Stampin! with Jaydee

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday.

I hope you all had a wonderful Memorial Day weekend and had time to spend with your friends and family and take a few moments today to thank all of those who have served to protect our freedom.  They certainly deserve our thanks.

Taking time today to remember those who served, reminded me that it is about time that I got ready to package up some more cards for OWH and decided that I wanted to make a card today that a troop could send home to their loved ones.

I looked for a sketch - and found this great sketch across at Try Stamping on Tuesday:

The sketch has a twist..... PICNIC.  Mmm... that had me thinking for a while and then I thought about a picnic at the beach.  We live way too far from the sea to have a picnic at the beach now, but when Lou and I lived in California, one of our favorite things on the way home from work was to stop by the local deli pick up some bread, cheese, olives and spreads, a bottle of wine - and go along to the beach at Corona Del Mar.  We would set up our picnic and watch the sunset and then walk along the road looking at all of the beautiful houses.  I still miss not being able to do that.  

So, now that we have taken a trip down memory lane.... let's get back to the card.  In the new SU catty, there is a great little set called Sea Street.  I thought I would make a little scene from the fish stamps and the smiley octopus.  Of course, I had to create a watercolored background for these elements :-)

Here's my card:

Isn't that a cute octopus?   To make him even cuter, I cut down a wobbler and stuck it behind him, so he has some movement.  Well, shouldn't an octopus be able to dance :-)  I also used my Wink of Stella pen and added a little shimmer to each of his legs.  I then took out my white Enamel Accents and added a little dimension to his eyes. 

The sentiment is from Banner Greetings and stamped onto Whisper White card stock and fussy cut.  I cut a Baja Breeze Core'dinations banner to go behind him.  The whole frontspiece was adhered using dimensionals to a piece of Midnight Muse (MISS THIS COLOR!!!!) card stock that had been run through my Big Shot and my SU chevron embossing folder. The card base is Baja Breeze, which I think works beautifully with Midnight Muse!!!  Did I say I miss Midnight Muse already? :-)

Don't forget to pop along to Try Stamping on Tuesday and check out the challenge and the great design team inspiration cards.
 

On a personal note:

Lou has finished staining the deck and it looks fabulous.  He really did a great job.  To thank him I took him to his favorite restaurant for a pasta and sorbetto dinner!  Lou, being Italian, would pretty much do anything for Pasta :-)  Next weeked we have to paint the deck railing and then the deck will be finished and ready for use.  The view from the deck is getting greener by the minute.  I swear I can see the ferns growing if I watch them closely enough!

Let's see what's been visiting the garden.... no Bald Eagles today :-)

This guy is a regular visitor to the feeder and loves the oranges that we have put out for the Orioles.

We are still getting regular visits from the Blue Winged teals but, as the water is receding, we don't think we will be seeing them for much longer.  So I will appreiate them for as long as I can :-)

They really are a pair of cuties!  We've had up to three pairs at a time visiting us, but one pair seems to come more often.

Well, I am off to finish some chores and then Lou and I will be eating out on the deck.  The first time we will have been able to since October!   Mind you, the mossies are enormous - and ferociously hungry - and that means that we might be forced back inside.

As always, thank you for your visit and comments.   Warm hugs and prayers for those who need a little lift tonight.  

Hugs

Jaydee

Card recipe - all ingredients Stampin' Up! unless otherwise noted:

• Card stock:  Baja Breeze, Midnight Muse, Whisper White.   Watercolor (Strathmore)
• Stamps:  Banner Greetings (sentiment).  Sea Street (fish and octopus)
• Inks:  Midnight Muse.  Cherry Cobbler
• Tools:  Wobbler