*I Spy* Photography Challenge No. 16

 Hello and welcome!

I'm a day several days late posting this week's "I Spy Photography" challenge post, but had already taken the pictures so I decided to post anyway. Lysha thankfully does keep the linky open for about a week. 

This week's prompts are:

• Kitchen Sink 
• Flower
• Up
• Mixed
• Your Choice

Kitchen Sink:

My sink is new (just installed last summer, but our kitchen is old and really needs updated, and I thought it looked better in black and white (however still not really loving this shot). But I do love my kitchen sink, my Mrs. Meyers kitchen cleaners and my Bodum Pour Over coffee maker :-)

Flower:

Love my Bleeding Hearts. I wish they'd bloom a little bit longer. Unfortunately they aren't doing too well as they started blooming before the recent frost hit, but they still look pretty.

Up:

One of my cute outdoor "pets" up on a branch of my oak tree. Isn't he adorable!! But they sure are stinkers for getting into my strawberries, eating my magnolia blossoms and chewing off the young branches. I think they also "worked" on my Hibiscus I planted last summer (unless it was the wild rabbits). 

The photo is cropped. Here is the original one - can you see him up there on the tree?

Assorted: 

An assortment of fruits. I'm still receiving my Misfits Market box (I am now subscribed to the small box every two weeks), so we usually have an assortment of fruit in the house. Plums and kiwi were purchased locally. (PS: When you use this link you get $15 off your first box or use this code: COOKWME-TT0TPG)

My Choice:

Another walk on the lake and I love this photo I've taken showing the reflection of the sky and trees. 

All photos this week were taken with my  Canon DSLR camera. 

Thanks so much for visiting!

Please note this post may include some affilate links meaning I may earn a small commission if you purchase something through the links, but as always at no additional cost to you. Thanks so much for supporting this blog.

Recent posts you may have missed:

• Brushstroke Flower, Stencil and 3 Colors of the Rainbow Handmade Card, Plus my Favorite Rainbow Photo
• Lightweight Sweater for Spring with Ponte Pants and a Trench Coat/ Fashion Over Forty
• *I Spy* Photography Challenge 15

This week I'm 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

Brushstroke Flower, Stencils and 3 Colors of the Rainbow / Handmade Greeting Card - Plus my Favorite Rainbow Picture

 Hello and welcome!

This week at Allsorts challenge our theme is "3 Colors of the Rainbow" set by Kath. Hope you'll join in for a chance to win a wonderful prize by Pearlywinks.

I've surely seen plenty of rainbows in my life, but have to admit I had to look up what colors make up the rainbow :-) In case you too need some help, here they are: Red, Orange, Yellow, Green, Blue, Indigo, Violet

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!

Here is what I came up with using Blue, Green and Violet. 

This pretty floral image is called  Exhilaration by Penny Black. 

I used distress inks (markers or ink pads - I don't have each color in every version) to ink up the stamp. I used: Mowed Lawn, Twisted Citron for the leaves, Wilted Violet with a touch of Blueprint Sketch for the blossoms. (Wish I had a blueprint sketch marker but had to use the ink pad instead and now my blossoms are a little bit darker than I wish they were!!) 

Then I used Tumbled Glass and Blueprint Sketch ink pads to add the stencil designs (from this Tim Holtz Stencil and Stamp set). Not sure I like how the ink marks stenciling turned out, but at this point most of the card was already done and there was no way back. 

Related Products:

The sentiment is one of my favorites from Penny Black's set Blooming Sentiments, stamped using Versafine Onyx ink. 

I had this dotted patterned paper on my desk and thought the color was a good match for my violet colored flowers so I added a strip to the card under the sentiment. Then I finished it off by adding a blue button and green jute twine (alternative option). 

Recent posts you may have missed:

• Lighweight Sweater for Spring Weather with Black Ponte Pants and a Trench Coat
• *I Spy* Photography Challenge 15
• Cute Fairy Greeting Card in a Clean and Simple Way

Since we're talking about "Rainbow Colors" for this week's Allsorts challenge I'm leaving you with my favorite rainbow picture I've taken. This was back in 2015 on our Colorado trip. One of the stops we made was at the Great Sand Dunes National Park on my birthday! I've taken it as a "Happy Birthday" message from above 😊

This is what you see when you turn around - the Sand Dunes. If you've never been here, I highly recommend visiting if you can. 

I'm linking up here:

Themed Challenges:

We Love Chocolate Baroque Challenge - Springtime // Penny Black Saturday * - Use PB Stamps // Mod Squad * - Spring // The Paper Funday - Spring // Ike's World - Springtime // Double Trouble Challenges - Flowers // Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper- Patterned Paper // Do-Al(l) Kreatives - Spring // Let's Craft & Create Challenge - Flowers // Sweet Stampers - Spring 

Anything Goes:

Crafty Sentiment Designs // Always Fun Challenges // Get Creative Challenges // Pammie's Inky Pinkies Challenges // Path of Positivity //  We Love 2 Create // Clever Dexter Challenge // Creatalicious Challenges // LeAnn’s World 101 // The Crafting Challenge

Always Anything Goes and Link Parties:

Crafty Creations // Creative Moments // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // The Corrosive Challenges // A Bit More Time to Craft // A Perfect Time To Craft // Classic Design  Challenge * // Crafts Galore Encore // DL.Art Linky Challenge // Love to Craft // QKR Stampede // The Creative Crafters // World Wide Open Design Team Challenge // 

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

Lightweight Sweater for Spring Weather with Black Ponte Pants and a Trench Coat / Fashion Over Forty

 Hello and welcome! 

While we had a few summery warm days in April, most days were chilly enough where a spring sweater was definitely needed, as well as a jacket. For today's "Fashion Over Forty" post I'm styling a  favorite spring sweater. 

I've really enjoyed my minimal wardrobe I keep in my closet for each season and think most items in my closet mix and match. This striped spring sweater is definitely one of those items. In fact I wanted to share another look with the same sweater but white jeans, but I never got around to having  another set of pictures taken. 

Everything I'm wearing is old so I don't have any direct links, but I try to add links to comparable items or other favorite alternatives for those of you interested.

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!

In a recent post I shared an outfit where I dressed down my trench coat by wearing it with blue jeans and sneakers, today I've dressed it up a bit by wearing block heel pumps and black pants. 

Yeah, I always feel kind of silly when walking in heels on grass for a picture, but I like a pretty backdrop for my photos so I deal with it. 

I love this light ivory colored trench coat for spring. As mentioned in previous posts, it was a hand me down from my sister from Germany. 

You may like these alternatives:

• Calvin Klein Single Breasted Trench Coat
• Cole Haan Hooded Trench Coat (This one comes in several colors!!)

This pretty lightweight sweater was purchased from LOFT a couple of years ago. I love these colors especially for spring and I love the double V-neck feature.

Find Lightweight Sweaters here:

• Sweaters at LOFT
• Sweaters at Nordstrom Rack

Below are snapshots of current lightweight sweater favorites from LOFT.

This one come in several pretty spring colors and is currently 50% off with code: SUNNY

And how fun is this Dip Dye sweater!! Use code: SUNNY for an extra 60% off.

 

Also liking this 100% cotton sweater for  its pretty color and comfy weekend look. 60% off with Code: SUNNY. 

This top is not actually a sweater but a mixed media blouse and it caught my attention. 60% off with code: SUNNY. 

My particular sweater features a double v- neck and you can see it in the photo below. 

My black pants are the same pair of Ponte Knit pants I wore on our road trip to Milwaukee in winter. I do like them styled so much better with a heel instead of winter boots, but they are so perfect for a long car ride (any any other type of travel) due to the Ponte Knit material so I had decided to wear them with boots on that trip. 

This specific pair is old (from White House Black Market) and no longer available, but I did see several options at Nordstrom Rack and many choices at Nordstrom. I love that these types of pants are as comfortable as Yoga pants but are actually "dress pants". They are especially recommended for travel as you can travel comfortably but still arrive at your destination perfectly dressed.

 

My particular pair comes with real pockets front and back as well as a traditional zipper, some Ponte Knit pants come with faux pockets, side zipper or are pull on. Personally I prefer the traditional 5 pocket/zipper style.

Thanks so much for stopping by!

You may also like:

• Dress Pants and Double V- Neck Sweater from LOFT
• Striped V- Neck and Boyfriend Jeans
• Wearing a Trench Coat in a Casual Way

I'm linking up here:

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 // Your Own Twist Linkup with Shelbee and Monica (3rd Thursday/month) // Elegance and Mommyhood // High Latitude Style // Mummabstylish // Thirty Minus One // Mutton Style // Thursday Favorite Things //  Little Things Thursday // Traffic Jam Weekend @Being a Wordsmith // Slices of Life (Encouraging Hearts and Home) 

*I Spy* Photography Challenge 15

Hello and welcome! 

I'm playing along again in Lysha's "I Spy Photography" challenge and I am sharing my pictures for each prompt below.

This week's prompts:

• Turquoise
• Pill(s)
• Dots of Stripes
• Starts with an "A"
• Your Choice

I struggled with some of these and waited until yesterday to take some of the photos. Really shouldn't have been a struggle but I tend to overthink and actually needed ideas from my husband :-)

Turquoise:

A picture I have hanging in the hallway. I have enough turquoise in the house that this shouldn't have to be a struggle, yet nothing seemed good enough and my husband suggested this picture. Plenty of turquoise in the sky here.

Save up to 25% on home decor. Valid 4/18 - 4/24.

Pills :

I don't take any medication on a regular basis, but did have these in the medicine cabinet that my brother sent me over from Germany years ago - a natural based sinus pill that is not available in traditional US pharmacies. I've only taken 4 of them and they expired 4 years ago 👀, time to throw them out!!

Dots or Stripes:

This was another one I shouldn't have struggled with, but I did!! My husband's idea (again) to photograph one of our cats. Of course Thomas didn't want to cooperate so you can't see his stripes very well here.

Starts with an "A"

I thought about "above" when I took the photo for this prompt, but when I looked at the photo I also spied an "airplane" :-)

My Choice:

A beautiful Magnolia tree at a local park with a small bird nest hidden in between the branches. Wonder how long it will take until the Magnolia tree in my garden will be this tall!! Unfortunately last spring the squirrels chewed off most branches and it's now smaller than it was when we purchased it!!

All photos were taken with my Canon DSLR camera. 

Recent posts you may have missed:

• Cute Fairy Greeting Card in a Clean and Simple Way
• I Spy Photography Challenge 14
• Butterflies, a Stencil and a Vintage Key (handmade card)

This week I'm 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

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!

Cute Fairy Greeting Card in a Clean and Simple Way

Hello and welcome! 

It's Saturday again and that means we have a new theme at Allsorts challenge. This week it's Wendy's turn to host with  "Anything Goes with -add ribbon- option". So feel free to link up all your new crafty makes for a chance to win a voucher from Crafty Ribbons.

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 kept my card very clean and simple today by simply keeping the focus on the image. I thought it was so pretty with such great details that it really didn't need much more.

I printed this out on Neenah 80lb card stock several days ahead of time so I could use Copic markers for coloring. I have an Inkjet printer and the ink will smear if I don't give it a few days to dry. (I did try  heating with with a heating tool but it doesn't work well and will still smear.)

All I did after coloring was cut out the image using one of Avery Elle's Wonky Stitches dies. Then I tied some white silk ribbon around the top and adhered to a white card base using Recollections 110lb card stock from Michaels. 

Related Products:

Next I stamped the simple sentiment h.e.l.l.o. from Penny Black's set Snippets to the left bottom using Versafine Onyx ink and the card was complete. Oh, and I added a sticky pearly dot to the large flower center. 

You can get this cute image HERE and I noticed this cute Giraffe Freebie there as well, perfect for those of you needing to make a baby card. 

Thanks so much for stopping by for a visit!

Recent posts you may have missed:

• I Spy Photography Challenge 14
• Butterflies, A Stencil and a Vintage Key
• White Jeans with a High- Neck Sleeveless Top and Denim Jacket

I'm linking up here:

Themes:

Colour Crazy Challenge - Coloring // Simply Create Too - Stitching real of faux // Krafty Chicks - CAS // Through the Purple Haze - Ribbon // Creative Moments // Paper Shelter - Girl Power // Simon Says Stamp - CAS //  Cute Card Thursday  - Ribbon // Ike's World - Springtime // Passion For Markers Challenge - Feminine // 

Anything Goes:

Crafty Catz // Creative Fingers // Crafty Creations // The Paper Funday // Crafty Sentiment Designs // Digi Choosday Challenge // Lemon Shortbread // Through The Craft Room Door // 

Link Parties:

 Inspire Me Monday // Hello Monday // Random-osity Good, Random, Fun // You're The Star Blog Hop Link Party @Stonecottage Adventures // Encouraging Hearts and Home //  Thursday Favorite Things //  Little Things Thursday // 

I Spy Photography Challenge 14

Happy Sunday! I didn't think I was able to get enough photos together this week to join in the I Spy Photography challenge, but I found 2 recently taken pictures on my phone and then cheated a little by using one I took a couple of weeks ago, so here they are :)

This week the prompts are:

• Wood
• Music
• Easter (or Sunday)
• Button
• Your Choice

Wood

I'm cheating a little here...this wasn't a brand new photo taken but was taken about 2 weeks ago. 

I love how this photo turned out at sunset with this fallen tree inside the lake.

Music

I love listening to nature's music and I knew I wanted to take a photo of a cardinal sitting on this bird feeder I have hanging in my backyard for this photo prompt. But, while they are always around, somehow I never got the chance to take a picture of one. But I did catch this little sparrow on it when I was sitting outside with my phone.

I don't get the best photos with my iPhone 6, which is the reason why I so much more prefer my Canon DSLR camera...but don't really see the point in upgrading my phone right now as I know I'd still prefer using my Canon camera. 

Easter:

A basket of colorful Easter eggs. The brownish eggs were done by boiling them in red onion peels. Next year I want to try a few more natural colors!

This is another one that was taken with my phone, no idea why I hadn't thought of using my Canon camera... 

Button:

Buttons are my favorite accessories for adding to my  handmade cards so I have plenty of them. At some point during my 18+ years of papercrafting I had them sorted by colors, but a few years ago I decided to throw them all together into a plastic pencil holder box.

My Choice:

2 Daffodils in my Backyard. I don't think there is a type of flower I don't like, but daffodils are my most favorite spring flowers. 

Extra:

A few more more flowers - I used an antique filter from the free PhotoScape app. 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

If you'd like to join in Lesha's photography challenge, you can visit her blog to link up!

 

Recent posts you may have missed:

• Butterflies, a Stencil and a Vintage Key - Handmade Greeting Card
• White Jeans and a High-neck Sleeveless Blouse with Blue Jean Jacket (Fashion Over Forty)
• Ellibelle's Crafty Wednesday - April Challenge using Stampin Up A Touch of Ink

Also 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