Flower Power

I don't know about you but I've had my fill of this lockdown. Even though I have plenty of hobbies to keep me busy, the monotony of every day repeating itself is driving me crazy. I feel like I'm trapped in the "Groundhog Day" movie! So I'm going to think good thoughts about Summer and my flower beds and how much I enjoy tending them.
Here's some shots from previous years...

I hope you enjoyed your visit!

Here's where I'll be sharing:
 What's for Dinner   Mosaic Monday Busy Monday  Inspire Me Monday  Through my Lens  Pictorial Tuesday Link Up Tasty Tuesday   Bee Inspired  Your whims Wednesday   Wonderful Wednesday Creatively Crafty  Full plate Thursday  Fiesta Friday  Create, Bake, Grow and Gather  Home Matters  Dare to share Sat  Saturday Sparks   Natasha Musing  Wordless Wednesday
  Image-in-ing

Felting Creations

Have you ever met someone with an extraordinary talent and wish you were gifted like they are? I've often told hubby that I wish I could just once...step behind a mike and belt out a song or sit down at a piano and play a difficult piece perfectly. Just once, and I'd be happy. Seems like no matter how much we achieve it's never enough. We need to learn to be content and enjoy and the gifts God has given us...

Recently, I saw these felted animals on Pinterest and I think they are amazing!
So much talent here!

Just look at the detail in these!

 What is felting?

It's done with wool, special needles, and a mat. Pushing the needles through a small wool ball causes the wool to attach to itself and you can begin to form a shape. There's more to it than this but you get the idea.

I like Mr. Mouse in his knitted sweater!

and a duck in a hunting hat!

Isn't she sweet?

Have any of you tried your hand at needle felting?

Here's where I'll be sharing:

Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * Sunday's Best * Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner  * Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party * Busy Creative You *
 Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell *  Warm Heart * Totally Terrific Tuesday *W.A.Y.D.2018 Blog Hop * Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the town* Waste Not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Share Your Style * Create it Thursday * No rules Weekend * Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday  * Friday Features * Best Friday Features * What To Do Weekends  * Home Matters * Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks * Best of the Weekend *

Weekend Snapshots * Wordless Wednesday * Image-in-ing * 

One Equals Four!

 The fact that I love papercrafts is an understatement.
 I  always have new ideas popping into my head quicker than I can make them and Pinterest is like an addiction for me! My friends and family even save the cards they receive for holidays and birthdays for me because I like to challenge myself to see how creative I can be. (And I hate to see those beautiful cards thrown away).
Recently, in one of these goody bags, I found a pretty card in shades of purple. I wanted to see how many cards I could make using parts of this one.

Inside of the card:

card1. I used the top part of the front of the card.

card 2. I used the upper right corner of the inside. I cut the corner using a curved die and added a small flower from the back of the card.

card 3. I used the bottom front of the card and added the "Thanks "sentiment from a scrap of pale green cardstock.

card 4. I used the small piece that was left as an edge panel.( I know, that was really stretching it!) lol

 One card equals four!!...let me know what you think.....

Here's where I'll be sharing:
Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * Sunday's Best * Smell good Sunday * What's for Dinner  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy * That DIY Party * Busy Creative You *
 Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell *  Warm Heart * Totally Terrific Tuesday * Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes * Inspire my Creativity * Talk of the town* Waste Not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds  *What's Cookin' Wednesday  *Share Your Style * Create it Thursday *  Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday *  * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Friday Frenzy * Anything blue Friday * Foodie Friday * Foodie Friday and everything Else * Friday Features * Best Friday Features *  What To Do Weekends * Home Matters * Ultimate Pin Party * Dare to share Sat. * Saturday Shuffle * Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *

Kindness Rocks

We stopped the car so that I could take some photos of the scenery. And as I walked along the wet dirt road, trying to avoid the puddles from the rain that morning...something caught my eye.

A small rock with some writing on it. I picked it up,

 and turned it over and smiled as I read:

Written on the back was "The Kindness Rocks Project"

Humm..I had to check this out.

  I found that there are groups all over the country working on this project. 

The kindness rocks project is a group on Youtube that spreads positive vibes by painting inspirational messages on rocks. Members leave them in places (some obvious, some not so much) for others to find. A simple gesture that could be exactly what someone needs to get them through their day.

It's time for me to start painting!!

I'm anxious to join this group....to spread a little love, bless another soul, and put a smile on someone else's face!

Here's where I'll be sharing:
Happiness is Homemade  * Sundays at Home  * What's for Dinner  *  Nifty Thrifty Sunday * Family Joy *
 Amaze Me Monday * Mix it up Monday * Make it Pretty Monday * Cooking and Crafting with J and J * Show and Share *  Busy Monday * Keep it simple Monday *Show and Tell *  Warm Heart * Tasty Tuesday * Dagmar's Home * Delicious Dishes *Turn it up Tuesday *  Talk of the Town  * Waste not Wednesday *  Thrifty and Vintage Finds *Moonlight and Mason Jars *  What's Cookin' Wednesday  *Share Your Style * Create it Thursday *  Creatively crafty *  Full plate Thursday * Throwback Thursday * The Handmade Hangout * The Pin Junkie * Anything blue Friday * Sweet Inspirations *  Friday Finds * Foodie Friday *  Photo Friday *Foodie Friday and everything Else * Friday Features *  What To Do Weekends * Home Matters * Party Palooza * Saturday Sparks *  Best of the Weekend *

Violets are blooming...

I'll be joining in over at :
Wordless Wednesday
 Photo Friday
Anything blue Friday

Fall leaf idea.........

Fall leaf roses made from ...you got it, fall leaves! Aren't they beautiful?
Click on over to design sponge for the diy project. And then check out the beautiful wreath made from the same idea here at Sugarbee crafts.

Neat huh?

Colorful...

These are birdhouses that I painted years ago that hang on the flowerbed fence. Each year they fade from the sun and I just touch them up again. It adds a touch of whimsy to the all green background!

I'll be joining in over at "Little Red House" for Mosaic Monday. Come on over......

~ Wooden letter blocks ~

Another easy craft I made for Fall were these lettered wooden blocks.

The wood blocks cost $ 2.29 for a package of 6.

I painted the blocks burgandy red. then

I cut patterned paper squares and glued them to the blocks.

I cut smaller squares out of scrap linen material and raveled the edges a bit.

Glued those on...

then printed large - font letters on tan colored paper, using the computer...
cut them out, glued, finished !

On the reverse side, I chose the word " WINTER "

SPRING and SUMMER are also 6 letters, so you could do any combination!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Listen ...

The wind is rising

and the air is wild with leaves.

Winter is an etching,

spring a watercolor,

summer an oil painting,

and autumn ...a mosaic of them all.

STANLEY HOROWITZ

I'm just sayin'...

A couple years ago, Jack bought me a good digital camera, and he always says that it's the best investment he ever made. He knows that there is nothing I like better than to spend a day taking pictures. He'll take a vacation day to go with me so that I can get a snapshot of this:

He will travel miles chasing sunsets for me, never complaining, to get this:

and even backtrack so that I can get that picture I missed...

Next week he's taking me to the mountains just so I can take photos of a couple of these:

uhhmmm...well maybe...about a MILLION of those,

He knows how much I like taking pictures so he does it to make me happy.

I love that about him...and a whole lot more.

~ Saturday photo hunt ~

This week's theme is : BOOKS

Some women like to buy shoes.....I buy books !
Why so many? I can afford to... I never pay more than 3.00 a book

And then there's my cookbook collection...when I retire, I'm going to read them all !
For more ~ Saturday photo hunt ~.....click here !

Finally......

a new family has taken up residence in one of the birdhouses that Alex and Jack made for me last Spring ! I had a hard time getting a photo so that I could determine what kind of bird it is. I believe it’s a Tufted Titmouse. Look at the two photos below and see if you agree:

computer search photo

My photo

Now let's see if she tells a friend about the other available birdhouse...
You would think that a nice apartment, located in a treed area, would go quickly. And did I mention that there is no rental fee ?