's blog.]

I Spy: Path

We had a beautiful first day of spring, a perfect day to hike this path along a local lake.

I Spy: My Choice:

Our weather was warming up on Friday and I went to take more pictures of my snowdrops. This little guy was buzzing around, the first bee of the year! I love how this picture turned out! 

Photos were taken with my Canon DSLR camera.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by my blog today!

Recent posts you may have missed:

• Daffodils and Stenciling for a "Get Well" Card
• I Spy Photography No. 10
• "Awaken" in Violets and Blues Handmade Card

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Linking up here:

A Camera and a Cookbook // Dare to Share //   Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Welcome Wednesdays // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things //  Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

Daffodils and Stenciling for a "Get Well" Card

Hello and welcome!

Happy first day of Spring!! This week at Allsorts challenge it's all about "Spring Flowers", so perfect for this week, selected by Brenda. Hope you will join us this week for a chance to win a digital prize by Pinksy Doodles who is this week's sponsor. 

Daffodils are my favorite early spring flowers (right along with snowdrops) and I couldn't resist the offer of this pretty daffodil image to use this week from our sponsor Pinksy Doodles.

 

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!
 

I printed the image onto Neenah 80lb card stock then colored with Faber Castell Polychromos pencils. The image has been fussy cut using my Cutterbee scissors. 

To make the background, I masked the edges using Washi tape then inked with Tattered Rose Distress ink and an ink blending tool.

Stenciling was done using Penny Black's Oscillations Stencil and also Tattered Rose ink.

After removing the washi tape, I stamped a script border stamp on the bottom edge (retired stamp from Whimsy Stamps - alternative option with a different text) using Versafine Onyx ink. 

Sentiment is from Penny Black's set Eloquence which is a great set for all kinds of non-birthday cards. I stamped it with Versafine Onyx ink as well and then die cut using a circle Nestabilities die in my Big Shot machine. 

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Before adhering the image with foam tape, I tied some natural jute twine around the card. To complete the card, I used a clear Wink of Stella glitter brush on the flowers, but it's not showing up well in the photos.

Related Products:

Products Used:

Stamps & Digi: Pinksy Doodles Daffodils in Vases // Penny Black Eloquence // Whimsy Stamps Script Border 

Inks: Tattered Rose Distress Ink // Versafine Onyx Ink

Tools: Oscillations Stencil // Nestablities Circle Dies // Big Shot Sizzix Machine // Cutterbee Scissors // Ink Blending Tool // Faber Castell Polychromos Pencils // Foam Tape

Accessories: May Arts Natural Jute Twine // Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush

Cardstock: Neenah 80lb // Recollections 110lb for Card Base

 

Thanks so much for visiting!!

Recent posts you may have missed:

• I Spy Photography No. 10
• Awaken in Blues and Violets - Especially for You
• How to Wear a Trench Coat in a Casual Way and an Alternative to Bright White Sneakers

Since today is the first day of Spring I wanted to share a picture of the first flowers blooming in my garden. You may have already seen it in my photography post :) Aren't they just gorgeous!!!

I'm linking up here:

Themes:

Daring Cardmakers - Spring Things // Colour Crazy Challenge - Coloring // As You Like It Challenge - Favorite Way to cut an image (Fussy cutting because I love the image to be cut close to the edge) // Craft Rocket Challenges - Dies or Spring // Cute Card Thursday - Spring Fever // Moving along with the Times - Spring is Coming // Mod Squad  - Spring Time // Paper Shelter - Spring Time // Creative Craft Cottage Digi Creations - Lace, Ribbon or Flowers // Daisy Chain Challenges // 

Anything Goes:

Creative Fingers  // Pattie's Creations // Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Crafty Sentiment Designs // Digi Choosday Challenge // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge // Crafts Galore Encore // LeAnn’s World 101 // Love to Craft // 

I Spy - Photography Challenge No. 10

Hello and welcome! 

It's been a while since I managed to join in Lysha's I Spy Photo challenge! In February we got got hit by the coldest temperatures of the year which seemed to last forever and I was just uninspired to take pictures. I did snap a few around the house and outside the door for some of the prompts given but they weren't enough and I just never got around to completing them all!

By the way, if you're here to view my latest card for Allsorts challenge which I shared earlier today you can view it here or simply scroll down.

And then of course my favorite way of taking photos is with my DSLR camera but as you can imagine I don't carry that with me on a regular basis when out and about, and I rarely think to snap photos with my phone...

But I'm happy to have managed to snap enough pictures for this week's prompts. I'm also sharing a few photos I've taken for previous prompts at the end of the post :-)

This week's prompts are:

• Texture
• fun
• tall
• shoes
• your choice

Last weekend we had some beautiful spring like weather and I decided that it was the perfect time to go on a late winter hike to Iowa's Wildcat Den State Park. Well, it turned out to be not so perfect after all as there still was so much snow on the trails and if not snow then mud which made it all very slippery even though we had somewhat decent trail shoes. So we only hiked one trail and then turned around and went to a nearby shopping mall instead. 3 out of 5 of today's pictures are from our hike. 

I Spy -Texture

The Texture on a cliff inside the "Devil's Punch Bowl" at Wildcat Den State Park.

I Spy - Fun

My husband having fun hiking on a late winter day (last weekend). (Although in this photo he was trying not to slip on the muddy grounds.)

This one would have been so perfect for the "textures" prompt as well! 

I Spy -Tall

A look up at the tall trees.

I wanted to share another one - this one (below) I've taken last year on a November hike (if you're a blog follower then you would have already seen it in this post), same park different location!

I just love this photo so much, the way the sun hits the tree tops!

I Spy - Shoes

One of my daughter's old pairs of Pointe shoes. 

I Spy - My Choice

My beautiful snowdrops in my backyard just started to bloom this past week! 

A few bonus photos I've taken for some February challenges which I never shared!

I Spy - Weather:

I love the sparkles in the snow and the blue shadows! It's easy to tell it was freezing outside!

I Spy - Writing:

I'm in the process of re-writing favorite recipes into a new cookbook. 

I Spy - Corners:

Corners made up by the tulip's petals. 

I Spy - Alive

This little guy was so thankful for the old bread I had given him. He just sat her on the bannister and allowed me to take his picture.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by my blog today! By the way, anyone can join in this fun photo challenge, you can find all the details on Lysha's blog! 

All photos were taken with a Canon DSLR camera.

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

Recent posts you may have missed:

• Awaken in Blues and Violets - Handmade Greeting Card
• How to Wear a Trench Coat in a Casual Way
• Yellow, Gray and White Gate Fold Greeting Card

Linking up here:

A Camera and a Cookbook // Dare to Share //   Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Anything Goes with Your Hosts @ My Random Musings // Jenerally Informed The Happy Now // Shelbee on the Edge Spread the Kindness //  Effortlessly Sophisticated // Wonderful Wednesday // Welcome Wednesdays // Classy Flamingos // Thursday Favorite Things //  Little Things Thursday // Encouraging Heart and Home @ Slices of Life

Awaken in Blues and Violets - Especially for You

Hello and welcome!

It's time already for a new challenge over at the Allsorts challenge blog where it's Helene's turn to host. She picked the theme of "use a stamped image" so this time the focal point has to be hand stamped. Our wonderful prize comes from Stamp Addicts, a £15 voucher for their shop! By the way Stamp Addicts are showcasing brand new stamps on Hochanda TV on Wednesday the 15th at 5pm (UK time), tune in to see lots of Butterflies, Flowers and Shrink Plastic! 

This post may include some affiliate links, meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links. As always, this is at no cost to you. Thank you so much for supporting this blog!

I picked the beautiful stamp Awaken by Penny Black for my focal image this time. 

Using a stamp platform it's been stamped with Memento Tuxedo ink on Neenah 80lb cardstock, then colored with Copic markers using blue violet and violet shades (colors of the flowers were inspired by a book cover of the current Double D challenge) with some yellow in the middle. I fussy cut the image with cutterbee scissors. 

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To make the background I used painter's tape for masking the top and bottom as well as a die cut circle to mask a moon. Then using an ink blending tool I inked up the paper with Tumbled Glass and Blueprint Sketch distress Oxide inks. The script was then randomly stamped using Tumbled Glass ink. I used the old Stampin Up French Script stamp which I unmounted  because I have better control of where I want to stamp the words this way. I honestly think this is my most used stamp ever! 

After removing the painter's tape and moon mask I added the sentiment which I heat embossed on black cardstock using white embossing powder. The sentiment is part of the set Blooming Sentiments by Penny Black (also avail. on Amazon).

Products Used:

Stamps: Awaken by Penny Black, Blooming Sentiments by Penny Black (also avail. on Amazon), French Script by SU available on eBay

Inks: Memento Tuxedo, Tumbled Glass Oxide, Blueprint Sketch Oxide, Versamark 

Tools: Copic markers,  cutterbee scissors, stamp platform, ink blending tool, painter's tape, Heat Gun

Other: White Embossing Powder Super Fine, Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush

Papers: Neenah 80lb cardstock, Recollections 110 lb cardstock, Black cardstock from SU

Related Products:

Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Recent posts you may have missed:

• How to Wear a Trench Coat in a Casual Way and an Alternative to Bright White Sneakers
• Yellow Gray and White Gate-Fold Card with Honeycombs, Bee and Flower
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday March Challenge - Spring Colors

I'm linking up here:

We Love Chocolate Baroque Challenge - I Love ... (Flowers, Coloring, Fussy Cutting and using the SU script stamp) Penny Black Saturday Challenge - Flowers and PB Stamps // As You Like It Challenge - Favorite way to cut your image (fussy cut - love that I can get so close to the edge with my favorite scissors!) // C.R.A.F.T. - Feminine // Moving along with the Times - Spring is Coming // Little Red Wagon - Circles (does my masked moon count??) // Unicorn Challenge - Feminine // Crafting Happiness Challenges - Flowers // Challenge Up Your Life - Flowers // Crafty Calendar - Feminine // Di's Digis Designs - Beginning with B (Blue, Blossoms) // My Time to Craft - Feminine // 

Double D challenges - inspiration

My coloring was inspired by the book on the top right, in fact I originally inked up a darker background for my flowers but decided to keep it lighter and started over with it.

Anything Goes:

Crafty Sentiment Designs // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // Get Creative Challenges // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges // Dare 2B Artzy Challenges // Dragonfly Dreams // Lil Patch of Crafty Friends // The Corrosive Challenges // We Love 2 Create