Stampin! with Jaydee

Hi Everyone.  Happy Monday.

I couldn't resist playing with Just Add Ink's challenge this week.  It's a completely stunning graphic pattern and colors that are timeless. 

Isn't that striking?  I immediately went looking for triangles on a stamp.  Nothing!  So I had to come up with something else and I remembered a stencil that I had.  Now, it's not angular, but I think you get the idea.   All that I needed to do was get out my Daffodil Delight and Smokey Slate inks, a blender tool and my stencil.   I had such fun creating the background.  Stenciling really forces me to switch my mind off and concentrate, consequently, it's very therapeutic!

Here's my card:

Isn't that a great color combo?  The grey softens the yellow and the yellow brings energy to the colors.  The black grounds everything.  Love it.  :-)  I hope you can see the inspiration in the card that I made.:-)  One of the other new goodies that I got in my order was the label.  All I needed to do was run a piece of Smokey Slate card stock through my Big Shot with one of the Fun Frames labels and then fussy cut around it.  The sentiment from Four You fit into the label perfectly.

I needed to finish it off with something and didn't want bling.  I know?  Can it really be me?  Not wanting bling!  I decided that a piece of Summer Starfruit ribbon would help to finish it off.  I wrapped it around the card and then mounted the label over the top with dimensionals.

There are some gorgeous cards - so check out the link at Just-Add-Ink.

On a personal note:

Today was another glorious day.  I might add it is one of only 2 days in the next 9 that we won't be getting any more rain!  It was just long enough for the underdecking roofing guys to come in today and get most of their work done.  They will be back in tomorrow to put in gutters and add the underdecking underneath the stairs.  Then... hopefully.... Lou will be able to finish the space by painting the floor.  After that, we will be cleaning off the furniture and bringing it back under the deck.  It's going to be wonderful being able to sit on the chair without the covers being wet..... not having to check for Frogs under the cushions and generally, really enjoy the space.  I'll share some photos when it is completely finished next week.

It's going to be finished just in time for the arrival of our dearest friends P&J and R&R.  They will be flying out from the UK to spend two weeks with us and we are going to treat them to a right royal 4th July.  They were last with us a couple of months after we moved into our new home in October 2012.  The house was just that then, really a house.  So much of what makes it a home had not been done.  The garden was bare.  There was no planting, none of the 23... yes.. count them... 23 trees that we have planted in those 18 months.  No pictures on the walls.  No finishing touches.  The house feels so different than it did then.  It now really reflects us and it certainly reflects my personal decor style.

We are really looking forward to christening our new area when they arrive and, with the size of the mossies this year, this area is a necessity for us to really enjoy our view:-)  In turn, they are really looking forward to coming back to the US to see even more of this great country.  They were totally bowled over on their first visit in 2012 and really understood what people meant when they talk about "Minnesota Nice".  So, we are going to drive them around and take them out and about to enjoy even more of this great state.  Just a  little part of this great country.  So, now you know what we are doing on our vacation :-)

So.... how about a couple of photos for you?

I wanted to share a couple of flower shots..... I am totally in love with this little outcrop of harebells.  This one spot in the prairie is the ONLY place where they are growing.  But I love them so much, that I intend to get some and plant them in other areas next spring.

I couldn't resist this shot.  The female Oriole was visiting the feeder and she was highlighted against the prairie flowers that are starting to come in.

Mama Afleck is doing a wonderful job of bringing up her babies. 

Aren't they absolutely adorable?   It makes me smile just looking at them.  They all swim along in a straight line, with Mom holding up the rear.  She is such a proud Mom :-)

Talking of Mom's, I'd like to give a shout out to a truly superb Mom who celebrated her 15th wedding anniversary with her awesome hubby.   Rach.... congratulations to both you and B.  Your post on living with someone was so true, and really struck a chord with me.   I hope you both had a fabulous anniversary. 

As always, thank you so much for your visits.  I really do appreciate your comments - each and every one of them - and I appreciate the support you give me.   I've adjusted my commenting in the hope that it will make it easier for you.  One of my Paper Players buddies let me know that she was having a hard time, so I thought there might be others having the same issue.  Hopefully it is easier now.

I'll be back tomorrow with another card and some photos.  In the meantime, warm hugs and prayers for those of you who need a little lift tonight.

Hugs

Jaydee

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

• Card stock:  Whisper White.  Basic Black.  Smokey Slate. 
• Inks:  Daffodil Delight.  Smokey Slate.  StazOn black.
• Stamps:  Four You
• Tools:  Stencil - Ranger.
• Accessories:  Summer Starfruit ribbon (retired)